Category Archives: Other Stuff
Silk worms spend their lives fulfilling their namesakes, making silk. After having formed cocoons, the cocoons are collected, processed and turned into silk threads. But that isn’t the end of the lengthy process involved in manufacturing the exotic cloth. Dying is required. And dying can be an extremely water consuming process. So, researchers have hit upon the bright idea of having the silk colored in the worms stomach itself by simply feeding the little guys with dye. This seems somewhat inhuman, but then again, the silk worms do their jobs and save up a lot of water in the bargain too, and to add to that, they’re entertained to a “colorful” meal too!
Continue reading 
Recently, we’ve had a look at PepsiCo’s efforts to go green, opting for bottles made completely from plants that are 100% recyclable. Now, Danone Waters of America, Inc has decided to go green too, redesigning the 1.5L evian bottle in an effort to reduce its environmental impact. The bottle is destined to use 11% less plastic, weighing 3.4g less than the previous design and will be 100% recyclable. This will reduce its carbon footprint by a good 32%. evian® aims to reduce its carbon footprint by up to 40% between the years 2008 and 2011, and this initiative will take a leap closer to achieving its goal.
Continue reading
Syringes live a short life. They’re used once, packed in a sheath and tossed in the bin. And this leads to a waste of packaging to quite an extent. Designer Serge Roux came up with a clever design for syringes, that’ll help save up on packaging costs. The Syreen is designed to be shipped in a plastic unit that cuts down on packaging volume by 50%. Basically a non-glass syringe system that serves as its own packaging, the design also helps keep away waste and reduces packaging weight too. The United States alone produces 66,000 tons of medical waste per day and two million tons annually.
Continue reading
Well, here’s a T-shirt that might just help increase your productivity, or probably end up frustrating you. What interested us though was the way it powers up, with solar energy. Known as the Motivational Moody Workout T-Shirt, this one created by Lingon at Instructables works somewhat like an annoying physical fitness coach. It comes with blue LEDs neatly sewn into happy face patterns on the LilyPad board. Using a ball tilt sensor, the T-shirt keeps track on your movement and your facial expressions too!
Continue reading
Infantry usually end up carrying around heavy equipment to keep them powered up while out in the open, facing the elements and enemies. This slows them down, tires them out and has a bunch-load of setbacks. So, Britain is now working on army uniforms integrated with solar photovoltaic cells and thermoelectric devices. This will help soldiers harness energy from the sun on the go to power up their gadgets. Energy is required to charge the batteries of weapons, radios, GPS devices and other vital pieces of kit that will use solar energy in future. A typical British soldier lugs around 45-70kgs, 10% of which is a battery pack alone.
Continue reading
Good news vegans! You can now bite into your Pepsi bottle and not suffer from a stomach ache! The company has decided to have its bottles completely made from plants. And no, they can’t really be bitten into, though that’d seem a pretty good appetizer too. Unlike Coke’s PlantBottle that has just 30% of its raw materials derived from plants, the PepsiCo bottle goes all the way to 100%, making it completely recyclable. That’s not all. The company is also drawing up plans to use byproducts like orange and potato peels, oat hulls and others that are thrown up while manufacturing Tropicana and Quaker.
Continue reading
Since Friday most of us are glued to news channels on television or over internet to grab the latest on nature’s fury over Japan. Sitting far away in different corners of the globe, many are keen to extend a helping hand. But HOW? Here are a few trustworthy options that we have listed down which are just as simple as texting from any part of the world. Such small gestures will make a difference!
· Red Cross – Use your cell phone to text-message REDCROSS to 90999 to make the $10 donation, or visit the Red Cross.
· Salvation Army – Operating since 1895 in Japan, the Salvation Army is currently providing emergency assistance the needy. Text JAPAN or QUAKE to 80888 to make a $10 donation or donate online at here.
· Save the Children – This organization is accepting donations for its Children’s Emergency Fund. You can text “JAPAN” or “TSUNAMI” to 20222 to donate $10 or visit Save the Children.
· Mercy Corps – Text “MERCY” to 25283 to donate $10 or visit Mercy Corps to know more.
· International Medical Corps – A donation of $10 will be accounted to your mobile phone bill when you Text MED to 80888.
· GlobalGiving – Text JAPAN to 50555 to donate $10. This Washington based organisation is providing relief and emergency services to victims of the earthquake and tsunami.
· Google – They have launched a Person Finder service to search for the missing and also post an update about their status. This service is available in Japanese as well as English and provides information of ‘already found’ people.
· Facebook – Folks at Explore.org are donating $1 for every “Like” of the “Dog Bless You” Facebook page, up to $100,000.
· iTunes – Apple has created a donation page in iTunes to donate $5 to $200 to the Red Cross.
You can help us by sharing this information by tweeting about it, liking it on Facebook or simply mailing it to your family and friends. It is advised to donate to recognized charities and aid organizations only.
Continue reading
Japan has recently faced a tragedy that’ll leave a deep scar on the surface of the earth for a while. An earthquake followed by tidal waves and then a nuclear meltdown has left many fathoming a near apocalypse. Generating energy from coal sure cuts and rips the very soul of our environment, and nuclear energy does seem to be a cleaner and environment-friendly option. At least that’s what we’ve thought all this while. While nuclear energy does work better, with low emissions, lower running costs, higher energy generation, and with longer plant life spans, a meltdown can lead to a bunch –load of problems like those the Japanese are facing today. Radiations cause diseases like cancer and radiation sicknesses. The explosion at the Fukushima Diiachi nuclear plant can have a world-over impact and has had a devastating effect on the environment already!
Continue reading
A few years ahead in the future, switching on your car’s air-conditioner won’t be so much of an environmental hazard. Here’s why. The Environmental Protection Agency of the United States has just ticked a new refrigerant HFO-1234yf for use in vehicles with a global warming potential that is 99.7 percent less than the current chemical (HFC-134a) used. The refrigerant designed by Honeywell and DuPont will revolutionize the automotive industry and help keep commuters cool, without too much harm to the environment. A few years in the future from now, the new refrigerant, HFO-1234yf, will be a standard for U.S. automakers.
Continue reading
Taking the bus sure is a better way to travel, instead of backing out your car every now and then you need to go a few blocks away. And with increased bus commuter numbers these days, it’s only fair for bus shelters to have a better look too. After all, who wouldn’t want a nice place to wait for the next bus! Handi-Hut, Inc. an experienced 40 year old passenger shelter company has been setting up green bus shelters for a decade now. These shelters use juice from the sun that the panels up on the shelter’s roofs soak in through the day. The energy stored is then used to power up the energy efficient lighting systems in these bus shelters at night.
Continue reading