April 2012
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March 2012
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Recycled 600 Sq Feet Office Warehouse Has Neat...
In order to make its employees more comfortable when they want to take a break from work, a sports marketing company from Sao Paulo, Latin Sports, asked Brazilian architect Simone Tasca to refurbish a room to turn it into a chill out space.[[MORE]]
An abandoned, humid and dark warehouse was turned into this lovely bright space in two months.
Some cool features include a wall covered with...
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Orphaned Baby Manatee Rescued in the Amazon
When it comes to adorable animal babies, few species are quite as cute asAmazonian river manatees — or as vulnerable to environmental threats. Each year, countless manatee calfs are left orphaned after their mothers are either killed by poachers or starved due to rampent overfishing in their river habitat. But fortunately for those defenseless youngsters lucky enough to find rescue, a...
February 2012
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Wind Chime Charges Up With The Breeze For Outdoor...
Yanko Design/via
What if the pleasantness of a wind chime did double duty as an energy generator that powered an LED light? A team of designers including Chen Yan Zhuang, Zhou Li, Peng Qixuan, Liu Huan-jung, Ke Qi Ling and Zhong Zhida came up with the idea that shifts a wind chime into a energy-gathering device for evening lighting. Yanko Design writes, “The only difference is that the...
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The Perfect Green Tech Toy for Kids
© Endrit Hajno
This is a toy for the next generation of kids — kids growing up with smart meters attached to homes with energy management systems always tracking how much renewable energy is coming in, and how much is being used. It’s for kids that will think solar power is second nature, and renewable energy is so, like, duh.
Designed by Endrit Hanjo, Quad is a toy that has to be...
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What Would It Take? Solving Climate Change
What would it take to shape a planet on which people, other living things, and the systems that support us can sustainably coexist? For a special issue, Momentum magazine invited experts from around the world to share their thoughts on how we might craft solutions to some of earth’s toughest challenges. Ben Jervey spoke with physicist Robert Socolow on what it would take to rein in greenhouse...
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Rainforest Plant Combats Multi-Resistant Bacterial...
ScienceDaily (Feb. 20, 2012) — Aggressive infections in hospitals are an increasing health problem worldwide. The development of bacterial resistance is alarming. Now a young Danish scientist has found a natural substance in a Chilean rainforest plant that effectively supports the effect of traditional treatment with antibiotics.
PhD Jes Gitz Holler from the University of Copenhagen discovered...
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Saving Food From The Fridge: It Will Taste Better,...
© jihyun ryou
Fridges are a recent invention; for thousands of years, people lived without them, but had many low-tech ways of making food last. Today most fridges are filled with stuff that would last just as long and probably would taste a lot better if it was never lost in the back of the fridge. They are expensive air conditioned parking lots for what Shay Salomon called “compost and...
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Waste-powered robots: The future of machines?
Robots power themselves on microbes, rotten food and dead insects. EcoBot-III was able to both eat and produce waste inside its lab environment.
Today’s robots that fly, jump or roll around must refuel or recharge as does any gadget that runs out of energy. Tomorrow’s new generation of self-sustaining robots might keep going nearly forever by grazing on dead insects, rotting plant...
January 2012
9 posts
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Is Graphene the Perfect Water Filter of the...
Graphene - a thin sheet of carbon atoms - along with its cousin, the carbon nanotube, is one of the most promising materials discovered in a long time. It has superlative properties when it comes to strength, thinness, conductivity, optics, etc. We know a lot about, but scientists and engineers are still finding new ways to use it. The latest discovery has to do with a property of graphene that...
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Awesome House Raises 20 Ft. to Interact with Trees...
Located in the beach resort Sao Sebastiao (north of the state of Sao Paulo), Brazil, Casa nas arvores is architect George Mills’ dream summer house.
Completely integrated with the surrounding nature of the Atlantic Forest in which it sits, the house raises 20 feet high to interact with trees.
The open surface that was left below allows plants to grow and animals to circulate freely, and the...
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Artist Carves Vintage Books Into Astoundingly...
With the increasing popularity of electronic readers and e-books, the future use of hard-bound books also comes under question. While designers have responded with the likes of lighting, accessories and even fashion made entirely out of old books, French Canadian artist Guy Laramée tackles it from a decidedly philosophical — and creative — perspective, carving intricate,...
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Environmental Disaster Looms Over Wrecked Cruise...
