Counterfeit medications / agricultural supplies could be discovered in developing countries
By Hicbd
"mPedigree’s core innovation is a unique product identification marker that consumers use to determine authenticity. They simply scratch off the label and evaluate a code within seconds using a mobile phone camera or text message. A rich overlay of software tools and sensor technologies create full supply chain traceability and visibility, risk management, and predictive analytics. Empowered consumers in Africa, South Asia, and the Middle East know immediately if they have counterfeit goods—not after they’ve entered diabetic shock or have seen crops fail."
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Windows could be opened at different times during the day
By Hicbd
"'Lüften' in German refers to the practice of opening windows to ventilate a home, replacing stale air with fresh air. It's a common practice in Germany, often described as "ventilating". There are two main types: Stoßlüften (shock ventilation) and Querlüften (cross-ventilation). The goal is to improve indoor air quality by removing excess carbon dioxide, moisture, and pollutants."
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Socfin African rubber / palm oil plantations could have no labor / sexual abuse
By Hicbd
"For years, a rubber and palm oil company that supplies some of the world’s top tiremakers has been dogged by allegations of sexual coercion at its plantations. Socfin — short for Société Financière des Caoutchoucs — says it has taken steps to improve matters, but an exclusive Bloomberg report shows those claims remain widespread. On today’s Big Take podcast, host Sarah Holder sits down with Bloomberg’s Sheridan Prasso to discuss her investigation into why the abuse has been so hard to stop — and a new EU law that could give corporations like Socfin a big incentive to reform."
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Doctors could misdiagnose B12 deficiency / screenings could be required
By Hicbd
"Doctors can misdiagnose B12 deficiency due to a variety of reasons, including the fact that the symptoms can overlap with many other health conditions, and a lack of awareness about the need for specific tests to diagnose it. The non-specific nature of B12 deficiency symptoms, such as fatigue, weakness, and poor memory, can lead to misdiagnosis as other conditions like folate deficiency, depression, or even more serious illnesses like myelodysplastic syndrome."
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Single use plastics, clothing / fabric, household items could be picked up for recycling
By Hicbd
"Ridwell is a convenient recycling service that offers customers a way to dispose of challenging-to-recycle items responsibly. Customers receive bags to collect specific household items and then have them picked up at their doorsteps every two weeks."
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Early epidurals could not slow labor down
By Hicbd
"The idea that epidurals drastically slow down labor is a common misconception...Epidurals generally do not significantly slow down labor, though they may slightly lengthen the second stage (pushing). Some studies suggest a potential delay of about 15-20 minutes in the pushing phase. However, epidurals can also facilitate labor by relieving pain, allowing the mother to rest and relax, which can sometimes help labor progress."
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A home for humans could exist on Mars
By Hicbd
"Marsha, short for Mars habitat, is a 3D-printed vertical home designed for life on the red planet...The most compelling thing about Marsha is that it’s made from biopolymer —a plastic usually made from vegetable starch— and basalt fibre from the Martian surface. To build the homes, the AI SpaceFactory team proposes to send small robots in advance of human explorers to first harvest the local materials. These materials would then be mixed with the biopolymer to serve as the ‘ink’ to 3D print."
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A bindi sticker / patch could provide iodine / vitamins
By Hicbd
"In rural India, many people face iodine deficiency. Now, there’s a simple, innovative solution to this problem: the Life Saving Dot. The Life Saving Dot is an iodine-soaked bindi, a traditional dot worn on the center of the forehead for various cultural, religious and cosmetic reasons. This project was started by an Indian medical research center and Grey for Good (the philanthropic side of Grey Advertising) with the goal that women in rural India would receive their daily iodine dose simply by wearing the bindi."
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Silver nitrate paper filters in a book could provide long-lasting, safe drinking water
By Hicbd
"The "Drinkable Book" is a water purification system that uses silver-nanoparticle-coated paper to filter water, removing 99.9% of bacteria like E. coli, cholera, and typhoid. Each page acts as a filter, and the book also provides water safety tips in different languages...Each page is its own little filter that can clean up to 100 liters of water (that’s around a 30-day supply)."
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Urban slums could have high quality preschools with health / nutrition programming
By Hicbd
"We provide daycare and preschool services to working mothers in East Africa's urban slums for less than $1/day through a "hub & spoke" model. First, we build & operate best-practice early childhood "hub" centers that provide young children safe & child friendly spaces, trained teachers, a locally-relevant, play-based curriculum, and a health & nutrition program for 12 hours per day during the working week. In addition, we partner with local women ("mamapreneurs") to start or grow their own childcare "spokes" providing them with specialized training, customized support, age-appropriate learning materials, and ongoing mentorship & quality assurance."
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