The best way to solve the world’s hunger problem is a hotly debated topic. In the next few paragraphs, I’ll take a look at one fairly conventional idea, and explore another proposal that’s a bit more out of the box. But in the end, I’d like to poke at some of the assumptions underlying both … Continue reading
Category Archives: Environment
Radical Ways to Fight Extinction
Look, here’s a picture of a tiger: A century ago there were about 100,000 of these guys in the wild. Today, that number has dropped more than 95%, meaning tigers might soon be gone forever! And there are thousands of other species in peril too (some estimates range as high as 30% of all species on … Continue reading
Advances in Sea-Powered Energy
From Fast Company’s Co.Exist series, check out 8 of the latest advances in ocean-powered generators. Most of the devices are being developed in Scotland, which is apparently a world leader in marine energy investment – who knew? They’re all well beyond the design stage, with working prototypes being deployed and tested in the rough waters … Continue reading
Bicycles Are the Future of Transportation
This may come as a surprise, but the future of transportation has been around for two centuries already. Of course, back when ol’ Baron Karl first put two wheels together and rode them around 1817 Mannheim, he just thought he’d made a kind of a re-usable horse. He certainly had no idea his invention would … Continue reading
10 Ways for the World to End
There’s something fun about pondering the end of the world, as many movie fans can attest. The end of a single life might well be a tragedy, but the end of all human civilization is so epic that it’s hard not to be awed. And unless you think humans will be around forever (which I’m … Continue reading
The Algae Revolution
It may look like pond scum to you, but one day, the plant-like organism known as algae could rule the world. How can such an immobile, simple-bodied eukaryote pull this off? For one, many of these little guys are photosynthetic. “Big deal,” you say. “Every plant on earth can claim the same thing, from the … Continue reading
Hacking Civilization
What’s the future of human civilization? Cosmic Revolutions has looked at a lot of big questions, but this one’s as big as they come. Indeed, everything I’ve posted so far has tried to fill in a piece of the answer. But today, I want to step back, way back, and try to catch a glimpse … Continue reading