Flying may be the quickest way to travel long distances, but it also releases a lot of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other harmful emissions into the air. This worsens global warming and the problems wrought by climate change. Concern about air travel’s carbon footprint has led some environmental advocates to ditch flying altogether. ut is this the only solution? Researchers are exploring ways to create a greener future for aviation.
First Steps
On January 19, 2023, a small, 19-seat twin-engine aircraft took to the skies. It completed a 10-mile (16-km) loop before returning to Cotswold Airport in the United Kingdom. This aircraft is the world's largest to complete a flight powered by hydrogen fuel-a clean energy source with zero carbon emissions.
Under its left wing, two fuel cells work in harmony. Fuel cells act a bit like batteries. These convert hydrogen into electricity to power an electric motor. A lithium battery provides an additional boost of energy during takeoff. As a safety measure, a standard plane engine drives the other propeller.
This successful test flight is a huge step toward making air travel more environmentally friendly. But researchers aren't stopping here. Now, their focus is on larger aircraft and on fueling 40- to 80-seater planes with hydrogen. This will be no simple feat, but it appears key to making zero-carbon flight a reality.
Reality Check
Just how much does air travel contribute to the release of planet-warming greenhouse gases? Let's consider a flight from London, England, to New York City. It emits about 2,000 pounds (around 900 kilograms) of carbon dioxide (CO2).
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Denne historien er fra November/December 2023-utgaven av Muse Science Magazine for Kids.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Who's Your Cousin?
The great apes are among the most popular animals in most zoos. Their actions, facial expressions, and family life remind us so much of ourselves. Have you ever wondered, though, how we might look to them?
Is it possible to die of boredom?
To figure out if we can die of boredom, we first have to understand what boredom is. For help, we called James Danckert, a psychologist who studies boredom at the University of Waterloo in Canada.
THE PROBLEM WITH PALM OIL
Palm oil is all around you. It’s in sugary snacks like cookies and candy bars. It’s in lipstick and shampoo and pet food.
SERGE WICH
Serge Wich’s favorite days at work are spent out in the forest, studying orangutans in Sumatra and Borneo or chimpanzees in Tanzania.
ELODIE FREYMANN
When you’re feeling sick, it probably doesn’t occur to you to try eating tree bark.
Guardians of the Forest
EARLY, MAKESHIFT WILDLIFE DRONES HELPED TO DETECT AND PROTECT ORANGUTANS.
APE ANTICS
The Whirling World of primate play
Dr. Ape Will See You Now
HUMANS AREN’T THE ONLY PRIMATES THAT USE MEDICATION.
THE LEFT OVERS
A lot has happened for modern humans to get to this point. We lost most of our hair, learned how to make tools, established civilizations, sent a person to the Moon, and invented artificial intelligence. Whew! With all of these changes, our bodies have changed, too. It’s only taken us about six million years.
SO, WHAT IS A PRIMATE?
What do you have in common with the aye-aye, sifaka, siamang, and potto? If you said your collarbone, you re probably a primatologist—a person who studies primates. If you’re not, read on.
