Solar plane lands in Ohio on latest leg of round-the-world flight
An experimental airplane powered solely by energy from the sun landed in Ohio on Saturday night on the latest leg of its historic bid by pilots and developers to fly around the globe without a drop of fuel. The single-seat Solar Impulse 2 aircraft arrived in Dayton shortly before 10 p.m. local Read More...
How carbon farming can reverse climate change
Are there agricultural practices that might offer more potential than the ones commonly discussed in the “carbon farming” conversation? In a companion post, I wrote about what the science tells us about cover cropping and reduced tillage, two practices getting a lot of attention in what Read More...
Nissan home energy-storage battery: another front against Tesla?
The Nissan Leaf electric car doesn't compete directly with any of the luxury models from Tesla Motors, but Nissan is now targeting Tesla in a different arena. The Japanese carmaker will offer standalone battery packs for home energy storage. Available for pre-order in September, the xStorage line Read More...
A very smart shower that cuts water and energy usage by 70 percent
Ever thought lives could be saved by engineering a new type of shower? Peter Brewin and Nick Christy probably didn’t think so either, but it appears to be a nice side effect of their water and energy efficient shower design. How? Well, it turns out many casualties in the U.S. Army are soldiers Read More...
Finland’s postal workers now offer a weekly lawn mowing service
With more and more communication happening online, postal services face a challenge: How to keep up their countrywide services with ever less business? Finland’s mail service Posti has found a creative solution. During the summer on the typical slow Tuesdays, Posti’s employees will offer a lawn Read More...
With more women at the top success looms for global climate talks
It’s just possible that on any given day, not a dark suit and tie will be spotted on the main podium of the global climate change negotiations, a forum long dominated by greying men. As of this week, the six most influential positions within the UN process are all held by women. France Read More...
Renewable energy storage: A train filled with rocks on a hill
The storage of renewable energy is a challenge as the sun doesn’t always shine and the wind doesn’t always blow. The cutting-edge technology solution comes from ever more clever batteries. But what about a 19th century solution for a 21st century problem, with help from the abundant natural Read More...
Required summer reading by Bill Gates
Bill Gates aims for solving problems wherever he can—from malaria vaccines to toilets that produce clean water. But where does he get his inspiration from? Gates shared 5 of his current most favorite books with Fast Company. He is fascinated by a book by a British biologist about the Read More...
15 inspiring examples of renewable energy success
We report every day on the renewable energy revolution that is gaining more and more speed. Here’s a good selection of the successes put together by BuzzFeed. Just one note: We’d rather see that backpack used in a different Read More...
LSD-like drugs are coming out of exile
Psychedelic drugs, like LSD, are not addictive and they have been used with success in treating mental disorders. They may even provide a better understanding of consciousness. Yet, they were outlawed nearly half a century ago. But in recent years, there are increasing signs that hallucinogens may Read More...