Seed-firing drones are now reversing deforestation
An Australian start up is using artificial intelligence, specially designed seed pods, and autonomous drones to reverse forest loss at record speed. Deforestation - whether human driven or natural - seriously disturbs wildlife, ecosystems, weather patterns, and contributes to our changing climate. At least 85 percent of global deforestation has...
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‘Power-Blox’ could provide clean energy to rural areas by 2030
They may look like giant LEGO bricks, but these ‘Power-Blox’ energy cubes provide portable electricity via solar panels. It’s hoped that they’ll be used to provide power to the world’s poorest regions. What if your regular LEGO brick could do more than just serve as a potential safety hazard...
Grizzlies and polar bears are breeding thanks to climate change
Rising temperatures are simultaneously driving grizzly bears north and polar bears south, prompting interbreeding between both species. Conservationists are weighing up the possibility of controlling genetic adaption to help animals of the future cope with climate change. From time to time, it’s good to remind ourselves that climate change isn’t...
Europe’s first psychedelic drug trial firm opens in London
Clerkenwell Health aims to establish the UK as the heart of the commercial psychedelic research ecosystem, working closely with experts and drug developers around the world to tackle some of the most complex mental health conditions. After decades of demonisation and criminalisation, psychedelic drugs are being proved to have...
This browser extension counters climate anxiety and doom scrolling
If you download this irreverent browser extension, whenever you read a doom and gloom climate story, you’ll receive a small call to action accompanied by an amusing snarky comment. Finally, pop-ups we can get onboard with. As someone whose job it is to follow every minute detail of the existential...
Tinder is working towards ending the US’ LGBTQIA+ blood ban
Tinder has partnered with Human Rights Campaign (HRC) to do away with America’s archaic and discriminatory policy which prohibits blood donations from gay and bisexual men. Every year, Pride organisations join forces to celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community and shine a light on the challenges its members face on a daily...
Are we ready for metaverse schools to be the new norm?
Global school group, Inspired, is the first of its kind to be launching a school in the metaverse, but what does that mean for education and how do students and teachers feel about it? ‘We are becoming better at realising that, as educators, we aren’t just “exam conveyor belts”. Students entering the job market in 2022 require an entirely different skill set to be able to thrive and succeed,’ says...
Robot beekeepers could help pollinators prosper in a warming world
As our world becomes warmer, we’re losing bee colonies at an unprecedented rate and our global food supplies could soon be under major threat. Preparing for the worst, Israeli start-up Beewise is already rearing its own hives using state-of-the-art AI tech. May 20, the fifth annual World Bee Day, was less about celebrating our remarkable pollinators and more about raising awareness. The insect apocalypse is something both climate experts and conservationists...
The Norwegian start-up making roads carbon negative
Using recycled asphalt bonded by plant-based adhesive, Carbon Crusher has created a mix for carbon negative roads that is both affordable and actively sequesters emissions. Paving the road to a greener future sounds awfully cliché, but that is quite literally Carbon Crusher’s business MO. The Norwegian tech start-up has been wracking its brains over the last year to think up alternatives to conventional road tar. Since the Romans, there has been...
Can ‘gravity batteries’ boost our energy storage capacity?
Cutting-edge technology could harness the universe’s fundamental force to help our green energy transition. Generating green energy is largely dependent on Earthly forces. When the sun is shining, or the wind blowing and the waves rolling, we’re good. When skies darken and conditions calm, however, our supply lines of sustainable power are diminished and that’s a problem. In stark contrast to our carbon neutrality ambitions, we supplement these low yield periods by...
