Did you know that an estimated 3 billion pounds of chicken feathers are plucked in the United States annually? Most of this ends up in the trash. A new method of processing is being developed that could potentially produce eco-friendly plastics.  Chicken feathers are primarily made up of keratin, which is the protein that is responsible for the strength of wool, hair, fingernails and hooves. This suggests that chicken feathers should be useful as a material. Efforts in the past to produce plastic from feathers yielded products that didn't hold up mechanically or weren't 100% water-resistant. Researchers started out with chicken and turkey feathers to produce the new plastic that had been cleaned and pulverized into a fine dust. Next is a process known as polymerization, wherein they add chemicals that make the keratin molecules join together to form long chains. The research was presented earlier this year at a meeting of the American Chemical Society in Anaheim, California. The plastic that was produced was stronger than similar materials that were made from starch or soy proteins, and it was water resistant. A high temperature treatment of the feathers at the start of the process eliminated any potential contamination from sources like ...

At the turn of the 20th century, there was an electric-taxi company that served all of New York City. In the 1800s, windmills helped to transform the American West, which provided for irrigation and set the stage for wind power's revival in modern times. At the time, there was no guarantee that electricity would beat out less-polluting compressed air as a way to transmit energy over long distances. In the early 1900s, people in California were captivated by the potential of wave power, and solar water heaters were common then also. Americans have been making efforts to go green for many years. However, people were attracted to cheaper alternatives and thus energy was relied on from fossil fuels instead. Green technology has essentially been available for over a century but it still supplies a small amount of America's energy. The big question is why the United States developed an energy system and an economy built around fossil fuels like oil and coal instead of renewable power, or centralized electrical utilities rather than distributed generation. A man named John Etzler wrote a book in the 1830s called The Paradise Within the Reach of All Men, Without Labor, by Powers of Nature and Machinery: ...

There is a common freshwater alga that has a unique ability to remove strontium from water, according to researchers from Northwestern University and Argonne National Laboratory. This information may aid scientists in designing methods to remove radioactive strontium from existing nuclear waste. Strontium 90 is a major waste component, and one of the more dangerous radioactive fission materials that is made within a nuclear reactor. Strontium 90 is found in an estimated 80 million gallons of radioactive waste sludge that is stored in the United States. One type of bright green algae that is typically found in ponds is Closterium moniliferum. Researchers are showing quantitatively how the Closterium moniliferum sequesters strontium, in the form of barium-strontium-sulfate crystals. The researchers are using this knowledge to determine a practical sequestration system for nuclear waste that maximizes strontium removal. Some of the options include using the algae for direct bioremediation of waste or accidental spills in the environment or even designing a new process for waste treatment. While strontium 90 doesn't seem to be a major environmental threat after the nuclear accident in Japan, the radioactive isotope will need to be dealt with during the power plant and nuclear waste cleanup. Strontium 90 has a half-life ...

Across the United States, eco-friendly auto shops are making green tune-ups an option for all types of vehicles.  Green Garage opened in 2009 in Boulder, Colorado with a second shop that opened in Denver in December 2010, both offering green tune-ups for vehicles. The green tune-ups have resulted in many new green auto products such as MicroGreen oil filters, which offer lower oil consumption and EcoTouch, which is a non-toxic automotive cleaner. Green garage charges customers $70 for the "Drive Good" green tune-up package. The "Drive Good" green tune-up package offers an oil filter that lasts up to 6,000 miles as well as biodegradable oil that lasts up to 24,000 miles. The more expensive package, known as "Drive Epic," costs customers $300 and offers a biodegradable engine additive, nitrogen-filled tires, energy-efficient spark plugs that offer up to 25% less emissions, and an energy intervention inspection that details how you can save on fuel consumption, in addition to the oil change. Green Garage is working to change the traditional image of the repair shop by referring to employees as greens-keepers, car huggers, and smileage reps. Styrofoam cups are banned, and employees ride mopeds and bikes to pick up customers cars and then ...

Organic foods are generally better for you because they are free from pesticides, herbicides and insecticides. Many organic stores strive to sell products that don't contain high fructose corn syrup. While these qualities are good, the fact of the matter is that these qualities alone don't always mean that organic foods are good for you. Choosing organic is a great start to eating healthy but there are some other things you should be aware of when it comes to organic foods. Sugar Sugar tastes great but its not exactly good for you, no matter if it's organic or not. Sugar causes highs and lows for people, which leads to overeating and mood swings. New studies have shown that the primary cause of obesity isn't fat, it's actually sugar. A chairman for the department of nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health says that fat is not the problem when it comes to obesity. The key to battling obesity in America is for people to cut back on their consumption of sugary beverages, potatoes, pasta, white bread, white rice and sugary snacks. Cutting back or altogether eliminating these products from your diet is a good way to prevent problems with weight, diabetes ...