Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology have developed a strategy to capture, store and eventually recycle carbon from vehicles to prevent the pollutant from finding its way from a car tailpipe into the atmosphere. Georgia Tech researchers envision a zero emission car, and a transportation system completely free of fossil fuels. .

Terrariums bowl over a new generation

Until six months ago, Trenton Suntrapak of Fresno, Calif., never had seen a terrarium. Then his girlfriend gave him one as a gift.

He marveled at the small plants growing in the open glass cylinder. About 16 inches tall, the container includes a fern in soil, small rocks, moss ground cover and even a tiny house. But as an admirer of Japanese maples, he particularly likes the Ming aralia plant, which reminds him of the Asian trees.

"It was a very unique gift," says the 34-year-old. "I thought it was cool. I've tried bonsais and have killed them pretty fast."

So far, the plants in the terrarium have thrived under his minimal care. The terrarium sits on his dining room table, where it can get sunlight.

"The tree is now growing over the top" of the jar, says Mr. Suntrapak, who waters the plants once a month.

Everyday Life for Civilians in Darfur

Beyond direct attacks on civilians, the confused nature of the recent hostilities—with inter-tribal fighting and groups switching sides—has contributed to the displacement of civilians. Yet in July and August 2007 government officials told international agency staffers based in Darfur that Darfur’s 2.2 million internally displaced persons were beginning to return home and the international community should cooperate.90 But what the government described as “voluntary returns” were in fact only brief excursions out of the camps on market days or during the farming season. Few displaced persons left the camps for more than a few days and even fewer returned permanently to their villages.91 One person working with displaced people in Darfur described the government’s discussion of voluntary return as “smoke and mirrors.”92 Another noted that last year the government tried to convince the relief community that its assistance to the camps was not needed because people were ready to go home.

Self-service spruce-up

Sometimes, dreams of a lifetime take almost a lifetime to fulfill.Fifty years ago, Don Bentz, co-owner of Bentz's Town Pump in Casper, heard a story about a car wash in Canada built inside a giant oil field tank.The idea of an indoor car wash fascinated Bentz. Now, after 50 years of thinking about it and 10 years of actually working on it, Bentz's Self Serve Auto Center, including an indoor car wash, is tentatively scheduled to open on Feb. 18 next to Bentz's Town Pump, 701 W. Collins Dr."This is something I've always wanted to do," Bentz said. "Who wants to wash their car in the hot sun? Who wants to wash their car in the wind and cold?"Of course, this car wash isn't inside an oil storage tank. It's a hot water operation from presoaks to final rinse, heated in winter and cooled in summer, complete with sophisticated air exchange and oil recycling systems.The auto center actually is comprised of two service areas.