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If you're reading this, chances are you've been exposed to bisphenol A (BPA). A key ingredient in many modern plastics, the chemical compound has been used since the 1940s in everything from baby bottles to goggles to lining for food containers. In recent years, animal studies have demonstrated links between BPA and a host of ill health effects, including breast and prostate cancer. ......read more
A few years ago, when animal studies starting linking BPA (bisphenol A) to various cancers, the resulting consumer uproar forced a mass recall of reusable plastic bottles. Safety-conscious mothers everywhere let out a giant sigh of relief as baby bottles were pulled from the shelves. A big win had been scored for consumer safety. The problem? Those aren't the only things that contain BPA. In......read more
Cooking vegetables is usually a good idea: Heat breaks down cell walls, releasing antioxidants. But heating cruciferous vegetables (part of the Brassicae family) actually destroys their unique anti-carcinogenic potential. That’s because crucifers, unlike other types of vegetables, are high in glucosinolate, a plant compound that produces naturally occurring small molecules called......read more
Ethnotek continues to radiate positive design vibrations with the just-launched Batik collection, a range of "Threads" that fit on the brand's excellent Raja backpacks. The Batik Threads, crafted by artisans in Surakarta, Indonesia using handmade Batik fabric, act as interchangeable front panels that you can switch in or out depending on what mood or color strikes your fancy. They feature......read more
Solar power may be one of the cleanest energy sources, but one way of producing solar cells is actually quite toxic. A new study points to a safer and cheaper method, using an ingredient that is also used to make tofu. Researchers at the University of Liverpool discovered that a salt used to produce the fermented bean curd, as well as to de-ice roads, could be a new ingredient in making solar......read more
Using technology that was initially designed for the military, PowerFilm's R15-300 Rollable Solar Power Charger is a super-lightweight and flexible charger for your cellphone, GPS, MPS, and other devices. Featuring monolithically integrated solar panels, the 5-watt charger eliminates the damage-prone manual connections of individual solar cells. It's also free of cadmium and other toxic......read more
A UN panel has released part one of its six-yearly update on the current state of Earth's climate. The much-anticipated report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) says that with 95 percent certainty, humans are the dominant cause of global warming since the 1950s. In the air, in the oceans, and on the ground, global warming is "unequivocal," the report states. Taking aim at......read more
With the rising cost of energy and the depletion of resources traditionally used to power our lives, homeowners all over the nation are searching for alternate sources of energy. Of primary interest are solar panels, which provide free, renewable power by capturing energy from the sun. The problem? The upfront investment -- typically over $30,000 -- exceeds most homeowners' budgets. Enter solar......read more
On Friday, General Electric announced plans to build a $300 million solar panel plant in Colorado. The factory, near Denver, will be the largest in the U.S. The announcement is a strong show of confidence for the solar industry, which has been rocked by a string of bankruptcies and falling prices. GE, a global leader in wind turbine manufacturing, is entering the solar panel business at a......read more
General Electric has announced plans to build the largest solar panel manufacturing plant in the United States. The project is estimated to cost around $600 million, and will deliver about 400 megawatts of production of thin-film solar.The company hopes that by going bigger on the production side they can deliver economies of scale and make solar panels more affordable for the masses.......read more
