EPA Under Fire Again: New Policy Mixes Politics + Industry w/Hard Science

-- trends + business + politics--

In a stunning development, following much recent public scrutiny on the activities of the EPA in matters ranging from ozone limit policies to a shady history in pushing forth for regulation of BPA, to controversial links with chemical companies and failure to protect children - the Bush administration has now changed the EPA process for chemical reviews further which now will allow for a delay in scientific assessments and will further open the process to dangerous politicization. The move should be of grave concern for anyone with an interest in public health and safety...meaning everyone.

The new policy announced last month would allow the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) as well as other agencies to offer input on assessments of long term exposure to chemicals. EPA will now involve OMB at every stage of the assessment process. Previously, OMB reviewed a final version of the draft assessment before EPA subjected it to external peer review. OMB not only already reviews assessments — but often edits them— incorporating agencies' proposed and final regulations. The office under the new policy will have several opportunities to review and alter the scientific findings that serve as the very basis for chemical exposure standards.

"It is a precursor to doing anything else," said John B. Stephenson, the GAO's (Governmental Accountability Office) director of natural resources and environmental issues. "That's how you decide whether you need to regulate or not." EPA officials also insist that such communication and engagement is for the benefit of the public, by "drawing on outside expertise."

To make matter worst the new effort is also classified as "deliberative" by the OMB, or to translate - it can be kept secret from the public and inevitably from scientific debate.

Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), chairman of the Environment and Public Works Committee, said the integrity of the program is in jeopardy.

"Shunting scientists aside . . . is so obviously a problem," she said during the committee hearing. "No one should be in that room in the early risk assessment stages except the scientists and the people concerned about health. . . . They have tainted and corrupted the process." She continued to note that the recent changes "put politics before science by letting the White House and federal polluters derail EPA's scientific assessment of toxic chemicals."

But the EPA continues to push back, even as headlines seem to daily point to the ills of not separating this "church and state."

James B. Gulliford, an assistant administrator at the EPA, rejected the notion that the changes would give other federal agencies the power to influence scientific process for political ends. "At the end of the day, it's still EPA's decision," he said at the hearing. "It's a process that ultimately results in a science-based result."

But for countless others the recent turn of events points to the increasingly murky waters of the EPA - one where it is not clear where loyalties start and end, and whose interest they are ultimately protecting. Richard Wiles, executive director of the Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit environmental advocacy organization, summed up the sentiment of many in this way....

"With these rules in place, it's now official: The Bush White House is where all good public health protections go to die."


Video below is of Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), speaking on CSPAN on May 2, 2008, on the Politicization of the EPA and its similarity to the U.S Attorney General Scandal






(Sources: Environmental Working Group, OMB Watch)

When Speed Get's Green: Formula One Goes Hybrid

--science + technology + innovation--

Formula One President Max Mosley recently announced that the world renowned racing event is getting even more Eco-Friendly, by promising to make all cars hybrid by 2013.

F1 will be phasing in the use of a 55lb hybrid system known as KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System). The system is not what one would see in a hybrid consumer vehicle as it weighs in only at 55lbs and doesn't store as much energy as a traditional system. But the mechanism is well suited for F1 style racing as cars are constantly accelerating and decelerating from corner to corner.

The KERS essentially stores all energy in the flywheel which can be used by the driver when pushing a "boost button." Instead of using batteries and electric motors for energy storage, KERS relies on mechanical energy storage. The developers also say that the device is twice as efficient as electric hybrids with the added benefit of being an almost silent system (since the flywheel is almost entirely vacuum sealed).

The folks behind KERS, Transmission builders Torotrak and Xtrac, have a license agreement which lets Xtrac build continuously variable transmissions based on Torotraks design. The alliance has some scalable opportunity as both see a possible application in millions of consumer vehicles. If their plans realize, it could mean huge improvements in fuel economy and pretty respectable reductions in GHG emissions. For now, they are happy to see the system being pushed to the limit at F1, starting in early 09'.




