I got this from the UIUC Nuclear Engineering Department, as they are becoming leaders in research to design and build cheap, safe and clean fission reactors on small size scales. Here's a description:
Nuclear microreactors are a new class of nuclear fission technology capable of producing up to roughly 20 MWth depending on design. Beyond their size, the primary distinguishing features over other fission systems is that microreactors are designed to be: factory built and delivered to site by truck, rail, or ship; plug-and-play with minimal onsite construction or preparation; capable of long operational periods between refueling (10-20 years); and minimal decommissioning required to return the site to greenfield status. Nuclear microreactors are a promising technology to enable a clean, climate conscious, energy future. The campus deployment focuses on the research, education, and training necessary to see advanced reactor technology become widely deployable, marketable, economic, and ultimately a safe and reliable option for a clean energy future.
A timely article appeared in Science News, about how the rotation of the liquid iron core of the earth may be reversing its rotation! As weird as it sounds, this is something that happens naturally and numerous times in earth's history. The result of that reversal of rotation would be a reversal of the North and South magnetic poles of the earth. Again, this is normal, but hasn't happened since modern humans have been around.
A new analysis of ice cores, allowing scientists to go back in time 1000 years, shows Greenland is now the warmest it has ever been during that period. This is significant because so much of its ice-sheet is land based - its melt water therefore contributes to ocean rise around the world.
Keep in mind that what used to be nearly unheard of, Arctic cyclones, are more frequent and powerful over the last couple decades. These have a large, negative effect on sea and glacial ice when it hits Greenland.
Some types of wood are piezoelectric - that is, when warped or put under mechanical stress, some woods can create a voltage difference and current. One can make a wood dance floor be used to generate electricity at some level, it turns out!
This would be a really cool research and engineering project for anyone who is interested!
As we continue with the climate science project, a new study of extensive satellite data and computer simulations of the worlds glaciers has been published in Science. It looked at the projections of what can happen with temperature increases from 1.5 degrees C to 4 degrees C, and the toll that takes on glacial melting and sea level increases. The video below was made by the lead author of the study to summarize the work. Basically some 2 billion people who rely on glacial melts for their water will be affected by continued global warming, to varying degrees depending where they are.