Listen Live
Donate
 on air
    Schedule

    KCRW

    Read & Explore

    • News
    • Entertainment
    • Food
    • Culture
    • Events

    Listen

    • Live Radio
    • Music
    • Podcasts
    • Full Schedule

    Information

    • About
    • Careers
    • Help / FAQ
    • Newsletters
    • Contact

    Support

    • Become a Member
    • Become a VIP
    • Ways to Give
    • Shop
    • Member Perks

    Become a Member

    Donate to KCRW to support this cultural hub for music discovery, in-depth journalism, community storytelling, and free events. You'll become a KCRW Member and get a year of exclusive benefits.

    DonateGive Monthly

    Copyright 2026 KCRW. All rights reserved.

    Report a Bug|Privacy Policy|Terms of Service|
    Cookie Policy
    |FCC Public Files|

    Creative Minds Go Green

    Inventors, artists, and scientists are trying to design our way to a more sustainable environment: bacteria that will excrete fuel; an egg-shaped house of the future, mutant frogs in your backyard. Plus, Joni Mitchell on writing the reigning anthem of the environmental movement.

    • Share
    By Kurt Andersen • Nov 17, 2008 • 1 min read

    We hear about inventors, artists, and scientists who are trying to design our way to a more sustainable environment. An engineer creates bacteria that will excrete fuel; an architect designs the house of the future, shaped like an egg; a photographer finds mutant frogs in your backyard; and a rock star complains about "counting carbon credits when we could be doing lines." Plus, Joni Mitchell on writing the reigning anthem of the environmental movement.

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Kurt Andersen

      Author of "Evil Geniuses," "Fantasyland," and "You Can’t Spell America Without Me"

      Culture