Ginkgo biloba is environmentally friendly pesticide

October 5th, 2009 Smell has some cities ripping out ginkgo treesIOWA CITY, Iowa — The ginkgo tree is renowned for its hardiness, surviving everything from road salt to an atomic bomb, but it may be undone by another trait — it reeks. "It's pretty disgusting," said Jan Schneider, an office manager in downtown Iowa City whose business has a ginkgo out front.

October 1st, 2009 WASHINGTON - In a new study, scientists in China have discovered that a natural plant hormone, applied to crops, can help plants eliminate residues of certain pesticides. The study, by scientist Jing Quan Yu and colleagues, noted that pesticides are essential for sustaining food production for the world's growing population.

September 11th, 2009 WASHINGTON - A group of researchers at the Angstrom Laboratory at Uppsala University in Sweden have discovered that the distinctive cellulose nanostructure of the green Cladophora algae can serve as an effective coating substrate for use in environmentally friendly batteries. "These algae has a special cellulose structure characterised by a very large surface area," said Gustav Nystrom, a doctoral student in nanotechnology and the first author of the research article.

September 10th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Scientists have discovered a naturally occurring hormone that helps plants rid themselves of certain pesticide residues. Scientists in China are reporting the "intriguing" discovery that a natural plant hormone, applied to crops, can help plants eliminate residues of certain pesticides.

September 10th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Chinese researchers have discovered a natural plant hormone that can help plants eliminate residues of certain pesticides. Researchers have been seeking new ways of minimizing pesticide residues that remain in food crops after harvest - with little success.

August 22nd, 2009 WASHINGTON - NASA and the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, or AFOSR, have successfully launched a small rocket using an environmentally-friendly, safe propellant comprised of aluminum powder and water ice, called ALICE. "This collaboration has been an opportunity for graduate students to work on an environmentally-friendly propellant that can be used for flight on Earth and used in long distance space missions," said NASA Chief Engineer Mike Ryschkewitsch at NASA Headquarters in Washington.

August 17th, 2009 WASHINGTON - In a new study, scientists have determined that spices like rosemary, thyme, clove, and mint can provide eco-friendly pesticides for organic fruits and vegetables. As the industry tries to satisfy demands for fruits and veggies among the growing portion of consumers, well-known spices are now becoming organic agriculture's key weapons against insect pests.

August 13th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Researchers have discovered that the circadian rhythms or biological "clocks" in some insects can make them far more susceptible to pesticides at certain times of the day than other. With further research, it may be possible to tap into this genetic characteristic, identify the times that a target insect is most vulnerable to a specific pesticide, and use that information to boost the effectiveness of a pesticide.

August 13th, 2009 WASHINGTON - The circadian rhythms or biological "clocks" in some insects can make them far more susceptible to pesticides at some times of the day instead of others, reveal researchers at Oregon State University. The scientists said that with further research, they can tap into this genetic characteristic, identify the times that a target insect is most vulnerable to a specific pesticide, and use that information to increase the effectiveness, reduce costs and decrease the amounts of pesticide necessary for insect control.

August 12th, 2009 MELBOURNE - Forget Viagra, potions, and even sex toys - a new flavour of ice cream has been unveiled which is filled with sexy ingredients to boost the libido in the bedroom. The ice cream, called The Sex Pistol, contains ginkgo, biloba, arginine and guarana - and it is served with a shot of the highly intoxicating La Fee Absinthe, reports The Daily Telegraph.

July 11th, 2009 LONDON - A Brit textile firm has come up with a unique environmentally friendly coffin, which is made entirely out of wool. The caskets, which cost 600 pounds and also have embroidered woollen nameplates, are made from pure new wool and supported on a recycled cardboard frame.

July 6th, 2009 LONDON - Following the global slow down and economic crisis, the Queen is determined to switch from the LPG-fuelled black cab to an environmentally friendly car service, to save money. The Queen's staff at the Buckingham Palace has signed up with Toyota's 'Green Tomato Cars' to cut costs, after they found out about the car from Prince Charles's London office, which switched to its cheaper carbon-efficient Toyota Prius fleet, the Daily Express reports.

July 5th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Soon, homeowners seeking energy efficiency and savings could be making an environmentally friendly addition to their roofs, with a Styrofoam piece specifically designed for air ventilation covered with foil that can be installed on top of a standard shingle roof. Billy Ellis Roofing, a Fort Worth, Texas-based roofing company, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory are testing the new roof system called 'Thermadeck insulation'.

June 9th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Scientists in the US have come up with a cheap, environmentally friendly way to kill termites and other pests. In their study, they have found that a substance derived from glucose can weaken the insects' immune systems, making them vulnerable to infections from lethal microbes.

May 11th, 2009 Pesticide carbofuran banned for food cropsWASHINGTON — The Environmental Protection Agency has issued a final rule banning the use of the pesticide carbofuran on food. The insecticide is used to control pests on fruits, vegetables and other food crops, including corn and potatoes.