PORTLAND, Maine (Aug. 12, 2008)-The Organic Trade Association (OTA), in partnership with Diversified Business Communications, today announced it will co-locate its 2009 All Things OrganicTM Conference and Trade Show with two of Diversified's Cultural Food brand events–Expo Comida Latina and All Asia Food–June 16-18, 2009, at McCormick Place in Chicago, IL.

Imagine an edible optical sensor that could be placed in produce bags to detect harmful levels of bacteria and consumed right along with the veggies. Or an implantable device that would monitor glucose in your blood for a year, then dissolve.

Scientists at Tufts University's School of Engineering have demonstrated for the first time that it is possible to design such "living" optical elements that could enable an entirely new class of sensors.

A company called GreenCore Air has released an air conditioner than can be powered by a single 170 watt solar panel. The GreenCore air conditioning unit can heat and cool a 600 square foot room. It runs on DC power, so there is no need to put an AC inverter between the solar panel and the air conditioner. This eliminates the power losses associated with converting AC to DC.

If wind energy converters are located anywhere near a residential area, they must never become too noisy even in high winds. Most such power units try to go easy on their neighbors' ears, but even the most careful design cannot prevent noise from arising at times.