Apollo News Snippets – January 2024

Advancements in research and technology are pushing the envelope when it comes to batteries and their longevity. Scientists also developed a device that can produce clean water and fuel from salt water and sunlight; while salt once again comes into play with salt-based nuclear reactors bringing us closer to a sustainable energy future. Read about these topics and more in the articles below:
Low-cost perovskite solar cells one step closer to reality with new synthesis method.
Soap-like structures could hold promise for longer lasting batteries.
This floating device produces clean water and fuel from salt water and sunlight.
‘Old’ battery technology gets a fresh look and makeover.
Salt-based nuclear reactors could help bridge path to a sustainable energy future.
New efficiency record set for perovskite solar cells.
This smaller solid-state battery uses safer metallic lithium for the anodes.
Major improvement in storage capacity of supercapacitors.

The NOAA extreme weather map shows that Hong Kong reported its second-warmest November on record while Japan noted its warmest autumn on record. The 2023 Atlantic hurricane season saw an above-average number of named storms but near-normal numbers of hurricanes and major hurricanes. (Image Credit: NOAA Global Climate Report)

The November 2023 NOAA Global Climate Report has been released and reveals plenty of reason to be concerned. The November 2023 average global surface temperature ranked the highest for the month of November since global records started being kept in 1850, which is the eighth consecutive month to exhibit such record-setting high temps. South America, Africa and Asia each experienced their warmest November on record. November 2023 ranked second warmest on record for North America and fifth warmest for Oceania. Europe tied with 2003 levels to experience its 15th warmest November on record. Temperatures were above average across most of North America, western and southern Europe, Oceania and the Arctic. Sea surface temperatures were above average across much of the northern and western Pacific, as well as the central and southern Atlantic and the western Indian Oceans. Record-warm temperatures covered nearly 13% of the world’s surface this November, which was the highest percentage for November since the start of records in 1951. Sea surface temperatures were near to below average across parts of the southeastern Pacific Ocean, the eastern Indian Ocean and the northern Atlantic Ocean. Less than 1 percent of the world’s surface set a record-cold in November.

Were you aware that January 11th is National Human Trafficking Awareness Day? I wasn’t either! In honor of this important subject, our Google search of the month was “GIS and National Human Trafficking Awareness Day.” As always, we found research investigating the relationship between human trafficking and ports of entry by Connor Wardrop at Grand Valley State University. The study uses the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program data and GIS mapping to determine if reports of human trafficking are higher in areas at international ports of entry.