10 ways probiotics and prebiotics can change your life
Your gut is telling you something. Listen! In modern Western society, say the word “bacteria” and alarm bells go off. Germs! Disease! Danger! Modern society seems bent on viewing the microbial world with a combination of fear and disgust. The truth is, though, for the most part, Read More...
Couples desperate for children turn to crowdfunding fertility
Humans, like other animals, live to reproduce. And when they can’t, they’re willing to pay a lot for a helping hand. In America, some use credit cards, 401(k)s, and even loans to pay for in vitro fertilization that can cost as much as $12,000 for each round. Read More...
7 agricultural innovations that could save the world
Algorithms are everywhere these days. They can refine our web searches and help us decide what show we should binge on next or controversially used to determine who is most likely to become a criminal. Algorithms can also be harnessed to more effectively plant a field with diverse Read More...
Could carbon farming help the climate?
An ear of corn, swaying gently before a stand of apple trees. A cow chewing slowly on clover. They’re probably not what you think of when you imagine solutions to climate change. But perhaps their time has come. Enter “carbon farming,” a term that encompasses a host of practices aimed at Read More...
Small farmers can overcome climate change and feed the world
Like many small-scale farmers, Elizabeth Mpofu from drought-hit Zimbabwe has had to adapt her homestead to cope with a changing climate, which the United Nations says threatens to push millions globally into poverty and hunger. She has found ways of adapting such as collecting and storing rainfall Read More...
Whirlpool's director of sustainability on how everyone can drive change
As policymakers and the private sector begin to take action to address climate change and other environmental issues, the need emerges for every individual to take responsibility to his or her contribution. While changes at home can’t solve the many environmental crises we face today, they Read More...
Europe's offshore wind industry booming as costs fall
On a sunny October morning, our boat passes the run-down relicts of Liverpool’s maritime past and heads down the river Mersey and into the Irish Sea. As we steam offshore, I see in the distance a cluster of tall structures that soon reveal themselves to be towers of a wind turbine array. Read More...
Blockchain platform developed by banks to be open-source
A blockchain platform developed by a group that includes more than 70 of the world's biggest financial institutions is making its code publicly available, in what could become the industry standard for the nascent technology. The Corda platform has been developed by a consortium brought together by Read More...
The next big renewable energy source could be right beneath your feet
Flooring can be made from any number of sustainable materials, making it an eco-friendly option in homes and businesses alike. Now, however, flooring could be even more "green," thanks to an inexpensive, simple method developed by University of Wisconsin-Madison materials engineers that allows them Read More...
The hydrogen plane that represents the future of air travel
A hydrogen-fueled airplane made its maiden flight in Germany this past month, emitting nothing but water vapor as it flew across the sky. The electrical system on board is emission-free, and makes a lot less noise than a conventional fuel engine. The plane itself is rather small, with four seats on Read More...