Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

The Fossil Record02:56

The Fossil Record

27.4K
The fossil record documents only a small fraction of all organisms that have ever inhabited Earth. Fossilization is a rare process, and most organisms never become fossils. Moreover, the fossil record only exhibits fossils that have been discovered. Nevertheless, sedimentary rock fossils of long-lived, abundant, hard-bodied organisms dominate the fossil record. These fossils offer valuable information, such as an organism's physical form, behavior, and age. Studying the fossil record helps...
27.4K
Ionization Energy03:12

Ionization Energy

43.3K
The amount of energy required to remove the most loosely bound electron from a gaseous atom in its ground state is called its first ionization energy (IE1). The first ionization energy for an element, X, is the energy required to form a cation with 1+ charge:
43.3K
pH Scale02:41

pH Scale

79.7K
Hydronium and hydroxide ions are present both in pure water and in all aqueous solutions, and their concentrations are inversely proportional as determined by the ion product of water (Kw). The concentrations of these ions in a solution are often critical determinants of the solution’s properties and the chemical behaviors of its other solutes. Two different solutions can differ in their hydronium or hydroxide ion concentrations by a million, billion, or even trillion times. A common means of...
79.7K
What is Energy?04:10

What is Energy?

58.9K
The universe is composed of matter in different forms, and all forms of matter contain energy.  The different forms of energy on Earth originate from the Sun — the ultimate energy source. Plants capture light energy from the Sun, and, via the process of photosynthesis, convert it into chemical energy. This stored energy from plants can be harnessed in many ways. For example, eating plant products as food provides energy for our body to function, and burning wood or coal (fossilized...
58.9K
Free Energy01:21

Free Energy

52.0K
Free energy—abbreviated as G for the scientist Gibbs who discovered it—is a measurement of useful energy that can be extracted from a reaction to do work. It is the energy in a chemical reaction that is available after entropy is accounted for. Reactions that take in energy are considered endergonic and reactions that release energy are exergonic. Plants carry out endergonic reactions by taking in sunlight and carbon dioxide to produce glucose and oxygen. Animals, in turn, break...
52.0K
Energy Basics02:27

Energy Basics

47.6K
Chemical reactions, such as those that occur when you light a match, involve changes in energy as well as matter.
47.6K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Could electrified energy systems be more reliable with less reliable supply?

iScience·2026
Same author

How to design better incentives for carbon capture and storage in the United States.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2025
Same author

Equity and modeling in sustainability science: Examples and opportunities throughout the process.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2024
Same author

Combined Heat and Power May Conflict with Decarbonization Goals-Air Emissions of Natural Gas Combined Cycle Power versus Combined Heat and Power Systems for Commercial Buildings.

Environmental science & technology·2021
Same author

Fossil electricity retirement deadlines for a just transition.

Science (New York, N.Y.)·2020
Same author

Water Use in the United States Energy System: A National Assessment and Unit Process Inventory of Water Consumption and Withdrawals.

Environmental science & technology·2018

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 31, 2026

Author Spotlight: Leaf Trait Analysis for Climate and Ecology Reconstruction in Modern and Ancient Plant Communities
10:14

Author Spotlight: Leaf Trait Analysis for Climate and Ecology Reconstruction in Modern and Ancient Plant Communities

Published on: October 25, 2024

4.1K

Fossil energy minimum viable scale.

Joshua Lappen1, Emily Grubert1

  • 1Keough School of Global Affairs, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA.

Science (New York, N.Y.)
|January 29, 2026
PubMed
Summary

Phasing out fossil energy systems may introduce hidden infrastructure risks. Addressing these unseen threats is crucial for ensuring safety and successful decarbonization efforts.

Area of Science:

  • Energy infrastructure
  • Environmental science
  • Risk assessment

Background:

  • The global transition to renewable energy necessitates the phase-out of existing fossil fuel infrastructure.
  • This transition presents complex challenges, including the potential for unforeseen risks associated with aging or improperly decommissioned systems.
  • Ensuring safety and achieving decarbonization goals requires a thorough understanding of these emerging infrastructural threats.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify and analyze potential unseen infrastructural threats.
  • To evaluate the implications of these threats for safety and decarbonization.
  • To inform strategies for mitigating risks during the energy transition.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic review of energy infrastructure decommissioning case studies.

More Related Videos

Large Scale Energy Efficient Sensor Network Routing Using a Quantum Processor Unit
05:30

Large Scale Energy Efficient Sensor Network Routing Using a Quantum Processor Unit

Published on: September 8, 2023

1.2K
Surface Renewal: An Advanced Micrometeorological Method for Measuring and Processing Field-Scale Energy Flux Density Data
09:55

Surface Renewal: An Advanced Micrometeorological Method for Measuring and Processing Field-Scale Energy Flux Density Data

Published on: December 12, 2013

9.2K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jan 31, 2026

Author Spotlight: Leaf Trait Analysis for Climate and Ecology Reconstruction in Modern and Ancient Plant Communities
10:14

Author Spotlight: Leaf Trait Analysis for Climate and Ecology Reconstruction in Modern and Ancient Plant Communities

Published on: October 25, 2024

4.1K
Large Scale Energy Efficient Sensor Network Routing Using a Quantum Processor Unit
05:30

Large Scale Energy Efficient Sensor Network Routing Using a Quantum Processor Unit

Published on: September 8, 2023

1.2K
Surface Renewal: An Advanced Micrometeorological Method for Measuring and Processing Field-Scale Energy Flux Density Data
09:55

Surface Renewal: An Advanced Micrometeorological Method for Measuring and Processing Field-Scale Energy Flux Density Data

Published on: December 12, 2013

9.2K
  • Analysis of historical data on industrial accidents and environmental incidents.
  • Modeling of potential failure modes in legacy energy systems.

    • Main Results:

    • Identified critical infrastructure vulnerabilities, including subsurface contamination and structural instability.
    • Quantified potential safety risks to personnel and the public.
    • Assessed the impact of infrastructure failures on decarbonization timelines and costs.

    Conclusions:

    • The phase-out of fossil energy systems poses significant, often unrecognized, infrastructural risks.
    • Proactive risk assessment and management are essential for safe and effective decarbonization.
    • Further research is needed to develop comprehensive strategies for managing legacy energy infrastructure.