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L’Aquila earthquake of 2009 offers lessons in disaster response

By analysing previous disasters, lessons learnt can be incorporated into policies and plans to manage the effects of future disasters. A recent study examining the 2009 L’Aquila earthquake in Italy suggests that although the national response effectively dealt with the emergency, longer-term measures to help local populations cope with the aftermath of the disaster need to be set out more clearly.




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New technology offers low cost noise monitoring

Networks of wireless sensors could be used to monitor traffic noise. A new study shows that the wifi sensor systems, although slightly less accurate than precision noise monitoring systems, can provide detailed information, with dense coverage, about traffic noise over a longer period. Their low cost and low energy requirements make them particularly suitable and attractive for use by local authorities or even community groups.




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Which new low-carbon technologies can be developed and commercialised quickly? New research offers analysis

A new study provides clues as to which innovative low-carbon technologies will successfully get onto the market quickly. The historical analysis of 16 energy technologies — from steam engines to wind power — found that the average length of a product’s ‘formative phase’ is 22 years. This important period of innovation in a technology’s development is shorter for products which do not need extensive new infrastructure or changes to user behaviour. The findings could help policymakers identify new technologies that can be deployed more rapidly to meet short-term environmental targets.




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International trade in forest products transfers environmental impacts

Large imports of low-cost Russian wood to Finland up until 2007 increased pressure on Russian forest ecosystems, whilst reducing harvest pressure on Finnish forests and those of other European countries that consume wood-based products made in Finland, according to research. This highlights the need to take the international dimension of environmental impacts into account when designing sustainable production and consumption policies.




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Model offers insight into long-term costs and payoff of brownfield redevelopment

It can take six to seven years before the financial benefits of brownfield regeneration projects are realised, according to a new study which focused on redevelopment in Michigan, USA. The study examines liability issues, regulatory concerns, clean-up standards and funding mechanisms, and introduces a new model that informs debate on brownfield redevelopment policies and funding mechanisms.




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Big data offers profit only if you employ it sagely

The benefit from big data only comes if you have knowledge of data capabilities and limitations.




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UK offers virtual cyber school for teens in Covid-19 lockdown

The UK government on Friday launched a new virtual cyber security school aimed at encouraging teenagers to learn new skills while stuck at home during the coronavirus pandemic lockdown. As part of the free lessons, youngsters can learn how to crack codes, fix security flaws and dissect criminals' digital trails while progressing through a game as a cyber agent.




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Zillow Offers Now Live in Sacramento

Home sellers in California's state capital now have a new way to sell their homes with certainty and control over what is traditionally a stressful and complex process




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Tampa Homeowners Can Now Sell Directly Through Zillow Offers

Sellers in Tampa Bay can now sell their homes to Zillow and avoid the uncertainty and work that comes with selling traditionally




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Zillow Begins Buying and Selling Homes in Los Angeles and Orange County through Zillow Offers

Homeowners in 22 markets across the country can get a free cash offer to sell their home with no hassle and a flexible closing date




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Zillow Offers Launches in Cincinnati, Giving Home Sellers a New Way to Sell

Zillow is the first company to help Cincinnati sellers avoid common hassles of selling traditionally; With this launch, Zillow is expanding its local presence, in addition to the existing Zillow Group office




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Zillow Group Pauses Home Buying in Zillow Offers in Response to COVID-19 and Market Uncertainty





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Dow Jones suffers biggest one-day fall as coronavirus fears grip Wall Street




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Pope Francis offers Purgatory deal for Twitter followers

Looking for a shortcut to salvation? The pope has an offer too good to resist.




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Shakira suffers sea lion scare

Singer says she was almost attacked after the animal mistook her phone for a fish.




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Giant whale swims beneath California surfers

A giant whale swam beneath a group of California surfers and it was captured on drone video.




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USDA offers farmers more money to idle sensitive land

Officials will offer money to owners of environmentally sensitive farmland if they idle it in a conservation program instead of growing crops.



  • Organic Farming & Gardening

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Live webcam offers rare glimpse of migrating polar bears

Explore.org has affixed several high-definition cameras to locations in Churchill, Manitoba, the 'Polar Bear Capital of the World.'




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Porsche 918 Spyder offers 718 horsepower, zero to 62 in 3.2 seconds, and 78 mpg

The plug-in hybrid drivetrain, a first for Porsche, can move the car 15.5 miles on battery power alone. But is the mileage figure all smoke and mirrors?




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Sweden's Mini House 2.0 offers speed, sustainability and style in spades

At 15 square meters with an equal amount of outdoor living space, Jonas Wagell's flat-packed Mini House 2.0 is a lovely prefab retreat that can be assembled in



  • Remodeling & Design

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What was Earth's first animal? New study finally offers an answer

The first animal to evolve on Earth was probably a sponge that existed around 640 million years ago.




