Every year seven million people die from air pollution. It’s the world’s biggest environmental killer. Milan is one of the most polluted cities in Europe. Gelareh Darabi meets a team of engineers who have created a special kind of cement that they hope will eradicate toxic air pollutants. When UV rays from the sun hit the cement, they react with a catalyst in it to break down pollutants in the air. The toxic chemicals are turned into harmless products, which are later washed off the building by rain and absorbed into the ground. The cement was used to make the stylish Palazzo Italia, one of the city’s landmarks, and is now being developed for use in more mundane and widely-used applications such as paving stones. Iceland’s unique geology doesn’t just create breath-taking scenery but has enabled 100% of its electricity to be generated by renewable sources, much of which is geothermal. It is the only country in the world to have achieved this.
Russell Beard travels to Hellisheidi geothermal power plant, Iceland’s largest energy facility. Geothermal energy might be fully renewable but there is a downside. In the process of accessing the steam, toxic gases like carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulphide are released into the atmosphere. But, there is a solution for this - scientists at the plant have developed CarbFix, a method for capturing gas emissions and sealing them underground in the form of rock. They have found the ability to turn carbon into stone.
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