July 31st, 2010 by Editor

While touring a General Motors plant in Hamtramck, Mich. today,President Barack Obamagot the urge to get behind the wheel of a car—something he’s done only one other time since taking office. According toABC news, the President stopped at the end of the assembly line and asked his secret service agent if he would be allowed to take a car for a spin. After some back and forth jokes, eventually Obama was allowed to take a Chevrolet Volt, a 340-mile extended range electric vehicle, for a test drive. The test drive was slow, deliberate, and lasted for about 10 feet.

“I’m telling you guys, pretty smooth,” Obama announced after emerging from the electric car.

While Obama was visiting the facility, GM announced that the company will increase the U.S. production capacity of the Chevrolet Volt by 50% in 2012—thanks to strong public support of the vehicle.

“The Chevrolet Volt provides drivers with the latest technology, outstanding innovation, and something no other electric vehicle can provide – peace of mind,” said Edward E. Whitacre, Jr., GM Chairman and CEO. “We are very proud to host the President of the United States at this plant, where the future of the American automobile industry is being built today by the men and women of General Motors.”

This week Chevrolet dealers began taking customer orders for the 2011 Chevrolet Volt which is priced at $41,000.

By Daelyn Fortney
Found on the net by our news bot

american automobile industry, car, chevrolet dealers, chevrolet volt, drive, edward e whitacre, news, Obama, plant, vehicle

July 29th, 2010 by Editor

Some trees growing in nutrient-poor forest soil may get what they need by cultivating specific root microbes to create compounds they require. These microbes are exceptionally efficient at turning inorganic minerals into nutrients that the trees can use.
By sciencedaily.com
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bot, Farm, forest soil, inorganic minerals, microbes, need, news, root, supply nutrients, trees farm

July 29th, 2010 by Editor

Though much effort and many resources have been expended to protect the endangered giant panda, research by an international team of scientists shows that much suitable panda habitat is outside the nature reserves and areas where the panda is reported to live.
By sciencedaily.com
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bot, china research, endangered giant panda, giant panda, Habitat, nature, nature reserves, news, panda, panda habitat

July 28th, 2010 by Editor

Biomolecular engineers have developed technology to artificially create spider dragline silk proteins that can be used to make ultra-strong synthetic fibers and bulletproof vests.
By sciencedaily.com
Found on the net by our news bot

bot, bulletproof, bulletproof vests, news, silk, silk proteins, spider dragline silk, spider silk, synthetic fibers, technology

July 23rd, 2010 by Editor

Fisheries researchers found one piece of a scientific puzzle that just may help save an endangered species from extinction.
By sciencedaily.com
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biologists, endangered species, extinction, news, pallid, pallid sturgeon, puzzle, sturgeon

July 22nd, 2010 by Editor

With all of the prestigious accomplishments and awards thatGeorge Clooneyhas been racking up lately, we really hope that his perfectly groomed head doesn’t swell to the size of a hot air balloon. It would admittedly be hard to fault him for feeling more than a little pleased with himself, however. It’s not every day that a guy gets kudos for hislong list of humanitarian effortsand looks remarkably dapper while doing it.

Son ofNick Clooney, a noted ‘hard news’ television journalist, newspaper columnist and one-time politician, the former ER heart throb has left his television days long behind in favor of following in his father’s footsteps. While his illustrious film career has certainly helped pay the bills, it’s also funded various charitable endeavors (Darfur, theHope For Haititelethon andNot On Our Watch) that have reflected the mutual affinity that he shares withClooneysenior toward humanitarian advocacy.

Apparently, Hollywood is finally catching up and taking note of the many beneficial things thatClooneyjunior continues to do with his celebrity status. During the upcoming Emmy Awards scheduled to occur on Sunday, August 29, he will be given theBob Hope Humanitarian Award– a distinction that has been bestowed on just three other individuals since it was launched in 2002,Oprah Winfrey,Bill CosbyandDanny Thomas.

Recognizing those who act as true role models through their charitable efforts, triggering a “lasting impact on society” that brings “credit to the industry”, the chairman of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences says thatClooney“was an obvious choice.”Bob Hope’sdaughterLindaadded, “Like my own father, George is a person who looks beyond himself to use his celebrity for good, to make a difference in the world, and to inspire others to do the same.” Everyone at Ecorazzi headquarters couldn’t agree more! Here’s a little bonus for those with a soft spot for father-son relationships — a video ofNick Clooneyinterviewing his movie star son two years ago (beginning at the 1:23 mark). Awwww.

ViaHollywood Insider&Deadline Hollywood

By Elizah Leigh
Found on the net by our news bot

charitable endeavors, Clooney, father son relationships, hot air balloon, Humanitarian, model, mutual affinity, news, television, television journalist

July 19th, 2010 by Editor

A new study has found that implementing cool roofs and cool pavements in cities around the world can not only help cities stay cooler, they can also cool the world, with the potential of canceling the heating effect of up to two years of worldwide carbon dioxide emissions.
By sciencedaily.com
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carbon dioxide emissions, cities around the world, cool, global model, model, news, pavements, potential, roofs, study

July 19th, 2010 by Editor

The first before-and-after view of an amphibian die-off has just been published. Using DNA barcodes, they showed that the fungal disease that wipes out frogs — chytridiomycosis — has killed an estimated 30 species of amphibians in Panama, including five species previously unidentified by scientists.
By sciencedaily.com
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amphibians, bot, DNA, dna barcoding, epidemic in panama, frog, frog species, fungal, fungal disease, news

July 19th, 2010 by Editor

Our most recent green economy survey shows signs of steady growth in corporate environmental initiatives, a level of optimism that outstrips that of the overall recovering economy.

By John Davies
Found on the net by our Eco Business News Bot

bot, Business, Business news, eco, Economy, environmental initiatives, news, optimism, signs

July 16th, 2010 by Editor

“The new cap is good news. Either we will be able to stop the flow, or we will be able to use it to capture almost all of the oil until the relief well is done. But we’re not going to know for certain which approach makes sense until additional data is in. And all the American people should rest assured that all of these decisions will be based on the science and what’s best for the people of the Gulf.”

- PresidentBarack Obamadiscussing the recent capping of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. We are, of course, excited to hear that the oil has stopped leaking and are crossing our fingers that this might be a permanent solution. To read Obama’s entire speech, stop on byHuffingtonPost.com.

By Michael Parrish DuDell
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