clean energy

OCEAN 61

The editor’s choice article “Unique Concept in Green Energy” by researcher Abigail Eilar, explores the use of sand batteries for green energy.

OCEAN 61 shares an inside look at some of our Interns this year. We also recommend an unusual article regarding fish falling from the sky and the explanation leaves me unconvinced, my opinion. Living on Cape Cod, the concept of a “Sand Battery” also caught my attention. OCEAN newsletter never has advertising and never will, as it is self-funded, to be shared by our readers and their friends. Thank you to our Associate Editor Catie Urquhart and Research Coordinator Jessica Hillman and thanks to you, our readers for enjoying and sharing our efforts. Safe Harbor is a small, interdisciplinary environmental consulting group, located on Duck Creek Marsh, in Wellfleet on Cape Cod.

Algae Blooms on Cape Cod

Healthy Flour

Deadly Rain in Death Valley

Intern Feature

Editor’s Final Thoughts

OCEAN 61 Articles

New Clam in the Neighborhood

"No Mow" Lawns

Crabs Living in a Time Warp

When Fish Actually Fell out of the Sky

Unique Concept in Green Energy

OCEAN 49

Innovative vehicle that emits only water

Innovative vehicle that emits only water

Editor’s Comments:

This issue is dedicated to young people our researchers have discovered around the world, who are stepping up to try and make a difference. We can ask nothing more from them, or of ourselves. Safe Harbor's experiment with Whale disentanglement research is included, as well as some women surfer film makers who discovered some inspirational children trying to make a difference in "paradise".

~Gordon Peabody, Editor

Ocean 49 Articles

Vehicle emitting only H2O

Sargassum in the Caribbean

Blue Crabs in Florida

Indonesian students tackle microplastics

Low-tech ropeless fishing gear

Clean water from sunlight

OCEAN 47

Jenifer Wilcox, the author of a new book on capturing carbon from the atmosphere. She also has a 14-min TED talk about the topic.

Jenifer Wilcox, the author of a new book on capturing carbon from the atmosphere. She also has a 14-min TED talk about the topic.

Editor’s Comments:

This 47th issue offers some of our research on close to home and far away issues, including insights into unexpected mysteries and some unique innovations. We have also included a section on “CHASING ZERO”, tracking sometimes mysterious changes in Carbon news. We are also grateful for recent dispatches: from Dr. Robert Mayer Arzuaga, from the University of Puerto Rico, who is restoring Hurricane ravaged beaches in Puerto Rico and had some great news about the Biomimicry sand restoration system they were using, which was developed on Cape Cod; and from Keegan Burke, previous Safe Harbor Intern, who is now waking up at 3:30 AM and carrying Bear Spray, in Legendary Yellowstone National Park.

~Gordon Peabody, Editor

Ocean 47 Articles

Carbon Sequestration

Trash wheel in Baltimore

Human plastic consumption through filter feeders

EU bans single-use plastics

Warming water off Maine

“Avocado plastic” innovation

Hydrogen powered trains

Seabird and dolphin deaths in Peru

Disappearing baby penguins

Hurricanes relocating

OCEAN 46

Magellanic penguins are becoming stuck in their southern feeding grounds, and losing a disproportionate number of females because of it.

Magellanic penguins are becoming stuck in their southern feeding grounds, and losing a disproportionate number of females because of it.

Editor’s Comments:

Though it seems we may not need any more climate records to be broken in the near future, they are appearing nonetheless. Our readers are entitled to the truth about events happening on this tiny planet, yet we still debated sharing the Australia Weather article by OCEAN Researcher Rae Taylor Burns. Another article featured in this issue describes Pacific crab Fishermen asking 30 fossil fuel companies to bear consequences of changes in their fishery. We are also glad to share some good ideas of making plastic bags from sea weed and using nets over outfall culverts to trap plastic before it reaches our Oceans.

~Gordon Peabody, Editor

OCEAN 46 Articles

Sea Level Rise

Flooding and fires in Australia

Kelp Farming

Economic cost of storms

LED low energy boat lights

Fishermen sue over climate change

Changing penguin habitats

Invasive trees in Arizona

Catching plastic in drainage pipes

Plastic bags from seaweed

OCEAN 44

Innovators in Ghana create electricity from root vegetables

Innovators in Ghana create electricity from root vegetables

Editor’s Comments:

Our Ocean-Atmosphere environmental systems are not just linked to each other but connect all the plants and animals together in those systems. Some of our articles in OCEAN 44 confirm these relationships. Many of us in New England consider mussels the “Poor Man’s Oyster” but recent research in the UK is disturbing. Another article I did not want to read is Lauren Goodwin’s “wake up” article on plastics getting trapped in the stomachs of seabirds, contributing to their starvation. We are also sharing an “unable to sleep at night” article about the mysterious proliferation of lizards in Florida.

