Earth 3.0

Earth 3.0

Scientific American: Special Edition
March 2009

FEATURES
The Next Generation of BiofuelsCompanies are poised to go commercial with gasoline substitutes made from grass, algae and the ultimate source: engineered microorganisms By Melinda Wenner

Polar Meltdown Triggers International Arctic LandgrabNations scramble to claim their share of the petroleum riches trapped deep within the Arctic seabed as global warming loosens that ocean's icy grip on its bounty By Jessa Gamble

Giving the Power Grid Some BackboneThe U.S. needs a high-voltage transmission system to deliver plentiful energy from wind and sunshine to power-hungry cities. At least one plan has emerged By Matthew L. Wald

The Ogallala Aquifer: Saving a Vital U.S. Water SourceThe massive underground water source feeds the middle third of the country but is disappearing fast. Can it be conserved? By Jane Braxton Little

Obama's Climate Challenge: Winning the Carbon GameHow Obama and his team can pass climate legislation and reach an international accord by December 2009 By Chris Mooney

How Business Can Influence Climate PolicyBusinesses can influence government action on climate in many ways—as long as they start by building their own environmental credibility By Auden Schendler

Top 10 Myths about SustainabilityEven advocates for more responsible, environmentally benign ways of life harbor misunderstandings of what "sustainability" is all about By Michael D. Lemonick