Earth Day news stories on Newser

20-Year Light Bulb Now on Sale

Rob Quinn — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 12:59:05 CDT

An energy-saving light bulb capable of staying in service until 2032 hit the market yesterday to coincide with Earth Day. The LED light bulb—which won a $10 million US government eco-bulb prize —originally had a hefty $60 price tag but manufacturer Philips has arranged discounts and rebates to bring...

Gulf Spill Will Make Us Care About the Planet Again

Polly Davis Doig — Mon, 03 May 2010 10:34:00 CDT

We can't begin to guess the full devastation of the Deepwater Horizon disaster, but Paul Krugman finds an unexpected silver lining: Environmental destruction has become "photogenic again." Just as Earth Day was born four decades ago of an America sickened by images of Santa Barbara beaches coated in oil, a...

Your 'Green' Shopping Is Killing the Planet

John Johnson — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 13:57:47 CDT

Sharon Begley would like to take this moment on Earth Day to burst your little bubble about how much you think you're helping the environment. Sure, buying those ubiquitous "green" products makes everyone feel better, as does recycling, and cutting home energy use. But changing individual behavior doesn't cut it....

123 Quirky New Species Found in Borneo

Rob Quinn — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 07:24:48 CDT

A color-changing flying frog, a slug that fires "love darts" into potential mates during courtship, and the world's longest insect are among the 123 new species discovered in central Borneo over the last three years. The World Wildlife Fund has issued a report on the amazing finds to mark Earth...

Google Doodle Celebrates Earth Day

Mary Papenfuss — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 04:51:00 CDT

The Google doodlers are at it again, this time with a vividly green Avatar-like image of a magical woodland to celebrate Earth Day. Clicking on the image on the Google search page calls up everything connected to Earth Day. The doodle marking the green day, founded in 1970 by a...

Obama's Earth Day Pitch: 'New Energy Economy'

Ambreen Ali — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 15:45:05 CDT

President Obama returned to Iowa—his crucial campaign battleground win—for Earth Day, hailing the “new, clean energy economy” and unveiling an offshore wind project. “It is time for us to lay a new foundation for economic growth by beginning a new era of energy exploration,” he said. But the...

Leo, Oprah Voted Greenest Celebs

Evann Gastaldo — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 09:16:37 CDT

Oprah Winfrey was voted the greenest female celebrity in an Earth Day poll, the New York Daily News reports. Leonardo DiCaprio beat out Brad Pitt and Bono for the No. 1 male spot in the survey by GreenDaily.com and Bebo.com. On the other hand, Mariah Carey is least...

Chicago Fines Aim to Kick Smokers' Butts From Beach

Peter Fearon — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 11:43:01 CDT

Chicago will fine smokers who toss cigarette butts on the beach—or within 15 feet of one— up to $500. The new law is aimed at cutting the cost of cleaning up after smokers, who have been forced outside by smoking bans, reports the Chicago Tribune. Millions of tons of...

Bloomberg Aims to Take NYC Green

Colleen Barry — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 06:32:16 CDT

Michael Bloomberg chose Earth Day to launch an ambitious, expensive and politically uncertain campaign to make New York City “the first environmentally sustainable 21st-century city.” The most provocative proposal: charging drivers $8 a day for entering Manhattan below 86th Street.