(Sources: Auto Green Blog, Torotrak and Eco Geek)

The Sexy Solex Solution for the Energy Conscious Commute

--Weekend Feature Archive--

The French made Solex electric bike is sexy, sleek and classic. The 70lb bike has an electric engine that gets you to speeds slightly above 20mph and can take you about 20 miles without a recharge. But when you need to recharge, the central tube of the frame hides a housing for a Lithium-ion type battery that can be removed and recharged either at home or at your office. In three hours this battery is 70% recharged (100% in 6 hours) and its life is estimated at 1000 recharging cycles.

The Solex (French), along with the Vespa (Italian), was designed in the aftermath of WWII for the same reason: as a popular means of individual transport in countries weakened by the war. All in all, some eight million VéloSolex were produced and sold, mainly in France. In this new incarnation the e-Solex fell in the hands of Pininfarina, known worldwide for it's work with Ferrari, who with its brilliant eye for design kept the beautiful lines of the original model in particular the large black case on the front wheel.

The Solex is not only an eco-friendly way to get about town but a pleasure to the design connoisseur.

For more information on the e-Solex go to: www.e-solex.fr

Great Art Subject of Scientific Study on Global Warming

--Weekend Feature Archive--

The English landscape painter JMW Turner probably never imagined that his art would be the subject of scientific inquiry, but in fact today the awe inspiring landscapes that defined his career, are at the center of a fascinating new study.

Scientists are analysing the brilliant sunsets painted by Turner (and other artists) to work out the "cooling effects" of large volcanic eruptions. By getting a clearer picture of climate variation in the past they hope to improve the computer models necessary for simulating global warming. The project is spearhead by a group at the National Observatory of Athens.

The group is using the works of old masters to estimate the natural pollution remains in the skies caused by the eruptions of volcano's such as Mount Krakatoa in 1883. Reports described brilliant sunsets for up to several years after the eruptions caused by the retreating light which was scattered due to the reflective particles thrown into the atmosphere. By analyzing colors of sunsets painted before and after eruptions, researchers believe they can calculate the amount of material in the sky at the time.

Christos Zerefos, who led the research, said: "We're taking advantage of the attitudes of famous painters to portray real scenes they were looking at. This is the first attempt to analyse this old art in a scientific way, and tells the story of how our climate has varied naturally in the past."

The results of this unique study will feed into the scientific study of a phenomenon called "global dimming," which is caused by air pollution blocking sunlight. Some experts believe this has acted as a brake on global warming.

Oh lord, one can only imagine what scientists will make out in a few centuries from some of the work of say Andre Serrano, Jeff Koons, or Damien Hirst...to list a few. No doubt we will behind quite an impression.


(Originally posted October 11, 2007)

Powering the Planet One Balloon at a Time: Israel's Outrageous Clean Energy Solution

--science + technology + innovation--

What' s round, flies and powers everything around it ? No folks its not a riddle, it an innovative and outrageous new technology developed by a group of scientists at Israel's Technion Institute of Technology.

The group has designed solar energy balloons that harness the sun's energy and then feed it via wire cable into an inverter capable of household use. Looking like something out of a sci fi flick, the 3 Meter (10 ft) long balloons cost a modest $4000 to produce, and are capable of producing 1Kw of energy (comparable to 25 meters/269 sq ft of traditional solar panels at a cost of $10,000+). They are expecting the device to be available to the market sometime in 2009.

Here a view of the project and the balloon technology - courtesy of Reuters.

Google Plays Allies With Amazon Tribe: A Good Green (Non-Fiction) Tale For the Modern Age

--science + technology + innovation--

Just when you think technology needs to be spared from the natural world you hear a story like this.

According to the Independent, an Amazon tribe known as the Surui people have joined alliance with none other than tech giant Google to protect their home from loggers. The tribe, who first made contact with the modern world only four decades ago, is replacing bows and arrows for high tech gadgets and cyberspace.

The initiative is the brainchild of Chief Almir Narayamoga Surui, who is leading the battle against illegal loggers in their region in Rondonia, in western Brazil. He first discovered Google when he went online and tried out Google Earth. Apparently, much like everyone else he Googled the location of his home, to discover clear signs of logging. The chief took matters into his own hands and set off for San Fransisco to visit the folks at Google to ask the tech giant to help the tribe monitor the loggers incursions. He also hoped that Google would function as a powerful ally in alerting the world to their predicament.

