Yahoo! Green Picks Blog

Is a peanut a nut?

Lori Bongiorno — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 09:16:35 PST

(Photo: Getty Images)

Nope. Peanuts are technically legumes, which makes them much more closely related to lentils, peas, and beans than to hazelnuts, and other true nuts.

The reason peanuts suffer from an identity crisis is because they are used in the same ways nuts are in our diets even though they are not nuts in the pure botanical sense. They also have characterisitics of both legumes and nuts.

What's the difference between the two groups? Legumes have edible seeds enclosed in (and often attached to) a pod that splits along both sides. Picture a pea pod.

Nuts, on the other hand, are essentially the seed and fruit together. Nuts usually only have one seed (on rare occassions two) and don't open on their own.

Peanuts are legumes because they have a pod and are grown underground instead of on bushes and trees (as nuts are), according to a spokesperson from The Peanut Institute.

In fact, you may be surprised to learn that many of the foods we consider nuts aren't technically nuts. Brazil nuts and pine nuts are considered seeds. Almonds are the seeds of drupes (fleshy fruits with a hard pit that encloses the seed). Pistachios, cashews, and coconuts are also not true nuts.

For everyday use it's probably easiest to just go with the broad culinary definition of a nut (a large seed that comes from a shell) and leave it that!

Stunning photos of birds filled with plastic

Lori Bongiorno — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 10:04:38 PDT

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is often referred to as a huge floating island of trash in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Scientists don't know exactly how big it is, although many estimate that it's the size of the state of Texas or even twice that.

But for all the talk about the enormity of this floating trash island and its detrimental affect on marine life, it's not easy to visualize. You can't see the mounds of plastic debris with the naked eye or satellite photos because most of the plastic has broken down into tiny pieces that lie beneath the ocean's surface.

Photographer Chris Jordan, who has captured the essence of American mass consumption and tragedies such as Hurricane Katrina on film, has found a way to document the impact of the vast amounts of discarded plastic on marine life.

In the fall of 2009, Jordan visited the Midway Atoll in the Pacific Ocean and photographed the astounding evidence of human garbage found inside the bellies of albatross chicks. The baby birds are fed plastic debris by their parents who mistake it for food. As a result, hundreds of thousands of albatross babies are poisoned, choked, or suffer from deadly blockages every year.

Jordan says in his blog that his photographs portray the actual stomach contents of the baby birds and that the plastic was not "moved, placed, manipulated, arranged, or altered in any way."

You can see more of these photos, as well as larger versions, in Jordan's "Midway: Message from the Gyre" gallery on his website. All photos used here with permission.

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Creative bus stops ease the commute

Trystan L. Bass — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 10:52:22 PDT

Taking the bus can be a cheaper commute than driving a car. No fluctuating gas prices or expensive vehicle maintenance to deal with. Leave the driving to someone else, and you can read a book, talk on the phone, or listen to your iPod for a more relaxing route to work or school.

But waiting for the bus can be a chore ... unless you get to hang out in one of these unusual bus stops around the world. Some communities celebrate their heritage, others places make use of creative materials, and a few towns let artists express themselves with a bus stop as the canvas.

Maybe if more transit systems had attractive bus stops like these, more people would enjoy a car-free commute!

(Photo courtesy of Groundwork Sheffield.)

For a truly green commute, how about starting at a bus stop with a living roof? Groundwork Sheffield teamed up with the South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive and the Sheffield City Council to crown this U.K. stop with a leafy top. The plants will help filter pollution generated by nearby traffic.

(Photo courtesy of Martin Croonenbroeck.)

Like a fairy tale cottage, this Estonian bus shelter is an utterly charming place to wait.

(Photo courtesy of metal-dog.)

Curitiba, Brazil, goes high-tech with tubular glass-and-steel bus stops. The style is evocative of subway systems.

(Photos courtesy of Christopher Fennell.)

A recycled school bus drives home the point that public transportation is a great alternative. Sculptor Christopher Fennell used parts of three old buses, plus the seat of a decommissioned city bus, to give citizens of Athens, Georgia, a unique place to catch a ride.

(Photo courtesy of Paul & Kelly.)

Talk about a relaxed commute -- this isolated bus stop on Shetland Island in Scotland features a couch and television! Does that mean there's a long wait between buses?

(Photo courtesy of Felicitas Meissner.)

With thick walls and deep shutters, this round bus stop is ideally suited to its chilly location on the Baltic Sea island of Rügen in Germany.

