Science & Technology

photo: Randy Wick via flickr.

New Environmental Protection Agency requirements for its Renewable Fuel Standards program have been released which raise an issue which has sat dormant for a little while: How to calculate the greenhouse gas emissions of a renewable fuel while incorporating indirect land-use changes. The last we left it corn ethanol was on the ropes, not clearing the bar because of the energy, inputs and land use changes associated with its production showed it to be higher than gasoline. Under the new regulations, corn ethanol comes back into the game:

Science & Technology

photo: Wonker via flickr.

We've reported a number of times on the growing body of knowledge pointing to aerosols being a greater component of climate change than previously thought, and to black carbon soot accelerating Himalayan glacier melting. Well, some new research from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory quantifies that effect a bit more:

Travel & Nature

Image via Environmental Economics

The White Shark Café is a remote area in the middle of the Pacific Ocean between California and Hawaii, and it's the winter and spring habitat of great white sharks. It was coined in 2002 by researchers at the Monterey Bay Aquarium who were studying the geolocation information of tagged sharks. While researchers know where the sharks hang out, they don't know why. White Shark Cafe follows researchers off the coast of San Francisco as they tag and track white sharks, hoping to find out more about why they congregate for long periods of time away from their primary food sources along the coastlines. Check out footage from the film, and meet one of the sharks, Omoo, who has his own Facebook page.

Travel & Nature

Photo: Klättermusen

Klättermusen, the Swedish outdoor gear design firm, just keeps on winning official kudos for its innovative clothing and equipment, having amassed 12 international design awards in the past four years alone.

Their latest creation, the Bilskirner Jacket, recently picked up an ISPO Outdoor Award for Textiles, as well as a 100% ranking in Klättermusen's own internal Eco Index. Although not strictly a waterproof garment, the Bilskirner, available later in 2010 if highly wind and water resistant due to an ultra-dense woven, certified organic cotton, shell fabric. Overlays of 100 % fluorocarbon-free, recyclable polyester fabric increase the weatherproofing. And if returned, at the end of useful life, Klättermusen will offer a refund of 10 Euros.

Business & Politics

Image credit: Virgin Group

It's always hard to know what to make of Richard Branson. From his reported $3bn investments to fight climate change to his offer of cash prizes for removing atmospheric carbon, the man certainly talks a good talk when it comes to green initiatives. And then the waters get muddied by his plans for space tourism and underwater planes for the super rich. So where do all these plans fit with his well-documented belief that peak oil is coming, and it's going to be a major challenge to the world economy?

Travel & Nature

Photo via lalouque

Many researchers feel that sea birds could be the perfect species to study in order to see how climate change is affecting marine life on a large scale. In the film Arctic Cliffhangers, biologist and filmmaker Steve Smith travels along the eastern Canadian Arctic to talk with specialists who are tracking information about several cliff-dwelling species. Because their nesting is coordinated with arctic ice break-ups, and their feeding takes them as far as 500 kilometers out to sea, they have the ability to show us what is happening both on land and far out in the ocean depths.

Business & Politics

Photo: Warren McLaren / Inov8

Last week the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) advised it had sent out letters to 78 US retailers advising them to stop labelling clothing as being made from 'bamboo.' Any company that fails to correct its advertising and labeling may find the FTC imposing penalties of up to $16,000 per violation, or as the FTC did last year suing four companies for falsely claiming that their clothing and other textile products were made of bamboo fibre. The Federal Trade Commission believe such claims are deceptive.

Culture & Celebrity

Image from Daily Mail

With all the best intentions, most of us don't have the nerve to really change our life style dramatically. We do as much as we can within the limitations of our busy lives, but haven't the true grit to go that extra mile. Here are 3 inspirational stories of young families that are taking things to the limit and loving it.

The first tale is about a family of 4 that decided to see if they could survive for a year without shopping at supermarkets. They grew their own vegetables in their back yard and bartered the extra food for essentials. Living in a smallish city, they were able to rent an acre of land to plant crops as well as keep animals.