For years, scientists have known that the building blocks in
plant matter, like corn kernels, stalks, straw and wood chips, contain an immense potential resource that could, in theory, help fill the gasoline tanks in America's cars and trucks. Most have focused on biology as a way to do it. But now, a new group of entrepreneurs, including Mr. Mandich, favor chemistry. They believe that techniques borrowed from oil refining and other chemical industries will allow them to crack open big biological molecules, transforming them into ethanol or even diesel and gasoline.  read more »

Corn based biodegradable plastic offer hope for a cleaner future. The resin, known as polylactic acid (PLA), is formed into containers and packaging for food and consumer goods. While it may seem better than the conventional petroleum based packaging, there are some serious questions as to whether it is in the long term.  read more »

A novel and contentious effort aims to commercialize the removal of heat trapping carbon dioxide from atmosphere using blooms of plankton. The Weatherbird II, a 115-foot private research vessel, entered international waters on Sunday to fertilize seas by adding iron. Some scientists believe that hundreds of millions of tons of carbon dioxide might be absorbed by fertilized seas. A lack of iron in some ocean waters prevents plankton from blooming. But some environmental groups oppose such efforts.  read more »

The majority of people recently polled by the BBC stated that they believed sacrifices would be necessary to combat climate change.

The recent poll involved over 22,000 participants from Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Egypt, France, Germany, Great Britain, India, Indonesia, Italy, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria, the Philippines, Russia, South Korea, Spain, Turkey, and the United States.

The US and China, the two largest producers of carbon emissions also showed a recognition of the necessity for steps to be taken.  read more »

I scored horribly on this test. I'd love to hear how you perform.

This quiz is a series of photos where you are asked to determine the persons race or ethnicity. As the author puts it:

Usually, mislabeling amounts to nothing more than an awkward experience for one or both individuals involved. But in some contexts, such as in the medical field - where exam results, dignoses, and treatment plans may depend on racial categories - the results of mislabeling can be much more signficant such as missed diagnoses, incorrect diagnoses and/or inappropriate treatment protocols.  read more »