1st lets take a look at our planets sun wind and water are almost inexhaustible sources of energy here on earth and we have the technology to tap into them were moving away from fossil fuels to Renewable Energies that much is clear but whats unclear is how to reliably store all of that energy. Its a problem that needs solving as more and more of our electricity in the future will come from renewable sources. A swiss engineer has come up with an interesting concept. Andrea petrecki has a vision he wants to build a gravity assisted battery to compensate for the fluctuating nature of solar and wind energy if it works itll be able to store millions of times more energy than a conventional household that are e. Vision is a system for storing large amounts of energy so we can encourage the sheriff energy is in the grid. Or right now its about 30 to 35 percent thats the limit because the sun doesnt shine constantly what we need is a more economical and efficient storage system. And this is what his batteries will look like towers 60 to 120 meters high made of hundreds of cement blocks built around the 6 armed crane when theres excess energy in the grid it will Power Electric motors which move the crane arms to lift and stack the 35. 00 ton blocks. Now the battery is charged. When electricity is needed the blocks are let down again generators in the crane arms turn the potential energy of the stat blocks into Electrical Energy which is returned to the grid this leaves the tower discharged. The cement blocks essentially function the way the water in a pumped storage hydroelectric plant but with the advantage according to the inventors that the towers can be built on any terrain and are cheaper. We can store the energy very cheaply because we use existing Technology Like motors and generators mechanical systems that have been around for a. 100 years. This seemingly simple idea has garnered quite a lot of attention after progressive steam presented the concept at an Energy StorageDevelopers Conference in the us microsoft founder bill gates mentioned the company to his millions of followers he wrote wind and solar wont reach their potential until we vastly improve Energy Storage there are some exciting Companies Working in this space like bill gross and then energy vault. Tweet from bill gates made is known around the world but that wasnt the only factor but after the official presentation there was a lot of interest on the part of many different investors. Bill gates tweet helped of course. Here in southern switzerland the vision is actually taking shape start up as well financed thanks to a generous investment from Japan Softbank and tata power indias biggest electricity provider has ordered the tower. The one hears a prototype and has yet to prove that the idea really works because although the concept sounds simple its quite complicated to put into practice. The most difficult part is the Intelligence Software that controls the crane autonomously it has to grasp the concrete blocks and reposition them without vibrations and without any human involvement. Once completed this small scale prototype will have the chance to prove itself as a future technology for Energy Storage. Making the switch to renewables is a project that will be with us for years to come. But at the moment most headlines are about the new coronavirus. And late 2019 a hitherto unknown corona virus strain appeared in the city of wool one in china it soon spread to other countries again and again Virus Outbreak threaten the health of communities and pressure researchers to develop vaccines. Thats the case with many pathogens. Heres a little a. B. C. About viruses. Some 3. 00 to 5000. 00 species of viruses have been classified worldwide scientists believe that millions more have yet to be identified. Viruses are often transmitted by droplet infection theyre microscopic parasites that are neither really dead nor a line theyre not made of cells dont carry out metabolic processes and cant replicate outside of the host when viruses enter the body meaning when we become infected they insert their genetic material into the host cells the virus hijacks the cells in order to reproduce. When the host cell dies thousands of new viruses are released and the process starts all over again. In contrast to viruses bacteria dont need a host to reproduce and they perform generally beneficial functions in our bodies when we are infected with pathogenic bacteria we can beat them with antibiotics. Well not necessarily the problem is that bacteria are increasingly developing resistance to antibiotics. Back to your reproduced by Cell Division every so often theres a replication or such random mutations can drive evolution by Natural Selection usually there of little consequence the mutated bacterial form eventually dies out in some cases however a mutation can result in resistor. To antibiotics and when antibiotics are used to bacteria with me taishan proliferate. The antibiotic kills most of the bacteria but the mutated bacteria are unaffected. The resistant bacteria survive and to multiply. The use of antibiotics