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SweetLightning
@sweetlightningnews.bsky.social
1.5K followers 7K following 110 posts
Find the facts that fuel the climate fight!

Accurate and entertaining newsletter on energy and the environment. We dig deep into primary research so you don’t have to.

Free subscriptions at www.sweetlightning.eco.
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sweetlightningnews.bsky.social
We can lower airline emissions by improving the drag performance of airplanes.

#climate #climatechange #climatefight #globalwarming #decarbonization #energy #fossilfuels #renewables #science #engineering #environment

www.sweetlightning.eco/flying-its-a...
Flying: It's a Drag
We’re stuck with airliners powered by fossil fuels for now, but we can significantly cut emissions with innovations that reduce aerodynamic drag.
www.sweetlightning.eco
June 10, 2026 at 10:01 PM
sweetlightningnews.bsky.social
Solar PV for parking lots: not exciting, but slowly it makes a difference.

#climate #climatechange #climatefight #globalwarming #decarbonization #energy #fossilfuels #renewables #science #engineering #environment

www.sweetlightning.eco/how-policy-i...
How Policy Is Like the Tide
Policy might seem slow and boring, but sometimes it's the most effective action. Solar PV for parking lots is a good example.
www.sweetlightning.eco
May 3, 2026 at 1:29 PM
sweetlightningnews.bsky.social
For #silentsunday, this #nature photo of the #SalishSea. Not much happening, which can sometimes be everything.
Silent islands in the Salish Sea.
May 3, 2026 at 1:21 PM
sweetlightningnews.bsky.social
Bad judgement in governance and ignorance of ecology are not unique to 2026. A story from 1956.

Free newsletter on energy and the environment.

#birds #environment #science #climate #extinction
Everybody comes to fight sparrows
If you subdue the Earth, it'll subdue you back.
www.sweetlightning.eco
April 10, 2026 at 2:55 PM
sweetlightningnews.bsky.social
This might just help solve our big plastic problem. Fish and chips and dissolved polyethylene. Yum.

#plastic #environment #science #climate

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Turning Plastic Waste Into Vinegar
One solution to plastic waste might not have any downside.
www.sweetlightning.eco
April 2, 2026 at 4:54 PM
sweetlightningnews.bsky.social
"Digital Twins," real-time, live-feedback monitoring of complicated systems, can lower #carbon footprints. #globalwarming #climate #science #climatechange

Please subscribe to our free newsletter on #energy and the #environment.
Digital Twins, Enabled by Technology Advances, Lower Carbon Footprints
Advances in computer modelling, distributed sensor technology, AI, and the Internet of Things combine to act as digital twins of buildings, processes, and systems for better control and reduced greenh...
www.sweetlightning.eco
April 1, 2026 at 6:47 PM
sweetlightningnews.bsky.social
Wanna keep your eye on the #climate fight? Here are two key #climatechange measurements and a bit about the #science behind them.

#globalwarming #fossilfuels

www.sweetlightning.eco/the-road-mor...
The Road More Travelled
Back there a ways, two roads diverged. Maybe the one less-travelled would have been a better idea.
www.sweetlightning.eco
March 18, 2026 at 7:35 PM
sweetlightningnews.bsky.social
Environmental reality is less forgiving than economic spreadsheets.

#climate #climatechange #science #economics #environment #globalwarming #ecology

www.sweetlightning.eco/externalities/
Externalities
Is your life really worth nothing?
www.sweetlightning.eco
February 25, 2026 at 5:15 PM
Reposted by SweetLightning
p-s-v.bsky.social
Voyager 1 greeting from 170 AU (25,5 billion km)
1.2.26

it takes almost 24 hours for the signal to get to Earth.

live
www.youtube.com/watch?v=SkRS...
amsat-dl.org AMSAT-DL @amsat-dl.org · Feb 1
VOYAGER-1 live on the YouTube stream from Bochum.
February 2, 2026 at 3:58 PM
sweetlightningnews.bsky.social
In all the energy we use planet-wide, how much is renewable?

www.sweetlightning.eco/how-much-ren...

#climate #climatechange #climatefight #globalwarming #decarbonization #energy #fossilfuels #renewables #science #engineering
How much renewable energy do we use?
Probably less than you think.
www.sweetlightning.eco
February 4, 2026 at 1:01 AM
sweetlightningnews.bsky.social
When you want to compare internal combustion cars to electrics, the engineer's "efficiency" view offers remarkable insights.

#climate #climatefight #climatechange #globalwarming #co2 #energy #fossilfuels #science #engineering #climateaction #electriccars

www.sweetlightning.eco/efficiency-a...
Efficiency - A Little Bit Goes a Long Way
Like comedian Rodney Dangerfield, energy efficiency "don't get no respect," but it deserves more policy attention and more widespread application.
www.sweetlightning.eco
January 29, 2026 at 5:23 AM
sweetlightningnews.bsky.social
Standing here, silently, is therapy all by itself.

#SilentSunday #water #peace #light
Standing on a dock looking out to the Salish Sea on a cool winter's night. Lights from docked sailboats reflect in the water. In the distance, quiet music and muted voices make the peace seem complete.
January 19, 2026 at 6:54 PM
sweetlightningnews.bsky.social
EV motors: dive into the state of the art. Do we REALLY need all those scarce heavy metals?

www.sweetlightning.eco/stator-the-a...

#climate #climatefight #climatechange #globalwarming #CO2 #fossilfuels #science #engineering #climateaction
Stator The Art: The Electric Motors In Your EV
Electric motors are fundamental to modern civilization and will become even more important as we increasingly electrify to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
www.sweetlightning.eco
January 16, 2026 at 7:04 PM
sweetlightningnews.bsky.social
Torque wars: electric vs internal combustion.

#climate #technology #history #climatechange #EV #car #internalcombustion #energy #environment

www.sweetlightning.eco/torque-wars/

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Torque wars
Electric motors make a comeback.
www.sweetlightning.eco
January 15, 2026 at 10:31 PM
sweetlightningnews.bsky.social
Quest for a large-scale gravity-powered ore train shows how scientific research and real-world applications work together to produce results.

#climate #climatefight #climatechange #globalwarming #energy #environment #methane #co2 #research #transportation
No One Said It Would Be Easy
An Australian mining company's first attempt to build an entirely gravity-powered ore train doesn't quite work (yet), but we shouldn't be discouraged.
www.sweetlightning.eco
December 16, 2025 at 7:13 PM
sweetlightningnews.bsky.social
Measurement helps with the climate fight. Article for subscribers only ... but subscription is free, and you are welcome to join us.

#climate #climatefight #climatechange #globalwarming #energy #environment #extinction #methane #co2 #pollution
Keep Up the Measurement Pressure
Although SweetLightning talks about many promising ways to reduce greenhouse gases, emissions are still rising. One thing we can do about it: Keep measuring, and be specific.
www.sweetlightning.eco
October 28, 2025 at 5:41 AM
sweetlightningnews.bsky.social
Extensive study of #emissions across geographies and #vehicle types. #EVs are the low-carbon champions.

#climate #climatefight #climatechange #globalwarming #co2 #energy #fossilfuels #science #engineering #climateaction
EVs Deliver Lowest Lifecycle Carbon Footprint Everywhere
Cradle-to-grave GHG emissions of light duty electric vehicles are lower than all forms of their internal combustion-engined equivalents, no matter the region
www.sweetlightning.eco
October 3, 2025 at 8:28 PM
sweetlightningnews.bsky.social
Cement can retain and re-emit heat. That might be good in a greenhouse in winter, but isn't good when in structures that are already too hot. "Cooler #Cement" is important.

#climate #climatefight #climatechange #globalwarming #energy #environment #science #climateaction #engineering #construction
Cooler Cement
Changing the surface microstructure of cement reduces concrete's contribution to global warming by keeping structures cooler
www.sweetlightning.eco
October 2, 2025 at 7:22 PM
sweetlightningnews.bsky.social
We must lower the carbon footprint of #concrete. We examine one of several approaches.

#climate #climatefight #climatechange #globalwarming #energy #environment #science #lies #research #action #climateaction #engineering #construction #science
One New Way of Making Low-carbon Cement
Even cement production can be electrified, for a 90% reduction in GHGs
www.sweetlightning.eco
September 22, 2025 at 4:46 PM
sweetlightningnews.bsky.social
If a sports team made climate a priority? It'd look something like this.

#ClimateCrisis #climate #climatefight #climatechange #globalwarming #energy #environment #science #decarbonization #methane #soccer #sports #football

www.sweetlightning.eco/edit-climate...
Climate for the win!
The Vermont Greens FC won their 2025 national championship. Why it matters for climate change.
www.sweetlightning.eco
September 3, 2025 at 9:10 PM
sweetlightningnews.bsky.social
The newly-launched Sentinel-5A extends our atmospheric measurement to aid in the #ClimateCrisis .

#climate #climatefight #climatechange #globalwarming #energy #environment #science #power #decarbonization #methane
Sentinel 5 ... Away!
The new spectroscopic instrument Sentinel-5A launched on August 12, 2025. It's ready to help us understand what's going on in our atmosphere.
www.sweetlightning.eco
August 29, 2025 at 2:49 PM
sweetlightningnews.bsky.social
What gives us hope? People who will save the world.

#climate #climatefight #climatechange #globalwarming #energy #environment #science #power #decarbonization #grid #children #recycling
Teach your children well
If we have hope, it will be realized from the impact of coming generations.
www.sweetlightning.eco
August 22, 2025 at 11:08 PM
sweetlightningnews.bsky.social
We summarize two recent articles in Science that look at #Marine Protected Areas. The conclusion: they work when they are well done.

#climate #climatefight #climatechange #environment #science #anthropocene #fish #parks #climateaction #research
More Fish in the Sea
Marine preservation areas work well when properly managed. That's great ... because we need them.
www.sweetlightning.eco
August 19, 2025 at 4:14 PM
sweetlightningnews.bsky.social
How delightful that a Swiss corporation has built a gravity storage device reminiscent of a giant cuckoo clock. Minus the cuckoo.

#climate #climatefight #climatechange #globalwarming #energy #environment #science #lies #truth #media #research #action #climateaction #engineering #gravity
Gravity Energy Storage
Using the whole planet to store energy!
www.sweetlightning.eco
August 15, 2025 at 5:44 PM
sweetlightningnews.bsky.social
Fungus photos are fun!

#nature #photography #fungus #photo #naturephotography
Weird-looking cluster of mushrooms emerging from the side of a tree.
August 13, 2025 at 5:49 PM