Dear Umbra, Could you help me clear up a rumor about cars? I’ve heard that although hybrids reduce your carbon footprint because they use less gas, the process for mining the nickel in the hybrid batteries produces far more pollution … Continued
excerpts from this article in Financial Times weekend 718/09: Rupert Soar has spent much of the past few years listening to termites on the outskirts of a remote farm in Namibia. Using headphones connected to a microphone buried deep inside … Continued
If swimsuit season hasn’t gotten you exercising, maybe this will: Some airline-industry analysts predict that the cost of flying eventually could depend on your weight. It’s likely, they say, because of simple physics: the more weight you bring on the … Continued
As the U.S. Congress debates an energy and climate bill, government organizations and corporations are assessing renewable energy alternatives. Which are the most efficient and improving the fastest? According to a new study from NYU’s Stern school of Business, geothermal … Continued
WASHINGTON/DETROIT (Reuters) – For some U.S. Rust Belt cities, the future will be smaller and greener. As communities from Buffalo to Milwaukee struggle with shuttered factories and vacant neighborhoods, some have turned abandoned properties into parks, gardens and other open … Continued
TOKYO (Reuters) – Rechargeable batteries could become the core technology for the auto industry if pure electric cars enter the mainstream — a prospect that has carmakers racing to team up with battery makers. Auto executives say that with fewer … Continued
SAN FRANCISCO — When California’s budget impasse is settled, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will have to deal with the state’s other big crisis: fresh water. Gov. Schwarzenegger and other top lawmakers have already drafted plans to attack a severe water shortage … Continued
Brown grass, swimming pools and water-crazy kids add cents and dollars to your utility bill every summer. In fact, residents can see their water bills increase as much as 35 percent during the summer, says Dan Clayton, director of public … Continued
(Reuters) – Exxon Mobil Corp is expected to announce on Tuesday a $600 million investment to produce liquid transportation fuels from algae, the New York Times said. The oil major’s biofuel effort involves a partnership with Synthetic Genomics, a biotechnology … Continued