"We call Google ragogmakan because we hope it will help us get our message out." said Chief Narayamoga Surui.

With the help of the US-based Amazon Conservation Team he has been training his people in IT. They use technology not to find their way around the jungle they know so well, but to enable them to record the co-ordinates of any logging they find so that they can report it. And Almir envisages the Surui with solar-powered laptops using Google to download information and to tell the world how their forest is much more valuable if left standing.

Amazing, incredible but true. I know there is a movie deal in the works here folks...for now they'll have to make due with a PBS series by filmmaker Denise Zmekhol called "Children of the Amazon."

For more information read the Google Earth Newsletter HERE !


(Picture above Chief Almir with Google Earth Exec)

New Vaccine Targets 2.7 Million Kids, for a "Self Limited Condition" Dangerous to 20-60 Annually

--science + technology + innovation--

A new vaccine has hit the market, this one called Rotarix which apparently immunizes children under 5 years of age from "Rotavirus, " a gastrointestinal condition.

Rotavirus effects 2.7 million children in the U.S.each year—about 55,000 to 70,000 of those require hospitalization (due to dehydration); and between 20 and 60 deaths are attributed to it. How is it that you might not have heard of it you ask - probably because it is so common that without vaccination, nearly every child in the United States would likely be infected at least once by age 5.

This vaccine, produced by GlaxoSmithKline goes head to head with competitor to Merck & Co Inc's rotavirus vaccine, RotaTeq (Merck's second-best selling vaccine last year with impressive revenue of $525 million). What's interesting here is that in 1999, a different rotavirus vaccine from another manufacturer was voluntarily withdrawn from the U.S. market because of an association with an increased risk of intussusception, or intestinal folding, which can lead to potentially life-threatening intestinal blockage. This release hopes to be a safer alternative, now that it has been approved and promises to do "further post market testing" (yikes!). So why the vaccine sequel ? Is Rotavirus the next small pox ? Is the Rotavirus something that us moms need to stay up at night worrying about, along side the bird virus, and environmental hazards ?

Well, according to every medical site we came to, we essentially got the same information, as the quote below from Medicenet.com

"There is no specific treatment for rotavirus. For people with healthy immune systems, rotavirus infection of the bowel (gastroenteritis) is a self-limited illness (def:adjective - that terminates by the natural course of events a self-limiting disease, lasting for only a few days.) The treatment consists of increased fluid intake (oral rehydration) to prevent dehydration. About one in 40 children with rotavirus infection of the bowel requires hospitalization for intravenous fluid. Rotavirus infection is a self-limited disease that resolves after three to nine days of symptoms. In rare cases, severe dehydration accompanying rotavirus infection has led to death"

But are 20-60 deaths significant when compared to other common medical and social conditions causing child mortality? Should 2.7 million kids be vaccinated to avoid being one of 20-60 deaths ? Who are we really protecting here - our kids, or the shareholders at GlaxoSmithKline? And of course let's keep in mind that ....

• 58 Pre-schoolers were killed by firearms in 2005

• 1700 + children die annually from abuse and neglect in the U.S (44% of which were children under one year of age)

• 2.2 million child deaths globally from malnutrition

I am just wondering here - but is another vaccine really where we need to be spending - considering that it takes an average cost of such a product is about $802 million - to properly test an get a new vaccine to market (according to a recent estimate by the highly respected Tufts University Center for the Study of Drug Development). Then let's not forget the hefty marketing costs thereafter. A figure particularly interesting to keep in mind when we consider that only $250 million is being spent on nutrition aid globally.

Well, as they say folks...let the numbers speak, let the numbers speak.

(Statistics taken from Child Protective Services, the CDC, and the FDA)

1000 Year Life Span & Aging's Engineering Problem: Aubrey de Grey Refedines Mortality

--science + technology +innovation--

Controversial British researcher Aubrey de Grey is trying convince the world that aging is simply an "engineering problem" and one that can be "fixed." He believes that the 1000 year life span is not only possible, but human are being born who are capable of it. His Strategies for Engineered Negligible Senescence(SENS) is turning him into the scientific community's wild card - so much so that the MIT Technology Review has issued a $20,000 to any molecular biologist who can disprove de Grey's theory. The MIT Technology Review said that

"Aubrey de Grey is a man of ideas, and he has set himself toward the goal of transforming the basis of what it means to be human."

