I have a funny story about this Electrolux Vege that I read about on GadgetCandy. It's a prototype for a fridge-sized hydroponic plant-growing cupboard that will allow you to grow your own plants and herbs in the comfort of your own home. If you want to be mega-eco-friendly but don't have the time or space for a full-fledged garden or greenhouse, here's a solution. Cool, right? So I decided to Crave it.

Then it occurred to me that the Vege might gain more popularity as an incubator for plants that are a little bit more on the … Read more

On our next trip to South Korea, one of the first things we want to see is the laundry rooms. When Samsung came out with its designer washing machine last October, we thought it was just an ill-advised attempt to create a new market. But then we spotted these other colorful models on Techie Diva from Korean rival LG.

These machines have brains as well as beauty, with a environmentally friendly steam-cleaning system controlled through an LCD. They're not exactly our taste, but we do appreciate that they're on display at Harrods. (Any excuse to do some shopping … Read more

We're starting to get hyped for the Geneva auto show, and Toyota has helped us out with a little preshow tease about its Hybrid X concept car. Unfortunately, it's only a tease, with very little information. According to Green Car Congress, Toyota will use the show to reaffirm its commitment to building more environmentally-friendly cars. The Hybrid X is supposed to display a new design language for hybrids and showcase new technology. Toyota's development of the Hybrid X suggests the company is looking beyond the Prius for future uniquely hybrid cars.

From the picture released by Toyota, … Read more

While driving to work or eating breakfast today, you probably jerked up and thought, "How much inedible tallow gets produced in the U.S. every year?"

Alternative energy is one of the primary topics of the day. Hobbyists now use old vegetable oil to run their modified Mercedes diesel cars, but that's a drop in the bucket of the industry. A number of meat companies and start-ups now want to methodically collect fat and used oil and turn it into millions of gallons of fuel. (Most biodiesel refiners now concentrate on fresh oil.)

So how much waste … Read more

From Basra to Kabul, no environmentally aware burkha babe is going to be able to resist this 4x4, turbo-charged, hybrid, diesel-electric recon hotrod.

Created by General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS,) the Shadow RST-V (Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Targeting Vehicle) boasts stealth, survivability and low mileage. That's big, considering that about half the military's money--and a third of its manpower--is devoted to hauling stuff around, 70 percent of that stuff being fuel.

The aluminum-bodied RST-V seats four (seating by Oregon Aero), does 70 mph and has a 470-mile range. Bulletproof windows and armor are optional. Weaponry includes your standard machine … Read more

EoPlex Technologies, which has come up with a way to manufacture fuel cells and other hardware devices by printing them has raised $8 million more in funding.

The company has, in a very ornate way, combined ceramics and metals with ink-jet printing. The printer jets are programmed to spit out very intricate layers of materials. Pile up enough of them and you get a completely integrated mechanical device. It's actually similar to how black light posters get made, says CEO Arthur Chait.

The company, which News.com wrote about first back in early 2006, still isn't in full … Read more

Remember when gas masks were all the rage? So passe. The true survivalist chic will surely be flashing their new toxic gas detectors at their next bunker soiree.

Fashionable toxic gas detectors are now available in a convenient handheld design, according to Mobile Magazine says, so we can "identify safety and security threats in real time." Not only that, but the new QRAE II model claims to be the first four-gas monitor with a lead-free oxygen sensor--who could ask for more?

We just hope they'll come out with some new colors soon. (Black is so 2006 in … Read more

If you saw our recent item on the shrine to the Mac and wanted to build one of your own, here's your chance to get started.

Gizmodo notes that 40 Macintosh Classic IIs are for sale on eBay, with bids starting at $799 for the whole lot (or you can buy them now for $999). But as others have noted, they're not exactly a bargain--especially when you consider what a pain it is to get rid of any old computer these days, now that they're classified as hazardous waste. But hey, if you're looking to spruce … Read more

Capturing carbon dioxide as it comes out of smokestacks is easy, say scientists. The tough part is sequestering the gas underground so it won't leak out. A big burp could wipe out people living nearby (through suffocation) while a slow leak would put the gas back up in the atmosphere where it would contribute to global warming.

Researchers at MIT have come up with a novel idea that would effectively take advantage of the nearly ubiquitous presence of salt water under the earth's surface.

Under the proposal, CO2 would be captured, compressed and then injected underground into porous … Read more