Water Life
A team in Denmark has created the LifeStraw, a $2 invention modeled on the drinking straw with sediment and pathogen filters. The low cost, durability, and ease of use make it a promising technology to the one-sixth of the world's population that has no access to safe drinking water, and are prone to water-borne diseases. ... posted on Oct 20 2005, 1,862 reads

Recording Africa
Michael Fay, the man who slogged 2,000 miles on foot documenting the central African forests on his 2001 "Megatransect", has just finished another African project, the “Megaflyover”. In a small Cessna plane flying only a few hundred feet about the ground, he shot more than 100,000 images over 60,000 miles from South Africa to Morocco. His conclusion? “Overall, I was more impressed than depre... posted on Aug 25 2005, 1,553 reads

Green Clean
Most everything in your house can be cleaned with baking soda, vinegar, lemon juice, and soap. Good news considering most household cleaners contain toxic chemicals that cause health problems, like asthma, and migrate into the bodies of birds, insects, and even newborn babies. ... posted on Aug 19 2005, 1,604 reads

Organic Farming
Organic farms are better for wildlife than those run conventionally, according to a study covering 180 farms in England. The organic farms were found to contain 85% more plant species, 33% more bats, 17% more spiders and 5% more birds. ... posted on Aug 06 2005, 1,587 reads

Working for Water
In 1995, the South African government started a program called Working for Water, in which unemployed people were hired to clear thirsty alien trees from important watersheds around Cape Town. A single eucalyptus consumes up to 100 gallons of water in a day, so removing the trees is like putting water back in the system, allowing rivers that hadn't run in 30, 40 years to run again. The success of ... posted on Jul 28 2005, 1,325 reads

The Odd Couple
When the Dec 24th tsunami hit the shores of Kenya and left a baby hippopotamus orphaned, people rushed to its aid and transported it to a nearby wildlife refuge. Exhausted, confused, and frightened, the hippo immediately sought the friendship of Mzee, a 130-year-old tortoise in the park. To everyone’s surprise Mzee returned the affection, and now the pair snuggle and even go for walks together. ... posted on Jul 26 2005, 1,842 reads

Carbonless Economy
Portland Oregon has reduced carbon emissions below the levels of 1990, the benchmark for the Kyoto accord, while booming economically. The campaign to cut carbon emissions has brought the city huge benefits: less money spent on energy, more convenient transportation, and expertise in energy efficiency that is helping local businesses win contracts worldwide. ... posted on Jul 08 2005, 1,384 reads

Highline Park
What do you do with an abandoned elevated train line overgrown with weeds? If you're New York City, you turn it into a park. If the project materializes, New Yorkers will be able to walk 22 blocks without ever coming in contact with a vehicle. ... posted on Jul 06 2005, 2,357 reads

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Not So Big House
The square feet of the average US home has nearly tripled in the last 40 years, consuming massive quantities of land, building products, and infrastructure; and making the American home one of the biggest environmental threats to the planet. Architect Sarah Susanka has been turning the heads of designers, developers, and homebuyers with the message that it's not the square feet people want, but we... posted on Jun 04 2005, 1,604 reads