Commercial Organic Farms Have Better Fruit and Soil, Lower Environmental Impact, Study Finds

Side-by-side comparisons of organic and conventional strawberry farms and their fruit found the organic farms produced more flavorful and nutritious berries while leaving the soil healthier and more genetically diverse.

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We still need to adapt our farming methods even further, to prepare for future climate change.

CSIRO should establish if there was medieval warming Down-Under

THE deferral of Australia's emissions trading scheme for three years allows us time for additional scientific studies that may be critical in shaping future legislation.

A touchstone in the debate on causes of global warming is the record of global temperatures of past millennia. Most who follow this debate are familiar with the cooling from the 16th to 18th centuries known as the Little Ice Age; this is generally accepted as a global phenomenon. Most are also aware of the Medieval Warm Period covering much of the 9th to 15th centuries. This has been the source of greater debate because, while it is clear in anecdotal descriptions from Europe, such as Vikings growing crops in Greenland, it is less clear whether it is a global phenomenon. The debate has high stakes because the rate of warming and temperatures attained in Europe during the MWP are of similar order to the warming of past decades. If the MWP were to be proven to be global, then the basis of present science stating that industrial-era carbon emissions are the dominant cause of today's warming would be significantly undermined.

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'Milestone' for wave energy plans

Ten sites on the seabed off the north coast of Scotland have been leased out to power companies in an effort to generate wave and tidal energy.

In the first project of its kind in the world, areas in the Pentland Firth and around Orkney have been leased to seven companies by the Crown Estate.

The companies are to push forward plans to generate enough electricity to supply 750,000 homes by 2020.

Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond said it was a "major milestone".

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The Sun Can't Save Us From Global Warming

The sun contributes almost all of the energy into our atmosphere through electromagnetic radiation, so when our nearest star reduces its output, one would think that our atmosphere would cool down (or, at least, wouldn't heat up).

This is true, partially.

But a new study published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters says that even if the sun commenced a very long period of low activity, it cannot put the brakes on the relentless rise of global temperatures caused by greenhouse gases.

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Massive 131 Acre Green Roof Planned for Seoul

Just a quarter of a century old and the original Garak Wholesale Market has turned sour with residents complaining about traffic congestion and a rather unappealing smell from leftover vegetables amounting due to an inefficient logistics system. Enter Samoo Architects & Engineers who's new plans for the space will now be realised after winning a design competition to regenerate the dingy market. Their plans are drastic and will generate, among many improvements, a massive 131 acre green park roof.

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Thanks to Inhabitat.com for the link

Sewage to Drinking Water: Singapore Paves the Way

This is a very good thing.

Just shut up and drink, as they say. A system developed to purify water for special forces teams will serve luxury hotels.

If it's good enough for Navy Seals, it's good enough for guests at luxury hotels.

Singapore has installed a water purification system on the from Global Water Group in Dallas that will process 2,500 gallons worth of waste water and effluent streams – i.e., sewage – a day and turn it into drinking water. The system, which is located in the newly created village off Pulau Seringat on the coastal island of Sentosa, has been tested and will begin delivering water later this month.

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Better Place, Denmark’s DSB Strike Deal for Eco-Techno-Utopian Transit

Electric car infrastructure startup Better Place and Danish rail operator DSB have a vision to link electric vehicles, car sharing networks, trains and mobile devices into one high-tech, eco-utopian transportation system in Denmark. The duo has just announced an agreement to install charging stations for electric vehicles at “a number of major Danish train stations,” and provide an electric car sharing service at Denmark’s main commuter stations so train passengers can pick up a plug-in for the next leg of their trip.

Sounds very intriguing, read more . . .