leads to a population of resistant bacteria. In hospitals antibiotics are prescribed to many patients and that increases the chances that a resistant strain of bacteria will emerge and patients sometimes bring resistant bacteria with them when theyre hospitalized those super bugs are often washed into the waste water system and then into the environment they end up on crops in domesticated and wild animals and eventually in us its a vicious cycle. Antibiotics are also used in large quantities in livestock farming that also promotes the rise of resistant bacteria which end up in the environment. New bacterial strains can spread around the world quickly even within days to combat the rise of superbugs we need to understand how they spread and we need to develop new drugs to combat them. Antimicrobial substances exist in nature where ever bacterial colonies are trying to survive and thrive like in soil. And ordinary clump of soil is brimming with bacteria and fungus they compete with their neighbors for resources and space. The microbes have a secret weapon in their arsenal they produce Chemical Substances that can sweep away the competition. These antimicrobial compounds or antibiotics are of great interest to researchers they isolate the microbes. Them in the lab and extract the antibiotics they produce. In a screening process disease causing bacteria. Then samples of the soil antimicrobials are added to the culture. The bacteria grow on the plate except where they encounter an anti microbial agent that theyre vulnerable to known as a zone of inhibition. Thats evidence that the substance is preventing bacterial growth in the zone one day it could be the basis for a new drug. Effects of drugs could come from a case like this. Mangrove swamps are considered to be one of the most productive habitats on the planet protecting coastal areas from erosion and providing homes to countless species including the diversity of microorganisms. There the object of studies by young scientists from indonesia. Shes currently working at a Research Institute in germany. The development of new antibiotics is a race against time most antibiotics were derived from substances produced by soil dwelling microorganisms at the helm of the center for Infection Research in germany 70 octavian it is stunning sentiment for mangrove swamps to isolate bacteria that produce antibiotic substances the samples come from a Nature Conservation area in indonesia. The microorganisms in this house have adapted to their tidal environment to thrive in the sediment and brackish water theyve evolved to produce a variety of novel unto microbial compounds could this be a new source for the drugs that are so urgently needed. But. We all know the world needs new antibiotics. A growing number of pathogens are developing resistance to the antibiotics used in medicine today. Well thats because so many antibiotics are being overused and misused. But. The biologists have been trying to find as many microorganisms as possible that produce antibiotic substances and no work is paid off shes already isolated 28 previously unknown species mostly mixo bacteria. And bacteria produce a large variety of antibiotic substances. Some of them can even produce compounds that are effective against malaria or viruses. And. The mixer bacteria found among grove ecosystems have also tried to be attention apologist you washington think. He believes that indonesia which is home to about one 5th of the worlds mangrove ecosystems could be a rich source of useful microbes. The research is still in its infancy but sadly octavian his project is a promising start then you has done a very interesting work with this mix of bacteria as of this is a special group of victoria we are. Working on and she has isolated a number of novel specious and characterized them and is now on to states that she can look for bioactive compounds which are produced by a unique or by crawling listens in a nice saving user and wide biodiversity and especially in the field of microland isms so this biodiversity is not investigated. 70 octavian is initial findings showed that the mix of bacteria among groups wants including many recipe shes. The bioactive compounds they produce will be screened to see if they have on t. Microbial properties which could how. The rise of super bugs that have become a Global Health crisis. So impressed that. They were very surprised to find that nearly every species we identified was a rare one. We only read about them in books or online but here weve been able to work with them directly but im very proud that indonesia has so much potential. Scenario talk yana will soon complete her project at the helm of center then she plans to return home to indonesia where shell continue her work a mix of bacteria and the mission to find new antibiotics. And that street course is about a far away planet or non planet peter was discovered 90 years ago a sensational find the same year disney named a cartoon doug after the 9th planet in the solar system. Recently nasa sent a mission past puso which took some spectacular pictures thats