My friend, Jennifer Sinclair over at TheLuxurEco has been doing some
research on bamboo used for fabrics. This is her story.

There has been a lot of talk about the eco-friendly nature of bamboo fiber.  I’ve
told everyone who reads my blog about this incredible fabric. It has amazing characteristics,
like softness, absorbency, fast drying, and anti-bacterial.

These are all great things, right?

Well, I have to tell you that not all bamboo towels and robes are created equal. (more…)

What is the purpose of termites?…

Those incredibly destructive little creatures have the potential to benefit
humans in the production of biofuels. Or more precisely, the bacteria in
their stomachs. Termites process the wood they ingest in a series of stomachs,
each with a distinct set of bacteria.  Those bugs within bugs release enzymes
that break down cellulose, the sugar chains in wood, into acetate, a fatty
acid that provides the termite’s energy. Scientists with the Joint Genome
Institute at the U.S. Department of Energy, hope to develop a process to
harness the power of these bacteria on an industrial scale to break cellulose
down into ethanol and provide biofuel without using food crops as a source. (more…)