Water
This rural development project is helping solve water scarcity in Djibouti
As a result of infrequent rain and little surface freshwater, more than 190,000 people in Djibouti, about 20 percent of the country’s population, lack access to clean drinking water. In rural areas where pastoralism provides a critical means of survival, the welfare of entire communities is Read More...
Scientists may use bacteria to clean up microplastics floating in water
Although microplastics are incredibly tiny in size (smaller than 5mm), they pose a huge threat to marine environments, and because of their minuscule size, they are also incredibly difficult to remove from water. Fortunately, a team of microbiologists has developed a sustainable solution that could Read More...
Solar-powered SmartFarm harnesses water from the air to irrigate plants
Wouldn’t it be great if we could harness the water vapor in the air to irrigate plants in areas with little precipitation? Well, that may happen sooner than you think thanks to a team of scientists from the National University of Singapore who have developed an experimental device that turns Read More...
5 Easy ways you can conserve more water
Water conservation is an important endeavor that we all play a role in. Some experts say that the world could face a 40 percent global water deficit in under a decade if humans continue to increase water consumption. Here are five small changes you can make in your day-to-day life to start saving Read More...
This superbug has a big appetite...for sewage
Scientists at the Urban Utilities water management plant in Queensland, Australia have grown a superbug from scratch. Its superpower? A remarkably large appetite for sewage. The bacteria, called anammox bugs, were devised as a response to the rapidly growing population. Plant Manager Peter Read More...
This simple solution uses flowers to recycle waste water in your home
From saving on utility bills to helping replenish groundwater, recycling water has many benefits for both people and the planet. Not long ago, we shared a story about Hydraloop, a water recycling system that can be installed in homes and offices to help reduce water waste. Now, we would like to Read More...
How making sense of a scent can help protect coral reefs
Have you ever thought about what corals smell like? Caitlin Lawson, Marine biologist at the University of Technology Sydney in Australia, has made it her mission to collect the gaseous, smelly chemicals that corals release under different conditions with the hope that a deeper understanding of Read More...
The UK announces program to monitor the world's oceans
The ocean has always been a source of wonder and inspiration. Many have dedicated their entire lives to uncovering the mysteries of the ocean, but there is still so much we don’t know. This past Saturday, the UK announced its mission to fund a worldwide effort to monitor wildlife in the open Read More...
Farmers and scientists in CA collaborate to minimize water use
In response to climate change and relentless droughts and heatwaves, scientists and farmers in California’s Central Valley are working with local communities to put innovative water-saving systems in place. Together, they have found ways to use and re-use water as sustainably as possible. The Read More...
The Optimist View: Keen on Kelp
“The sea, the great unifier, is man's only hope. Now, as never before, the old phrase has a literal meaning: we are all in the same boat.” - Jacques Yves Cousteau On a sunny Saturday morning, I drive about 30 minutes north of my home in Santa Barbara to an area called Refugio Beach. Aptly Read More...