Water
Just add water and this squid-inspired plastic heals itself
While you've been busy scarfing down fried calamari rings, scientists at the University of Pennsylvania have been doing something else with squid. Namely? Studying the cephalopod's ring teeth for a way to create a material that heals when water's present, much in the way that those tentacle-bound Read More...
Crowdfunding, water conservation & beer: How cool can you get?
When a hip beer brand launches one of the most creative and timely cause marketing campaigns of the year, you might think it was inspired by a brilliant conversation over drinks with some A-list creative. The eureka moment behind “Shock The Drought” occurred after a May market research Read More...
Boxed water wants to add a tiny bit of sustainability to the bottled water industry
Just Water is trying to get rid of some of the most wasteful packaging in the world—and wants to remind you that tap water is just as good. The mountain of plastic water bottles headed to landfills keeps growing, despite the best efforts of campaigns to push reusables and tap water. So a Read More...
Solar-powered handheld WaterDrop produces cool drinking water in the desert
By 2040, 33 countries are expected to face extreme water stress, according to the World Resources Institute, making the race to develop innovative solutions more furious than ever. Ap Verheggen has been on the cutting-edge of solar thought experiments for several years. You may recall his Read More...
Texas teenager creates $20 water purifier to tackle toxic e-waste pollution
Consumer electronics, including computers and mobiles, are leaving a legacy of toxic waste in countries including China and India. Recycling factories across Asia are recovering e-waste exported from around the world, but discharging heavy metals and chemicals into local water supplies in the Read More...
Californians cut water use 31.3% in July, crushing governor’s target
Gillian Flaccus' daughter leaned to brush her teeth without leaving the water running at the family's home, near Los Angeles. Flaccus, an Associated Press reporter, and her husband are using the California drought to teach their children life lessons about conservation. Aerial view overlooking Read More...
American astronauts drink recycled urine: 'It tastes like bottled water'
What’s the difference between American and Russian astronauts on the International Space Station? The Americans drink their urine, the Russians don’t. “It tastes like bottled water,” Layne Carter, water subsystem manager for the ISS at Nasa’s Marshall Space Flight Read More...
How Ecolab turned water management into a fast-flowing revenue stream
The world’s largest producer of steel, ArcelorMittal MT , had a problem: Water costs at its huge Galati mill in Romania were escalating, and its effluent water was polluting two nearby lakes. For help, the steel giant called on Ecolab ECL : The St. Paul–based company installed its 3D Read More...
Turning the page for contaminated water: These book pages work as a filter
It's remarkable how simple the idea is: This paper sheet filters contaminated water to make it drinkable. The paper contains nanoparticles of silver or copper which kill bacteria in the water as it passes through, and is proving to be full of potential for communities in developing countries Read More...
California is beating the severe drought with innovation
California—where more than half of the fruits and vegetables in the US come from—is in the fourth growing season of a severe drought. And yet, last year, both farm employment and farm revenue increased slightly. As it turns out, Californian farmers are beating the drought. More efficient drip Read More...