That magnesium chassis, as you may have heard, is made through Microsoft's own VaporMg process, which involves pushing out excess air to help minimize the device's thickness.

ENGADGET: Microsoft Surface: inside the three-year secret project to build the first great Windows tablet

In an era of epic excess he hewed to a simple life of fresh air, physical exercise and writing.

FORBES: Utopian Capitalist

Rosarito's air cleared, and the plant even had excess power to sell into the California grid.

FORBES: Gas Guzzler

Blinds have been installed to remove the need for air conditioning, keeping it cool during the day and allowing excess heat to filter out at night.

BBC: Does Shard point to design's future?

While those dreaded fees and excess charges won't be going anywhere in 2012, one welcome change to air travel this coming year is that airlines will be required to list mandatory charges in their advertised prices as of 24 January.

BBC: In brief: Airlines to list mandatory fees

Media-fueled alarm about acid rain provided a basis for legislation to create markets for buying and selling excess sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen dioxide emission credits, and Project 88 became the Clean Air Act of 1990.

FORBES: Magazine Article

And, similar to Dyson, Lugg is proposing to achieve these radical efficiencies by coordinating multiple engine systems (analogous to the acceleration, inducement and entrainment of the Air Multiplier) to create optimal conditions for each stage of flight and to use the excess energy the system produces to create a plasma field to reduce drag and eliminate sonic boom.

FORBES: For Radical Innovation, Nature Loves A Vacuum

Allow vegetables to air-dry in a colander for several hours, or use a salad spinner to remove excess water.

NPR: Capturing the Elusive 'Breath of a Wok'