In the video below de Grey presents his eye opening and "out of the box" ideas at the TED conference.

For more information de Grey's theories on aging, and SANS, go to www.mfoundation.org

Tesla Roadster Rolls Out in Europe, Meeting High Demand

--science + technology + innovation--

In case you are reading this "on the other side of the pond" as they say, and have about 100,000 Euro's to spend on an earth friendly piece of auto engineering, the folks at Tesla have good news for you.

This spring Tesla begin taking orders from European clients who according to Tesla have been demanding the luxury green sport since it U.S. debut (which began production on March 17, 2008). Demand in the U.S has exceed production capacity, with 1000 orders already placed. The company intends to produce some 250 special edition euro spec Roadsters all allocated exclusively to the EU region for 2009. The special edition fully loaded car will be on a first come, first serve basis and makes its much anticipated debut at the Top Marques Monaco event from April 24 through April 27th.

For more information on the Top Marques Monaco, go to their SITE


(Photos courtesy of Motor Trend)

Aston Martin Gets Eco-Friendly With "Green(er)" Racecar

--science + technology + innovation--

O.K so it might not be the most socially responsible way to spend six figures (if you could), but heck this machine is a scene stealer - that is if powerful, sexy race cars get your engines going.

Aston Martin Racing has just revealed it's "green" race car, called the Vantage GT2. The machine is designed on on Aston Martin V8 Vantage engine and is built to run on both E85 bio ethanol fuel, as well as standard. The show stopper is set to make its debut tomorrow at the Le Mans Series in Barcelona tomorrow, April 5, 2008.

For more information on the Le Mans Series go to their SITE

The Big Fall: Wilkins Antarctic Ice Shelf Collapses Causing More Climate Change Panic

--science + technology + innovation--

In case you didn't hear the news (or the thud), a chunk of ice that's a whopping mile and a half in size, has started to fall in the Antarctic. The event has caused an uproar in the scientific community.

"Now there's enough evidence to show that there is accelerated melting of some of these large bodies of ice; west Antarctic ice-sheet, the Greenland ice-sheet," Rajendra Pachauri, chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), told reporters at the European Parliament in Brussels.

"It's an issue of great concern," added Pachauri, who addressed the parliament's environmental committee on Wednesday.

Scientists have been monitoring this region, known as the Wilkins Ice Shelf, since the mid 1980's for signs of retreat - which began to pick up in the late 1980's. By March of 1998, images were recorded what appeared to be of a large break-up event along the northwestern front (the current break was in the southwestern front). In turn, the recent collapse was hardly a surprise to the scientific community, although they did expect this event to make headlines, perhaps a decade, to a decade and a half from now.

Here is the most recent video footage of the actual site of the event, courtesy of Reuters.

Exploring Sustainable Habitats in the Year 2020

--science + technology + innovation--

A fascinating look at a sustainably designed world of the future. This film "Off the Grid: Sustainable Habitat 2020" is based on a brief to develop sustainable housing for urban megalopolis in China in 2020.

(Run Time Approx. 8:00min)

Extinction Threat To The Human Language Worries Scientists

--science + technology + innovation--

As we are all keeping an eye on the extinction of species of plants and animals, we are overseeing another extinction threat; the human language.

Recent studies have concluded that half of the 7000 identified human languages will vanish by the end of the century, national and global cultures are assimilating smaller cultures. The scientific community is extremely concerned that losing this linguistic diversity will be a blow not only for cultural studies, but also for cognitive science. The only option is "to record and catalogue these languages before they disappear," say the researchers.

"There are fewer languages than there were a month or six months ago," says David Harrison of Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania. "Human languages are literally disappearing as we speak."

Harrison gives the example of the language Middle Chulym, spoken by a handful of Siberian townsfolk, all of whom are all over the age 45. Integration into Russian society has reduced the need for the language and once the last fluent speaker has , language itself will be extinct.