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Appalachia offers climate refuge, study finds

Parts of the Appalachian Mountains are so buffered against climatic shifts they may provide a 'stronghold' against global warming, researchers report.



  • Climate & Weather

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Google's 'Project Sunroof' offers new take on home solar potential

Want to see if your home is a good fit for solar? Project Sunroof offers a decent snapshot from your web browser.




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'Bless This Food' offers 160 ancient and contemporary graces

This book with blessings from many cultures and religions will make practicing gratitude for food, family and friends a renewed experience.




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New headset offers high-tech help for the blind

Headset was designed to help assist and enrich navigation for the visually impaired.



  • Research & Innovations

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Burgeoning bee buffers feed hungry honeybees

Honey bees between pollination gigs still need to eat. Efforts are underway to keep them from starving when they’re off the clock.



  • Organic Farming & Gardening

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How you use Facebook offers clues to your personality

The number of updates you make a day, how often you use the 'like' button and even your photo album organization can tell your Facebook friends a lot about you.




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Community Green offers free USGBC membership

Organization will provide a one-year membership to the U.S. Green Building Council.



  • Sustainable Business Practices

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UPS offers to make shipments carbon neutral

Brown has gone green! UPS has become the first small package carrier to offer its customers the option of purchasing carbon offsets to counteract the CO2 emissi



  • Sustainable Business Practices

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New American chestnut offers carbon storage solution

This month, scientists and tree lovers celebrate the 2nd birthday of a hybrid chestnut tree that may be a force in reducing the impacts of climate change.



  • Research & Innovations

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Tesla offers a 400-mile upgrade to Roadster owners

Is this the start of a trend in which automakers make money retrofitting older cars?




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Urban treehouse triplex in Atlanta offers shady sanctuary

Environmentalist Peter Bahouth shares the inspiration behind Atlanta's most leafy and lovely Airbnb listing.



  • Remodeling & Design

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Oas1s offers the finest in treehouse living without actually living in a tree

It's a little bit Ewokian, a little bit New Urbanist and a whole lot intriguing.



  • Remodeling & Design

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Harvard startup offers for-hire tiny houses in the middle of nowhere

Getaway provides a woodsy, off-grid respite from the concrete jungle.



  • Remodeling & Design

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The festive fix-it: Stocking stuffers for home improvement nuts

'Tis the season to mend, modify, repair, tidy-up and perform (not too strenuous) energy- and water-saving tweaks around the house.



  • Remodeling & Design

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10 stocking stuffers for home cooks (that will actually get used)

Looking for stocking stuffer ideas for your favorite home cooks? Here are some suggestions for super useful tools that they’ll love.




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New Philips LED bulb offers transparency, throwback appeal

Breaking up (with incandescents) can be hard to do. To help ease the pain, Philips unveils an LED that "lets people hold onto the light they love ..."



  • Gadgets & Electronics

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Philips Hue Go LED lamp offers untethered light

Described as a 'portable center piece,' Philips newest smart LED is a super-versatile mood-setter.



  • Gadgets & Electronics

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Amazon offers 'novel' look at U.S. politics

The online retailer's new 'Election Heat Map' uses book-sales data to reveal a widespread Republican streak among its American customers.




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Apple offers bumpy battery for back of iPhone

The design world is agog at its ugliness, and the fact that it was needed in the first place.



  • Gadgets & Electronics

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New Google Maps for mobile features Zagat reviews and new offers

Android and iOS users alike will benefit from a redesigned Google Maps app that will include ratings, deals and an incident reporting feature.



  • Gadgets & Electronics

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Car wash offers work and hope for adults with autism

More than 80 percent of Rising Tide Car Wash's employees have autism — and its owners hope to increase that number soon.




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O'Donnell site offers little about energy issues

Tea Party candidate has lots of followers on her website, but a few searches on the revamped site reveals little about issues.




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We are one: Inspiring film 'Planetary' offers fresh perspective on our relationship with Earth

Thought-provoking documentary weaves together stunning imagery with enlightening interviews to show how connected we are to our planet.



  • Arts & Culture

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Nature reserve in Bolivia offers hope for wild macaws on the brink

There are only 300 blue-throated macaws left in the wild.




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Drone offers a virtual tour of Alaska's eerie ice caves

Titled 'Bigger Than Life,' a new short video explores Alaskan ice caves with a GoPro-toting drone.



  • Wilderness & Resources

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Online boutique offers handmade tableware -- and a soulful respite

A showcase for American artisans, the virtual shop Catherine's Table is a warm and cozy ode to beautiful things.




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New York chef offers broth in to-go cups

We almost lost the art of making true broth, but it has had a massive revival. Now, you can even enjoy it on the streets of New York.




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Trader Joe's offers food, produce -- and mystery

Executives keep a tight lid on the secret to successfully selling grocery staples to the masses.



  • Sustainable Business Practices