Driving home the good news about electric cars with Richard Branson
Sir Richard Branson – showman, self-publicist and master of the media – could hardly have come up with a more symbolic setting if he tried. Last weekend, his electric car racing team sped through New York City, clocking speeds of 150mph (240kmph) in cars built with technology Read More...
‘Renewable energy will be the cheapest form of power in every country by 2020’
The plummeting cost of renewable energy means even if Donald Trump pulls the US out of the Paris climate change accord, America will still meet its commitments in the agreement, a new report has said. Analysts at investment company Morgan Stanley say prices for clean Read More...
Happiness can affect physical health
Subjective well-being may exert its effects on physical health through health behaviors, as well as through the immune and cardiovascular systems. Although scientists still are exploring and debating when happiness most affects health, there is no doubt that it can do so. With more research, it may Read More...
Utilities are giving people cash for clean cars
Utilities have begun offering direct rebates for electric vehicles in an effort to jump-start sluggish sales in an emerging car market that stands to benefit them financially. Electric companies in Vermont and California have offered customers $450 to $1,200 off their electric bill if they buy a Read More...
Here’s how coal-reliant communities should transition away from fossil fuels
As much as we applaud news of coal-fired power stations being shut down, the truth is that these closures can dramatically affect the communities that relied on these stations economically. Tonawanda, New York is no different. The working class Buffalo suburb lost its largest air and water Read More...
This self-fuelling boat just set off on an epic 6-year global voyage
A hi-tech French vessel is undertaking a 6-year journey across the globe without emitting a single molecule of carbon. Named the Energy Observer, this catamaran runs on solar power harnessed from extensive paneling on top of the vessel, in addition to two large wind turbines at the rear of the Read More...
Fish processors can make a buck and save the environment by using of fish waste
A team of researchers at the Ocean Frontier Institute are finding ways to turn waste from all kinds of fish into valuable products such as fuel, road salts and even nail polish. The researchers say they have found a way to extract high-quality oil from finfish guts and used the waste from that Read More...
How many solar panels are needed to power the entire USA? Elon Musk knows
At the National Governors Association meeting this past weekend, Elon Musk reminded more than thirty governors how much real-estate is needed to make sure America can run completely on solar energy. “If you wanted to power the entire United States with solar panels, it would take a fairly small Read More...
This Tibetan monk tradition will teach you about the temporary nature of life
Buddhist monks in Tibet spend countless hours creating mandalas—incredibly detailed geometric designs made out of colored sand—by building them out, grain-by-grain, as a form of meditation. Why then do monks wash away the mandalas moments after they finish making them? See here the moving Read More...
Forest bathing: A retreat to nature can boost immunity and mood
When my editors asked me to report on forest bathing, I packed a swimsuit. I assumed it must involve a dip in the water. It turns out, my interpretation was too literal. I met certified Forest Therapy guide Melanie Choukas-Bradley and several other women who'd come along for the adventure at the Read More...