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Energy development

Energy development is the process of producing, converting, and distributing energy to meet the needs of society. It involves harnessing various energy sources—such as fossil fuels, nuclear power, and renewable resources like solar, wind, hydro, and geothermal—and transforming them into usable forms such as electricity, heat, and fuel. This process supports nearly every aspect of modern life, from transportation and industry to communication and healthcare.

The choice of energy sources and technologies has significant economic, environmental, and geopolitical implications. Traditional energy development based on coal, oil, and natural gas has powered global growth for over a century but also contributes to air pollution, climate change, and resource depletion. In contrast, renewable energy development focuses on sustainable, low-emission alternatives that aim to reduce environmental impact and improve long-term energy security.

Advances in technology, policy, and infrastructure are reshaping how energy is produced and consumed. Efforts to improve energy efficiency, develop smart grids, and transition to cleaner energy systems are central to addressing climate challenges and ensuring a reliable energy future. Energy development continues to evolve as societies seek to balance demand, sustainability, and access on a global scale.

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Earth & Climate News

October 8, 2025

The Amazon has suffered its most destructive fire season in more than two decades, releasing a staggering 791 million tons of carbon dioxide—on par with Germany’s annual emissions. Scientists found that for the first time, fire-driven ...
Researchers at KAUST have confirmed that the Red Sea once vanished entirely, turning into a barren salt desert before being suddenly flooded by waters from the Indian Ocean. The flood carved deep channels and restored marine life in less than ...
Marine heatwaves can jam the ocean’s natural carbon conveyor belt, preventing carbon from reaching the deep sea. Researchers studying two major heatwaves in the Gulf of Alaska found that plankton shifts caused carbon to build up near the surface ...
Solar energy is now the cheapest source of power worldwide, driving a massive shift toward renewables. Falling battery prices and innovations in solar materials are making clean energy more reliable than ever. Yet, grid congestion and integration ...
New research reveals that deep-sea mining could dramatically threaten 30 species of sharks, rays, and ghost sharks whose habitats overlap with proposed mining zones. Many of these species, already at risk of extinction, could face increased dangers ...
Billions of years ago, Earth’s atmosphere was hostile, with barely any oxygen and toxic conditions for life. Researchers from the Earth-Life Science Institute studied Japan’s iron-rich hot springs, which mimic the ancient oceans, to uncover how ...
In 2020, California’s Creek Fire became so intense that it generated its own thunderstorm, a phenomenon called a pyrocumulonimbus cloud. For years, scientists struggled to replicate these explosive fire-born storms in climate models, leaving major ...
Swiss glaciers lost nearly 3% of their volume in 2025, following a snow-poor winter and scorching summer heatwaves. The melt has been so extreme that some glaciers lost more than two meters of ice thickness in a single season. Scientists caution ...
Fungi may have shaped Earth’s landscapes long before plants appeared. By combining rare gene transfers with fossil evidence, researchers have traced fungal origins back nearly a billion years earlier than expected. These ancient fungi may have ...
Scientists have uncovered an unexpected witness to Earth’s distant past: tiny iron oxide stones called ooids. These mineral snowballs lock away traces of ancient carbon, revealing that oceans between 1,000 and 541 million years ago held far less ...
Scientists found that biochar doesn’t just capture pollutants, it actively destroys them using direct electron transfer. This newly recognized ability accounts for up to 40% of its cleaning power and remains effective through repeated use. The ...
Bio-tar, once seen as a toxic waste, can be transformed into bio-carbon with applications in clean energy and environmental protection. This innovation could reduce emissions, create profits, and solve a major bioenergy industry ...

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updated 12:56 pm ET