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This study tested whether calcite, a safe and naturally occurring mineral, can block ultraviolet (UV) radiation when used in solar geoengineering. Students launched a high‑altitude balloon carrying UV sensors and calcite‑coated sheets to measure how much UV light passed through different calcite concentrations. Their results showed that calcite significantly reduces UV transmission, suggesting it may be a promising material for future stratospheric aerosol injection to help mitigate climate change.

The authors studied the response of various construction materials to UV solar radiation and heat.

An integrated plant that would generate energy from solar power and provide clean water would help solve multiple sustainability issues. The feasibility of such a plant was investigated by looking at the efficacy of several different modules of such a plant on a small scale.

The authors propose and test a method that would allow for the generation of a magnetic field on Mars sufficient to support future colonization.

In this study, the authors address the current climate concern of high CO₂ levels by testing solid forms of hydroxide for CO₂ reduction and designing a drone to fly it in ambient air!

With monitoring of climate change and the evolving properties of the atmosphere more critical than ever, the authors of this study take sea salt aerosols into consideration. These sea salt aerosols, sourced from the bubbles found at the surface of the sea, serve as cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) and are effective for the formation of clouds, light scattering in the atmosphere, and cooling of the climate. With amines being involved in the process of CCN formation, the authors explore the effects of alkylamines on the properties of sea salt aerosols and their potential relevance to climate change.

The authors investigated adoption rates of solar photovoltaic power at K-12 schools in California.

Dust accumulation on solar panels can reduce electricity output by 20–50%, posing a major challenge for solar energy collection. Instead of altering panel design, we explored a simpler approach by modifying surface energy through nanotexturing, predicting that hydrophobic surfaces would repel both water and dust. This study found that treating glass and silicone surfaces with potassium hydroxide (KOH) for 13 and 10 minutes, respectively, created optimal nanotextures (445 nm for glass, 205 nm for silicone), significantly reducing dirt accumulation and improving solar energy capture.

A key barrier to adoption of solar energy technology is the low efficiency of solar cells converting solar energy into electricity. Sims and Sims tackle this problem by coding a Raspberry Pi as a multimeter to determine which wavelength of light generates the most voltage and current from a solar panel.

Here, seeking to develop more efficient solar cells, the authors investigated photo-electrochemical (PEC) solar cells, specifically molybdenum diselenide (MoSe₂) based on its high resistance to corrosion. They found that the percentage efficiency of these PEC solar cells was proportional to light intensity^–0.9 and that performance was positively influenced by increasing the electrolyte volume. They suggest that studies such as these can lead to new insight into reaction-based solar cells.