Latest Articles

China to breed humongous bus-subway hybrid that swallows traffic

There may be 9 million bicycles in Beijing, but there's also a heck of a lot of traffic. To deal with all those wheels, Chinese innovators have come up with a Futurama-esque solution: a new breed of mass transit that lets cars drive through it. Take a look.

'Policy tags' should relace offsets if we really want to solve climate change

What are the best offsets to buy to address guest travel? Answer: None. Instead, sell a policy tag that contributes the same amount to policy action.

Why did Whole Foods tart up my organic peanut butter?

In which I buy a jar of organic peanut butter from Whole Foods, find that it has added fat and sugar -- just like Jif! -- and am filled with righteous indignation.

A climate 'Plan B' for team Obama

Congress has failed to act on climate once again, but here are several ways President Obama can use his executive powers to combat climate change.

Why did the climate bill die? Because we still don’t have a real climate movement

Why did climate legislation fail? The absence of pressure from Americans across the country demanding that serious action be taken.

California's Bay Area ponies up for electric-car charging stations

The Nissan Leaf and Chevy Volt will hit dealer showrooms in just a few months. To make sure Bay Area buyers have places to charge their new EVs, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District just agreed to subsidize installation of more than 5,000 public and private charging stations.

So what happens when you dump 2 million gallons of toxic chemicals into the ocean?

Democrats were skeptical on Capitol Hill as senators heard sunny testimony about the whereabouts of all that Gulf oil and the impact of the Corexit that was used to disperse it. Meanwhile, longtime Gulf fisherman are alarmed by the strange sights they're seeing out there on the fishing grounds. Said one: "All the sea life is trying to get out of the water."

Introducing ULE 880 — Sustainability for Manufacturing Organizations

A new sustainability standard for companies is being released for public comment: ULE 880 -- Sustainability for Manufacturing Organizations.

The time it always rained

For farmers, water is both boon and bane. Here in Nebraska, we've already gotten more rain than we usually get for the entire year, and more is on the way.

Thieves hate fuel-efficient cars

Yet another reason not to buy a gas-gulping, big-honkin' SUV: They're more likely to get stolen!