German scientists are researching ways to use all of extra CO2 to make fuel. All they have to do is enable benzene molecules to grab the oxygen atom from the CO2 in carbamate, producing phenol and a reactive carbon monoxide (CO) species.

When asked by a reporter which was his favourite of the 12 projects, Monte Solberg, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, said “The Now House retrofit of wartime houses.”

Osram has developed a small light-emitting diode spotlight that achieves an output of more than 1,000 lumens for the first time. That’s brighter than a 50-watt halogen lamp, thereby making the device suitable for a broad range of general lighting applications. The Ostar Lighting LED, which will be launched on the market this summer, can provide sufficient light for a desk from a height of two meters, for example. Its small size also enables the creation of completely new lamp shapes.

At some point we may actually be desperate enough to try some of the technological solutions to catastrophic global heating recently floated by scientists: artificial volcanoes, parasols in space, and faux trees.

It was only a matter of time, really. General Electric did it a few years ago, Wal-Mart began changing its tune last year, and so far this year at least a dozen more leading companies have also jumped on the bandwagon.

How does a 30% cut by 2020 sound? How about 80% by 2050?