globalbriefs


Planet Power Scientists May Harvest Energy from Earth’s Infrared Emissions


Physicists at the Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) are developing a device described in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences that would harvest energy from Earth’s infrared


emissions into outer space. The power is modest, but tangible. Steven J. Byrnes, a postdoctoral fellow at SEAS, points out, “The device could be coupled with a solar cell, for example, to obtain extra power at night without extra installation costs.” Heated by the sun, our planet is very warm compared to the frigid depths of space. Thanks to recent technological advances such as plasmonics and nanofabrication, and new materials like graphene, the researchers say this heat imbalance could soon be transformed into direct current (DC) power, taking advantage of an untapped, virtually limitless energy source.


Source: ScienceDaily.com


Green Envy Don’t Be So Quick to Bash the Rich


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A survey at social research site Queendom.com reveals that stereotypes of the richest class of society as being uniformly selfi sh individuals are not entirely accurate. It seems that having money does not necessarily mean that a person has an overactive ego. Actor Will Smith, with an estimated net worth of $200 million, observes, “Money and success don’t change people; they merely amplify what is already there.” Queendom data shows a difference of only a few percentage points between respondents of varying income levels in matters of altruism such as doing and returning favors, putting themselves in others’ shoes, sympathy and empathy. The area where those in a higher socioeconomic status rank at the top is in charitable contributions. Ilona Jerabek, president of parent company PsychTests AIM, says, “Our personality impacts every aspect of our life—the choices we make, the people we surround ourselves with, the career we pursue, the way we respond to life experiences, the way we manage our fi nances and whether or not we share our good fortune.” Take the survey at Tinyurl.com/AltruismTest.


Feeding Hope Recognizing Restaurants that Support the Homeless


Food Recovery Certifi ed is a new program that rewards restaurants that donate their extra food to those in need with a sticker on their front door. It’s a project of The Food Recovery Network, a national system of college students that takes cafeteria leftovers to homeless people. Founder Ben Simon started the group in 2011 at the University of Maryland, and the network has


saved more than 320,000 pounds of food from the dump in its fi rst three years. If a restaurant donates unsold food to the hungry at least once a month, it can apply for the certifi cation. Then Food Recovery Certifi ed verifi es with local nonprofi ts that the donations actually occur before awarding its approval. Simon states, “Every food business should be donating its extra food.” For more information, visit FoodRecoveryCertifi ed.org.


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