What’s Going On Here? A road in Sweden has become the first in the world to recharge the batteries of cars and trucks while they drive along it. We’ve seen electrified roads before using overhead power lines. That didn’t really work. But this does! ???? What Does This Mean? Critics of electric vehicles point the finger at two main limitations. The first is keeping…
What’s Going On Here? Apple has announced that 100% of their operations are powered by renewable energy, this includes shops, offices and the biiiiig old servers where they hold all that data on us. ???? But this tasty Apple news comes at a time when e-waste (laptops, mobile phones and electronic goods) are the world’s fastest growing waste problem. In 2016 the…
What’s Going On Here? Microplastics are making their way from our food bins and into our food chain. These non-biodegradable fragments have been found in organic fertilisers applied to farmland. Could a simple cuppa be to blame? What Does This Mean? If we dispose of food waste, it goes to landfill (definitely not cool). But if we recycle it in food waste bins, it is…
In Curious Earth #7 we talked about blockchain start-up INS Ecosystem. Over the next few years blockchain technology is expected to disrupt many traditional industries. Here are 7 more start-ups making similar changes. If you want to know more about how blockchain can help with business and the environment, have a look at this: https://www.greenbiz.com/article/blockchains-emerging-role-sustainability We really like this piece on 7 ways blockchain can…
What’s Going On Here? A blockchain start-up, INS Ecosystem, has announced its ambitious intentions to reinvent the food industry. It aims to decentralise the grocery market by connecting producers directly to consumers using blockchain technology. What Does This Mean? One problem is waste. Supermarkets are built around avoiding stock shortages, not avoiding waste. This means that in countries like the UK retailers oversupply and waste…
What’s Going On Here? On Tuesday the UK government announced that it is implementing a drinks bottle and can deposit scheme, in which consumers pay more for single-use drinking vessels but can recoup that money. In theory, consumers would put bottles and cans in ‘Reverse Vending Machines’ in supermarkets and receive their deposit back, forming a tighter closed-loop recycling process What Does This…
What’s Going On Here? Demand for ethical investment is rising, with research showing 42% of Britons would choose an ISA that has a positive impact on society and the environment. The topic is HOT this week as savers look to utilise the £20,000 ISA allowance before the end of the tax year on 6th April. ???? What Does This Mean? An Individual Savings Account…
The Future of Sustainable Beer? Here at curious.earth Towers we like beer. Not too much beer. Just a bit of beer now and then. We want to share with you something beer-related that we’re interested in. That thing is genetically engineered yeast. Let us explain. Beer needs hops. And hops need loads of water, which for the eco-conscious is – ironically –…
What’s Going On Here? The falling costs of wind and solar energy will soon make UK renewable energy viable without subsidies. ⚡️ 2011: 1 UK Solar Megawatt typically cost £2.5m2018: 1 UK Solar Megawatt typically costs £0.7m The falling cost of UK renewable energy means that between now and 2030, an extra £20bn of investment is forecast in alternative energy projects in the UK…
