At 100, 000 rupees (18,355 yuan), the People’s Car is being marketed as the cheapest car in the world. Designed and produced by Ratan Tata in India, the cut price car has an engine in the boot, four doors, an engine power of 600cc and uses a lot of plastics as well as steel in its body frame. Scientists say the project could revolutionize car prices globally. But they warn that such a sharp cut in prices could have damaging consequences. The traffic jams and pollution in overcrowded cities will worsen as a result of the rocketing number of vehicles.

   The Air Jordan XX3 will be the first shoe from Nike that has been made completely from “sustainable materials”. Going green is just the latest change that the Air Jordan shoe has brought to the market. It reflects the growing universal concern for the environment. However, some scientists don’t think highly of the changes. They say that a shoe made without glue is a pretty small thing in the face of all the other things that contribute to global warming.

   This year’s Detroit motor show, held from January 13—27, is highlighting the car industry’s newfound environmental awareness. General Motors kicked off the show by introducing an ethanol-powered(乙醇动力) vehicle, the HX. Some scientists predict that the HX will offset(抵消) the high oil cost. Ethanol is by far the best opportunity to reduce oil consumption. General Motors also urged the White House to increase the number of ethanol filling stations in the Us.

   Later this year, Japanese company Fujitsu will put on the market a laptop whose case is made partly from corn oil. This makes the case biodegradable （能进行生物降解的）. But scientists question whether the new case will make much difference, since the corn-based plastic is mixed with a petroleum-based material. Using corn reduces the amount of CO2 given off during production by 15 percent.