(Photo courtesy of Arturo de Albornoz.)

This Mexican bus stop really scores with a shelter made from a soccer net.

(Photo courtesy of Bruno Taylor.)

A few London commuters got to swing away their time waiting for the next bus, thanks to artist Bruno Taylor.

(Photo courtesy of Greg Balzer.)

If you have to wait for public transit, you can't beat the view in Yosemite Valley. This bus stop is surrounded by gorgeous vistas, and it's made from natural materials that reflect the setting.

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Nature makes us nicer, according to new study

Trystan L. Bass — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 10:40:44 PDT

Not only can a walk in the park be relaxing, looking at greenery can actually improve your relationships and make you more generous. That's what a University of Rochester research team discovered in a series of studies published on October 1, 2009.

Nearly 400 people looked at photos of either natural environments or man-made landscapes. Then these participants answered questions about the importance of personal relationships, community, wealth, and fame. In some of the studies, people were also given $5 to keep or pass along to another participant.

People who looked at pictures of nature in the study placed a high value on being connected to other people in their lives and community. These same people were more likely to share their money with others. The people who only looked at urban cityscapes didn't rate relationships or generosity as very important. They placed more emphasis on wealth and fame.

Study coauthor and professor of psychology, psychiatry, and education Richard Ryan said this shows how "stopping to experience our natural surroundings can have social as well as personal benefits."

Lead author Netta Weinstein agrees: "We are influenced by our environment in ways that we are not aware of." She suggests that this information points to the need for more green spaces in cities.

Professor Ryan discusses the study's findings in this video:

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Five scary animals that help us

Lori Bongiorno — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 12:34:02 PDT

(Photo: Geanixx / Wikimedia)

The thought of seeing a shark or a python in the wild is enough to send chills up most people's spines. But some of the animals we're most afraid of are actually good for us.

Some help control insect populations naturally and reduce the need for toxic chemicals. Others are being studied by medical researchers and may be valuable in treating human disease.

Here are some examples of villains that are actually heroes:

Bats have a reputation for being dirty disease carriers (although in China they're a symbol of happiness and good luck). In reality bats do a lot more good than harm. The flying mammals feast on moths, beetles, gnats, crickets, and more so they keep insect populations under control. Some species pollinate flowers and scatter the seeds of plants. Their guano is used as a rich natural fertilizer, a welcome alternative to synthetic versions.

Spiders may be creepy, but most of them are harmless to humans. Tarantulas and other large hairy spiders are particularly scary, but their bite is usually less harmful than a bee sting (unless a person is severely allergic). Spiders reduce the number of mosquitoes and other disease carrying insects. Spider venom and silk may have numerous medical benefits in the future. Scientists are studying how it can help treat arthritis, neurological disease, impotence, and more.

Ball pythons, or any pythons for that matter, are not poisonous. Instead they kill by constricting their prey, typically small rodents such as mice and rats. They prevent overpopulation of rodents and its harmful affects on the environment.

Sharks do kill a few people each year, but unprovoked attacks are rare. At the top of the ocean food chain, sharks play a valuable role in maintaining the ocean's ecosystem. As the number of sharks decrease, the number of small fish we don't like to eat grows. Medical researchers are studying sharks' amazing immune systems and hope to shed light on curing human disease.

Vultures eat animal carcasses. Believe it or not this is a huge public service. By removing dead animals that can harbor bacteria and disease, the scavenger birds keep the environment clean and prevent disease from spreading.

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Tune in to America's "best idea"

Trystan L. Bass — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 09:20:25 PDT

(Photo: Quan-Tuan Luong /
terragalleria.com / PBS)

The early United States borrowed concepts of democracy from ancient Greece and mixed that with Enlightenment ideals from French philosophers to create a new country in the 18th century. But we did have one pretty original idea that's been copied the world over: the national park. Not before the founding of Yellowstone National Park had a government preserved virgin land for the use of the all the people, in perpetuity.

Emmy-award winning director Ken Burns chronicles this once-radical notion in a six-part miniseries titled "National Parks: America's Best Idea" for PBS. Through this amazing documentary, we can not only learn the history of our parks but see, in glorious footage, all 53 parks across the country in all seasons. The series premieres on TV on September 27, plus it's available on DVD and Blu-Ray on October 6.

