No machine cools a street like a tree does. Meanwhile, our cities keep getting hotter, wetter and more polluted. In an era of climate change, that matters more each year. So planners everywhere are rediscovering the oldest piece of climate technology we have. In a city, large trees especially do a lot of good — […]
Cities feel climate change first. To begin with, summers grow hotter and cloudbursts grow heavier. Meanwhile, most cities are covered in stone, asphalt and bare roofs. That is a problem, but also an opportunity. After all, every flat roof is unused space. However, cover it with plants, and it starts working for the city. In […]
Big problems do not always need big machines. The Water Pyramid makes drinking water for a whole village. However, its tiny German cousin serves just one family: the Watercone. This small cone of clear plastic sits on a pan of salt or dirty water. Sunlight does the rest. One cone yields about 1 to 1.5 […]
Once a year, Pantone selects the colour of the year. This colour should capture the mood of the moment across the world. To find it, Pantone studies trends in fashion, art, travel, technology and society. For 2026, the choice is special. For the first time ever, the colour of the year is a white: Cloud […]
Fluffy pink catkins: so cute, and so hot. Everybody loves silky willow catkins. When you see them, you simply want to touch them. And here is the good news: they also come in a lovely pink-red. Moreover, the colour is 100% natural. No dye or paint is involved at any stage. When this article first […]
Can a simple ditch bring a desert back to life? Yes, it can. Dutch inventor Peter Westerveld proved it in Africa. His method is called contour trenching. You dig trenches in dry land, and they catch the rain. As a result, plants return — even in places with less than 100 mm of rain per […]
How do you grow a tree in a desert, without any drip line or water truck? Dutch inventor Pieter Hoff found a simple answer: the Waterboxx. This smart bucket collects dew and rain. Then it feeds that water to a tree sapling, drop by drop. Today, his invention has helped plant 2,000,000 trees in 55 […]
Lack of water threatens drinking water and food crops in many warm regions. However, Dutch engineer Martijn Nitzsche found a clever answer: the Water Pyramid. This large solar still turns salt or dirty water into clean drinking water. Moreover, it needs nothing but sunlight. Twenty years on, the pyramid has a strong track record. Meanwhile, […]
Introduction Food security in Sudan has deteriorated into one of the world’s most severe humanitarian emergencies. Defined as the state where individuals have consistent access to enough safe and nutritious food for an active and healthy life, food security remains a distant goal for a large and growing share of Sudan’s population. Since April 2023, […]
Introduction Prepare to uncover breathtaking secrets at the ultimate HortEx Vietnam 2027, Southeast Asia’s premier trade fair for horticulture and floriculture. Following the successful 2026 edition in Thailand, this pivotal annual event returns to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, from March 17-19, 2027. HortEx alternates between Vietnam and Thailand each year, serving as a dynamic […]