Piles of new art supplies from Michaels It’s not Christmas time but for the duration of this week, 30,000 sick children across North America are waking up in their hospital rooms to receive a mound of free arts and craft supplies courtesy of one of the biggest art supplies chains in the country. …
£45,000 for sustainability projects in Bristol Ideas that would help boost sustainability and tackle environmental challenges in Bristol could become a reality with the launch of a £45,000 crowdfunding campaign. Bristol Green Capital Partnership (BGCP) is set to invest the five-figure sum in projects and initiatives that will improve the city’s eco-credentials and create a…
This startup is building a fitness tracker for the planet Using enormous amounts of satellite data, Descartes Labs wants to track everything that’s changing on Earth’s surface from deforestation to transportation to agriculture. It seems like everything is tracked and measured these days. But one startup is working on tracking something more ambitious: the planet.…
Fertility apps: the ‘next wave’ in solving global family planning crisis Every year, lack of access to contraception causes about 85 million unplanned pregnancies and a host of negative associated health outcomes. One expert said this global health crisis can be mitigated with apps that allow women to understand and track their fertility. The challenge to provide universal…
Alzheimer’s: new drug that halts mental decline The first drug that can prevent Alzheimer’s disease is finally on the horizon after scientists proved they can clear the sticky plaques from the brain which cause dementia and halt mental decline. Hailed as the “best news” in dementia research for 25 years, the breakthrough is said to be a potential…
Women On Waves has claimed the seas for abortion For many of us, the idea of a boat with a full crew roving the ocean from port to port, transcending the laws of the land, evokes images of pirate ship. But, instead of looking for lost treasures, the crew behind Women on Waves has claimed…
Crowdfunding and collaboration created a cultural space in Buenos Aires On Dec. 30, 2004, a fire broke out at the República Cromañón club in Buenos Aires (Argentina) during a concert, killing 194 people. Following the devastating fire, upcoming artists’ spaces and cultural centers were met with stiff bureaucratic resistance. In response, a group of five…
For years college students provide the homeless with free health care Stephanie Oh knows what it’s like to live below the poverty line. After graduating college with a degree in bioengineering, she volunteered for AmeriCorps and subsisted on food stamps. But today, Oh gives pays it forward by using her medical education to provide free healthcare to homeless…
Solar Sister: future is bright for Africa’s women entrepreneurs There is an enormous business opportunity for solar energy in sub-Saharan Africa, and it can be harnessed by the most unlikely entrepreneurs: women in some of the poorest and most remote communities. This is according to Katherine Lucy, the CEO and founder of Solar Sister. Since 2009, the nonprofit…
At this bike shop, you can trade your old car for an electric bicycle If you show up at The New Wheel, an electric bike shop in San Francisco, the store will give you a chance to trade in your old car for a new e-bike. As you browse or take an electric bike for…