World Economic Forum (June 17, 2023) – This week’s top stories of the week include:

0:15 How to solve the global rice shortage – Every day, more than half the world sits down to a plate of rice. A shortage could harm the food security of billions of the poorest people. But if scientists and farmers can solve this problem it would be great news for the climate, too

2:24 How El Niño will affect your weather – El Niño is a climate pattern in the Pacific Ocean and a new phase of it has just begun. Normally, Pacific ‘trade winds’ blow from east to west, pushing warm water away from South America towards Asia. Cold water rises in its place, regulating temperatures and drawing up nutrients for marine life from the ocean depths.

4:17 This fabric blocks mosquito bites – Researchers at Auburn University used a programmable 3D-knitting robot to create a weave that has a ‘chainmail effect’ at the microscopic level and which does not create openings as it bends. It also has enough holes for air flow to keep wearers cool in hot countries.

5:56 Indonesian poachers restore coral reefs – Marine scientist Syafyudin Yusuf is leading the efforts. Together, his team has restored 12 hectares of corals . Just 15 years ago, only 2% of the region’s original reefs remained undamaged. Local fishers used explosives and chemicals to stun or kill fish, making them easier to catch. “We needed to live and survive, but the chances of getting a decent job aren’t good, and the only job we knew of was that, that’s how we began bombing the reefs.”

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