Science & Technology

Image via Mapenvelope

A key element of party invitations is including in the envelope directions on how to get to the location. But what if the envelope is the directions? We love this idea for an envelope that unfolds into a Google map that not only reduces how much paper space is used up on directions, but also just makes for a great looking envelope.

Fashion & Beauty

Those of us who cycle all winter are familiar with the phrase "There's no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate clothing." But how to take that important call on your cellphone in the middle of a rainstorm? Nubrella to the rescue. It reinvents the umbrella into an aerodynamic sphere, protecting you from the rain and guaranteed never to get blown out, or as they call it, "invert."

It is also completely hands free, "No more struggling to maintain your umbrella in the proper position. Simply strap on the shoulder support and walk completely hands free even in significant winds."

Design & Architecture

Photos: Courtesy of Jahara Studio.

Made entirely from recycled aluminum and 100% recyclable at the end of their lifetime, these home accessories are the first creation of Jahara studio in Brazil. Their name, Batucada, refers to a percussion beat used in carnaval parties in that country, in which people often play instruments made of tin (hence the beaten aesthetics of the collection). More pieces and colors inside.

Business & Politics

Tim DeChristopher speaking last October at the International Day of Climate Action via It's Getting Hot In Here.

Remember Tim DeChristopher? The guy who punked the federal oil and gas lease auction a while back by bidding and winning several parcels of land and then announced he had no money to pay for them? Well, the Feds call that fraud--DeChristopher faces up to 10 years in jail--but Naomi Klein, Bill McKibben, James Hansen and Terry Tempest Williams think it a brilliant bit of civil disobedience and want you to come out and support DeChristopher at his trial. Here's their call to action in its entirety:

Business & Politics

photo: morisius cosmonaut via flickr.

DC has been just showering love on nuclear power these days, and there's been some on TreeHugger as well, but as recent articles over at Mother Jones and on Climate Progress point out, the increasing costs of and delays in actually building even a a couple new nuclear plants make the whole prospect a lot less attractive:

Fashion & Beauty

JoAnn Berman, "Thunderbirds" fall 2010 collection. Credit: JoAnn Berman

JoAnn Berman, reigning queen of (re)construction, has been creating modern pieces out of vintage garments for over 28 years. The Designer took some pre-fashion week time -- shorter than a New York minute -- away from finishing her designs for fall, to tell us more about her process. Click through for photos from her pre-fall 2010 collection, and tune in post fashion week for "Thunderbirds," premiering at the GreenShows during New York Fashion Week:

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: