Latest Articles
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Mesmerizing data visualization shows a day in the life of a city’s bike usage
[vimeo 40866482] This video is probably what Ralph Steadman sees when he takes half a tab of acid and looks at a map of Budapest, but it’s also a data visualization of the city’s bike usage during a 24-hour period. The size, location, and direction of the bubbles reflect how many people are on bikes at […]
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‘Weight of the Nation’ takes a realistic look at a looming crisis
According to one critic, this four-part HBO series -- which begins tonight -- offers a systematic examination of the obesity epidemic.
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Yet another ridiculous billboard campaign featuring psychos
Apparently the political discourse in this country is irrational enough that one anti-green billboard campaign featuring megalomaniacs will not satisfy our craving for crazy. No, there have to be two billboard campaigns in one month that cast aspersions on good ideas by associating them with crazy dudes that no one likes. We present to you: […]
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Here comes everybody: Number of bicycle-friendly cities soars
More cities are making way for cyclists, according to the League of American Bicyclists. But we still have a long, long road ahead.
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Critical List: Gas prices drop; Mount Fuji’s on top of an active fault
Gas prices are falling. Americans are willing to deal with a 13 percent hike in electricity bills if it means more of their power will come from clean energy. Twenty-six states are fighting for schools to teach evolution and climate change — a welcome change from school reformers who want to tear down those ideas. […]
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A growing problem: Notes from the ‘superweed’ summit
What did hundreds of scientists and Big Ag executives decide when they met last week to discuss the mounting crisis of herbicide-resistant 'superweeds'? That they should spray more herbicides, of course.
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Ask Umbra: I need a book of eco-tips!
A reader seeks a book's worth of green living advice. Umbra searches the stacks.
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Carp diem: Making a living off invasive fish [VIDEO]
The Perennial Plate crew joins a fisherman who brings in a giant haul of this invasive fish nearly every day.
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My Mother’s Day wish: Clean air for kids
Long-overdue standards for toxic mercury spewed from coal plants are under attack. Our kids are counting on us to defend them.
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Friday music blogging: First Serve
The first hip-hop album I ever got into was Low End Theory by Tribe Called Quest, back in 1992, when I was a sophomore in college. (Yes, that’s rather late to discover rap, but what can I say? I was raised in Middle Tennessee. Diverse it was not.) That was a damn good place to […]