"What is lost when a language is lost is another world," says Stephen Anderson, of Yale University.

Researchers worry that ethnographic and cultural information disappears when a language is lost. Additionally, the loss of language creates a gap in our understanding of the variable cognitive structures of which the human brain is capable as studies of different languages reveal different ways of representing and interpreting the world. One such example would be in the study of Native American languages which have revealed a completely different understanding of the nature of time.

Documenting existing languages is vitally important for the preservation of the understanding of culture and how we acquire our working knowledge of the world. Currently language documentation initiatives are being funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and the National Science Foundation.

The threat of the extinction of half of the planets languages is yet another sign of the growing importance for us to honor and preserve the rich diversity (in all incarnations) of our planet.

The Aptera Electric Car - Spacecraft Chic for the Futurist in All of Us

Ever had Minority Report car envy, or have day dreams of hovering to work in a saucer like George Jetson, well have we got news for you! On November 19, 2007 Carlsbad-based Aptera announced that it is now taking fully refundable reservation deposits of $500 toward its all-electric vehicle that has stylings unlike anything the automobile world has seen.

The three wheel vehicle (which based on its wheel layout and weight,is registered as a motorcycle) looks more like a household version of a passenger plane, or flying saucer, than a car. Its aerodynamic lines make it hard to believe that it won’t lift off at any second. The company hired the design firm, 'Eleven', led by Jason Hill and Nathan Armstrong.

Aptera and Eleven made impressive strides by developing body styling, interior design, and structural engineering to maximize efficiency using CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics). The company also developed and built advanced suspension and drive train components, and integrated a strong yet lightweight composite shell. The vehicle uses a small, water-cooled EFI Gasoline engine with closed loop oxygen feedback and catalytic converter that is coupled to a lightweight 12KW starter/generator. The result is a very clean and quiet ride, with an acceleration of 0-60 time in 10 seconds. But most impressive is that the car has an astonishing range of 120 miles, and its hybrid version will provide more than than 300 miles per gallon.

The incredible vehicle is slated for release in 08’ and is sold at under $30,000. With its outrageous lines and tempting efficiency, it will be exciting to see the market response.

To reserve your Aptera for $500 go to: Aptera.com

Belgium Backs the Worlds First Zero Emmissions Research Center in the Antarctic

--science + technology + innovation--

Belgium is known for many good things; great art, beer, french fries...and now - the world's zero emission research center right in the middle of the Antarctic. O.K maybe not in the same category as beer and fries - but certainly at least as big of a contribution to mankind.

The research station was funded by the Belgian government and will be acting as a technological showcase for better understanding climate mechanisms. This station is the first to use renewable energy sources and Eco-friendly construction, including some eight wind turbines and solar panels powering the station (located in the Sør Rondane mountain range). The result is approximately 80% less energy use when compared to similar research facilities. The station is set to open next year.

To learn more about the Princess Elisabeth Antarctica, go to their site at www.antarcticstation.org

Here is a video report on the launch of the station, courtesy of Reuters

SAAB 9X BioHybrid Snags Geneva Motor Show "Best Concept Award" - An Inside Look

--science + technology + innovation--

Winner of the Best Concept Award at Geneva Motor Show, this past week, the SAAB 9-X BioHybrid is the vision of what earth friendly auto culture is all about. From solar powered roof top to a 1.4 litre Bio Power turbo engine and next generation hybrid system that produces 147 kW, the vehicle delivers some 200 clean hp.

“We are thrilled that our work has been recognized with this prestigious award,” said Anthony Lo, Director of Advanced Design t GM Europe. “The 9-X BioHybrid is a vision of what a future compact car from SAAB could look like. It is designed to reflect the priorities of youthful customers who seek progressive looks, responsible performance and high-tech communications, all in a sporty, fun-to-drive package.”

Here VP, General Motors Europe - Mark Adams, from Geneva Motor Show on the details of the machine

Audi Tries to Get More Earth Friendly With 2008 Diesel Powered Quattro

--science + technology + innovation--

Being Eco-friendly doesn't mean having to give up a need for style or speed, as Audi is trying to prove with its sexy new diesel powered TT Coupe Quattro and Roadster Quattro.