~Gordon Peabody, Editor

Ocean 44 Articles

Plastics causing starvation in seabirds

Great Pacific Garbage Patch

Red tides in Florida

Hot rain

Rising temperatures in the Gulf of Maine

Sunscreen harms coral reefs

Invasive rats infesting reefs

Space debris

Eating invasive Green Crabs

Humans eating plastic from mussels

Electricity from root vegetables

OCEAN 42

Oyster farmer on Martha’s Vineyard begins to farm kelp as a sustainable addition to his farm

Oyster farmer on Martha’s Vineyard begins to farm kelp as a sustainable addition to his farm

Editor’s Comments:

In OCEAN 42, we recommend our “CLOSE TO HOME” article, as we continue to investigate the emerging, Regional, economic potential for Sugar Kelp farming. Along with OCEAN Research Coordinator Jess Hillman, we visited a working, Sugar Kelp farm on Martha’s Vineyard. We agreed it was a “fluke” that three ferry boats broke down that day (fortunately the sea farmers were patient). This issue also introduces our OCEAN 2018 Environmental Invention Award: Making electricity from raindrops. Also in this issue, while Palm Oil agriculture has been growing at 20% annually, no one it seems, has been minding the externalities, such as pesticides.

~Gordon Peabody, Editor.

Ocean 42 Articles

Drilling for energy causing radioactive rivers

Palm oil destroying forests

Flooding in Paris

Invasive flower in Iceland

Cape Town in South Africa running low on water

Preventing bird deaths on windows

Warming winters in Russia

Electricity from raindrops

Kelp added to oyster farm in Martha’s Vineyard

OCEAN 41

Transparent solar panels developed at the University of Michigan may allow solar energy to be gathered from the sides of buildings

Transparent solar panels developed at the University of Michigan may allow solar energy to be gathered from the sides of buildings

Editor’s Comments:

In our very large world, juvenile salmon in the Puget Sound are reminding us that we live in a closed system. Over 80 drugs and health care products have been found in their flesh; a sobering article by Rae Taylor-Burns. We also look at transparent solar cells; and a “Boots on the Ground” first person report from SoCal, where they thought wild fires were the worst of their problems. Coastal Communities share the same challenges and should be sharing solutions. Our article on Living Shorelines introduces a sustainable coastal erosion alternative.

~Gordon Peabody, Editor

OCEAN 41 Articles

Warm seas turn Green Sea Turtles female

California wildfires

Drugs Found in Seattle Salmon

Antelopes mysteriously die-off

"iRecycle" APP

Climate Change Altering Arctic Food Chain

Shore Lines Protect U.S. Naval Bases

 Microbeads Banned in U.K.

 Transpartent Solar Panels

OCEAN 39

“Gravity Light”, an new, innovative light fixture that uses gravity for power

“Gravity Light”, an new, innovative light fixture that uses gravity for power

Editor’s Comments:

We are proud to share our 39th issue of OCEAN, showcasing solar powered tents, created by inner city High School girls through a grant from MIT. Check out our blog to get caught up on our research for biodegradable balloons; our response to the Caribbean Hurricanes; and why neonicotinoid pesticides seem to be in 75% of honey tested.

~Gordon Peabody, Editor

Ocean 39 Articles

Solar-powered tents for the homeless

Gravity Light

CO2 Level Rise

Shrinking Whales

Droughts in China

Home-remedy for Lyme disease

One, hot El Niño year

OCEAN 38

An “edible water bottle” designed by the Skipping Rocks Lab in London

An “edible water bottle” designed by the Skipping Rocks Lab in London

Editor’s comments:

OCEAN 38 explores an extraordinary concept we all wish we had thought of: Edible water containers. We are also sharing an innovative technology we had never thought of, which grows vegetables from trash. We are continuing to track the Pacific Ocean's incredible thermal energy near Peru and updating our readers on how the neonicitinoid pesticides we were concerned about with Bees, seem to be appearing in some of our drinking water.

~Gordon Peabody, Editor.

Ocean 38 Articles

Carbon capture to enhance vegetable growth

Flooding in Peru

Edible water container

Neonicotinonids found in US drinking water

Conserving water: tips

Drinking seawater

New law in France requiring green roofs

OCEAN 37

The “Water-Seer”, a wind-powered collection system for drinking water, designed by VICI Labs

The “Water-Seer”, a wind-powered collection system for drinking water, designed by VICI Labs

Editor’s Comments:

Difficult problems inspire innovative solutions: “Wind Powered Drinking Water”, the recipient of the 2017 OCEAN Environmental Innovation Award is not what you may think. In our “can of worms department”, one of our lead Researchers has taken an educational look into recent changes in ocean Oxygen levels. As well as hot news from the Arctic; unraveling some of the mysteries of changing Bird migrations; and a continuing exploration of a new economic engine in our coastal economy: Sugar Kelp. A future issue explores Kelp beds reducing wave energy.

