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…
Young entrepreneurs are using instagram to bring e-commerce to Gaza In the war-torn and isolated region, a new generation of internet-savvy youth are finding ways to developp economic activities online. If you want a personalized notebook in the Gaza Strip these days, 24-year-old Mohammed Hammed is your guy. The Islamic law student and self-taught graphic…
This app helps refugees get bank accounts by giving them a digital identity Many refugees lack the paperwork necessary to open an account, forcing them into the black market. Taqanu wants to use what they do have: smartphones and social media. If you move to Berlin, you need a bank account to rent an apartment,…
A new drug may be able to completely reverse diabetes Scientistes have used a new drug to reverse diabetes in mice. The drug inhibits the enzyme LMPTP, which contributes to the development of Type 2 diabetes by weakening the body’s sensitivity to the hormone. In the global community, the number of people with diabetes has…
UK gender pay gap law comes into force A law that forces UK companies to publish details of their gender pay discrepancy came into force this week. Could it accelerate the closure of the 18.1 per cent gender pay gap? Legislation compelling UK employers to monitor and reveal gender pay inequalities came into force…
A pertinent time to rethink our ideas of society Against a backdrop of Brexit, now is a pertinent time to rethink our ideas of society. Jon Alexander suggests that when we consider ourselves citizens rather than consumers, communities are stronger and more effective. Shortly after taking over as prime minister, Theresa May put “the…
Montreal’s Concordia University leads research into new sources of alternative energy Concordia University researchers are pioneering new technologies that could revolutionize the way we produce and use energy. Specialists from a number of disciplines — from biologists to engineers and chemists — are working together to create a new generation of cleaner fuels. The work…
Wildlife-friendly gardening causes ‘boom’ in bird sightings in the UK A citizen survey has recorded increases in the number of certain birds – from the robin to more unusual visitors – being spotted in British gardens Nearly 500,000 people from across the UK took part in the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch in January, and this…
French employees win ‘right to disconnect’ France has passed a bill urging companies to respect employees’ time outside of office hours. Could similar legislation help people aged 25-34 in the UK – the group that is unhappiest with work-life balance here? According to a report recently released by YouGov, one in five working UK adults aged between…
Now you can buy gorgeous furniture made of mushrooms First, designers debuted leather made from mushrooms. Now you can sit on furniture made from fungi, too. At first glance, the sturdy white stools and beautiful accent tables look like any other piece of furniture, perhaps crafted from wood or marble. But they are far from ordinary.…