Fish food made from CO2, device making seawater drinkable, rise of animal-assisted therapies

| Posted on July 22, 2020 |

Photo: FOX / pexels (CC0)

Today in Squirrel News, a project in the UK converting the CO2 from industrial emissions into proteins designed for animal feed, a handheld device designed for humanitairan aid that is able to turn seawater into fresh, drinkable water, and we take a look at the benefits of animal-assisted therapy and how psychotherapy is employing the use of our furry friends more and more frequently.

Fish food created from CO2 emissions

Receiving £3 million funding, React-First takes CO2 from industrial emissions to generate a single-cell protein specially designed to feed animals.

Source: Euronews

Handheld device is able to turn seawater into drinkable freshwater

QuenchSea is a low-cost machine that could prove to be hugely impactful for humanitarian aid and water-related emergency situations.

Source: Inhabitat

Scientists create first ever non-cuttable manufactured material

Inspired by grapefruits, fish scales and shells, the new material, Proteus, could be cheaply manufactured and used for anything from bike locks to security doors.

Source: New Scientist

Austria issues first intersex birth certificate

After a four year legal battle, Alex Juergen has finally been granted a birth certificate that accurately reflects their sex.

Source: Thomson Reuters Foundation News

Red Sea corals’ heat tolerance offers hope for climate crisis

Reefs from Gulf of Aqaba in the Red Sea survived rise of seven degrees, say marine scientists.

Source: The Guardian

IKEA drops plant-based meatballs

Selling 1 billion meatballs a year, IKEA now hopes their carbon footprint can be reduced with the introduction of a pea protein-based alternative.

Source: Inhabitat

Red kites thriving in the UK after a 30-year conservation success

In only 30 years, the 13 birds brought over from Spain have now become an estimated 10,000 across the UK.

Source: BBC News

Rebuilding sustainably in Zimbabwe after Cyclone Idai

Locals around Chimanimani National Park are developing climate-friendly practices through orchards, beekeeping and tree nurseries.

Source: Deutsche Welle

Offering homeless people the chance to transfer their knowledge into tour guide work

Unseen Tours is a social enterprise providing work and training for homeless and vulnerably housed Londoners to train as tour guides in the city they know so well. Now in times of a pandemic, they’ve gone virtual.