global briefs Saving the Fading Night Sky Solar Community Hubs


The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History "Lights Out" exhibit, in Washington, D.C., is helping people understand that light pollution is a global problem with broad impact. The effects of light pollution go beyond our diminishing view of the stars; it also impacts ecosystems and cultures on Earth. The exhibit features more than 100 photographs, nearly 250 objects, a history of human-made light, interactive experiences, tactile models and a theater program to discover why dark nights matter, rekindle a connection with the night sky and consider how much light at night is enough.


Astronomers rely on light, both visible and invisible, to understand celestial bodies, and their view of the universe has become increasingly obstructed by artificial light. Biologists have observed light pollution’s toll on plants and animals—from harming coral reefs’ moonlight- triggered reproduction to bats’ ability to pollinate flowers and the grim consequences of disoriented migrating birds. Another area of the exhibition presents people’s ancient and modern-day connections to the night sky through photographs, stories and cultural items. Visitors also learn about simple but meaningful actions they can take to reduce light pollution, such as aiming outdoor lights downward and using the dimmest settings.


Nearly half of the world’s population has no access to the internet. Dell Technologies, in partnership with Computer Aid International, is addressing the gap for people that might benefit the most. They convert old shipping containers into customizable, solar-powered internet centers, called “solar community hubs”, that connect community members to the digital world. The hubs are well-lit, well-ventilated classrooms that use energy- efficient Dell technology and air-cooled servers. Each hub supports up to 40 people at a time and offers up to 20 users a wireless connection to learning materials. The hubs provide digital skills to further education and open economic opportunities for the local community; allow micro and small enterprises to create jobs; and enable financial sustainability by offering services and products that go beyond education, such as telemedicine. The first hub was placed in the Brazilian Amazon town of Boa Esperança in March 2022. Dell and the Foundation for Amazon Sustainability also installed equipment, including drones and environmental monitors, to track deforestation in the area. During the first week of March 2023, more than 200 alerts about tree loss were posted from Boa Esperança. Three hubs currently exist in Brazil and South Africa, and Dell will soon add two hubs in Egypt that are focused on career and life skills, as well as another in Australia, centered on preserving and protecting Aboriginal art and culture.


Repairing the Planet’s Lungs The oceans, sometimes called the lungs of the Earth, have absorbed 30 percent of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions since the Industrial Revolution and captured 90 percent of the related excess heat. Seawater stores about 150 times more CO2 than air. Unfortunately, absorbing all that greenhouse gas has damaged sea life.


Engineers from the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) have developed a process to cleanse the seawater


of CO2 so it can store greater amounts of greenhouse gases. The process sends an electric charge into seawater flowing through tanks on a barge. The charge sets off chemical reactions to trap the greenhouse gas into a solid mineral, which is then deposited on the ocean floor, completing the cleansing process. The engineers expect to design larger facilities based on the data obtained from their test sites in Los Angeles and


Singapore and have commercial sites removing millions of tons of CO2 per year by 2025. The UCLA scientists estimate that 1,800 facilities would be needed to capture 10 billion tons of atmospheric CO2 annually beginning in 2050, thereby limiting the global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius.


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photo courtesy of Dell_Technologies__community


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