Aerophile launched a gas balloon known as the AERO30NG Aerophile 5500 model in Paris, France.  It is a tethered helium gas balloon that the company hopes will raise public awareness of air pollution.

Air pollution data is collected by Airparif, an organization that measures air quality in France, and, based on the data, the balloon will change colors.

The balloon's color signifies the ambient air quality using three projectors that are located in the middle of the balloon. For example, red signifies highly polluted air, orange for polluted, yellow for moderate, light green for clean, and green for very clean.

To display traffic pollution, a high-powered rotating laser at the base sweeps across the lower half of the balloon. Both pollution displays will be visible day and night. Also, Airparif will be recording the data on its Web site, along with that of 30 other European cities.

Due to global warming, pythons may start finding northern states as desirable habitats.

"Burmese pythons — an invasive species in south Florida — could find comfortable climatic conditions in roughly a third of the United States according to new 'climate maps' developed by the USGS," the agencies reported. "Although other factors such as type of food available and suitable shelter also play a role, Burmese pythons and other giant constrictor snakes have shown themselves to be highly adaptable to new environments."

Colin Beavan, "No Impact Man", and his wife and daughter have become true conservationists.  For 10 months now they have been living in their New York City apartment without electricity and haven't bought anything new -- even toilet paper.  Beavan even built a tricycle out of recycled goods so he can cart around his small family around the city. 

Related links:
Tricycling for a Good Cause (ABC News)
Beavan's web page
Beavan's blog

This amazing photo of a naturally balanced rock was taken in the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Spring, CO. 

[via digg]

Previously:
The art of rock stacking

Multi-millionaire and space enthusiast Sir Richard Branson [wiki] is now offering $25 million to the first person who can come up with a way to clean the atmosphere of greenhouse gases. 

The prize will initially only be open for five years, with ideas assessed by a panel of judges including Branson, Gore and Tickell as well as U.S. climate scientist James Hansen, Briton James Lovelock and Australian environmentalist Tim Flannery.

The winner will have to come up with a way of removing one billion metric tons of carbon gases a year from the atmosphere for 10 years -- with $5 million of the prize being paid at the start and the remaining $20 million at the end.

If no winner is identified after five years the judges can decide to extend the period.

The Natural Arch and Bridge Society (NABS) has put together a gorgeous online gallery of natural arches and bridges found throughout the world.  Link.

Out of the hundreds of bridges and arches pictures in the gallery, I believe I've only seen one in person.  I saw The Arch while my friends and I took a road trip along the Great Ocean Road in Australia.  It's a definite must-see.

[via delicious]

The Chinese government is making a move to cut down on the consumption of disposable chopsticks by introducing a 5% tax.  By introducing this tax, the government is hoping to preserve millions of trees and bamboo plants per year.