April 16, 2012 - I don't know about you, but I've had my doubts about Steven Chu at various points along the way. He has sometimes come across as a "go along to get along" kind of guy. (Then again, it may be naive of me to believe that science and politics shouldn't have a bearing on one another.) Be that as it may, sometimes all it takes is one good idea to make a world of difference. Chu, U.S. Secretary of Energy, is enjoying a bit of recognition these days for an idea he proposed two years ago while speaking to the Royal Society of London. A team of scientists, led by Dr. Hashem Akberi of Concordia University in Canada, has since delved into Chu's proposal. Their conclusion? It's the real deal. Beautiful in its simplicity, Chu's suggestion sounds eminently doable. By painting roofs white, and by paving roads with light-colored materials, Chu says gargantuan amounts of energy can be saved. As much energy, in fact, as wo...
Understanding the global-warming world: causes and ramifications.