Technology Alphabet moonshot boss: Climate crisis is world's 'single biggest problem'

Google's parent company, Alphabet, said it's focusing on technology to fight climate change because the "crisis is the single biggest problem the world has now."

© Provided by CBS Interactive Inc. Astro Teller, head of Alphabet's X research lab. James Martin/CNET

Astro Teller, head of Alphabet's X research lab, made the remark Friday during an interview at the Wired 25 conference in San Francisco. Teller also said many of the division's projects and past projects have touched on environmental issues. One failed initiative, called Project Foghorn, tried to create a carbon-neutral fuel out of seawater, but the new fuel wasn't cost-viable. Another project, called Dandelion, which has been spun out of X, uses geothermal technology to heat and cool homes.

Alphabet is reportedly interested in buying Fitbit

Fitbit is apparently quite serious about exploring a sale. Reuterssources said Alphabet has "made an offer" to buy Fitbit for an as yet undetermined amount. The insiders warned there was no guarantee the talks would lead to a deal, but the indication of interest is still huge by itself. We've reached out to Alphabet and Fitbit for comment, although they declined to comment to Reuters. If Alphabet did snap up Fitbit, it could dramatically change the landscape for smartwatches. In spite of challenges, Fitbit is still one of the largest smartwatch makers on the planet -- this would quickly consolidate the market.

The world ’ s leading scientists will warn the planet’s life-support systems are approaching a danger zone for humanity when they release the results of the most comprehensive study of life on Earth ever undertaken.

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"Our goal is to find and solve huge problems in the world," Teller said. "[Climate change is] taking up a lot of space in our windshield right now because it's just so big."

X, formerly called Google X, is the company's moonshot factory. Several of Alphabet's most ambitious projects, including driverless cars, drone delivery, and balloons that beam down internet connectivity, have been spun out of the X research lab.

Teller's comments come as Google has faced criticism over climate change. The Guardian last month reported that Google has made "substantial" contributions to some of the "most notorious climate deniers" in Washington, DC. Google told The Guardian it sponsors organizations across the political spectrum. "We're hardly alone among companies that contribute to organizations while strongly disagreeing with them on climate policy," a spokesperson said.

Fitbit stock surges on report that Google-parent Alphabet may buy company

Fitbit stock has jumped nearly 28% following a Reuters report that Google is preparing to buy the company.According to the report from Reuters, Alphabet has "made an offer" to buy Fitbit, though the report did not disclose terms. After briefly being halted, shares of Fitbit resumed trading late Monday morning, with the company rising nearly 28% to $5.51 early Monday afternoon.

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Biggest analysis to date reveals huge footprint of livestock - it provides just 18% of calories but takes up 83% of farmland.

Earlier this week, more than 1,000 Google employees signed an open letter to CFO Ruth Porat demanding action on issues related to climate change. In the letter, employees urge a commitment from Google to reach zero emissions by 2030, as well as to shun contracts that "enable or accelerate the extraction of fossil fuels." The employees also called on the company to ban funding to think tanks, lobbyists or politicians that deny climate change or delay solutions. Additionally, the workers want Google to vow not to collaborate with groups that harm refugees or other groups affected on the "frontline" of climate change.

© Stephen Shankland/CNET

Google headquarters in Mountain View, California

Google this week also launched an accelerator program to help startups working on projects related to sustainability and solving social problems.

X has had its share of controversy as well. Last October, The New York Times published a bombshell report on sexual harassment allegations at Google and Alphabet. One of the executives accused of misconduct was Rich DeVaul, a director at X. At the time, DeVaul apologized for an "error in judgment." He resigned from Alphabet a few days after the Times report. Teller wasn't asked about the accusations during Friday's interview.