futile is done by can travel see if you in tanzania sent in a question about that. Why is pluto no longer a planet. For 76 years pluto was known as the 9th planet in the solar system far out in space orbited our central star the sun pluto who was the tiniest of the planets until 2006. Then the International Astronomical union the i you held as General Assembly in prague and demoted pluto to dwarf planet it was a controversial decision which angered many astronomers the american astronomer Clyde Tombaugh discovered pluto in 930 and it was feigned as the 1st planetary discovery in the u. S. d in 2015 many spice enthuses hope that nasa is new Horizons Programme might restore pluto status as a planet the spacecraft flew past it and took sensational photos. They revealed a complex and dynamic landscape with 3000 meter High Mountains of frozen water juice of frozen methane and possibly even volcanoes spewing ice and it has an atmosphere and its still not a planet even though it all gets the sun just like the remaining 8 planets know because the new definition of a planet includes a criterion that pluto does not fulfill. The i use as a planet has to quote clear the neighborhood around its orbit that means its sweet sour other material in the vicinity to become the dominant object and its all the tools are in. The earth has done that as have the others. 7 planets in our solar system but pluto failed to make the grade. Why out there in the region of its orbit there are many other minor planets known as the transnet chuni and objects some of them quite similar to pluto like the even more massive heiress it was discovered in 2005 and ultimately led to plutos downfall. Cloo showdowns for field the other 2 criteria for planet showed. That it star and has enough mass to take on a nearly round shape that at least makes it a dwarf planet oh well it remains an absolutely fascinating world the far reaches of the sauna system. On the internet youll find plenty of calls for pluto to be returned to the pantheon of planets. Weve picked out 2 particularly interesting views in support. Rock legends brian may who has a doctorate in astrophysics is strongly pro peter. This list will object was discovered and named to planets before he was born and at the time he says planets with thought to be roughly spherical objects that always had the sun that makes pluto a classical planet for him end of story. Nasa administrator jim dryden stein a green think the way should define a planet is based on its intrinsic values not the values the cost of a change like orbital dynamics just so when i think about pluto and what we got back from new eyes and heres what we know just as pluto has an ocean under its surface and pluto have. Complex organic compounds on a surface pluto has a multilayer atmosphere and pluto has its own moves i am here to tell you as the nasa administrator. I believe pluto is a planet. If i will do what is right why are they allowed even maybe some questions arent easy to answer but that shouldnt stop you asking them send us your science question as a video text or voicemail if we enter it on the show well send you a little surprise as a thank you come on just ask. Youll find more science stories on our website and to get in touch on twitter and facebook. Our planet has a problem with garbage we asked you on Facebook Whats the situation like in your country do you separate your garbage do you recycle. Ranjan writes that there are a lot of initiatives on garbage processing in india many municipalities now separate their garbage including the one where he lives. Andrea says that households in romania usually dont recycle you can take the garbage to recycling bins yourself but they usually not close by. The noto posts that imperiled why they are flooded with garbage thats not recycled he sees that as one reason for widespread dengue fever. Writes that the university of the South Pacific and lao cholera fiji has been specifically for plastic bottles where they go after that is not clear maybe theyre really used in the factories that produce them. And in a post from nigeria brown said. Garbage isnt recycled there but burnt which is very hazardous for the environment and people who live along rivers tend to discharge their waste into the water. Thanks for your comments. Clearly the problem of waste is huge and it could get bigger a study by the world bank forecasts that the amount of garbage will increase by 70 percent by the year 2050 that would be an incredible 3400000000 tonnes. Figures like that show that we have to take action rice where we live our next report takes us to the brazilian capital where garbage is the subject of a University Course back to basics. With this patch of land near the capital brasilia used to be the biggest landfill site in latin america in 2018 but dump was closed and the 60 meter High Mountain of garbage was covered with. Construction waste is still being dumped there although thats illegal. The National Waste policy ends to eradicate landfills and promote recycling. But there are still 2 and a half 1000 open landfill sites across the