How Technology Can Be Implemented to Improve The Environment

 Green technology.Image designed by Tim Sandle

It's said that "there is no Planet B". Using technology to protect our Earth is critical to our future. To make sure that future generations can thrive, we need to use all the tools we have at our disposal.

 

The Importance of Improving The Environment

 

The toxins of today damage the generations of tomorrow. We need heat and electricity, but we don't have to burn fossil fuels to get them. New technologies, such as solar glass, will allow us to lessen our dependence on grid based power. We can generate and store power right where it's needed.

 

How Technology Can Be Implemented to Support Environmental Remediation

 

Education is key to supporting in promoting environmental remediation. Raising awareness of challenges to fresh water access and educating citizens about the amazing biodiversity in our world can draw them into the work of environmental repair.

 

Another marvelous method of supporting the environment is simply putting out the call for clean-up. Social media is a remarkable tool when building community. Cities and citizens can band together as a group to participate in local cleanups, creating a digitally notified army of folks who can help to remove trash from rivers, parks and green spaces.

 

Different Kinds of Tech That Contributes to the Environment

 

Readily available information, such as on the internet of things can make it possible to share a great deal of data on smart purchases. From light bulbs to major appliances, citizens can be made aware of the benefits of reducing power consumption. As corporations and governments work on ways to take pressure off the power grid, the act of lower consumption boosts environment benefit with very little effort.

 

Communication and education are key to help consumers make environmentally friendly choices. Tech can spread the word to citizens about the best environmental choices to make in their community.

 

 

Written by Taylor McKnight, Author for Microbial Insights

 

 

Pharmaceutical Microbiology Resources (http://www.pharmamicroresources.com/)

Blue skies and brilliant sunsets: Application of Raman spectroscopy in microbiology

 Microbial world. Image designed by Tim Sandle

Raman spectroscopy is based on the scattering of laser light in order to probe a molecular structure. As millions of photons are scattered, individual photons will interact with the vibrational states of the sample molecule and emit light of a different wavelength. This enables a sample to be detected and characterized through the generation of a spectral fingerprint. The level of detail is down to variations in the heterogeneities within a microbial population (1).

 

Before launching into the science, technology and application in microbiology, let’s consider what is happening in everyday terms. It is important to first note that the efficiency of a photon's scattering depends on its wavelength. Now let’s ask ourselves “why is the sky blue?”

 

The blue color of the sky during the day (at least in the summer) as a result of the scattering of light by dust, water vapor etc. We see the sky as blue during the day because violet and blue light scatter more than other, longer wavelengths of light.

 

If we are then lucky to observe a spectacular sunset, the sun may appear red at sunset since red light scatters less efficiently and is more likely to pass through the atmosphere than other wavelengths of light.

In both cases, we have inelastic scattering of photons. 

 

This week’s article explains Raman spectroscopy and looks at its applications for microbiology: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/blue-skies-brilliant-sunsets-application-raman-tim-vmhce/ (opens in LinkedIn).

 

Posted by Dr. Tim Sandle, Pharmaceutical Microbiology Resources (http://www.pharmamicroresources.com/)