How to stop climate catastrophe _ What the Future

Researchers at Harvard and Yale have proposed a plan to reduce global warming by spraying massive amounts of sulfate particles into the air. The idea, known as stratospheric aerosol injection, involves releasing sulfate particles about 12 miles above the earth's surface. Proponents of the plan claim that it could cut the rate of global warming in half. However, critics argue that this technology does not exist yet and would have unintended consequences such as worsening droughts, damaging crops, and extreme weather events.

On a related note, Canadian-based company Carbon Engineering has been working on a solution to capture CO2 from the atmosphere and convert it into carbon-neutral fuel for transportation. The company's pilot plant in British Columbia has successfully removed CO2 from the air and turned it into fuel for almost a year now. If fossil fuels need to be phased out to avoid climate catastrophe, these carbon-neutral fuels could potentially take their place.

Technology alone will not stop climate catastrophe; it is just one piece of the puzzle. Policy plays a major role in addressing this issue, and the Green New Deal has been a concept that has been discussed for over a decade. The term "Green New Deal" was first used to describe a potential stimulus package addressing environmental and financial crises. Recently, efforts have been made by activist groups, including the Sunrise Movement and Justice Democrats, to bring attention to this idea.

The Sunrise Movement and Justice Democrats have named themselves after FDR's New Deal, with the aim of creating a similar economic stimulus package that would focus on decarbonizing America's most polluting industries. The proposal aims to get the United States operating on 100 percent renewable energy in ten years. It would also invest in capturing greenhouse gases, make green technology a major export of the United States, and create thousands of green jobs.

In recent months, Democratic leaders have been pushing for the creation of a select committee that would draft legislation for a Green New Deal. Representatives who reject fossil fuel donations have expressed support for this idea. So far, 12 representatives have signed on in support. Supporters of the Green New Deal encourage viewers to reach out to their representatives and express support for creating a select committee.

In an area that may seem like science fiction, researchers at MIT have successfully tested an electric plane with no moving parts. The aircraft was propelled by electro-aerodynamic propulsion (EAD) - also known as an EAD thruster. This technology creates a high voltage across two electrodes, causing ions to flow from the smaller electrode to the larger one. This generates thrust for the aircraft. MIT researchers say that the next step is to develop these ion thrusters to be used alongside traditional propulsion systems.

NASA's latest Mars mission has successfully landed on the planet and is sending back images of the Martian surface. The Insight probe carries a seismometer, which will measure seismic waves and map out the interior structure of Mars. A wind and thermal shield will protect the seismometer from the elements. A heat flow and physical properties probe will drill about 16 feet into the planet's surface to measure the temperature of Mars. An onboard radio experiment will measure the wobble of the Martian poles as the planet rotates.

As researchers continue to gather data on Mars, they are also sharing their own reactions to the images. Douglas Warren cracked jokes about NASA's nat season on Mars, saying it might be a joke but assuming it was meant to be funny. Maurice artist joked that Mars looks flat and said "if flat Mars aren't a real thing yet I'm sure they will be in the near future." Brian Lloyd Coco Estrada took a more lighthearted approach, joking that NASA could have just sent them a photo of their backyard instead.

In conclusion, researchers are working on various technologies to address climate change and explore other planets. The development of these technologies is an exciting area of research, but it is also important to acknowledge the role of policy in addressing this issue.