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Just Undo It: Nike, NASA Partner on Waste Innovation Challenge

by Joel Makower - greenbiz.com - April 2, 2012

Nike is joining with NASA, the U.S. Agency for International Development, and the U.S. Department of State to identify 10 “game changing” innovations that transform waste systems in both developed and developing countries.

The 10 winners don’t get cash or other prizes, but rather the chance to engage in a collaborative process with some of the world’s smartest and most connected people.

The goal of the LAUNCH: Beyond Waste challenge is to identify companies and organizations that have innovative designs for zero waste solutions, waste elimination, waste transformation, and waste mitigation technologies, “as well as waste reduction-focused education, business, and financial strategies that have the potential to reduce and/or eliminate waste at a household, community, office building, campus, or industrial level,” according to the program overview (download – PDF).

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French Village Pince to Hand Out Chickens to Cut Waste

As well as reducing waste, officials hope the chickens will provide at least 200 eggs per year

BBC News - March 28, 2012

A French village has proposed giving two chickens to each household in order to cut down on organic waste.

Officials in the village of Pince in north-western France say the chickens should each consume 150kg (330lb) of rubbish per year.

It is hoped that as well as reducing waste, the chickens will help families save money by providing eggs.

Those who express an interest will receive their chickens in September, officials say.

(READ COMPLETE ARTICLE)

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Firefly Technology Sheds New Light

The light-producing enzyme in the firefly is the key to rapid pathogen detection // Source: cri.cn

submitted by Luis Kun

Homeland Security News Wire - March 22, 2012

A new device, employing the same chemical which lights up fireflies, can easily detect food contamination; the researchers who developed the system hope it will soon be used to test for other diseases, including HIV-AIDS.

Food contamination can now be detected easily by a new device based on the chemical which lights up fireflies.

The Bioluminescent Assay in Real-Time (BART), jointly invented by Professor Jim Murray of the Cardiff University’s School of Biosciences and Dr. Laurence Tisi of Lumora, allows users to test rapidly and simply for food poisoning bacteria. Professor Murray and his partners at technology company Lumora Ltd. hope to develop the system to test for other diseases, including HIV-AIDS.

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Energyfolks

submitted by Albert Gomez

Energyfolks is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit entity based in the San Francisco Bay Area.

To meet new demand and lift billions out of poverty, global electricity generation must double to 9 terawatts by 2035. Meanwhile, global CO2 must drop from 390ppm to 350ppm to avoid catastrophic climate change, sensitive habitats must be protected to avoid environmental damage, and supplies must be affordable and accessible to maintain geo-political stability.

Energyfolks empowers and connects energy communities worldwide to help solve this great challenge. We reach out to both established and emerging organizations to help them keep their membership engaged and informed by feely providing these groups with customizable tools to manage their website, administer membership, facilitate online discussion, and share and promote events. The eneryfolks platform frees group resources, allowing them to focus their efforts on their core mission and constituency.

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Tubohotel - Green Hotel in Mexico

submitted by Albert Gomez

One of the world's most unique hotels made of huge tubes (concrete drainage pipes) in pyramid form in Mexico's Magic Village, Tepoztlan, Morelos.

http://www.tubohotel.com/welcome/

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Molecule May Aid Nuclear Waste Clean-Up

Molecules cause radioactive waste to cluster, facilitating cleanup // Source: kokokuxhito.info

submitted by Luis Kun

Homeland Security News Wire - March 14, 2012

Scientists have produced a previously unseen uranium molecule in a move that could improve clean-up of nuclear waste.

The distinctive butterfly-shaped compound is similar to radioactive molecules that scientists had proposed to be key components of nuclear waste. These molecules, however, were thought too unstable to exist for long.

A University of Edinburgh release reports that researchers have shown the compound to be robust, which implies that molecules with a similar structure may be present in radioactive waste.

University of Edinburgh scientists, who carried out the study, say their findings suggest the molecule may play a role in forming clusters of radioactive material in waste.

These are difficult to separate during clean-up. Improving treatment processes for nuclear waste, including targeting this type of molecule, could help the nuclear industry move towards cleaner power generation.

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Breakthrough Technology Could Lead to Battery-Powered Future

by Eric Wesoff - ecomagination.com - August 8, 2011

Battery technology has moved way beyond simply powering your basic consumer electronic devices; batteries now help power the world at large. But advances in battery technology have been slow to respond to the power demands of modern life.

Liquid Metal Battery - a company pursuing a breakthrough battery design using molten antimony and molten magnesium separated by an electrolyte—attracted Bill Gates and oil company Total as seed investors.

(READ COMPLETE ARTICLE)

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Kenyans Going Mobile to Stay Healthy - medAfrica

submitted by Albert Gomez

by Zak Stone - good.is - January 6, 2012

More than 25 million Kenyans have mobile phones, making apps a logical way to disseminate essential information about health. MedAfrica, a new smartphone app, has positioned itself as the go-to service for wired Kenyans in search of reputable health care. The app operates like a mobile yellow pages for medical services, providing basic listings of professionals in the area. Additional features include a symptom checker for patients to compare their ailments with different diseases and make decisions about seeking medical attention.

(READ COMPLETE ARTICLE)

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A Box Full of Light Saves Lives

      

Solar panels, lights, and battery chargers.  All that's needed to give doctors and patients a chance when the power goes out.  Photo/We Care Solar

cbcradio - February 29, 2012

They were in the middle of surgery again when the power went out in the Nigerian operating room.

Luckily, a visiting American doctor had a flashlight.

But Laura Stachel figured there had to be a way around the recurring problem.

And with husband Hal Aronson, a solar energy educator in California, they came up with something called the Solar Suitcase.

She joined us while unpacking one in a maternity clinic in another part of Africa to explain how it's providing lifesaving light.

Dr. Laura Stachel at work with her Solar Suitcase in Sierra Leone. She's co-founder of WE CARE Solar, creating technology to benefit maternal health in the developing world.

http://wecaresolar.org/

http://www.cbc.ca/dispatches/news-promo/2012/02/29/a-box-full-of-light-and-life/

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DISASTERS: Smart Weather Data Can Make a Difference

irinnews.org

NAIROBI, 15 February 2012 (IRIN) - “When should we plant?” is a question increasingly being asked by small farmers in sub-Saharan Africa who depend on rain-fed agriculture. To help answer such questions, climate scientists are being urged to provide more reliable and relevant local climate data, and better communicate their knowledge on climate adaptation techniques. 

"When we think about preparing for imminent disasters it is not possible to prepare for flooding, for example, just a few days in advance, which we get from the weather forecast. We need to think about preparedness further in advance and think in terms of what kind of decisions we can make, say, three months in advance, such as moving important resources away. We need a continuum of information,” said Simon Mason, the chief climate scientist at Columbia University's International Research Institute for Climate and Society (IRI) in the USA.

According to Mason, more effective short, mid-range and seasonal weather forecasting is needed for the development of useful early warning systems. 

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