The hot little number might not seem green enough to purists, but at 44.4 mpg and going 0 to 62 mph in 7.5 seconds and reaching top speeds at 140mph, this machine gets a whole better mileage than some of its slower competitors. The car meets all Euro 5 standards for emissions and at the same time delivers an impressive 170 hp of power and 258.15 lb -ft of torque.

With great lines, incredible handle and an earth friendly(er) approach, Audi gets nods from those seeking that extra something in style and speed on the road.

For more information on Audi, go to www.audi.com

Virgin Airlines Makes Historic Bio-Fuel Powered Flight

--science + technology + innovation--

History if being made as the first ever bio-fulel powered test flight is set to happen today thanks to Virgin Airlines. The airline is incorporating bio-fuel into one of its four engines, with the other three powered by conventional fuel. The objective is to prove that bio-fuels do not actually freeze at heights over 15,000 feet and to stimulate other airlines to explore methods of aviation that reduce emissions.

But the event does not arrive without its share of skeptics. The one engine that is driving all the attention is actually powered by a "first generation bio-fuel that directly competes with either land and water use for food crops or carbon sinks such as rainforests." In addition organizations such as Friends of the Earth ask consumers to keep an eye on the complexity of the bio-fuel issue,

"If you look at the latest scientific research on biofuels, it clearly shows that bio-fuels do very little to reduce emissions. At the same time, we're very concerned about the impact of this large scale expansion of fire fuel production and on the environment and on Indigenous people, as well as on food prices." said Kenneth Richter, or Friends of Earth.

The global attention to the event (both positive and negative) will hopefully inspire both airlines, and airline consumers, to consider the massive environmental impacts of air travel and to push for economic and scientific advents towards Eco-friendly alternatives.

(Video of Sir Richard Branson, CEO of Virgin Corp, on CNN discussing details of the flight and bio-fuels)

Formula One Setting Standards in Eco Friendly Auto Industry

--WEEKEND ARCHIVE FEATURE - science + technology + innovation--

Formula and the European Parliaments are revving up to help drive the Eco-friendly automotive industry. The EU Parliament has just announced that it is asking that Formula One officially change various policies to get more Eco-friendly. The announcement came as part of a EU Parliament report.

The FIA (the sports governing body) has already made several noteworthy Eco-friendly adjustments in the sport thanks in part to the green-centric thinking of FIA president Max Mosley. The sport has already begun to adopt the use of smaller engines, bio-fuels and electronic energy recovery systems. Just this past May 2007 the FIA partnered with Ricardo (clean engine specialists) to launch the bio fuel initiative, and had made an announcement in September of 07’ that Formula One will include hybrids by 2010. But the EU believes more change (and probably more policy oriented change) is necessary, as Formula One is a massive influence on the automotive industry as a whole. According Mosely, the statement by the Parliament is actually good news for validating the leading role of the FIA and Formula One is the automotive biz.

FIA president Max Mosley said: “It is immensely satisfying that the European Parliament recognizes motor sport’s role in developing environmentally-friendly technologies and supports the work undertaken by the FIA in its campaign to make motoring more sustainable in the future."

“With the support of the motor manufacturers competing in formula one and with the engineering expertise unique to the sport, the new technical regulations will accelerate the introduction of energy-efficient technologies into the domestic car market,” he added.

Formula One just might have given speed junkies another reason to love the sport.

To go the Formula One official web site, go to www.formula1.com

Aviation History Made As First Electric Powered Aircraft Takes Flight

--science + technology + innovation--

Last month marked an exciting moment in aviation history as the first electric powered conventional light aircraft took flight for some 48 mts spanning some 31 miles (50 Kilometers).

The aircraft is called the Electra and it is propelled by an 18 kW motor powered by lithium polymer batteries. The single seat wonder is created by APAME (Association pour la Promotion des Aeronefs a Motorisation Electrique - - Association to Promote Electrical Aircraft). The team behind this first flight is in active plans for a historic follow up, with a Channel crossing planned for some time in 09'.

For more information on this amazing event and the APAME go to www.apame.eu