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| Big Idea | Small Detail | |
| Health | Every day seems to bring good news about resveratrol—especially if you're a mouse. The grape extract, found in red wine, is thought to fight cancer and heart disease, as well as boost immunity and brain function (the only proof so far is in mice). The newest claim: The anti-oxidant may restore the health of individual chromosomes and actually extend life. Human trials are under way, though some researchers are already taking the supplement. | Drink red wine when you eat red meat: The polyphenols in the wine neutralize a compound in the beef associated with arteriosclerosis, diabetes, cancer, and other diseases, reports The Economist. |
| Society | Religion is getting green. "'Creation care' is the growing movement that has become a rallying cry among religious people who are concerned about the earth," the Reverend Henry G. Brinton writes in USA Today. Citing successful social movements like civil rights, Poland's Solidarity, and antiapartheid in South Africa, he adds, "Social change does not stick without the glue of religion." | Shenandoah University in Winchester, Virginia, a traditionally Methodist school, has started "religious road trips" for students so they can see what other faiths have to offer. "A rigorous faith is going to serve them well," one of their pastors told Time. "A rigid one is going to break when the first strong wind comes along." |
| Energy | A red fungus discovered in Patagonia may one day fuel the world. Montana State University researcher Gary Strobel found that it "exhales" diesel-like compounds after a simple meal of common plant fibers. It may be the most convenient biofuel yet. | A vast array of state and federal tax credits are now kicking in for homeowners who improve the energy efficiency of their houses. Depending on where you live, solar panels, wind turbines, wood-pellet stoves, and other energy-efficient measures (even extra insulation) may make you eligible for a tax credit. Check out energy.gov/taxbreaks as well as the links at energystar.gov. |
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