Scientists have created a mutant strain of corn that can signal when it’s under attack according to a new study. This feat has been achieved by augmenting natural defenses that are already present in the corn to emit a sort of ‘distress call’ when beetle larvae attack. The corn releases a gassy chemical compound into the soil that alerts ...

The much-heralded ''Cash for Clunkers'' or CARS program might be out of money just a week after its launch, but a similar program targeting old refrigerators is steadily growing. According to Sam Sirkin, program development manager for refrigerator and freezer recylcer Jaco Environmental, the number of utilities his company works with has ...

The sad onslaught of recent Hollywood funerals for Michael Jackson, Farrah Fawcett, Ed McMahon and Billy Mays has made it hard not to think about end of life plans and the high environmental and monetary costs of conventional funerals. With average funeral costs hitting upwards of $8,000, regular folks are faced with lots of costly and ...

A new Rhode Island Hospital study has found a link between nitrates in our food and our environment and deaths from diseases like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s disease and diabetes. Published in the journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, the study led by Dr. Suzanne de la Monte of RI Hospital shows trends towards increased mortality rates as a result of ...

Independence Day is just around the corner. It’s a great chance to get together with your loved ones and celebrate everything that makes America so great. This year, you can help make America extra great by throwing an environmentally friendly Fourth of July bash. Try these easy suggestions: Cook up some organic and/or local food. Everyone ...

A British company has announced plans to introduce a potentially revolutionary washing machine it’s been developing to the North American market. The machine has been in testing for three years and the company promises that it can wash a load of laundry with only a single cup of water. The washing machine, dubbed Xeros, could forever alter how we ...

It required nearly half a decade of production time and legal negotiations, but the Austin (Texas) Water Utility has finally given its approval to a green toilet that could revolutionize how we deal with human waste. The toilet in question is a composting toilet and it works by using bacteria to transform waste into a soil that’s packed with ...

Father’s Day is fast approaching and I’m willing to bet you’re busted for decent dad’s day gift ideas, never mind eco-friendly gift ideas. Fear not – we’ve put together a sweet list of Father’s Day gifts that are easy on the wallet and on the earth. If your pops is a gadget guy, there is any number of solar chargers out there – but our fave is ...

Ever wonder why your dryer sheets have such aromatic names as ''Ocean Breeze,'' ''Summer Orchard,'' and ''Spring Garden''? It's not just a marketing ploy -- it's a necessity. Dryer sheets and fabric softeners are heavily scented because they contain extremely smelly chemicals -- extremely smelly, toxic chemicals. In fact, recent studies ...

Data compiled in recent studies suggests that the United States could reduce the amount of carbon dioxide emitted by sources of lighting by 50 percent, simply by swapping traditional bulb-powered lights for LEDs.Besides being far more cost-effective, light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are extremely energy-efficient. With better than double the ...