Bees have already done a host of great services for the human race - they pollinate flowers, cure diseases, and produce honey. Now scientists in Croatia have found another role for the intrepid insect.
Photo by Ritu Raj Konwar via IDMC A new report released last week by the Internal Displacement Monitoring Center (IDMC) shows that a whopping 32.4 million people were forced to flee their homes
Why do so many couples care where their diamonds come from? Maybe the best answer to that question is that many diamonds are tainted by bloodshed and violence. But the ethical problems facing the diamond
Many people around the world rely on cash crops to create extra income for their families. During the dry season, shallow wells and drought are challenges that reduce crop yield - and extra income. In
As a college student, you would hope to attend an institution that values enlightened ideals and sound investments. However, at many universities across the country, portions of large endowments have long
It has only been a couple of days since the Liberator 3D-printed gun was successfully fired in Texas by Defense Distributed. But after the gun was downloaded over 100,000 times in just two days, the State
The Free Things Box (FTB) is a freebie box that's placed in front of the house as a friendly means for recycling small, still useful objects. Many people have a lot of stuff that's still in good order
Food photo from Shutterstock Each day people around the world throw away a staggering amount of food - by some accounts, almost half of all food produced winds up in the trash. The German website
Not only is HUM Central Haiti’s first-ever teaching hospital, it is the largest hospital in the world to be powered primarily with solar energy. In an area where power outages last for an average of 3
This fantastic wooden Foosball table, Afrika Kicker, is a socially-motivated, mobile concept that raises money to help support youth activities in South Africa and Rwanda. Created by Misereor, the table
VICE is probably best known to most for its Dos & Don’ts, but the characteristically “hipster” publication has been cementing its place as an important journalistic outlet recently
Smugglers already have to answer to the police if they are caught, but a 38-year-old Thai man may have to answer to a much higher authority for attempting to steal almost thirteen percent of an entire
Last year, the Gates Foundation held a competition to redesign the toilet. Turning its sights from sanitation to overpopulation, the nonprofit has now announced a challenge to reinvent the condom. By way
In the wake of the ongoing horse meat scandal in Europe and the UK, producers and retailers of vegetarian meat alternatives have noticed a spike in sales. Quorn, the UK's biggest vegetarian ready-made
Recently, the State Department released a report claiming that the Keystone XL pipeline would have no significant impact on the environment. However, the study did not factor in the tremendous impact that
One of the biggest problems with nuclear power is the radioactive waste it produces; governments and the scientific community have struggled to find ways to safely contain the hazardous materials. Sadly,
Formed in 1972, SOCO is a nonprofit organization with the mission of establishing an equal society and building a strong power base for the people of Hong Kong in the face of widening disparity between
When we consider the field of engineering, the images that come to mind run the gamut from airplanes to bridges to 3D printers. Yet we rarely think about how the processed food we consume has been
A new dental startup called Smiles for the People offers beautiful biodegradable bamboo toothbrushes - and for each one you buy, they will donate a toothbrush to someone in need! Their mission is to sell
This year for Valentine’s Day, show your sweetie that you care about the environment as much as you do for him or her, by NOT sending them flowers. Aside from the fact that cut flowers die within days
Actor and co-founder of water.org Matt Damon won't let a good opportunity to raise awareness of clean water down the tubes. To draw attention to the 2.5 billion people who do not have access to proper
King's College London has wonderful news for anyone who is frightened of needles. Scientists at the university have developed a disc covered with a painless microneedle array made of sugar that dissolves
Pope Benedict XVI photo from Shutterstock Today Pope Benedict XVI announced plans to resign on Feb 28, citing his advanced age and health. Over his tenure he garnered the moniker “the Green
For the community of Makoko of Lagos, Nigeria life on the water is nothing new. Prone to flooding, residents have dealt with encroaching waters for generations by building houses on stilts and using
Indonesian forest photo from Shutterstock Today the world's third largest paper company, Asia Pulp & Paper (APP) pledged to stop deforestation in Indonesia. As a result of years of campaigning by
Despite being delayed by Hurricane Sandy, our favorite can-tastic event is back in New York City with a slew of gravity-defying sculptures made of cans! The 20th annual Canstruction competition invited
INHABITAT: Can you tell us a little about what drew you to work for Starbucks as Vice President of Global Responsibility? Ben: I came to Starbucks 14 years ago as Environmental Affairs Manager, after
Two US students from Penn State University have developed an affordable ceramic water filtration system for Africa’s Sub-Saharan countries. The system is based on a design by the non-profit organization
In 2011 we wrote about Solar Ship, a helium zero-emissions cargo plane that is capable of delivering much-needed goods to people in remote areas where vehicles simply cannot reach. Today, Solar Ship is
In the United States, finding out that much of the meat served in school lunches contains “pink slime” (second-grade meat treated with ammonia) was a pretty shocking discovery. In the UK, a