© ciocci
When the cruise ship Costa Concordia ran aground on the coast of Italy over the weekend, resulting in the deaths of at least six passengers, it marked one of the worst incidents involving a luxury vessel in recent memory — but the full extent of the damage may be yet to come. The ship is said to be loaded with some 2,380 tons of oil which, as the situation progresses, could very...
Industrial Piping, Recycled Into One of a Kind...
We’ve seen pipes reincarnated into lamps and chandeliers, but Dallas-based designer Stella Bleu presents an intriguing re-use idea: recycling old industrial piping into shelving that allows books to be displayed in a whole new way. And yes, these skinny shelves double as lighting too.
Employing iron pipes in a winding form, the shelves are designed to hang off the wall using brackets,...
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Study Finds Warming Arctic Decimating Harp Seal...
Scientists from Duke University and the International Fund for Animal Welfare have conducted a study of the harp seal in northern Canada. Harp seals, the cute and cuddly creatures, have long been hunted for their prized furs. To add to their struggle, the thinning ice is playing havoc with their breeding ground. Female seals depend on stable winter ice to give birth and feed their young in...
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Lexus Debuts LF-LC Sporty 2+2 Hybrid Coupe Concept...
© Toyota
Pretty, But It Should Be 100% Electric…
Toyota’s luxury division, Lexus, has been pretty good at putting hybrid drivetrains in its cars, giving them better fuel economy and low smog-forming emissions than most competing models. But what would be really nice is if they pushed a bit further and starting making fully electric cars (or even plug-in hybrids). Sadly, the latest...
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The iPad-Controlled Biome Terrarium For Green...
Computer-controlled garden concepts are surprisingly common. It seems we are always looking for a way to have the lush, green plants without the effort of keeping them alive. But what if we looked at it from a different perspective — with the computer controls helping not just to keep the plants alive, but to help you thrive as well? That’s the thinking behind this design from Samuel...
November 2011
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Irreversible Climate Change Will Occur in 5 Years...
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), the world is currently backing itself into a corner where irreversible climate change will most likely occur in just five years. The Agency — an autonomous organization that provides comprehensive statistics and recommendations for world leaders on energy — just released their 2011 World Energy Outlook, the most comprehensive analysis yet of the...
October 2011
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September 2011
6 posts
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Plant a Wish Restores Native Plant Habitats Around...
Founded by Hawaii-based husband and wife team Joseph Imhoff and Sara Tekula, Plant a Wish is a public awareness and documentary film project aiming to inspire the restoration of native habitats around America. The project aims to engage communities by inspiring individuals to take an active role in the health of our environment. On Earth Day 2010, they launched their project, which will...
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Noise Pollution Causing Songbirds To Cheat On Each...
Photo by chapmankj75 via Flickr CC
Noise pollution from humans is guilty of many things — causing whales to lose their way, killing giant squid, leading baby fish away from good habitat, and generally stressing out animals. But while we know noise pollution in the oceans is causing whales to yell their songs, scientists have only just discovered that it is also causing birds to change...
Astronomy Picture of the Day
Roll Cloud Over Wisconsin Image Credit: Pierre cb, Wikipedia
Explanation: What kind of cloud is this? A type of arcus cloud called a roll cloud. These rare long clouds may form near advancing cold fronts. In particular, a downdraft from an advancing storm front can cause moist warm air to rise, cool below its dew point, and so form a cloud. When this happens uniformly along an extended front,...
August 2011
19 posts
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Astronomy Picture of the Day
Portrait of NGC 281 Image Credit & Copyright: J-P Metsävainio (Astro Anarchy)
Explanation: Look through the cosmic cloud cataloged as NGC 281 and it’s almost easy to miss stars of open cluster IC 1590. But, formed within the nebula, that cluster’s young, massive stars ultimately power the pervasive nebular glow. The eye-catching shapes looming in this portrait of NGC 281 are...
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Rio de Janeiro's 2016 Olympics Park Will Focus On...
Images: Courtesy of Rio de Janeiro’s mayor office.
Authorities from Rio de Janeiro announced the winning project in the international contest held to design the Olympic Park to be built for the 2016 games. The winning project is focused in the preservation of nature and of the lagoon in the area, as well as in ensuring the conditions for new developments to be installed in the area...
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Sierra Club Announces the Nation's "Coolest"...
Photo: dalexeenco
School is a testing ground for the way we perform later in life. It can mold us into fine upstanding members of society, or not. While environmental responsibility isn’t something we have to learn early in life, it certainly makes things easier. College can provide just such an opportunity as highlighted in this month’s Sierra Club magazine.Sierra Club named 20...
