Ships harness wind for voyage to a cleaner future

New sails and boat designs are set to help shipowners slash fuel costs and emissions. By Gareth Willmer There is no mistaking Cristina Aleixendri’s enthusiasm – and competence – when it comes to talking about how wind-assisted shipping is on the verge of making a planet-changing comeback. Aleixendri founded a company called bound4blue with two fellow Spaniards … Read more

Electric cars dangle the promise of earning money for their drivers

Needed to clean up road transport, battery-powered vehicles might also act as stored energy that the car owners could sell to electricity networks. By  HELEN MASSY-BERESFORD While drivers considering an electric vehicle (EV) might imagine the main benefit being less air pollution from their own journeys, EV batteries could also make money for car owners – … Read more

Finnish and French cities chart Europe’s path to clean energy

As Europe strives to become the first climate-neutral continent by 2050, Turku and Dijon are among a group of cities seeking to reach this goal two decades earlier. By  GARETH WILLMER In 2029, Finland’s oldest city, Turku, will celebrate reaching the grand old age of 800. At the same time, it hopes to reach another major … Read more

Psychedelic drugs, monkey brains and rescue drones to feature in cutting-edge research

Five experts who appeared in Horizon Magazine in 2022 outline how their areas of activity will evolve in the coming year and more. By VITTORIA D’ALESSIO From more fresh water and less depression to life-saving drones and thought-interpreting scans, 2023 promises to be a big year in science. Still, don’t expect to fly in a … Read more

Heavy-duty trucks drive clean hydrogen to the next level

Greenhouse gas emissions have been declining steadily in the EU in recent years, dropping by over a quarter between 1990 and 2019. However, transport is one sector that has bucked the trend, despite advances in technology. By  GARETH WILLMER Long before city dwellers complained about air pollution and carbon emissions, they moaned about mounds of manure … Read more