Happy Tuesday 👋

Here are the impactful insights that I have for you today:

• Photovoltaic cells that improve the sustainability of electronics 🦠
• Reducing the carbon footprint of crop fertilizers 🧑‍🌾
• Get involved in Giving Tuesday 👫
• And more… 💚

Quiz time: What’s twice as thick as your hair and advances solar cells?

A new technology of photovoltaic sells!

I’ve shared a lot of improvements in energy production, but the ones that I’m most excited about are advancements that take the next step. 

Or, in this case, taking new materials to create an even better and more sustainable technology!

🦠 How a Breakthrough in Manufacturing Photovoltaic Cells Advances Sustainable Technologies

1️⃣ The big picture: Engineers at the University of Ottawa have developed the world’s first back-contact micrometric photovoltaic cells. The cells, which are roughly twice the thickness of human hair, have significant advantages over current solar technologies, potentially lowering costs by a third and reducing electrode-induced shadowing by 95%. The technological breakthrough paves the way for cheaper, more effective solar cells, lightweight nuclear batteries for space exploration, and smaller, more powerful computer devices, all without the high carbon price tag.

2️⃣ Why is this good news: The development of these photovoltaic cells is a crucial step toward the miniaturization of electronic devices: it makes them them cheaper, more sustainable, and more accessible. They act as semiconductors which are vital in the shift towards a carbon-neutral society. These cells have wide-reaching implications in medical care, communication, travel, and consumer electronics.

3️⃣ What’s next: This discovery opens up new possibilities across numerous energy industries around the world. The next step is to upscale the production of these photovoltaic cells so they can be used in large quantities. This is just one of many initiatives being explored by the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Ottawa to create a more sustainable digital world.

👉 You can already help to improve sustainability worldwide by contributing to the Best Charities That Promote Sustainability!

📢 More Good News…

🧑‍🌾 Green Ammonia can drastically reduce the carbon footprint of fertilizers:

• Researchers at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) have developed an innovative technique to make large quantities of environmentally friendly ammonia products for crop growing.
• Until now, the production of ammonia has used high-energy processes, requiring temperatures of over 752^oF (400^oC) and 200 atmospheres of pressure. This accounts for 2% of the world’s carbon footprint.
• The new technique uses nanosecond pulsed plasma bubbles and electrocatalysis, eliminating the need for high temperatures and pressures. 

🌳 Deforestation in the Amazon falls by 22%:

• According to data released by Brazil’s National Space Research Institute (INPE), deforestation in the Amazon Rainforest decreased by 22% in the year ending July 31, 2023. 
• This data shows that President Luiz Inácio Lula De Silva’s efforts to slow deforestation are having a positive effect on the world’s largest rainforest.
• The satellite imagery analysis shows that forest clearing in the Amazon totaled 9,000^sq km, compared to over 11,000^sq km in 2022. 

🐆 New Ocelot breeding program launched in Texas to save the species from extinction:

• An initiative, called Recover Texas Ocelots, has been launched by the US Fish and Wildlife Service and several state partners. 
• The project aims to restore endangered Ocelot populations in Texas by reintroducing captive-bred individuals.
• Currently, there are believed to be just 100 individuals left in the wild in two distinct populations across the Texas Gulf Coast. This reintroduction is hoped to protect Ocelot populations against natural disasters and disease outbreaks. 

👫 Event of the Week: Giving Tuesday

👉 Did you know that today is Giving Tuesday? This event, which always falls 5 days after Thanksgiving, was founded in 2012 to inspire generosity around the world.

1️⃣ The big picture: Giving Tuesday was set up by Henry Timms at the 92^nd Street Y in New York with a simple mission – to encourage people to do good. Today, Giving Tuesday is an independent charity and a global movement that inspires millions of people to collaborate, give, and celebrate generosity. Whether it’s helping out a neighbor, making someone smile, or taking the time to listen to someone’s worries, Giving Tuesday reminds us that generosity and kindness can be a part of everyday life. 

2️⃣ Why is this important: A better future is built through small acts of generosity, understanding, and activism. Together, we can make our communities more accepting and caring by setting an example. Especially in recent years, wars have raged in certain areas of the world, such as Ukraine and Palestine. For example, in 2022, 11,288 incidents of hate crime were reported across the US alone. So, it’s perhaps more important than ever to create a kinder society.

3️⃣ How can you get involved: There are many ways you can get involved in Giving Tuesday, such as giving blood, organizing a fundraising event, or distributing essentials to people in need. You can also find a range of further ideas through the Giving Tuesday Generosity Toolbox. In addition, many communities and organizations set up events on this day to promote generosity. 

You can also check out the organizations below that are dedicated to making the world a more accepting place and promoting donations of unwanted goods to the people who really need them:

• 9 Best Charities That Promote Global Peace
• 17 Best Charities For Supporting Ukraine
• 9 Best Charities Impacting Palestine
• 9 Best Charities Impacting Israel
• 9 Best Charities That Promote Sustainability
• 9 Best Charities That Advance Ethics Worldwide
• 9 Best Charities That Fight Hate Crimes
• 10 Best Charities to Donate Your Books to

📜 This Week in History

🎤 November 28, 1989: Queen Latifah released her first album, redefining the traditionally male music genre of rap. 

🏆 November 28, 1961: American footballer Ernie Davis, became the first African American to win the prestigious Heisman Trophy. 

🛩️ November 29, 1929: American explorer Richard Byrd and Norwegian aviator Bernt Balchen completed the first airplane flight to the South Pole.

💭 Quote of the Day

“I’ve been giving back since I was a teen, handing out turkeys at Thanksgiving and handing out toys at toy drives for Christmas. It’s very important to give back as a youth. It’s as simple as helping an old lady across the street or giving up your seat on the bus for someone who is pregnant.”

— Queen Latifah, American rapper and actress

Share the news with your friends to make a bigger positive impact on the world and society together!

Stay impactful 💚