Eco-Vlog

A recent  study  of human fossils from the Sterkfontein Caves in South Africa reignited debates about the origin of humans. The caves are home to Mrs. Ples’ skeleton, as they nicknamed the fossils of a cave woman found. Her fossils date back to between 3.4 to 3.6 million years ago. “But it’s hard to get a good date on them,” said Darryl Granger, a professor at Purdue University who specializes in dating geologic deposits, said in a statement. “…these fossils are old — much older than we originally thought.” With the findings, scientists now say that hominins existed in South Africa the same period that the known oldest remains in East Africa date to. In 1974, the skeleton of a woman named Lucy found in Ethiopia dates back to 3.2 million years ago. With the recent dating of Mrs. Ples’ skeleton, the theory that humans originated from East Africa is under contention. For a long time, archeologists have held the view that the earliest hominins existed in East Africa, but no...

A Swiss startup is working on a solution to that pesky carbon dioxide that is killing the planet: burying it underground. Climeworks is building a ginormous direct air capture (DAC) facility in Iceland. The company expects it to be ready to start sucking 36,000 tons of CO2 annually out of the air within two years. Dubbed Mammoth, the carbon capture plant will feature 80 large blocks of fans and filters to suck in the air and take out the CO2. Then Carbfix , an Icelandic carbon storage firm, will take over. They will mix the CO2 with water and inject it underground where voila! — a chemical reaction will transform the CO2 into rock . Maybe they should have named the plant Medusa. Related: Carbfix turns emissions into stone Mammoth is just the start. Once it’s up and running, Climeworks plans to build an even bigger facility capable of capturing up to half a million tons of CO2 from the air annually. And then they’ll do it again. And again. According to the International Energy Ag...

The Orcas House on Orcas Island in the San Juan Islands is an intergenerational family home under construction designed by Seattle firm Allied8. The home explores how construction material use can reduce global emissions. The site was the challenge that started the project. Orcas House is located on a small lot on a ridgeline the previous owner could not figure out how to build on as it is extremely steep and half bedrock. Allied8 Cofounder Leah Martin purchased the land and had another go at making it a buildable site. The land’s steep slope created a challenge to locate even enough level ground to support a foundation platform. The property has views to the south toward Eastsound, views to the north of the Salish Sea, Sucia Island and downtown Vancouver B.C. And so, Allied8 set themselves the challenge to create a cabin on a building site that could barely touch the ground. Related: It’s a carbon negative and zero energy sustainable home As a result, Allied8 decided not to cre...

When one thinks of sustainable living, urban centers probably don’t come to mind. Yet, it’s where the vast majority of people in the country live and work. Therefore, cities hold the power to make the greatest impact when it comes to cleaning up the air and reducing carbon emissions. The team at Battleface, a leading travel insurance company, ranked Washington, D.C., New York City, Portland, Seattle and Boston as the cities leading the country in sustainable actions.  The rankings are based on five factors: carbon emissions, transportation, green spaces, infrastructure for electric vehicles and access to vegan food options. Each city was ranked for each category and also given an overall sustainability ranking.  Related: Washington, D.C. ranks as the best parks in the US Not surprisingly, Washington, D.C. captured the top spot. As we recently reported, the city was ranked number one for the second year in a row in the Trust for Public Land’s study of the best park system...

 Environmental magazines

Climate change-induced storms are battering coasts worldwide with sea level rise, erosion and damages. More than half of coral reefs and 85% of oyster beds used to protect our coasts have already been severely damaged or destroyed.  Coral reefs are one of the best protections against coastal erosion from major storms. However, coral is suffering from warming ocean temperatures. Studies estimate that all coral reefs will be in danger by 2050 unless urgent action is taken. Enter Reefy, a nature-based solution to coastal climate change-related damage that restores reefs and protects biodiversity. Related: Coral growth may be boosted with artificial reefs Reefy creates a product called REB (Reef Enhancing Breakwater) that works as a modular cement block to build artificial reefs. It can dissipate waves up to 97%. This helps protect coastal wildlife , offers new habitat for fish and corals and creates a stable structure that is harder for hurricanes to damage in the event of a la...

The coveted black watermelons are available in the US and are on sale in the Bay Area of California . The black seedless watermelon is treasured in Japan where it is auctioned in an annual event that sees prices hit the roof. This year, the auction of this first crop in the northern island of Hokkaido saw one supreme quality black watermelon go for a whopping $370. Though a handsome figure, the highest record for the sale of one black watermelon is $6,100  set in 2008.  The American version of black watermelons is cultivated in Northern California. In the US, the melons are much less fanfare, but still attract a considerably attractive price. An average medium-sized black melon retails at $9, while a healthy organic grown melon goes for $18 in stores around the Bay Area. Related: Global warming is threatening the iconic Georgia peach Although they are as tasty as Japan’s version, they are less decorated. In Japan, the melon is carefully cultivated and packaged. D...

