Super Eco

Photo credit: Project Vulcan

Not that we're recommending you endlessly lollygag about on Google Earth (because no matter how cool Google Earth and Google Ocean are, the internet is an energy-gobbler), but this is kinda cool. Or not cool, depending on your perspective. And of course it's a hot topic. In more ways than one. Ahem.  Anyway, take a look at this: a new map up at Google Earth that shows American carbon dioxide emissions. That's right, now you can see pollution from roadways, factories, power plants and buildings, neatly sorted by state, county or population.

Project Vulcan, named after the Roman god of fire, was created by a team of Purdue University scientists to quantify all of the carbon dioxide emissions that result from burning fossil fuels such as coal and gasoline. Simon Ilyushchenko, an engineer at Google, volunteered his time to create the Vulcan layer. Google engineers are allowed to donate 20 percent of their time (one day of their work week) to a cause or project of their choice.

"This will bring emissions information into everyone's living room as a recognizable, accessible online experience," said project leader Kevin Gurney, an assistant professor of earth and atmospheric sciences. "What was once the realm of scientists will now be provided directly to the public. We hope to eventually turn it into an interactive space where the public will feed information into the system to create an even finer picture of emissions down to the street and individual building level."

In related news, the launch of NASA's first satellite to study atmospheric carbon dioxide has ended in failure. The spacecraft did not reach orbit and likely landed in the ocean near Antarctica, said John Brunschwyler, the program manager for the Taurus XL.