Cooling Coal Emissions Has Massive Potential For Clean Air

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Totally renewable energy sources are out there, unfortunately for us they just aren't a viable option yet to meet the global, let alone national need for power. We can whine and complain all we want, which will have an effect ultimately, but when it comes down to it we still need our current "dirty" forms of energy. This doesn't mean though that these forms have to stay where they are and not evolve. Natural gas and clean coal are options in the immediate future, and a current study shows that cooling coal emissions will increase productivity and cleanliness of emissions. 

"One of the biggest threats to the environment in the United States unfortunately stems from one of the most integral parts of its economy: coal. Used to power businesses and homes alike, coal has been a major force behind America's rise to superpower status. But the byproduct of coal is pollution that could be contributing to a dangerous shift in the climate

The good news is that scientists are hard at work finding solutions to today's big environmental quandaries. A recent study conducted by the University of Oregon suggests that cooling coal emissions could have a positive impact on both air quality and emission levels. Published in the American Physical Society's journal Physical Review E the study's results show that cooled coal emissions would reduce carbon dioxide emissions by as much as 90 percent."

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Design Tips and Practice for Non-Smartphone Mobile Hardware (which still exist)

Read the full article on Bill Mullins' Tech Thoughts

Feature phones kind of get swept under the rug due to the hype and complexity of up and coming smartphones. Compute hardware, power, and speed in a cell phone simply overshadows outdated technology. However, that's not to say that feature phones don't deserve to have a place in tech relevance today; in fact they hold a major portion of the global market and most definitely do. Cheaper, simpler, and more importantly cheaper means a lot to people, which is why developers are still working with feature phones to connect with millions of users.

"Breaking news: there’s an alternative to smartphones. It’s called a feature phone. You may remember them. They existed long before Android, iOS, Windows Phones and even BlackBerry. If you’ve been paying attention, which most people haven’t, you’ll notice they make up a huge portion of the global market. In fact, they’re very much alive and well.

Most developers completely overlook the feature phone market entirely, ignoring a massive market segment. In other words, there’s plenty of money to make with mass-market phones."

The Power of the Pitcher: A Smart Choice for Clean Water, Green Living

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It's no surprise that water has health benefits (it is the  source of life after all), but it is very easy to neglect in today's culture. Alcohol, soft drinks and other, sweeter options are almost always available on every corner, so we have become accustomed to purchasing them for our home as well. However, simply having a supply of filtered water in your fridge can have some surprising effects, on your health as well as your carbon footprint.

The Power of the Pitcher: A Smart Choice for Clean Water, Green Living (via http://greenbuildingelements.com)

"There are many places where a healthy lifestyle and an eco-friendly lifestyle intersect, but who knew one of them was at a pitcher of tap water in your fridge? Though many health enthusiasts are rarely without their favorite bottled water, a 4-year study by the Natural Resources Defense Council concluded…"

Body Weight Exercises to Keep you Trimmed and Toned

Read the full article on Organic Soul

Gyms scare a lot of people, mostly due to the juiced up meat heads cruising the floor and maxing out their weight on every machine. It's hard for the average Joe to go in there and do more reps, less weight with a former football player working two or three times as much. If you're one of these people then it's very easy to get down into a routine of avoiding exercise which is simply inexcusable. In order to maintain a healthy lifestyle people need to balance proper diet and exercise. The organic food craze has people making the right food choices, but you still cannot neglect the other half of the equation. Building muscle and getting a cardio workout can be done easily with the right attitude, and doesn't necessarily need to be done in the gym. Here are some exercises that utilize the weight of your own body to push yourself physically and burn some calories. 

"We’re careful to eat locally grown, organic foods. We recycle and try to live by sustainable practices, leaving as small a carbon footprint as possible. Then, why are we content to become out-of-shape and overweight? Isn’t it just as green as all the other aspects of your lifestyle to maintain your body in the optimal degree of health, strength, and flexibility for which you were designed?"


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Global Warming Contributes to the Adaptation and Spread of Deadly Fungus

Read the full article on Inhabitat

When people think of global warming, their minds immediately jump to a picture of the ozone disintegrating and the polar bears slowly dying off. Those these effects are certainly caused by global warming, they're a mere fraction of all the residual effects that the phenomenon is having on our planet. Life as we know it is slowly being molded and adapted to the new weather patterns, some of which are more frightening than others.

"Up-and-coming scientists, particularly those holding an environmental biology degree, are becoming increasingly familiar with the workings of Earth’s complex atmosphere. And they’re discovering mounting evidence that the life forms on the planet are symbiotically related to the environmental safety net that surrounds it. What is also becoming apparent is that smaller life forms have a biological advantage when it comes to adapting to climate and temperature changes. An alarming new study found that fungus adjusted to the sudden change in temperature nearly ten times faster than frogs, possibly spelling danger for frogs and other creatures as the planet continues to warm."

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EPA moves forward with Renewable Fuel Standard Waiver Requests, BIO takes a stand

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The move towards renewable bio fuels like ethanol are essential to lowering emissions and the carbon footprint of big business within the United States. However, the recent drought has economists, biologists, and farmers worried about supplies and subsequent sales. As a result, certain regulations and policy regarding bio-fuels have been put on hold to meet the upcoming demand for crops, but not to the agreement of the Biotechnology Industry Organization. 

"The worst drought to hit parts of the U.S. in more than 50 years has some politicians and farmers scrambling to find ways of conserving food as crops shortages hit new highs. The U.S. Department of Agriculture projects a 17 percent reduction in corn crops this year, and the shortage has sent the price of corn bushels soaring. This has resulted in an increase in the cost of meat, as it is used to feed cattle and chicken.

Some members of Congress, state governors and meat producers have proposed that by temporarily waiving the Renewable Fuel Standard, more corn will be available for food in the short-term. The proposal has spurred arguments from both agriculturalists and biotechnology companies. For agriculturalists, waiving the Renewable Fuel Standard means lower prices and bigger supply. But to biofuel companies and those who represent them -- like the Biotechnology Industry Organization -- taking away the Renewable Fuel Standard means years of negative repercussions with very little benefit to meat producers."