While millions of people visit Yellowstone every year, not everyone may know about the struggle to keep commercial interests from plastering patent-medicine ads around Old Faithful. The Sixth U.S. Calvary was stationed in the park for 30 years to protect the geysers and prevent animal poaching.

This documentary isn't just a travelogue or dry history. Through quotes and retellings by famous actors like Tom Hanks, the film reveals a deep spiritual element to many of the early proponents of natural preservation. Inspired by the 19th century philosophers Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau, many felt that one became closer to God when in the wilderness.

First among these was the naturalist John Muir. His writings reflect a strong Christian background and a belief that the natural world is full of beauty and wonder created by a higher power. Muir passionately felt that people must take care of what God had given them, and his extensive travels (often by foot) through the South, California, and Alaska strengthened these attitudes.

"A man who neither believed in God nor glaciers must be very bad, indeed the worst of all unbelievers," said Muir while in Alaska. He published many works about Yosemite and the Northwest and was influential in getting Yosemite declared America's second national park.

This series will follow the history and development of America's park system from the initial two, Yellowstone and Yosemite, up to the present. You'll see more about familiar heroes like President Theodore Roosevelt and unknowns who made a lasting contribution, like photographer George Masa, a Japanese immigrant whose photos of the Smoky Mountains were influential in getting the land set aside.

Tune in, and you'll want to make plans for your next vacation. After all, these are your parks too.

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Can you swim with the sharks?

Lori Bongiorno — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 10:42:57 PDT

The majority of our planet (about 70%) is ocean. Yet scientists still have a lot to learn about what lies beneath the ocean's surface. What we have discovered so far is fascinating.

How much do you know about the mysteries of the ocean?

Below are some fun facts to get you started. And please share additional factoids in the comments below.

We've only explored less than 5 percent of the ocean. In fact, we have better maps of Mars and the moon than we do of the ocean floor. The first "Census of Marine Life" will be completed in 2010. It will feature a comprehensive list of all the life forms in the ocean.

About 94 percent of life on earth is aquatic, according to Graham Hawkes, a world-renowned engineer and inventor.

Mountains, valleys, volcanoes, canyons, lakes, waterfalls, and more can be found in the ocean. The longest mountain range in the world is found under water. The mid-ocean ridge spans 40,389 miles and is formed by the movement of the Earth's tectonic plates. The first divers explored the mid-ocean ride in 1973, four years after Neil Armstrong set foot on the moon.

The Great Barrier Reef is large enough to be visible from space. In fact, it's the largest living structure on earth. Coral reefs are some of the most diverse ecosystems in the world and are sometimes referred to as "the rainforests of the sea."

There are more artifacts and historical remnants in the oceans than in all the planet's museums combined.

Whale sharks are the biggest fish in the sea. They can grow to up to 50 feet and weigh in at a ton.

Many of the foods we eat contain ingredients from the ocean. Peanut butter, for example, is easier to spread because it contains carrageenan (compounds extracted from red algae).

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Surprising facts about national parks

Lori Bongiorno — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 13:15:12 PDT

Yellowstone (Photo: National Park Service)

The spotlight is now turned on our national parks thanks to a new documentary by Ken Burns. The National Parks: America's Best Idea, a six-episode PBS series, will premier on Sunday, September 27. And it's available on DVD and Blu-Ray on October 6.

Our national parks have been around for more than a century, but there is still much to learn. Below are just a few surprising facts about some of the most spectacular spots in the U.S.

Delaware is the only state without a national park, monument, or historic site. California, on the other hand, is home to the most national parks within the contiguous U.S.

Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the United States. It was created 7,700 years ago when the 12,000-foot high Mount Mazama collapsed after a huge eruption.

Yosemite Falls is the highest waterfall in North America.

Everglades National Park is the only place in the world where alligators and crocodiles live side-by-side. In fact, it was the first national park that was preserved because of its diverse wildlife.

Great Smoky Mountains was the most visited national park in 2008, with more than 9 million visitors. It's not surprising when you take into account that 50% of the U.S. population lives within a days' driving distance of the park. Grand Canyon was number two (4.4 million visitors), and Yosemite was the third (3.4 million visitors) most visited national park.

Mammoth Cave is the world's longest known cave system. More than 367 miles have been explored.

Yellowstone is the world's first and nation's oldest national park.

Wrangell-St. Elias is the largest park in the United States. Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial is the smallest.

Gerald Ford worked as a seasonal park ranger at Yellowstone in the summer of 1936. He is the only U.S. president who ever served as a park ranger.

