Latest Articles
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Could Securitization Democratize Solar Power?
After Wall Street popularized the term “mortgage-backed securities” in their destruction of the economy in 2008, you could be forgiven for thinking “solar securities” are a pyramid scheme. But in truth, they may hold the key to democratizing the financing and the ownership of distributed renewable energy. Right now, financing solar typically means looking for […]
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Stunning map shows 11 years of U.S. wildfires
This map by John Nelson shows all major U.S. wildfires (and probably some prescribed fires) since 2001, with yellow being more intense. That bright purple over most of the country except the lucky Northeast is fires that put out maybe half as much energy as a power plant produces in the course of a year. […]
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This weird artificial jellyfish is made from the cells of a rat
Watch the video below, and consider this: “Genetically, this thing is a rat,” Harvard biophysicist Kit Parker told Nature News. But, we hear you saying, that is not a rat! It’s a jellyfish! Sorta — but it’s made from silicone and the muscle cells of a rat’s heart. When the resulting “medusoid” (“jellyfishy”) creature is […]
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Green investment pays off for basically everyone except coal-based power companies
Green investment increases the resale value of a house by 9 percent; it pays the government 10 percent on its solar tax credit.
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Why should EPA regulators investigate factory farm pollution when they can go get a beer instead?
The EPA doesn't know where most factory farms are, nor what they're polluting -- and yet it just reversed a rule that would have helped clean water regulators find out.
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Ask Umbra: Should I buy a refurbished laptop for college?
A reader asks if it does the planet any good to buy a used computer rather than a new one. Umbra takes a byte out of the question.
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The great cities vs. suburbs rivalry, and why it matters
The cities are winning! No, the ’burbs are! Why do we bicker about census numbers?
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Babes in bikeland: Advice for cycling with kids
A request for advice on biking with kids elicited a flood of enthusiastic and inspiring insights from parents about the joys of cycling with little ones.
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For young farmers: No land, but plenty of climate change to go around
While making a documentary about young farmers in New Jersey, a filmmaker noticed that the extreme weather became the star of the show.
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Rising waters: Close encounters with climate change on the Hudson
Two men set out by motorcycle to talk to everyday folks about their experiences with extreme weather. In this episode of Slow Ride Stories, an interview with a sailing captain and his crew.