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NASA Researchers Say Climate Change on Earth Could...
A new paper from NASA’s Planetary Science Division and Pennsylvania State University academics details a rather frightening consequence of climate change that we may not have contemplated before — we are more likely to be invaded by aliens.
Extraterrestrial beings may sound a lot like science fiction, but with all of the billions of solar systems, planets and stars in the universe, scientists...
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Podcars Running At London's Heathrow Airport
Modern Personal Rapid Transit, or PRT or podcars, are finally being put to use in London’s Heathrow Airport. I have called it a solution in search of a problem, and here they found it the perfect problem: getting people from one point, a parking lot, to a second point, the airport, on demand. Instead of having buses running all the time, one can call for a car when needed. It uses 50% less...
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Astronomy Picture of the Day
A Sun Pillar Over Ontario Image Credit & Copyright: Rick Stankiewicz (Peterborough Astronomical Association)
Explanation: What is that on the horizon? No, it’s not an alien starship battling distant Earthlings, but rather a sun pillar. When driving across Ontario, Canada in early June, the photographer was surprised to encounter such an “eerie and beautiful” vista, and...
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Philips AmbientLED 17 Watts LED Lightbulb (Product...
Finally a 75-Watt Incandescent Replacement (100W Model is Coming Soon)
I liked all the LEDs that I’ve had the chance to review so far. In fact, I use them every day and don’t have much to complain about; in my office, I have a Qnuru 6.4W LED (the cool white model), in my bedroom the bedside lamp uses the FIRST 7W LED, and the living room used the Philips 12.5W LED. Until now that...
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6 International Resorts Dishing Pampered Eco...
Luxurious looks, eco sensibility. Hua Hin photo via Six Senses.
Luxury by its very definition means indulgence—while eco-consciousness, such as that employed by Scandic in its moderately-priced hotel chain, is more likely to mean slashing consumption. Yet because luxury resorts frequently are located in the world’s most beautiful (and delicate) spots, a built-in need for a...
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Astronomy Picture of the Day
The Snows of Paranal Image Credit & Copyright: Yuri Beletsky (ESO)
Explanation: Recorded last week, this dawn portrait of snowy mountain and starry sky captures a very rare scenario. The view does feature a pristine sky above the 2,600 meter high mountain Cerro Paranal, but clear skies over Paranal are not at all unusual.That’s one reason the mountain is home to the European...
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Astronomy Picture of the Day
Eclipse over the Acropolis Image Credit & Copyright: Elias Politis
Explanation: The total phase of the June 15 lunar eclipse lasted an impressive 100 minutes. Its entire duration is covered in this composite of a regular sequence of digital camera exposures, tracking the dark lunar disk as it arced above the Acropolis in Athens, Greece. In fact, around 270 BCE Greek...
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New App Provides Basic Energy Use Data
Blue Line Innovations, maker of the PowerCost Monitor for tracking home energy use, recently introduced a new partnership with the People Power Company which includes a new mobile app called People Power 1.0. Now, abandoned Hohm and PowerMeter users can switch over to People Power 1.0 for real-time electricity data, real-time pricing, budgeting, gaming, social interaction, and other...
Keep Warm with a Low-Tech, Solar Powered Radiator
Space and water heating are responsible for about two thirds of energy use in American homes. Considering that the conventional choices for home heating are oil and gas, it’s not easy to find a sustainable way to keep warm in the winter months. But if you’re not up for the move to a passive house, don’t worry; there’s a green solution for your heating woes. It’s the...
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A Tale of Two Hemispheres
A Tale of Two Hemispheres Image Credit & Copyright: Tunç Tezel and Stéphane Guisard (TWAN)
Explanation: A quest to find planet Earth’s darkest night skies led to this intriguing panorama. In projection, the mosaic view sandwiches the horizons visible in all-sky images taken from the northern hemisphere’s Canary Island of La Palma (top) and the south’s high Atacama Desert...
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Astronomy Picture of the Day
A Dusty Iris Nebula Image Credit & Copyright: Máximo Ruiz
Explanation: These clouds of interstellar dust and gas have blossomed 1,300 light-years away in the fertile star fields of the constellation Cepheus. Sometimes called the Iris Nebula and dutifully cataloged as NGC 7023, this is not the only nebula in the sky to evoke the imagery of flowers. Surrounding it, obscuring clouds of...
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