Author: Alejandra O'Connell-Domenech

These new technologies could make homes more resistant to hurricanes

Story at a glance Hurricane Ian made landfall in Florida Wednesday after slamming into Cuba and knocking out the island’s power grid. With such extreme weather becoming more commonplace, the need for technology to protect homes from hurricanes and wildfires becomes increasingly urgent. A variety of technologies are emerging, from tough solar panels to 3-D…

Climate change is turning lakes a different color 

Story at a glance A new study published in Geophysical Research Letters this week argues that climate change will mean more blue lakes will likely become green-brown in color.   While lake color depends on things like algae and sediment, climate also plays a role whether a lake is green or blue, researchers found.   This change…

Here are a few ways that remote workers can tell if they are being ‘quietly fired’

Story at a glance TikTok videos on “quiet quitting” took the internet by storm recently, followed by “quiet firing.”  But the concepts behind both terms are nothing new. “Quiet firing” stems from poor leadership and can look like being left out of important conversations pertaining to your work or not having talks with your boss…

California legalizes human composting

Story at a glance California has joined Washington, Colorado, Vermont and Oregon in legalizing the composting of human remains. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill into law this week that directs state agencies to create guidelines for the alternative to cremation or burial. Under the law, state officials have five years to come up with…

Thousands of Puerto Ricans still without power or water five days after Hurricane Fiona struck island

Story at a glance Hurricane Fiona struck Puerto Rico on Sunday, causing flash flooding and an island-wide blackout. As of Thursday, nearly a million homes and businesses still lacked power.  It remains unclear when the power will return to the most affected areas of the island.   It has been five days since Hurricane Fiona struck…

The eco-friendly homes that didn’t lose power after Hurricane Fiona hit Puerto Rico

Story at a glance Thousands of people in Puerto Rico are still without electricity and clean water after Hurricane Fiona struck the island on Sunday. The hurricane reached the island’s southwestern coast a few days before the five-year anniversary of Hurricane Maria. Two environmentally friendly prototype homes were able to keep the lights on during…