Ubuntu Studio’s positive news round-up
Ubuntu Thoughts / 5 Min read
Friday 1st April, 2022
Callum Berry
Content & Media Manager
Content & Media Manager
Hello readers! It’s Friday again and it’s time for some positive news. Grab yourself a drink and let's begin...
Banks, bonds and rhinos
The World Bank said it has priced the world’s first wildlife bond, raising $150 million that will be partly used for the conservation of black rhinos in South Africa.
The five-year bond will pay returns determined by the rate of growth in populations of the animals in two South African reserves, the Addo Elephant National Park and the Great Fish River Nature Reserve, the World Bank’s International Bank for Reconstruction and Development said in a statement late Wednesday.
If successful, the program could be expanded to protect black rhino populations in Kenya as well as other wildlife species such as lions, tigers, gorillas and orangutans, an earlier proposal said.
Money is motivation, so hopefully this will provide an incentive for the conservation of these incredible but endangered species!
The five-year bond will pay returns determined by the rate of growth in populations of the animals in two South African reserves, the Addo Elephant National Park and the Great Fish River Nature Reserve, the World Bank’s International Bank for Reconstruction and Development said in a statement late Wednesday.
If successful, the program could be expanded to protect black rhino populations in Kenya as well as other wildlife species such as lions, tigers, gorillas and orangutans, an earlier proposal said.
Money is motivation, so hopefully this will provide an incentive for the conservation of these incredible but endangered species!
The world is your…
New York is building huge walls of oysters in its harbour. “Why” you ask? Firstly, oysters are natural storm barriers and can soften the blow of large waves and help protect cities from storm damage.
Secondly, they also help to clean the harbour. It’s been estimated that one oyster can filter around 50 gallons of water per day!
Finally, oysters are ecosystem engineers that can help to promote greater biodiversity and provide habitats for many species. New York was once home to roughly 200,000 acres of oyster reefs, but due to overharvesting and pollution these reefs were wiped out within 100 years.
However, the Billion Oyster Project is aiming to restore 1 billion oysters to New York harbour by 2035, having already restored 47 million oysters across 12 acres so far!
Secondly, they also help to clean the harbour. It’s been estimated that one oyster can filter around 50 gallons of water per day!
Finally, oysters are ecosystem engineers that can help to promote greater biodiversity and provide habitats for many species. New York was once home to roughly 200,000 acres of oyster reefs, but due to overharvesting and pollution these reefs were wiped out within 100 years.
However, the Billion Oyster Project is aiming to restore 1 billion oysters to New York harbour by 2035, having already restored 47 million oysters across 12 acres so far!
Smart and silky
After 10 years of painstaking research and development, Japanese biotech startup Spiber has figured out a way to make an equivalent version of spider silk in a lab. The process begins by genetically modifying the DNA of microbes to create proteins, says Spiber’s Thomas Threlfo.
Spider silk is just a fraction of a millimetre thick and five times stronger than steel, but until recently it’s been impossible to mass produce spider silk: it would require many spiders in one place to produce enough silk, and the arachnids are fiercely territorial and cannibalistic.
The fashion industry is known to be incredibly wasteful, so it’s great to see innovations in technology coming together to make more sustainable material alternatives.
Spider silk is just a fraction of a millimetre thick and five times stronger than steel, but until recently it’s been impossible to mass produce spider silk: it would require many spiders in one place to produce enough silk, and the arachnids are fiercely territorial and cannibalistic.
The fashion industry is known to be incredibly wasteful, so it’s great to see innovations in technology coming together to make more sustainable material alternatives.
Well that’s all from us at Ubuntu, we hope that we gave you the lift you needed to power through the last few hours of Friday! Have a great weekend, and be sure to follow our socials so you know when the next PNR comes out (every Friday).
Got an interesting story you’d like us to highlight? Feel free to send in your ideas to callum@ubuntustudio.co.uk and you could be featured in an upcoming PNR!
Got an interesting story you’d like us to highlight? Feel free to send in your ideas to callum@ubuntustudio.co.uk and you could be featured in an upcoming PNR!
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We appreciate that all life on earth is under threat, so we’re using the resources we have—our business, our investments, our voice and our imaginations—to do something about it. Reducing the negative impact on people and the planet.
If you're looking to make a change in how you market your business, we'd love to chat. Find out more at ubuntustudio.co.uk.
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