country. Lucy often and it worked here as a waste picker for 20 years she supported her 4 children by selling anything of value she found the family lived in a shanty town right next door at 1st she was very much against the closure of the dam she had little faith in the city authorities pledged to provide jobs for some 750 trash because in new recycling facilities but now thats where she works and shes changed her mind. No one can pin say he will say i never thought i might one day have a real job me a simple waste picker with no right. No social insurance. And now i work here i even have an office. If only i paid a little better it would be perfect as she lay on my eyes she and her colleagues now belong to a cooperative that operates one of the recycling facilities what they are depends on how much trash they sought. Often and as is a supervisor she makes sure the work is done properly. And never that often not that how much. Faffing nice they took on there arent enough people working on the Conveyor Belt a lot of recyclable material gets through then we have to check it to make sure things dont end up in residual waste that dont belong there if i see that happening i put more people on at the end of the belt. The process is set to become more efficient with the help of some students from the university of brasilia. Until recently that professor powell says so does race gomez was Deputy Director of the municipal sanitation off already he helped restructure brazilians Waste Management systems. Kind of everybody is collecting Something Different she sorting out glass bottles shes sorting out plastic bottles further along somebody is pulling out the cardboard enough its possible the process could be made more efficient if the positions were switched around thats something we need to test this now yes. But not all the trash delivered here to be sorted can be recycled much of it has to be disposed of. The aim of the program is to increase the proportion of waste that can be recycled. Everything that can be stored and soldiers returned to the production chain to the recycling at district if it doesnt end up being dumped so were saving the cost of taking it to the landfill extending the lifespan of that site and reducing emissions. Professor part of those race has organized across disciplinary seminar at the university. Students from various fields a working on developing sustainable Waste Management solutions. One approach is to make Waste Sorting more efficient another is to focus on technology trucks sensors logistics others aim to raise environmental awareness how can the public be involved more closely in the Waste Recycling process than use the program bring students together with representatives of the going to support Sanitation Authority the recycling cooperatives and also commercial enterprises. The university of brasilia is setting up a Postgraduate Program in Waste Management. Among brazil cities the capital has taken the lead into valid thing a sustainable Waste Management strategy Waste Sorting and collection have just been expanded across the city. Lucier phenomena is optimistic about her future will now be more ways to live it to her cooperative to sort and that means she and her colleagues will soon be earning more. Thats it for today on the next program a Research Project in morocco is studying insect pollinators like bees why are they in danger and how can they be risky and join us for more on smart today next week see you then. Good to. Have. A mum mutating into a name oh smash. Their bodies mirror jewels the history of the slave trade barriers history. Describes how the dream for our interim office plummeted an entire continent into chaos at the moment this time europes expansion for all the world in our series of promises. To. Hold. Fake hair and real story. Where i come from a lot of women like me who have fake hair sometimes the hair style takes up to 2 a day thats a lot of time that needs to be filled so people at the salon. Talk about whats happening in their lives. I became a journalist to be a storyteller and i always want to find those real authentic stories from everyday people who have something to share. With others i must find at the salon i know good quality here when i see it and a good story when i hear it. My name is Elizabeth Saul and i work at. Beethoven is for me. Is for. Beethoven is for. Beethoven is for. Beethoven is for covering. Beethoven 2020. The 50th anniversary on d w. Frank food. International gateway to the best connection self road and rail. Located in the heart of europe you are connected to the whole world. Experience outstanding shopping and dining offers and try our services. Be our guest at Frankfurt Airport city managed by from. Get a book of. This is news that live from berlin the u. S. Federal reserve cuts Interest Rates in a bid to boost the economy during the Coronavirus CrisisPresident Donald Trump welcomes what he describes as a terrific move he also tells americans to stop panic buying well go live to washington also coming up. Germany closes its borders with 5 its neighbors travel to austria