Wednesday, February 12, 2003

Meanwhile,from the war on "waste" -- energy division A Glimpse of a Future in a New Kind of Light. The ubiquitous lightbulb is quietly on its way to being replaced by light-emitting microchips that work longer and use less power. By Barnaby J. Feder. [New York Times: Science] "We are not talking about replacing light bulbs," said Arpad Bergh, a former Bell Labs researcher who is president of an industry trade group working with the government to promote the new technology. "We are talking about a totally new lighting industry." The technologies we take for granted offer huge opportunities for savings -- of money as well as energy. Last time I checked, the US balance of payments deficit was about the size of our imported energy budget. An energy efficiency "Apollo Project" would have far more significant -- and longer lasting -- impact on the economy than a tax cut for the rich that even Alan Greenspan says is not necessary. 4:06:10 PM    comment []  trackback []

And sometimes it is about foie gras Or at least about soybeans, corn and many other things. Consumers in Europe Resist Gene-Altered Foods. No matter what the outcome of U.S. efforts to sell genetically modified foods in Europe, public revulsion there runs deep. By Lizette Alvarez. [New York Times: Science] The official EU position, is in line with the US position: "GMO? No problem." The European public, apparently, isn't buying -- though the US public is. 7:45:28 AM    comment []  trackback []