Wellbeing enhanced more by places than objects, study finds
The poet WHAuden is credited with first coining the word “topophilia” to describe a strong emotional pull to a special place. Now scientific research, using cutting-edge brain imaging, suggests Auden was on to Read More...
This device can collect 20,000 plastic bottles from the ocean each year
In 2015, a duo of Australian surfers developed a device that can clean waterways on its own. It works by sucking in various kinds of pollution (including oil) and spitting out clean water. Now, nearly two years after unveiling the device and creating a crowdfunding campaign, the surfers have Read More...
Eco-friendly concrete that protects old buildings from earthquakes
On its own, the cement industry produces close to seven percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. That’s why researchers have created a type of material that replaces much of the cement with an industrial byproduct called fly ash. By replacing nearly 70 percent of cement with this material, the Read More...
The competition for solar energy is growing in the oceans: seaweed
Seaweed, in all its slimy glory, could become a major source of renewable energy in the future after the US Department of Energy invested nearly $1.5 million in two projects that will help develop seaweed farms and explore harvesting methods. Although it may sound strange that seaweed energy is Read More...
Welcome to first solar-powered town where you don’t need your own car anymore
A town in Florida is giving its residents a real reason to let go of their gas-powered cars. The fully solar-powered town is in the process of establishing the first autonomous network of transportation in the U.S.. Using an app, residents in the town can gain access to autonomous pods that carry Read More...
A few healthy ways to take in mass media news
Every time we wake up in the morning it seems the media has a new set of tragic, sensationalized news for us to see. And while there are certainly bad things happening around the world, the truth is that consuming all these news items will only create a distorted view of the world. For a healthier Read More...
California wants to let driverless cars be tested without a human at the wheel
California is preparing to let companies test driverless cars without a human at the steering wheel. The state Department of Motor Vehicles released proposed rule revisions today (Oct. 11) that would allow testing of self-driving cars without a human in the driver’s seat. The new rules also would Read More...
8 unexpected places where you can pay with bitcoin
"I think the internet is going to be one of the major forces for reducing the role of government. The one thing that’s missing but that will soon be developed is a reliable Read More...
3 surprising ways that gratitude works at work
A couple of summers ago, I traveled to the steamy cauldron of central Florida to speak at the WorkHuman conference. Nearly 1,500 human resource professionals were in attendance, eager to hear from luminaries like Arianna Huffington and Rob Lowe (probably more than they wanted to hear an academic Read More...
Bio-methane transforms from landfill waste to energy source
Methane produced by manure and food waste in landfills doesn't have to go to waste. Using anaerobic digesters, the gas can be harnessed for Read More...