Using waste: Researchers harness human urine to make products in space
Space travel has inspired a lot of innovation. In the field of solar energy, for instance. But there’s an obvious domain that is still to be conquered: human waste. Human beings are the only animals in the ecosystem of the planet whose waste is not feeding for further evolution. But scientists Read More...
We are told that balance is best but unbalanced we are happiest
We are always told that we need to live a balanced life. But many people discover that they are happiest when they are the most unbalanced. The path to fulfillment in life, to emotional satisfaction, is to find what really excites you and channel your all into it. That means letting go of a little Read More...
Pope Francis is becoming the voice of compassion for the world's refugees
The debate over the migrant crisis has a new voice: Pope Francis. Monday the Vatican released a comprehensive policy document urging countries around the world to ban “arbitrary and collective expulsions” of refugees or migrants, and to expand Read More...
What's the annual value of trees? $500 million per megacity, study says
In the megacities that are home to nearly 10 percent of the world's 7.5 billion people, trees provide each city with more than $500 million each year in services that make urban environments cleaner, more affordable and more pleasant places to Read More...
Electric cars now 5 percent of California new-car sales
California continues to lead the country in adoption rates for cars that plug in, both battery-electric and plug-in hybrid models. The state offers numerous local and statewide incentives, and many utility companies reward customers for choosing Read More...
Everybody uses the Internet but who owns it?
Thirty years ago, almost no one used the Internet for anything. Today, just about everybody uses it for everything. However, as the web has grown, it has also narrowed giving a few giant companies control of a major part of our daily lives. That’s an unhealthy development, according to this Read More...
A sustainable concrete jungle: The road to a zero-carbon cement industry
What’s the most widely used material in the world apart from water? You may not guess it: cement. Cement is a problem because it accounts for 5 percent of the world’s industrial and energy greenhouse emissions. A new report outlines several ways to reduce the footprint of the cement industry by Read More...
Look at this map: The world is different than you think
The traditional map distorts our perception of the world. Europe seems still the center of the world it once was. Countries appear bigger than they really are. Here’s an attempt to bring us back to reality with a map that accurately depicts the size of continents in comparison to each Read More...
We need more female leaders and to get there we need… female leaders
We need more women in areas that have traditionally attracted mainly men. Silicon Valley is one example and recent developments show how hard it is for women to find equality in that world. Given the impact of Silicon Valley on almost everything in society, that lack of equality is a major obstacle Read More...
If you want to know what compassion is, study humpback whales
Humpback whales use their superpowers for good. Recent observations show how they deliberately interfere with attacking killer whales to help others in distress. They don’t just defend their own babies or close relatives. They intervene on behalf of other species—a gray whale calf with its Read More...