Miscellaneous
ADM to fight deforestation in South America through its suppliers
After a marked deforestation slowdown over the past decade or so, tropical forests are under threat again, with the Amazon a primary target. In this context, agribusiness giant Archer Daniels Midland is emerging as a powerful force to counter the trend throughout the whole South American continent. Read More...
Portland bans insecticides containing compounds harmful to bees
Over seventy out of the top 100 human food crops, which supply about 90 percent of the world's nutrition, are pollinated by bees. The steep decline in honey bees population has been fueling fear regarding food security, and spurring a flurry of research activity into the cause of their demise. Read More...
MIT develops an algorithm to solve traffic jams, saving time and carbon
Traffic congestion wastes time, gas and money. According to the most recent Urban Mobility Report by the Texas Transportation Institute, it cost US commuters 5.5 billion hours and 2.9 billion gallons of fuel in 2011 (all $121 billion worth), as well as an additional 56 billion pounds of carbon Read More...
First peaceful democratic transition brings Nigeria a "peace dividend"
This week’s presidential elections in Nigeria were historic. This was the first peaceful transition of power since the country declared its independence from British rule in 1960. Observers generally praised the election as being fair. And the incumbent president Goodluck Jonathan conceded defeat Read More...
3D printing with food waste provides a truly sustainable alternative to plastic
For all its promise of unleashed creativity, 3D printing raises one major issue of sustainability. The technology uses, and creates objects out of, unrecyclable plastic filament wrapped around plastic spools. Ingenious minds are beginning to come up with diverse solutions to remedy the problem, but Read More...
The planet is becoming greener, according to satellite data
While deforestation is going unabated in tropical areas of the globe, it turns out that forests have been gaining grounds over the past decade in former Soviet countries, in China—where an ambitious reforestation policy has been in place for a long time—and even in arid areas of Africa, Read More...
Crowdfunding the world's largest, greenest aircraft
The Hindenburg is back from its ashes, with much better technology. The British company Hybrid Air Vehicles has built an airship that can reach 100 mph, remain airborne for weeks, land anywhere flat. The Airlander’s hull fills with 38,000m3 of helium and is 30% longer than a Boeing 747. Civil Read More...
A wheel to lift African farmers out of perpetual poverty
An adjustable, flexible wheel is how Malawi-native and Royal Collage of Art graduate Ackeem Ngwenya intends to remedy the lack of road infrastructure in rural Africa. The ability to transport farm goods farther, or in bigger quantity, than what women and children on foot are able to carry on their Read More...
Electricity-generating plastic opens door to endless possibilities in green energy and medical applications
Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) is a plastic used in tubing that can produce electricity when stretched, or change shape when touched by electricity. Possible innovative applications are seemingly endless, including in the green energy or medical fields (think artificial muscles.) Scientists at Read More...
Stella McCartney promises to help fashion industry become sustainable
Today’s special paper edition of the highly influential British fashion website Business of Fashion boldly delves into the fashion industry’s top seven issues, including the human cost of garment manufacturing and environmental sustainability. A special event held in London last week ahead of Read More...