Researchers Build Machine That Turns CO2 Into Fuel

Imagine a machine that could suck carbon dioxide right out of the air and magically transform it into a usable product. It may seem like wishful thinking, but that’s exactly what

Paint-Free Coke Can Saves Energy, Reduces Pollution

Designer Harc Lee has created a “naked” Coca Cola can that forfeits Coke’s typical bold red and white stripes in favor of au naturale silver. The aluminum can is created

Energy Positive House to Supply Power to Grid in Sweden

We’ve seen some pretty energy efficient homes here at Inhabitat, but houses that actually give back to the grid seemed to be a thing of the future — until now. Swedish designers are

Triangular Tech Center Incorporates Solar Panels and a Green Roof

Imagine a building designed with the latest green technologies that also showcases innovative technologies of the future. Kind of blows your mind, right? Well that’s exactly what

Sun-Powered Japanese Racecar Wins World Solar Challenge

We’ll admit it: We’ve never totally understood Nascar’s appeal. I mean, come on, it’s just a bunch of cars going round and round a track like a zillion times! But the

Europe Approves Universal Cell Phone Charger

If you’re like the rest of us, you’ve got a pile of chargers left over from retired cell phones. You can’t use them with your new phone, but finding an innovative way of

Sweden is Burning Biofuel Made from Bunnies

Scientific American recently reported that Sweden uses a pretty strange source for some of its heating fuel: rabbits. Stockholm has an overabundance of the cotton-tailed critters, and the hungry

Harvard Scientists Create Dirt Powered Bacteria Batteries

Harvard scientists believe in the power of the good earth — literally. A team at the Boston-based college have created microbial fuel cell (MFC) batteries that derive energy from naturally

France Announces $2.2 Billion Electric Car Charging Network

As the United States government continues to drag its heels on passing climate change legislation, it’s encouraging to see folks in Europe making moves in the right direction. Last week,

Carbon Nanotubes Could Create Better Solar Cells

Creating the perfect solar cell (i.e. a cell that’s both efficient and cheaply produced) is certainly a work in progress. Researchers across the world have attempted to create cells from

Speed Bumps Harvest Electricity from Moving Cars

Fast food lovers may finally feel a little less guilty about getting greasy burgers. One New Jersey Burger King recently equipped its drive-thru with a speed bump that harvests electricity from

100,000 Synthetic Trees Could Help Combat Climate Change

The field of geo-engineering has launched all kinds of outlandish ideas for combating climate change, from dumping iron into the world’s oceans to shooting mirrors into space. A report

Solar Powered Plane Could Fly for Five Years Straight

Homer‘s beloved character, Odysseus, may have garnered international acclaim by traversing the globe in a ship, but we think the famed traveler’s latest namesake represents a much

Human-Powered Hovercraft Cruises Over the Thames

Ever since the movie Chitty Chitty Bang Bang came out, fans across the country have awaited a flying vehicle that doesn’t produce CO2 emissions. While a flying car powered by magic really

Development Shines Light on Solar Energy Generating Plastics

Plastic sure has gotten a bad rap lately — it takes petroleum to produce it, most kinds are notoriously difficult to recycle and it can leach harmful chemicals like BPA. But that

‘Oyster’ System is a New Way to Harness the Power of Waves

Recently Edinburgh-based company Aquamarine Power unveiled plans to install a new type of wave power system in place in the seabed off the Orkney Islands coast. Dubbed the Oyster, the system

LEAF POWER: Artificial Glass Leaves Produce Energy via Transpiration

Everyone knows that trees combat climate change by absorbing carbon dioxide out of the air. Now, plant leaves are tackling global warming in another way — by serving as models for a

Earthquake-Proof Wood House Survives 7.5 Magnitude Quake

If you’re in search of a home that can withstand even the most powerful natural disasters, the solution might reside in the nearest tree. A team of researchers from five universities are

Tidal Docks Use Waves to Power NYC’s Streetlamps

The Big Apple’s known for its bright lights, but the city’s iconic luminescence also sucks up huge amounts of power every year. Luckily, a team of designers came up with a plan to keep the

World’s First Cargo Ship Propelled by Solar Panels

These days, it seems everything from rooftops to cell phones come equipped with solar panels. Now, huge cargo ships are the latest entities to join the solar power fray. The M/V Auriga Leader,

Chicken Feathers May Fuel Hydrogen Cars in the Future

Chickens may start losing sleep over more than Americans’ love of McNuggets. Chicken consumption in the US creates over six billion pounds of feathers each year. Previously discarded as waste,

US Government May Bulldoze 50 Cities; Create More Green Space

It seems virtually everyone—from Wall Street bankers to small business owners—has been affected by the economic downturn. Now, the recession’s latest victims may be American cities. The

Sarah Parsons

Read Inhabitat

Search Categories

Recent Posts

Recent Comments

Browse by Keyword

get the free Inhabitat newsletter

get the free Inhabitat newsletter

follow inhabitat on: