Daily Roundup: July 24, 2009

Natural High: Zero-emission plane flights may be in our near future, say a team of University of North Dakota scientists. The key is a new biofuel, made of canola and soybean oils, that has successfully powered a rocket over the Mojave Desert. ENN

Cloudy Weather: Clouds may play a bigger role in the global-warming cycle than we thought, says a new report. It appears that climate change is causing clouds to dissipate, removing a protective layer that helps cool the planet. Science and Apocadocs

Energyse Me: More than 100 educational groups and environmental nonprofits have signed a letter asking the Senate to reconsider support for Obama’s RE-ENERGYSE program, which would devote millions to preparing youth for careers in America’s clean-energy future. Dot Earth (NYT)

Great Wall of Bacteria: Desertification is a major problem facing North Africa. Magnus Larsson, a “dune architect,” suggests combining bacteria with sand to create a concrete-like wall that would block the desert's spread. BBC News

Green Highways: Several states are looking at ways to turn their highway systems into clean-energy machines. Possibilities include lining roads with solar arrays and using speed bumps to generate energy. Treehugger and Green Inc. (NYT)

--Jamie Hansen