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Eating in a tree: Six wild, tree house restaurants

Trystan L. Bass — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 18:18:00 PDT

Down-to-earth meals are OK, but special occasions call for unique locations. Like ... dining up a tree. Restaurateurs around the world are taking their cuisine into the branches and leaves for an al fresco experience that can't be beat. Some of these tree house restaurants are exclusive affairs, while others are open to large groups year-round. Perhaps you can add one of these to your travels for a nature-loving dinner.

Yellow Treehouse Restaurant, New Zealand

(Photo: Lucy Gauntlett)

In secluded woodland outside this country's biggest city of Auckland hangs a birdhouse-like venue designed by Peter Eising of Pacific Environments Architects. The Yellow Treehouse is situated over 32 feet up in a tree on private land. It seats 18 diners and can be rented for private events and parties -- imagine a wedding reception up in a tree!

(Photo: Lucy Gauntlett)

(Photo: Lucy Gauntlett)

(Photo: Lucy Gauntlett)

Tree House Restaurant, Bar, and Café, Costa Rica

(Photo: Polo Alberto)

Nestled high in the cloud forest of Monteverde, this large restaurant offers fine dining, live music, gourmet coffee, and even free wi-fi to customers. All within the tangled branches of a giant Higuerón tree. Take a look at the live webcam to see what the weather's like today.

(Photo: Polo Alberto)

Alnwick Garden Treehouse Restaurant, United Kingdom

(Photo: Patrick Fulton)

This historical Newcastle garden features a rambling wooden structure with a "tree house" restaurant known for fine local and organic food. While it's not that high up in the air, the setting features a roaring fire screened with fallen branches, and tables are lit by candles. The restaurant and bar are filled with handcrafted furniture. Altogether, it's a delightful environment.

Bushbuck Ridge Treehouse Restaurant, South Africa

(Photo: Bushbuck Ridge Game Farm)

Take a walk on the wild side with safari-style meals at this tree house in Port Elizabeth. Built around two giant yellowwood trees, the restaurant has spectacular views of the Colleen Glen valley, and it seats 90 guests for private dining, weddings, and special Sunday luncheons. Specialties of the house include venison and Kudu, an African antelope.

Tree House Italian Grill, United States

(Photo: Tree House Italian Grill)

For over 700 years, a gracious live oak has stood in what is now Austin, Texas. Since the 1950s, a restaurant has been built around the tree, and in 1998, the current old-world patio style restaurant was created to honor the huge tree. It's not technically a restaurant in a tree, but the tree is certainly an important part of the restaurant.

Tree House Tea, China

(Photo: People's Daily Online)

Newspapers report that Mengyin County in east China's mountainous Shandong Province are trying to attract visitors by opening tree house restaurants. Perched in a small tree, this 2006 prototype is big enough for just a few people to enjoy tea and snacks. Hard to tell if the idea caught on...

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Boy finds rare pink grasshopper

Lori Bongiorno — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 17:10:42 PDT

(Photo: APEX)

Daniel Tate, an English schoolboy, was looking for grasshoppers at a wildlife event he attended with his great-grandfather last week. But the 11-year old boy and his companions at Seaton Marshes Local Nature Reserve had no idea what a huge surprise they were in for.

Tate saw something pink that he thought was a flower. But when it jumped he knew it was a grasshopper.

It turns out that it was an adult female common green grasshopper that just happened to be born pink.

Experts aren't sure what caused this mutation. Grasshoppers of different colors, including pink, are unusual but not unheard of according to experts. What makes this particular grasshopper so rare is the intensity of the pink, according to Fraser Rush, a nature reserves officer in Britain.

Grasshoppers aren't the only insects that can be pink. Below are a few of nature's brightest examples:

Praying mantis (Photo: Steve Roetz / Flickr)

Dragonfly (Photo: Richard Giddins / Flickr)

Katydid (Photo: Ric McArthur / Flickr)

Hummingbird moth (Photo: Jody McNary / Flickr)

Another grasshopper (Photo: Tim Parkinson / Flickr)

Most people find insects annoying, but they can certainly benefit people and the planet. Praying mantises, for example, eat ticks, mosquitoes, flies, beetles, and other pests. Fewer mosquitoes and ticks in your backyard translates into fewer applications of toxic bug repellents. Organic gardeners use praying mantises, common ladybugs, and other beneficial insects to control pests as an alternative to pesticides.

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