Oxford, UK to create first zero-emissions zone in the world Oxford, England, with its history of learning dating back to the 11th century, is now shifting into the future with an electric-vehicle only zone in the city center. By banning all internal combustion engine vehicles, the city is establishing what it says is the first…
Company creates $45,000 flat pack ‘surf shacks’ that can be assembled in a week A company has created off-grid dwellings that can be assembled in a week like ‘Ikea furniture’. Backcountry Hut Company says their Surf Shack model can be built almost anywhere with materials dropped in by helicopter. The pre-fab structures starting at $45,000…
A student wants vending machines to give a better access to the morning after-pill It has been four years since the federal government lifted the age limit for the morning-after pill, but college students across the country say gaining access to it remains fraught with confusion and difficulty. Now some colleges think they have found…
A new way to plant trees in difficult conditions Recognizing the incredible value of forests in providing habitat, storing carbon dioxide, purifying water and more, people around the world are working to restore forests destroyed in the past by human activities such as logging and farming. The bad news: In some places, it’s practically impossible.…
This Solar-Powered Town Is Home To America’s First Self-Driving Shuttle Network Later this year, if someone moves into a house in Babcock Ranch–a newly built, fully solar-powered town in Florida–they’ll be able to take an autonomous shuttle to the grocery store. The shuttles (powered by electricity from the community’s own massive solar farm) will be…
This Seattle chef is empowering children through food Early in his career, chef Tarik Abdullah wanted to do more than work in a restaurant. It has been more than 20 years since he found his calling while volunteering as a children’s cooking instructor. Since then, his devotion hasn’t waned. The Seattle native has worked tirelessly…
A surprisingly simple solution to a transportation mess in India New Town is an information technology hub about 12 miles from bustling Kolkata, and every evening sometimes late at nightworkers with backpacks and laptops look for rides to get back home to the city. In this new township of high-rises, apartment complexes, malls, and IT…
Self-employed people will soon have a mortgage The national housing agency is exploring ways to make it easier for entrepreneurs and new immigrants to buy a home by cutting some of the red tape required to prove they can afford to pay the mortgage. “Right now, under our mortgage insurance policies, you have to be…
Virtual Healthcare Vans Are Taking High-Quality Medical Technology to Rural Areas India has a dismal doctor-to-patient ratio – around 1:1,900, against the UN-prescribed 1:1,000. The disparity is especially high in rural areas, with about 70 per cent of the country’s population living there. The situation is especially worrisome as bad infrastructure and lack of facilities…
Funding trees for health suggest Nature Conservancy’s new report These leafy streets cannot afford to be seen as a luxury, argues a new report from The Nature Conservancy. Trees are sustainability power tools: They clean and cool the air, regulate temperatures, counteract the urban “heat island” effect, and support water quality and manage flow. Yes,…