It’s no secret that our planet has been dealing with a lot recently. From extreme weather events brought on by the climate crisis, to societal struggles of hunger and violence. But inventors around the world keep working towards inventions. Inventions saving our planet and helping to lead things in the right direction. So one step at a time. Here are four inventions helping to save our planet currently.
Plastic Eating Bacteria
Most interestingly, an international research team led by scientists from the University of Portsmouth expanding on previous findings of a plastic-eating bacteria species. It was discovered in Japan. In their experiments to determine its evolutionary pathways, the team accidentally improved its plastic-degradation enzyme, making the potentially crucial tool even more effective.
At a large scale, this bacteria could be used not only to degrade plastic waste in oceans, which poses a threat to the entire marine ecosystem, but also to recycle plastic at a fundamental level where oil would no longer be needed to produce it. Keep a look out for this technology in the near future, and be sure to support plastics companies that pledge to turn away from using oil to create virgin plastics.
Offshore Wind Farms
Wind turbines have long been one of the cleanest forms of renewable energy. By harnessing wind power, electricity can be generated consistently and effectively with a one-time investment of building the turbines.
However, wind power could be much more effective. Almost all of the world’s turbines currently exist on land, where winds are much weaker and less regular. However, a 2017 study has shown that wind energy infrastructure at a large scale on the open ocean could power the entire world’s energy needs in theory.
Getting there will be difficult, since projects on the scale in question (a wind farm the size of Greenland) would be tricky and dangerous to manage; building things out on the ocean generally is no small task. But new advances in massive adaptive turbine blades have increased the potential effectiveness of such a plan. Plus, more localized and small-scale offshore wind farm projects, while not covering the entirety of the globe’s needs, are steps in the right direction.
Seawater Sieve
A research team in Manchester has made recent advancements in a new approach to filtering ocean water to make it drinkable: graphene sieves.
Clean drinking water has always been a scarce resource in many parts of the world, and is poised to become even more so in the coming decade. The Manchester team offers a solution, improving graphene filtering technology by controlling the detrimental swelling of the graphene particles that was a hold-up until now.
Many avenues are being explored to make briny sea water drinkable, or at least usable for agricultural purposes. Hopefully, the Manchester researchers will find continued successes in the next phase of their research and add to the large-scale water filtration options of the next decade.
Green Patents
Although not a specific invention in themselves, green patents have paved the way. Especially for more rapid advances in sustainable relevant inventions.
Most interestingly and yes there is a significant debate still ongoing. It’s about how compulsory licensing should work. In addition and most importantly in developing countries. All because the green patent system overall is a boon. Most interestingly to the eco-friendly market.
According to J.D. Houvener of Bold Patents San Francisco, green patents offer key incentives to businesses and investors. That’s especially to help spur environmentally responsible innovation.
Yes and in conclusion, there’s a lot of work to do. Especially to move the planet towards a greener and more sustainable future. That’s including scientists, businesses, and lawmakers around the world. I mean they are so continuing to make progress.
Furthermore, these sustainable energy concepts are inventions saving our planet. Again and for example waste removal strategies, and legal incentives for eco-friendly technologies. All are important in my opinion.
So partnerships between companies, researchers, and government continues. All to strive towards a better future.
In conclusion and for more on green living, head over to the blog.
