The Root Bridges of Cherrapunji

Posted on August 9, 2009 by Matt Embrey .

If you venture deep into the rain forest of Cherrapunji you’ll find these amazing examples of natural architecture, root bridges. Cherrapunji is one of the worlds wettest places covered with rivers and streams. This is also the home of the Ficus Elastica tree, a species of Indian rubber tree that boasts a very strong root system. [...]

Daniel Beltra’s New Photos Show Amazon’s Glory and Destruction

Posted on July 1, 2009 by Doug Gunzelmann .

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Daniel Beltra, a Spanish photographer, is traveling the world to capture the world’s three major rainforest regions. We have some of his amazing shots from the first leg of the trip… the Amazon! From cattle men in the deforested Mato Grasso region of Brazil to smiling native Indian children pointing down the barrel of his [...]

Astronauts Drink Recycled Urine

Posted on May 21, 2009 by Matt Embrey .

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We’ve become increasingly aware lately of how valuable and how scarce potable water is in some parts of the world, but no where is it more scarce than 200 miles up at the International Space Station. Up there you can’t take any resource for granted, and a resource as valuable as water can’t be pissed away. That is why NASA has installed a urine recycling system. Yesterday astronauts aboard the space station put the system to use for the first time, and with a toast and a smile they downed their first glasses of recycled urine produced by the system.

Endangered Species Day - Take Today to Learn About a New Species

Posted on May 15, 2009 by Danielle Brigida .

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What does Endangered Species Day mean to you? One of my pet peeves is that everyone seems to know everything about endangered species that are cute, large and very often cuddly– but many of them also live very far away. I think it’s equally important to know about the animals in YOUR area. Yes I know, some people don’t think they have to care about endangered clams in Virginia–but the truth is– you should. These are the animals that we have an effect on and that have an effect on us.

National Landscape Conservation System Approved by Congress

Posted on March 26, 2009 by Derek Markham .

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The permanent establishment of the National Landscape Conservation System was approved by Congress yesterday, helping to restore and protect some of America’s most ecologically important lands. This system, which covers Wilderness Areas, National Monuments, National Scenic and Historic Trails, and National Conservation Areas, is the first of its kind in 50 years.

Plastiki Expedition: 12,000 Miles in a Boat Made From Plastic Bottles

Posted on March 7, 2009 by Derek Markham .

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The Plastiki Expedition is the brainchild of David de Rothschild, and the goal is audacious: to sail 12,000 nautical miles across the Pacific Ocean from San Francisco to Sydney in a boat made entirely out of plastic bottles and recycled waste products. They plan to embark in April, carrying (among others) four scientists from the Scripps Research Institute who will study ocean acidification, marine debris, overfishing, and coral bleaching.

Is Water the New Carbon?

Posted on February 19, 2009 by Samantha Tackeff .

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I was recently speaking with a friend and entrepreneur who lives in Dubai about the world economy, the state of the environment, and what to do next with my life.
“You have to get into water,” he said with complete certainty. “Water will be the overarching challenge of the future,” he assured me, “it doesn’t matter [...]

Spot of Tea to Save the Trees?

Posted on February 6, 2009 by Alissa Wilson-Williams .

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It seems that the tiny little bugs responsible for eradicating millions of acres of forest throughout North America don’t have a taste for tea, or at least a chemical commonly found in it. Research released this month by the National Forest Service suggests that a pheromone used in herbal tea may curtail the mountain [...]

Recycled Army Tanks, Bridges, and Subway Cars

Posted on January 30, 2009 by Doug Gunzelmann .

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What can you do with entire army tanks left over from the Vietnam War, NYC subway cars, and entire bridges? Strip ‘em, clean ‘em, and sink ‘em!

Ready to Put Some E. Coli in Your Tank?

Posted on January 15, 2009 by John Platt .

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Around the world, scientists are working on new kinds of biofuels that could help reduce our reliance on oil- and coal-based energy. The latest development comes out of UCLA’s School of Engineering and Applied Science, where a team led by professor James Liao has come up with a way to convert E. coli bacterium into [...]