MYSTERIOUS: 12 - You Need To See This

Ditching diesel could save Pacific nations almost $1b

Replacing fuel imports with renewable power could save Pacific countries millions of dollars if they can secure enough investment to make the switch.

AAP · Aug 24

Texas turned 68,000 acres of solar farms into sheep pastures to control weeds; the state now accounts for more than half of U.S. solar grazing

Texas solar farms are turning to sheep as a surprising solution to a growing maintenance problem. Across roughly 68,000 acres, sheep now graze beneath rows of solar panels, keeping grass under control without damaging expensive equipment. Goats can climb and chew wires. Cattle are often too tall for the rows.…

The Economic Times · Aug 24

Mexico is turning corn waste and tortilla-making wastewater into building material; the strange recipe can even be 3D-printed

Every day, tortilla production creates a little-known waste stream called nejayote, the calcium-rich wastewater left behind when corn is soaked in an alkaline solution during nixtamalization. Mexican design studio Manufactura saw an opportunity in that waste, developing Corncretl, an experimental bio-based construction material that combines recycled nejayote derivatives and dried…

The Times of India · Aug 24

Fast-moving wildfire in Reno, Nevada, forces tens of thousands to evacuate homes

Human-caused Hawk fire covers more than 13,000 acres as blaze approaches University of Nevada campus in Reno

The Guardian - US · Aug 23

Hawk Fire latest update: Evacuations, emergency declared as fast-moving Nevada brush fire grows to more than 10,500 acres near Reno

The Hawk Fire near Reno, Nevada, has grown to 10,523 acres as strong winds fuel the fast-moving brush fire, prompting evacuations and a state of emergency in Washoe County. Fire officials warn that the wind-driven blaze can rapidly move toward residential areas as crews work to protect homes and lives.

The Economic Times · Aug 23

Officials warn wildland firefighters about the risks of using a supplement for smoke exposure

Fire and medical officials have issued warnings about a supplement offered to Western wildland firefighters who have been exposed to toxic chemicals

The Independent UK · Aug 23

In 1993, ecologist Diane Firestone bought a worn-out Costa Rica cattle ranch; decades later, it held 20% primary forest and 69% secondary forest

In an impressive showcase of environmental rejuvenation, a Costa Rican farm has undergone remarkable tropical land restoration after years of extensive cattle grazing. Guided by ecologist Diane Firestone, the land has transformed into lush forests, echoing national trends of forest recovery in Costa Rica. This regenerated landscape not only aids…

The Times of India · Aug 23

Can Your HOA Force You to Grow Grass? One Maryland Couple Is Fighting That Battle

Can an HOA really tell a homeowner to rip out a garden and put grass back? In Maryland, the answer gets surprisingly interesting, especially after Janet and Jeff Crouch fought their HOA over a yard filled with native plants, flowers, trees, and habitat instead of a conventional carpet of turf.…

Frugal Gardening · Aug 23

Fast-moving wildfire in Nevada forces nearly 90,000 to evacuate was human caused, sheriff says

‘Please get out if you can right now,’ the sheriff urged

The Independent UK · Aug 23

In the early 1960s, developers sold 5,850 lots for a private resort on Assateague Island; one five-day storm wiped out nearly every house and helped turn it into a national seashore

Assateague Island was once planned as a major resort community with thousands of homes, roads and commercial areas. Two powerful storms changed that future. A 1933 hurricane split the island, while the 1962 Ash Wednesday storm destroyed roads and structures. The island was later protected as a National Seashore in…

The Times of India · Aug 22