Story Search Results

Advanced Search

There are so many ways to search the solutions journalism stories in this database. Explore our searchable fields:

Search Results

You searched for: -

There are 178 results for your search. View and Refine Your Search Terms

Smart ships using wind and bubbles to save fuel

Nick Holland

December 15, 2018 |

BBC |

Broadcast TV News |

3-5 Minutes

Response Location: United Kingdom, London

The shipping industry has made moves to halve fuel consumption by 2050. With a few clever technological innovations--bubbles and rotating sails--ships are closer to that goal. But whatever the promise of these new technologies, they're not yet cost effective.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Climate-Positive Architecture Has Arrived In Norway

Tracey Lindeman

December 13, 2018 |

Bloomberg CityLab |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Norway, Trondheim

Powerhouse, a collective of architects, engineers, environmentalists, and designers based in Oslo, reimagines building design to address climate change. Not only are many of their structures energy-neutral, but they actually produce surplus energy. For example, Powerhouse Brattørkaia in Trondheim is an eight-story office that will generate 485,000 kWh annually. Such "energy-positive" building has made great strides in Norway.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Betting on a new way to make concrete that doesn't pollute

Stanley Reed

December 02, 2018 |

The New York Times |

Multi-Media |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Piscataway, New Jersey

Solidia, a cement and concrete technology company, is changing the chemistry of how cement is created that could make the building material cheaper and reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Cement plants create more carbon dioxide than any other manufacturing process, so the American-based company is testing how to use the greenhouse gas to incorporate it into the mixture instead of releasing it into the atmosphere. So far, it can reduce as much as 70 percent of CO2 that is normally emitted from the process and it's faster to make than normal concrete.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Meet the Young Alaska Natives Pursuing a Successful Career in the STEM Fields

Lillian Mongeau

November 19, 2018 |

Pacific Standard |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Anchorage

The Alaska Native Science and Engineering Program is working to provide full scholarships, a strong STEM background, and most importantly, a sense of community, to the majority Alaska-Native group of students in the program. The program's results are impressive - ANSEP students "outperform students of all backgrounds in math and science" and groups around the country are trying to emulate those results for other disadvantaged and negatively stereotyped groups.

Read More
Go to Original Story
From German trains to South Korean buses, hydrogen fuel is back in the energy picture

Bianca Nogrady

November 06, 2018 |

Ensia |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Germany, Hamburg

Hydrogen fuel has made promising strides from Germany to Japan, thanks to shifting markets for renewables, improved storage technologies, and emissions-reduction goals. Electrolysis that uses renewables to make the fuel could transform transportation and energy infrastructure, but a few concerns about the unintended effects persist.

Read More
Go to Original Story
In Chula Vista, Calif., Drones Now Respond to 911 Calls

Gustavo Solis

October 29, 2018 |

San Diego Union-Tribune |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Chula Vista

Police in Chula Vista, Calif., are using drones to respond to some emergency calls as part of a pilot program between the Federal Aviation Administration, Chula Vista and the city of San Diego. It’s an idea from Ensenada, Mexico, where use of drones prompted a 10 percent drop in crime, and on its first day in Chula Vista drones responded to 30 emergency calls that led to three arrests. The FAA is working with police to rewrite regulations as the program evolves to adapt to police needs.

Read More
Go to Original Story
This professor wants to power Puerto Rico with a little help from Reddit

Justine Calma

October 17, 2018 |

Grist |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Puerto Rico, San Juan

After Hurricane Maria devastated much of Puerto Rico, much of the country was left without power and some were subsequently left sick due to fumes from generators. After receiving a call from a relative in his home county, Professor Monxo Lopez of New York City’s Hunter College was determined to create affordable solar for his home country.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Forget autonomous cars — rural Japan is betting on self-driving buses

Fergus Peace

September 25, 2018 |

Apolitical |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Japan

Japan is taking major steps to putting autonomous buses on the roads in rural areas because there is a need for reliable transportation and not enough funding as more young people move to the cities. It has the potential to save labor costs and provide more reliable transportation options while delivering necessary data to companies looking to expand driverless technology. However, this also requires more detailed mapping, which is often not available for smaller and more rural roads.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Africa's Fastest-Growing City Sees Benefits From More Female Engineers

Anne Kidmose Jensen

September 19, 2018 |

Pacific Standard |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: Tanzania, Dar es Salaam

In Dar es Salaam, the percentage of female engineers has leaped from 4% to 9% after the creation of a program providing mentorship opportunities and a monthly grant to encourage women to join the field. The program, partially funded by the Norwegian government, might also help the economy and Tanzania's infrastructure by creating a "more sustainable force of engineers."

Read More
Go to Original Story
Ensenada shows U.S. police departments what drones can do to fight crime

Gustavo Solis

August 30, 2018 |

San Diego Union-Tribune |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: Mexico, Ensenada

Police in Ensenada, Mexico, have been using drones since October 2017 and it has led to more than 500 arrests and a 10 percent drop in crime. The drones have fostered faster response times and help police decide how to allocate resources appropriately, while highlighting risks before officers approach a property. Officials in Chula Vista, Calif., are working with the same drone company to start a similar program, which could prompt changes in federal policies on using drones in the U.S.

Read More
Go to Original Story