Three cheers for the eco-savvy inventors who are finding cool new ways to tackle global warming, bird flu, tainted spinach, and so much more.

Another day, another neurosis about eating right and living a good life. Su Avasthi on why it ain't easy being green.

It might not always seem true, but most of us do care about the environment and want more sustainable choices as consumers. At the same time, we've become more design-obsessed, with Michael Graves and Todd Oldham making sleek toasters and chairs for the big-box retailers, while style-purveyors like IKEA and West Elm continue to proliferate. It's only natural that as interest in and access to contemporary design increases, earth-conscious consumers now demand modern style as well. The "crunchy" aesthetic, once the standard among green shoppers, no longer suits us all.