News – Page 31

Solar energy center aids product development

Written on February 13, 2009.

UC Irvine scientists believe sunlight is the fuel of the future. Jennifer Fitzenberger, University Communications UC Irvine scientists believe sunlight is the fuel of the future. UCI launched its Center for Solar Energy in 2007 with a $3.9 million gift from the California Community Foundation. The center, in the School of Physical Sciences, blends biology, chemistry, physics and engineering to find new, better ways to turn solar energy into useable chemical and electrical energy. Chemists...

Fueling the hydrogen highway

Written on February 9, 2009.

Scott Samuelsen is UC Irvine’s go-to guy on fuel cell and hydrogen technology. Jennifer Fitzenberger, University Communications Scott Samuelsen is UC Irvine’s go-to guy on fuel cell and hydrogen technology. Samuelsen led the development of UCI’s hydrogen fueling station, the most technologically advanced, publicly accessible station in the world. It was the first of its kind in Orange County, and it is a key component of the California Hydrogen Highway Network. The station can...

Termite insecticide a potent greenhouse gas

Written on January 20, 2009.

An insecticide used to fumigate termite-infested buildings is a strong greenhouse gas that lives in the atmosphere nearly 10 times longer than previously thought, UC Irvine research has found. Jennifer Fitzenberger, University Communications An insecticide used to fumigate termite-infested buildings is a strong greenhouse gas that lives in the atmosphere nearly 10 times longer than previously thought, UC Irvine research has found. Sulfuryl fluoride, UCI chemists discovered, stays in...

Kicking the oil habit

Written on January 1, 2009.

Jennifer Fitzenberger and Jason Mednick, University Communications Can the U.S. cure its addiction to oil? To help wean the country from its petroleum habit, UC Irvine researchers have been working to find viable sources of alternative energy – from deep in the earth to the sun. Here, researchers Scott Samuelsen, Reg Penner and Derek Dunn-Rankin discuss their work on transforming solar power, fuel cells and coal into low-cost energy sources for the future. SCOTT SAMUELSEN: FUELING THE...

South to the pole

Written on December 15, 2008.

UC Irvine chemist Murat Aydin will spend his holiday drilling into the South Pole’s thick ice to collect trapped air that is up to 100 years old. Jennifer Fitzenberger, University Communications UC Irvine chemist Murat Aydin will spend his holiday drilling into the South Pole’s thick ice to collect trapped air that is up to 100 years old. His goal: to analyze trace amounts of gases to see how their levels have changed over time. “It’s almost like studying history – the history...

Drought, deforestation link fuels climate change

Written on December 8, 2008.

In the rainforests of equatorial Asia, the practice of using fire to clear forests and destroy organic soil increases substantially in dry years, releasing huge amounts of climate-warming carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, according to a new international study analyzing six years of weather and fire observations. Jennifer Fitzenberger, University Communications In the rainforests of equatorial Asia, the practice of using fire to clear forests and destroy organic soil increases substantially...

Bacteria teach evolution, climate adaptation

Written on December 8, 2008.

How will Earth’s tiniest organisms adapt to climate warming? UC Irvine scientists are consulting bacteria in an effort to find out. How will Earth’s tiniest organisms adapt to climate warming? UC Irvine scientists are consulting bacteria in an effort to find out. By warming E. coli and studying how their offspring evolve at higher temperatures, biologists can watch an accelerated evolutionary process and learn how bacteria adapt to warming – and what they lose in the process. For...

Working on water

Written on December 3, 2008.

If David Feldman has his way, you could soon be working with water policy managers and scientists to allocate California’s precious liquid resource. If David Feldman has his way, you could soon be working with water policy managers and scientists to allocate California’s precious liquid resource. Feldman, chair of planning, policy & design, studies how communities and jurisdictions deal with conflicts over water. He says problems are only solvable by enlisting American consumers...

Water winners

Written on December 3, 2008.

UC Irvine and other organizations recently challenged Orange County students to “imagine life without water” and create multimedia projects promoting water conservation in California. Laura Rico, University Communications UC Irvine and other organizations recently challenged Orange County students to “imagine life without water” and create multimedia projects promoting water conservation in California. Winners were announced Wednesday at the Water Innovation Now awards ceremony...

Tackling the looming water crisis

Written on November 25, 2008.

Population growth, climate variations and urbanization have the potential to cause chronic water shortages in a growing number of regions worldwide. Population growth, climate variations and urbanization have the potential to cause chronic water shortages in a growing number of regions worldwide. “Water Unifies,” a five-day international conference co-hosted by UC Irvine beginning Monday, Dec.1, will bring experts together to share innovative solutions and identify water resources and management...