First Biofuel-Powered Helicopter Flight Made by Royal Netherlands Air Force
The Apache AH-64D deployed by the US in Iraq; the same type as used in the Netherlands’ test flight. Photo: Wikipedia.
Aviation biofuels continue to gain momentum, with both commercial airlines and the military all conducting test flights and in general finding them more efficient than petroleum-based fuels. While we’re still <a href="http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/10/aviation-biofuels-could-be-comm…Read the full story on TreeHugger
Supreme Court Nominee Elena Kagan Gets Green Thumbs Up
photo: Wikipedia
While characterizing Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan as a “nominee for the global warming century” as Climate Progress does might be placing a bit too much flourish on the situation, should Kagan be confirmed all signs do point to the environment having a new ally…Read the full story on TreeHugger
The Best and Worst News for the Planet Since the Last Earth Day
Image via Wikipedia Commons
Between Obama reinvigorating environmental policy in the US to the year-long run up and sudden fizz-out of climate talks Copenhagen, it’s been a long, strange ride for the planet since last Earth Day. I have a piece in Salon today that documents the 5 best — and 5 worst — environmental developments that played out during that time. Here’s the best and worst news the planet earth got last year . . ….Read the full story on TreeHugger
Lessons From Eyjafjallajökull: Air Freight Is Going To Kill Us All
Wikipedia
It isn’t a particularly big volcano by Icelandic standards. Even its name is boring; it translates into English as “island-mountains glacier.” But it has been fascinating to watch its effects around the world. Jeff Rubin says “It may well be a dress rehearsal for what lies ahead.”
…Read the full story on TreeHugger
V6 and V8 Engines Losing Ground to 4-Cylinder Engines
Image: Wikipedia, CC
Americans have been known for a long time for their love of big cars and big engines, but this is slowly changing. Big V6 and V8 are slowly losing ground to smaller and more fuel-efficient 4-cylinder engines, a trend that still has momentum despite a drop in fuel prices in 2009. According to Ward’s Auto, in 2009 “the installation rate for V-6 and V-8 engines fell to 57.1%, from 63.9% in ‘08, continuing a 5-year decline from a peak this decade of 76.2% in ‘04.”…Read the full story on TreeHugger
‘Hero’ Ants Found to Face Death Alone to Save their Colony
The Temnothorax ant, ready to sacrifice himself. Photo via Wikipedia
It looks like action movie heroes and protagonists of Greek tragedies aren’t the only ones who face death alone to save their people. Scientists have recently discovered that ants will act in a similarly altruistic fashion–when stricken with disease, the ant Temnothorax unifasciatus will abandon the colony to prevent it from spreading, and wait for death alone….Read the full story on TreeHugger
Next in Line for a Bailout: The Nuclear Industry?
Image: Wikipedia Commons
The Obama Administration has been pretty upfront about its support for an energy policy that promotes both clean energy technologies and renewed investment in old technologies such as nuclear, coal and offshore drilling. “I think that on energy there should be a bipartisan agreement that we have to take a both/and approach rather than an either/or approach,” the President said <a href="http://www.whitehouse…Read the full story on TreeHugger
Making High-Tech Aircraft Parts with… Cork
Photo: Wikipedia, GFDL
Is Cork About to Take Off?
Portugal produces a lot of cork: At about 157,000 tonnes/year, it grow over half of the total world supply. Since demand for cork is going down in the wine industry (because of metal screwtops and plastic stoppers), Portugese engineers are looking for other uses for the natural material. One promising – and perhaps unexpected – potential use is in the aviation sector….Read the full story on TreeHugger
Escape From Earth. If Only. (Video)
Photo: Earth in Space — Wikipedia
In encouraging support for earthquake devastated Haiti we had a few comments, including some since been removed by our moderator, that espoused a decided lack of compassion for people in need.
Their tone reminded me of a 1992 sci-fi movie, called variously as Escape from Absolom or No Escape (video below). In short prisoners are dumped on an island and left largely to…Read the full story on TreeHugger
See You in Cochabamba! Evo Morales Plans Bolivian Alternative Climate Summit for April
photo: Wikipedia
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Not wasting any time, Bolvian president Evo Morales has announced that his nation will be hosting an alternative climate summit in the city of Cochabamba on April 20-22, the New York Times reports. Morales is calling on activists, scientists and government officials “who want to …Read the full story on TreeHugger
