Grist List
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Carnivorous plant goes batshit for bat shit
File under "the disgusting wonders of nature": Scientists have discovered a species of pitcher plant in Borneo that is a living bat toilet. The plants offer cozy quarters for local bats, and the bats repay them by shitting down their necks. Talk about the circle of life.
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Rock stars, lesbians, and probably some Icelandic elves team up for geothermal power
Two rules for industry in Iceland: Don't piss off the elves, and do NOT mess with Bjork. She is the Hugo Chavez of Iceland's geothermal power.
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Listen up, hipsters: Your next home will arrive on a truck
When we last checked in with prefab housing, it was reeling from the market crash, and green modular homes were turning into yet another thing you could only have if you were rich. But the modular revolution is back on track, with a rise in popularity for eco-friendly prefab houses.
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EPA: A human life is worth $7.9 million
Putting a dollar value on people is how the EPA figures out whether reducing pollution is a good idea. And the EPA thinks you're worth $7.9 million.
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Is that a solar panel in your pocket? Because I'm getting energized by your pants
Eco-fashion designers are starting to think beyond organic, Fair Trade, and sweatshop-free: Instead of just not harming the world, clothes now need to save it. Here are some duds that do double duty, not only covering your junk but also checking the air quality and hand-feeding the wildlife.
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MAKE magazine provides a glimpse of the open-source, upcycled, electric future
MAKE magazine has handed out awards in its Tag Your Green contest for imaginative DIY environmental solutions. Here's what happens when mad scientists go green.
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Six ways to cheer yourself up on the most depressing day of the year
Today is mathematically determined to be the most depressing day of the year. Is there anything you do about this that's greener than flying to Cancun but healthier than gin binges?
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How much better is Canada?
Site ifitweremyhome.com fuels the which-country-is-better debate by comparing stats like electricity use and oil consumption. Warning: It's addictive.
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New report quantifies just how much a car commute crushes your soul
The Texas Transportation Institute at Texas A&M University has released its annual Urban Mobility Report, which includes data on how much time, money, and mental health urban-area car commuters lose to congestion every year. Spoiler alert: Car commuting is expensive, crazy-making, and bad for the environment.