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The world’s first ass-powered outdoor concert

Here's an idea for a better way to harness the power of stationary bike workout: use the resultant energy to fuel the electricity-sucking equipment for a banging outdoor concert. Pedal Power NYC recruited 250 volunteers to pedal 16 bikes, which, hooked up to generators, provided the electricity for June's NYC Celebrates Water Festival.

How China accidentally geoengineered the climate

Between 2003 and 2007, China burned so much coal that it increased global consumption of the stuff 25 percent. That put so much sulfur into the air that it more or less literally (temporarily) blotted out the sun, masking some of the global warming that otherwise would have occurred during the first decade of the 21st century.

The world’s fastest all-electric plane

A French pilot flew a plane powered only by electricity at more than 175 miles per hour, the fastest an all-electric plane has ever gone. That's much, much faster than other all-electric planes, which tend to be the type available at toy stores, and about 15 mph faster than the previous record set by the pilot, Hugues Duval.

Bicycling our way into work and out of the Great Recession

Bicycling creates a little wealth. But more importantly, it creates a lot of well-being. That's what the bicycle economy is all about.

Critical List: Oil spills into Yellowstone River; Americans are driving less

42,000 gallons of Exxon oil spilled into the Yellowstone River in Montana over the weekend. Regulators had warned the company that the pipe wasn't safe.

The river's particularly high, which isn't helping clean-up.

Atmospheric pollution from China's coal use temporarily masked global warming: sulfur particulates reflected more light back into space, keeping the planet’s temperature from rising too fast. But over time the carbon dioxide released from the coal will push temperatures upwards.

Tom's Kitchen: pasta with snap peas and fennel

Snap peas and parsley and fresh hearts of fennel ... these are a few of my favorite things.

Simply groundbreaking: Ask Umbra on green celebrations

One reader thinks a traditional ribbon-cutting just won’t cut it for a green building dedication. Ask Umbra looks into some festive alternatives.

The EPA goes retro

The EPA's plans for retrospective review of regulations appeal to businesses and include mostly nominal updates.

Grist guilty pleasures: Independence Day edition

fourth of july guilty pleasures

Friday music blogging: Jessica Lea Mayfield

Ohio native and Black Keys protege Jessica Lea Mayfield makes languid, laid-back magic.