~Gordon Peabody, Editor

Ocean 37 Articles

Climate change & bird migrations

Sugar kelp potential as commercial crop

Heat wave in the Arctic

Climate change on Cape Cod

Pesticide use awareness

Are humans eating microplastics?

Wind-powered drinking water

Ocean oxygen depletion

Bolivian locusts destroy crops

Bicycle powered homes

Thousands of fracking spills

OCEAN 36

U.K. currency has caused a stir, due to the fact that its bank notes include tallow, which is derived from animal fat. One business in Camebridge has refused to accept any currency using this material.

U.K. currency has caused a stir, due to the fact that its bank notes include tallow, which is derived from animal fat. One business in Camebridge has refused to accept any currency using this material.

Editor’s Comments:

OCEAN 36 shares an intriguing collection of environmental topics: A nation's changeover to longer lasting currency hits a speed bump when bills are rejected by a Vegetarian cafe; A good idea for recycling used water from oil companies to farmers has unintended results; We finally have edible bags and in the UK, which we consider the Canary in the Climate Change coal mine, they once again experience flooding of historic proportions. The success of this e newsletter would not be possible without our readers, who share it with their friends.

~ Gordon Peabody, Editor

Ocean 36 Articles

New “attractive” wind turbines

Mass mortality of frogs

Edible plastic bags

100-year flood in UK

Vegetarian-friendly currency

“Wastewater” clementines in California

Curious loss of sea ice

Pumped-storage hydropower using gravity

OCEAN 35

Fisheries in Maine are attempting to create a new fishery out of the invasive Green Crab

Fisheries in Maine are attempting to create a new fishery out of the invasive Green Crab

Editor’s Comments:

OCEAN 35 shares some intriguing environmental concepts: People in Maine are starting to eat invasive crabs; NYC is experimenting with old toilets to grow oysters; someone developed a thermal powered piston for controlling greenhouse ventilation and why has it taken so long to come up with edible six pack rings? You will also find breaking updates on previous articles: Bees; Hand Sanitizers and Plastic Microbeads. And we also took a closer look at the 1,000 year rainfall event in Louisiana.

~Gordon Peabody, Editor of OCEAN

Ocean 35 Articles

Edible six pack rings

Oyster habitat restoration in New York

Greener Greenhouses

Invasive Green Crabs in Maine

CO2 increasing in atmosphere

Triclosan update

France ban on disposable plates

Microbeads

Oklahoma earthquakes

Louisiana 1,000 year flood

Bee-kind update

OCEAN 34

The California Sand Fire destroyed thousands of homes and acres of land this summer

The California Sand Fire destroyed thousands of homes and acres of land this summer

Editor’s comments:

OCEAN 34 celebrates 10 years of publishing OCEAN environmental e-newsletter. This is your newsletter and our success has only been possible through your support and sharing of each issue. Our main article on African Dust may seem an eccentric indulgence of research, until some surprising pieces begin falling together. Using foot power to do your laundry and generating electricity by flushing your toilet, showcase innovative energy developments. Water is a defining element in our World, especially when it vanishes and we take a closer look at two drought events: One contributed to the unprecedented CA wildfires and the other generated ecological stress in the Amazon.

~Gordon Peabody, Editor

Ocean 34 Articles

Amazon Carbon Sink

Hydroelectric power innovation

California Sand Fire

Foot-powered laundry

Unmanned aerial vehicles in wildlife research

Toxic Algae Blooms in Florida

Summer heat on Cape Cod

Traveling African dust

OCEAN 33

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Editor’s Comments:

OCEAN 33 We are envious of the “live smaller, live better, take it anywhere” concept our researcher Noelle Marston uncovered and brought to our attention. Rae Taylor Burns explores solar powered road surfaces, while Brigid McKenna takes a close look at links between Atlantic Ocean temperature changes and plankton. Closer to home, Cape Cod’s Oak trees have been eaten alive by caterpillars and we investigated the details of what has been referred to as “Caterpillar Winter”.

~Gordon Peabody, Editor  

Ocean 33 Articles

Solar Innovations

Water from air

Rising temperatures and Madden Oscillations

Ruth Leeney and African sawfishes

Carbon flux

Caterpillars in New England