Miscellaneous
Off the grid, on to wheels
As a native to Red Hook, New York, it made sense for Jonathan Von Reusner to continue living at home during his freshman year while attending the local university, Bard College. But by the time sophomore year hit he got the itch to find his own place and searched for an affordable way to move out Read More...
Finding humor everywhere
We all like to laugh, but do you actively seek out ways to find things funny? You probably don’t, but might want to consider it. Laughing gets your heart going, which improves cardio health, engages your core muscles, and releases endorphins, your body’s natural pain killer. [caption Read More...
Bacteria could push biofuel production into mainstream
The idea behind biofules is great—use organic matter to make gas instead of dirty fossil fuels. But the process is hard to nail down. Utilizing foodstuffs to produce biofuel doesn’t make sense, and other plants entered into the biofuel production chain usually require more energy to make than Read More...
The activist guidebook you never knew you needed
Changing the world isn’t easy, and it’s much harder when you don’t know where to start. How does one begin a movement? And once it has begun, where should it go? Fortunately for us, editors Anthony J. Nocella II, the Co-Director of the Save the Kids Foundation, and Jason Del Gandio, an Read More...
Dust (yes, dust) may solve California’s drought
Dusty air may not sound like anything good. But what if it can help solve the extreme drought that large parts of California are suffering from? Researchers are now suggesting that dust, blown across the Pacific Ocean including tiny bacteria and molecules, could help fight the state’s water Read More...
Bamboo is the new “green steel” in architecture
Mostly known for its use in baskets and furniture, bamboo offers surprising qualities that make it perfect for use in architecture. An architecture firm from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, is an international pioneer in constructing buildings with bamboo. Once soaked in mud and smoked, bamboo, which Read More...
Buildings will be able to harvest water
More on smart architecture… Usually, buildings shed the water away when it rains. But many houses—not the least in places in Africa or the Amazon—would benefit if the rainwater would be harvested and stored, so it can be used when needed. That’s what two architects have been working on. Read More...
A change of heart changes everything
All you need is love, sang John Lennon. The only challenge: How do you create love? A startlingly simple answer was found in the redwood forests of Boulder Creek, California. Since 1991, the Institute of HeartMath has generated a body of scientific evidence that shows it is possible to create love. Read More...
Retirement from work? Or from life?
Insurance companies paint a rosy picture about retirement in their ads and brochures. We see happy smiling people next to a golf cart. Their message: Life and freedom really begins when you turn 65. But is that so? Retirement from work more often means retirement from life. When you love your work Read More...
Fighting for freedom of the press
Freedom of the press is not a given in many African countries. In Liberia it was impossible for many, many years to write anything critical about government leaders. Now, in 2014, it’s getting better. That is in part due to the long fight for freedom of the press by the journalist Tom Kamara, who Read More...