The Perfect Green Tech Toy for Kids
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 kept “alive” with renewable energy. It’s like this generation’s Tamagotchi.
(Source: treehugger.com)
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 gas emissions and solve climate change.
What would it take to rein in greenhouse gas emissions and solve climate change?
Rainforest Plant Combats Multi-Resistant Bacterial Strains
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 in a research project a compound that targets a particular resistance mechanism in yellow staphylococci. The development of resistance in these specific bacteria is extremely rapid. Bacterial strains that do not respond to treatment have already been found in the USA and Greece.
(Source: sciencedaily.com)
Saving Food From The Fridge: It Will Taste Better, May Even Last Longer And Reduce Your Energy Bills
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 condiments.”
