Sustainable

Saving seeds from tomatoes, peppers, herbs and flowers helps preserve biodiversity, strengthen food security, and keep heirloom varieties alive. Even a small balcony garden can make a difference.

Now researchers at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) in the US say they have developed a way to predict coral bleaching five to six months before it occurs, potentially giving reef managers enough time to intervene and save vulnerable corals.

    A decade ago, we met Shimrit Perkol-Finkel in a startup incubator in Tel Aviv. She was one of those unforgettable founders who combined scientific...

All air conditioners release water. That's Physics. Cities like Los Angeles pour billions of water down the drain every year. And while home owners who are savvy to water reuse are finding ways to use AC water in the garden (here are 5 ways to use air con water at home), or in art studios (it's basically free distilled water), cities could save water in meaningful ways by using creative ideas. These are solutions you can send to urban planners and those running smart city accelerator programs. Pick one of them and you might win the grant! 

Israel’s water and agricultural technologies didn’t emerge from ideal conditions. They were developed under pressure: low rainfall, saline water, political isolation, lack of energy resources, and the constant need to feed a growing population with limited land. Over the years, I’ve written about many of these companies not as miracle-makers, but as problem-solvers. That’s what makes them relevant to places like Somaliland. Israel was the first country in the world to recognize Somaliland as an independent state although Ethiopia has been treating the nation as such for decades.

Masdar is the the UAE’s flagship renewable energy company. Compare it to Neom in Saudi Arabia. Masdar has become one of the world’s most active clean energy investors, with projects in more than 40 countries across six continents. Established in 2006 and jointly owned by ADNOC, Mubadala, and TAQA, Masdar operates and develops solar, wind, and green hydrogen projects with a current portfolio exceeding 50 gigawatts of capacity. Masdar also buys companies, and paid $50 million for this US business Terra-Gen last year. 

Here’s a caffeine-free coffee alternative that you can make yourself, from a surprising and inexpensive source: date seeds. Its color is blonder than traditional...

Raspberries are in full flush now, so take advantage of that abundance to brew raspberry cordial. You can call it a home-brew because the...

Moving to Mars? He's a new fungus-based sunscreen to protect you from gamma radiation Planning on traveling aboard SpaceX on a trip to Mars? An...

It’s easy to make this natural broth base yourself. Most or all of the ingredients are probably already lurking in your fridge and pantry. A food processor is the kitchen tool I recommend for making it; otherwise, be prepared to do some very fine chopping. I myself just feed everything into the food processor and let it whizz.

Add a sunhat—preferably made from raffia, wheat straw, or seagrass—and a pair of upcycled shades, and you’re golden! Just like the sun intended.

Look in on ethnic stores. If you’re lucky enough to shop where an local ethnic population goes, you might find better prices on grains, canned goods, and kitchenware.

The Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD) and the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA) will fund and develop the Middle East and North Africa’s first comprehensive guide for establishing and operating soil museums.

According to Palauan legend, a two-headed eel grew with one head on either side of a rock, each unaware of the other. The snakes starved as they pulled each other to go after prey, before realizing they were linked. Only then did they put their heads together, working together to thrive.

Green PE is produced using ethanol derived from renewable sources—primarily sugarcane in Brazil, but also wheat grain and beet in Europe. It behaves the same as traditional polyethylene: it’s durable, moldable, and recyclable. The difference lies in its feedstock and carbon footprint. While not biodegradable, Green PE is a key player in the circular economy: it sequesters carbon during crop growth and reduces life-cycle emissions when used and recycled responsibly.