Land mines are currently strewn throughout 87 of the world's countries, and each year they cause 15,000-20,000 new casualties, the vast majority of which are inflicted upon civilians. Sifting through
Harvard scientists believe in the power of the good earth -- literally. A team at the Boston-based college have created microbial fuel cell (MFC) batteries that derive energy from naturally occurring
Responding to current economic, social and environmental crises, London’s NEF (the new economics foundation) have recently launched plans for “The Bigger Picture: A Festival of
Photo courtesy of Luc Bollen Housing crisis = fewer houses being built = less wood = better for trees, right? Not so fast says a new report published by the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization
Garbage Dreams, which premiered earlier this month at the South by Southwest film festival, is a documentary that offers an intimate look at Mokattam, a suburb of Cairo known for its poor residents who
As populations in developing nations increase alongside global pollution and the spread of water-borne illnesses, the need for clean and efficient water filtration has never been more urgent. Recently,
Architecture for Humanity, in partnership with Orient Global, has launched the latest Open Architecture Network Challenge, and this time they're calling on all designers to redesign the global classroom
Design nonprofit Project H has completed the construction of their first Learning Landscape, a playground that teaches elementary math concepts using ten interactive games. Built from reclaimed tires in a
Fans of Meraki's innovative approach to accessible wifi will be excited to know that they recently unveiled a solar-powered wifi repeater capable of providing people in remote locations with access to the
Throughout this past election season we heard both major-party candidates give a lot of love to “clean coal.” The phrase sounds great to Americans concerned about our dependence on foreign
People have conducted studies of baboons, of the levels of sweetness in the oceans, and of the migratory patterns of swallows - studies including everything from minute traces of minerals to detailed
Recently a trio of entrepreneurs announced an incredible solution for the world's resource problems: turn the Sahara desert into a source for food, water, and energy. The Sahara Forest Project (.PDF) is a
Project H Design, the product design nonprofit founded by Inhabitat's own Emily Pilloton, is currently in the running to win $10,000 for their newly launched project: designing educational math toys for
Amidst the excitement of athletic accomplishments at this year’s summer Olympics, a significant achievement for sustainable design was recognized as well. Last week, on Wednesday, August 13, U.S.
Building off the success of the Lifestraw Personal water filtration device, Vestergaard Frandsen's new Lifestraw Family system provides 15,000 liters of clean drinking water to one household. And now,
In 1988, Simon Berry, Chief Executive of ruralnet|uk was working as a development worker in remote north east of Zambia, conscious that while he could buy a bottle of Coke anywhere, 1 in every 5 children
Brad Pitt is once again trading the silver screen for green building, as he recently announced a collaboration with LA-based architecture firm GRAFT to design a 5-star “green resort” in Dubai.
The Buckminster Fuller Challenge honors visionary thinking that seeks to “solve humanity’s most pressing problems in the shortest possible time while enhancing the Earth’s ecological
Wind power holds much promise but often meets obstacles in small-scale application. Enter Engineers Without Borders. Volunteers from this humanitarian group, including Malcolm Knapp and Heather Fleming
Social Design Network Design 21 has a brand new design competition, with a fantastic purpose! Hosted by the NPO Millennium Promise, your challenge is to create a campaign design, with the mission to
In the spirit of Daekwon Parks' stunning sustainable Symbiotic Superstructure, we're continuing coverage of the eVolo Skyscraper Design Competition with another incredible entry. This dispatch from the
Portable green power sources are steadily gaining momentum as alternative energy tech gears up to help shoulder the strain of our overloaded energy grids. This recently released generator, dubbed the
We love our LEDs for lamps and Christmas lights, but there's a global application for LEDs that could bring inexpensive and efficient light to the 75% of Africa that lacks dependable access to clean, safe
The Svalbard Global Seed Vault is now officially open as of last week, after nearly thirty years of planning. The facility is not only a storage space for seeds from all over the world, it's a gorgeous
Why wonder if we’ll ever live on the moon when it’s being built right here on Earth? Heerim Architects are planning to bring Star Wars chic to the Azerbaijan capital of Baku, defining the look with
H is for Humanity, Habitats, Health, Habitats, and HIPPO! Project H, an organization that promotes, inspires, and delivers humanitarian product design, is funding 50 Hippo Rollers for a series of 17
What would you call a skyscraper that works like a tree, makes oxygen, distills water, produces energy, and changes with the seasons? Perhaps it's time to propose a new word: treescraper! Biomimicry -
Over a dramatic rollercoaster ride of ups and downs at the UN Climate Change Conference in Bali, Indonesia, the United States has finally accepted a global agreement to work towards reducing carbon
Proving that we really are all in this together, Europe is considering plans to spend more than £5 billion on a system of large solar power stations in North Africa. This proposed solar power plan could
America, you are on notice! Following the landslide election here in Australia held just last week, the new Prime Minister and Labour Party leader Kevin Rudd ratified the Kyoto Protocol as his first act
