13 Technological Fix 2013-2014

"Group chaired by former UN secretary general urges farmers to shake fear of the unknown and adopt new technologies" Excellent argument arguing for the development of GM crops in Africa. Will be useful for your homewrok next 1/2 term.

"Fighting global warming by reflecting sunlight back into space risks "terrifying" consequences including droughts and conflicts, according to three major new analyses of the promise and perils of geoengineering. But research into deliberately interfering with the climate system must continue in search of technology to use as a last resort in combating climate change, scientists have concluded."

"Almost a billion people face starvation and that problem will worsen unless we use the most effective technologies"

"Former yacht designer's ambitious project intends to put huge kites flying over the sea in formation to generate clean, affordable electricity"

"Study models impact on global rainfall when artificial volcanic eruptions are created in a bid to reverse climate change"

"Indonesia is banking on an unusual strategy to prevent further flooding in its inundated capital Jakarta, and officials claim that they are already seeing positive results. They are using 'cloud seeding' - a weather modification technology often resorted to during drought. The method involves injecting clouds with substances that encourage the formation of ice crystals heavy enough to fall, thereby speeding up the production of rain."

"Farmers in parts of India are breaking growing records, using less seed, less water, and compost as fertiliser. This ground-breaking method of cultivation, developed in Madagascar, is boosting yields and changing lives for the farmers. Norman Uphoff, professor at Cornell University, explains how it is done For more on this subject, see John Vidal's report in the Observer Food Monthly on Sunday"

In a village in India's poorest state, Bihar, farmers are growing world record amounts of rice - with no GM, and no herbicide. Is this one solution to world food shortages? * India's rice revolution - audio slideshow

"Golden rice, a new strain that boosts vitamin A levels and reduces blindness in developing countries, is about to be sown in the Philippines - and is the new battleground crop"

Paraguay is the greenest place on earth to make and drive an electric car, according to analysis by independent research group, Shrink That Footprint, which has assessed the impact of grid-powered electric vehicles (EV) in twenty of the world's leading countries.

"A tiny "genetic patch" can be used to prevent a form of deafness which runs in families, according to animal tests. Patients with Usher syndrome have defective sections of their genetic code which cause problems with hearing, sight and balance."

The project is part of the 4Afrika Initiative, an investment programme being announced by technology giant Microsoft, that also includes a new Windows Phone 8 smartphone for the region and investment in help for small businesses on the continent, and in education and internships.For the white spaces project, the company is working with a Kenyan ISP, Indigo Telecom, and the Kenyan government. The ISP is installing wireless 'base stations' - or masts - that are solar-powered, to get round the lack of mains electricity. The base stations act as a link to the nearest main cable connection to the internet, without the expense of extending the fibre-optic network. The solar panels will power the bases stations - and also charge computer equipment The signal supplied is much more powerful than normal wifi.

"A new grass that cuts the water running off from fields by half could help stem the rising floods that global warming is bringing to the UK. The roots of the grass, a natural hybrid of rye and fescue grasses, produce more pores in the soil than traditional types, meaning more water can be stored."

"Genetic modification has so far mainly been confined to developing crops that tolerate herbicides and resist pests. It has done little to increase yields"

"Scientists are attempting to control the weather by using lasers to create clouds, induce rain and even trigger lightning."

"To meet the food needs of growing population, managing water resources used in rice farming has become a central focus"