Two Indian women have been arrested at the Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok, Thailand after they were found with 109 live wild animals , including 20 snakes, 50 lizards, 35 turtles, two white porcupines, and two armadillos. The animals were detected in two suitcases by an X-ray scan, prompting officials at the airport to jump into action. Sathon Khong-ngern, head of the airport wildlife checkpoint, confirmed the incident to media outlets. Related: 40 lifeless tiger cubs discovered in Thailand temple’s freezer The women, Nithya Raja, 38, and Zakia Sulthana Ebrahim, 24, were immediately arrested by police and taken to court for a hearing. According to airport officials, the two were preparing to fly to Chennai, India . The destination of the animals or what they intended to do with them is not yet clear. The women have so far been charged with violating the Wildlife Conservation and Protection Act of 2019, the Customs Act of 2017, and the Animal Disease Act of 2015. It is i...

JLF Architects created a custom-built, modern and sustainable farmhouse on 40 acres in Upstate New York. A couple lives there during the summers camping on their property to learn the land. The new farmhouse , called Looking Glass Farm, features reclaimed Amish barn wood, aluminum windows and a design that blends with the landscape. Members of the JLF team even camped the land themselves for two nights to understand the property’s prevailing winds, best views and sunsets. Then, they set out to design “a new house that looked like it had always been here,” the homeowner told American Farmhouse Style. Related: Greenary is a lush, biophilic house built around a tree In fact, it is hard to tell whether this is a new house or an renovated structure as the materials and style combine a classic barnhouse shape with stylish new elements. The house features a classic gable roofline and simple barn shape. It uses reclaimed wood cladding from a 100-year-old Amish barn. Reclaimed floori...

You can tell right away that Sunyata Eco Hotel is luxury. Designed by Design Kacheri, the innovative, arresting design blends well with the shining glass and beautiful patches of green. But look closely. This boutique hotel is eco-friendly, sustainable and made out of the Earth itself. The Sunyata Eco Hotel is located in Chikmagalur, India . From the construction to the daily operations, the hotel is made to have a small carbon footprint. First, the building itself is made from local materials. Mud blocks, poured earth, rammed earth and concrete were used. Related: This eco-resort uses an ancient process for natural cooling Furthermore, the design uses brick jaalis and shading to regulate heat, light and ventilation . The walls are made to be load-bearing so there is no need for concrete columns. Then, ancient building techniques were incorporated into the design. If anyone understood using natural materials to construct buildings, it was the ancients. That’s why this hotel is bu...

Drivers stopping by the Tanforan Shell station in San Bruno, California may be in for a shock. When they enter the convenience store looking for beef jerky and nacho cheese Doritos, they will find 100% plant-based offerings. This city of 43,000 about 12 miles south of San Francisco seems an unlikely site for North America’s first 24/7 vegan convenience store, Hangry Planet . It’s part of the fun for owner Bobak Bakhtiari . The actor and philanthropist talked to Inhabitat about this intriguing venture. Inhabitat: When did you open Hangry Planet and how has the customer reaction been so far? Bakhtiari: April 2022. Delightful confusion is the common response to the realization that this isn’t just another mindless junk food festival of a C-store. The reaction has been mostly positive and also sporadic confusion as to why a C-store would care to be plant-based . “Feel beautiful not junky” is our motto which embodies health and animal welfare.  Related: Vegan Fried Chicke...

Researchers at the American Chemical Society have created a light-activated robot resembling a fish that can swim around quickly, collecting microplastics from the water. With microplastics now found everywhere on the earth, the robot might be instrumental in measuring microplastic concentrations. Microplastics have become a menace in the world today, due to the difficulty in tracking them. Recently, studies have also shown that microplastics have spread to even the most remote areas of the earth, and have been detected in the bloodstreams of humans and animals. The particles are known to have some effects on human health and their presence in the ecosystem has become a threat. Related: Microplastics contaminate human blood, says new study The researchers have demonstrated that the robot can repeatedly adsorb nearby polystyrene microplastics and transport them somewhere else. More interestingly is the fact that the material used in the robot is self-healing if it is ...

When one thinks of nuclear power, thoughts often include nuclear fission weapons (AKA atomic bombs) and their dangerous consequences. However, new research in sustainable energy production indicates that another type of nuclear energy could be an infinitely-abundant energy resource for the planet. It’s called fusion . Though challenging to produce, fusion’s high-energy yield and limited by-products make it an important resource to consider for the future. What is fusion? Nuclear fission is when a heavy atom, such as uranium, breaks down into smaller parts. This process releases significant energy and creates long-lived radioactive waste, which is harmful to living organisms. On the other hand, nuclear fusion is the opposite of fission. It is when two lightweight atoms such as hydrogen , collide to form a heavier atom, such as helium. This process releases enormous amounts of energy, which can be used to power cities efficiently and sustainably. Related: Hydropower sparks debate as N...