Known as the “Hub City,” Lubbock, Texas, is one of the state’s two metropolises in the South Plains regions, with the other being Amarillo. Lubbock’s nickname stems from its centrality to the cultural and economic life of the region as well as its geographic proximity...
From powering the cars that take us to work to sending people into space, energy impacts everything around us. But with rising fuel prices and increasing concern about climate change, people are looking for ways to use less of it. What does energy conservation look...
Natural gas is an important source of fuel that helps power our lives. But like oil, coal, and other fossil fuels, its supply is finite and will eventually run out, a fact that distinguishes it from renewable sources of energy like wind or solar. That said, natural...
At some point, we’ve probably all slumped on the sofa and thought: “Today, I’ve just got no energy.” Psychologically, that statement may be correct. But scientifically, it’s wrong. Why? Because any person relaxing on the couch has potential energy, whether they know...
When it was first developed, nuclear energy was seen as a promising way of ensuring access to affordable and abundant power. But many questions remain about nuclear energy, particularly around how it works and whether it’s safe. Let’s take a closer look at nuclear...
By now, it has become common knowledge that reducing greenhouse gas emissions and lowering atmospheric carbon dioxide is an important part of combating climate change. Renewable energies are energy sources, like wind and solar, that are self-replenishing. Because...
To truly grasp kinetic energy, we must first break down potential energy. There are two primary potential energy types. Elastic potential energy happens when we compress or stretch something, like a spring or an archer’s bow. A bow has potential energy, which...
Geothermal energy refers to any of a family of different technologies used to draw energy from the Earth’s heat. Its clean and efficient nature has drawn the attention of the U.S. Department of Energy, and it has garnered enthusiastic support among those who favor the...
Solar power is undergoing a boom in the United States. On average, solar generation capacity has grown by a third in every year of the past decade. The country has 140 gigawatts (GW) of solar capacity, enough to provide renewable energy to over 25 million homes....
Of the many ways we can combat climate change, one of the most promising and consequential is to limit emissions of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide. It’s no surprise, then, that quite a lot of effort is spent devising new ways to effect an energy transition away...