Did watching the Jetsons or Back to the Future ever make you wonder kinds of sci-fi innovations would become the reality of mobility? Well you’re not the only one. Honda has launched the Dream The Impossible campaign and documentary series. In this edition embedded below, they ask automakers, futurists and technologists to share their predictions and thoughts on what mobility will look like 80 years from now.

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Most of us are aware of at least some of the dangers of mercury–it’s even making tabloid headlines these days (Jeremy Piven was pulled from the play Speed the Plow due to mercury poisoning from sushi). But that doesn’t mean enough is being done to counter the issue.

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) urged environment ministers who met last week in Nairobi to work on a strategy to lessen the use of the toxic element, with one of the main focuses they suggested being developing a policy that would reduce the demand for mercury in products and processes.

Both the toxicity of mercury (it’s known to cause irreversible nervous system damage in developing systems) and its prevalence in our environment indicate a need for action. The high levels of mercury in fish show the vast amount of mercury that’s making its way into streams and rivers and while avoiding seafood known to contain high amounts of mercury helps, it doesn’t reduce the general levels of mercury, cause dby mercury’s use in a range of products, from the expected (thermometers and fluorescent lamps) to the unexpected (novelty toys and jewelry).

The UN’s call to attention came just weeks after two studies were released that link high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) to mercury. In the first, completed by the Institute for Agriculture and Trace Policy, 55 brand name foods that listed HFCS as the first or second ingredient were tested for mercury. One third tested positive. However, it’s worth noting that no mercury was found in the majority of the HFCS-containing beverages that were tested, and those drinks tend to be the highest source of HFCS in the average diet. Items with high mercury content included instant oatmeal, chocolate syrup and cereal bars. Click here to read more

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February’s a great month to get away. Preferably, for most of us, somewhere that hasn’t seen snow in years and has a very low annual rain fall. We could go on about the greenest way to get there (train, if possible, and carbon offsets if you must fly), the greenest place to stay (one of the new eco-focused hotels) and some environmentally-conscious activities (how about a volunteer vacation?), but instead, we want to alert you to a set of luggage that’s light on impact and heavy on quality.

The three-piece Eco Case set from Heys USA is one of our favorites because it’s the only luggage on the market made from 100% recycled plastic. So if you’re someone who can’t handle the idea of their goods being squashed and slammed around inside a soft-fabric set, this is the hard case option to go for. We also appreciate the fact that the Eco Case set sits on four wheels for easy maneuvering, is expandable, and features “Piggy Back straps” in case you ever need to pick it up and run for a flight. The five color choices don’t hurt, either.

While there’s the obvious environmental perk of recycled materials in this luggage, another element to consider is the emphasis on long-lasting, quality luggage. If you buy one set of Heys Eco Case luggage (avoiding the use of new plastics) and it holds up for years thanks to a construction that won’t crack, bend or wear down, you’re also eliminating the resources you would use if you purchase several sets of cheaper luggage over that time span. Click here to read more

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At this year’s Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, the most exciting appearance wasn’t will.i.am or Kevin Spacey, but, rather, a new cell phone from Samsung that could be poised to lead the way to more earth-friendly mobiles.

The casing on the touch-screen Samsung Blue Earth is made from recycled PCM plastic, which is usually garnered from plastic water bottles, and the phone offers a solar-charging option with the solar panel on the back of the unit. Even better, the Blue Earth will be free of the potentially-harmful Brominated Flame Retardents, Beryllium and Phthalates and will feature an energy-saving mode that dims the back light and nixes Blue Tooth. Although the emphasis is on sun-derived power for the Blue Earth, a charger–maybe a universal one?–will be included for times when cloud cover–or your schedule–interferes, but it will be five-star Energy Star rated and, like the phone itself, skip the suspicious substances.

Even the software suggested for the phone has a green bent; one program functions as a pedometer, measuring how far you’ve walked and how many carbon emissions you’ve saved by doing so. It’s not as much of an advancement as the other components of the cell, but it could be for good for environmental awareness none the less. Click here to read more

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In the last few years, the Green Movement has started to become increasingly present and visible on college campuses across the nation. Environmental activism is going beyond the usual recycling programs and organic food options in dining halls. We are seeing entire school buildings trying to neutralize their carbon footprint, new academic majors directly or indirectly related to environmentalism, bike-sharing initiatives, contests for the “greenest” residence hall, and much more.

This new tendency reveals the fact that current college students are much more aware of environmental issues than they were in the past. It is also true that as global warming Click here to read more

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