Tag innovation

Image: The wing of an airplane, which may soon be using algae to fly

Airplanes May Soon be Using Algae to Fly

New uses for algae are becoming increasingly widespread. From eating healthier, to a natural fertilizer, and to being used in a bio-jet fuel, this aquatic plant’s popularity is soaring.

Image: HeroRAT Froome training to detect mines in Tanzania

These Heroic Rats Save Lives by Detecting Land Mines and Tuberculosis

Step aside Remy from Ratatouille and Templeton from Charlotte’s Web! These rescuer rats trained by nonprofit APOPO might not be nearly as famous, but their work sniffing out land mines and tuberculosis is saving many, many more lives.

Image: A person barbecuing in their backyard using fruit pulp logs.

Leftovers to Logs: Fruit Pulp Could Be the Fuel of the Future

There is a secret second life hiding out within almost every substance on earth, but today we’re zeroing in on an innovative way that one Argentinian couple is transforming fruit pulp. Want to know what they’re turning it into? We’ll give you a hint... it can warm your belly, your home, and your soul.

Image: A child wearing arm floaties and splashing in the water on the beach, under the beating sun protected by the ozone layer.

We’ve Halted a Major Climate Crisis Before. Here’s How We Can Do It Again

What if more people knew the success stories when it comes to solving the world’s big problems? In 1987, all 198 UN Member States adopted a protocol that’s still in effect today, and is estimated to repair the planet’s damaged ozone layer by 2065. Here’s the proof you’ve been looking for that the world came together to halt a major climate crisis before, and it is possible for us to do it again.

NASA’s Message to Alien Life Celebrates the Best of Humanity

Did you know that back in 1977, NASA launched a time capsule into outer space? This historic message in a bottle is called the Golden Record, and it is a feast for the eyes, ears, mind, and soul. Let’s discover how scientists described humanity to extraterrestrial life forms, and see if it still holds up today!

How to Invent Yourself with Innovative Thinking with Ann Makosinski

Ann Makosinski is our youngest guest in Happy[ness] Hour history but don’t let that fool you her accomplishments are much greater than your average 23 year old. Ann is an inventor, writer, global keynote speaker, and CEO of her own company! A person with aspirations this high who is able to achieve so much at a young age is someone we can all learn something from. She will show us the power of innovative thinking. How it has changed her life and how it has the potential to change all of ours.

Image: One of the mushroom slabs that is cut to create mushroom bacon.

Mushrooms Could Start Replacing Leather, Bacon, and Styrofoam in the Next 5 Years

Have you ever tasted bacon made of fungi? Received a package cushioned by mushrooms? My guess is not yet… but probably soon! New York-based company Ecovative has created an alternative to plastic, which can save water, time, money, and the planet, too!

48 min listen

Helping the Rainforest at the Click of a Button with Chochi Iturralde (Episode #81)

We humans have extracted all we can from nature for hundreds of years while thinking little about the negative impact on the planet. But what if we flip the script on its head? María José "Chochi" Iturralde is the founder and CEO of Humans for Abundance, an organization designed to empower people who live near the world’s most fragile ecosystems and give people around the globe a way to support them in restoring the environment.

Image: A worker with the ocean cleanup project holding some of the trash that system 002 has pulled from the ocean

Removing 90% of the Ocean’s Plastic in the Next 20 Years is Possible

Just a few months ago in October of 2021, The Ocean Cleanup Project reached a revolutionary milestone with their newest System 002 model: proof of technology. With this massive achievement, the nonprofit is projected to clean 90% of the ocean’s plastic waste in the next 20 years.

Image: A car driving on an icy stretch where sugar beets have been used to de-ice roads.

Cities are Using Sugar Beets to De-Ice Roads

Damage from using traditional road salt on highways comes with an expensive price tag both for tax payers and the environment. Now, innovative cities are using sugar beets, pickle juice, cheese brine, and even leftover beer brine to help solve the problem. So, why does this work?

Image: Two boys dressed as their favorite superheroes.

This App Lets Kids With Hearing Loss Enjoy Movies

This caring high school senior is improving accessibility for youngsters with hearing loss by creating an app that translates Disney movies into sign language.

Got a Window? Charge Your Phone with this Tiny Solar Panel

If you feel like baby steps just aren’t enough, this story of creative design and community will leave you feeling as powerful as the sun! All you need is an open mind, a sunny window, and a purpose to realize your true potential.

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