How Clémentine Delait transformed an unusual condition into a life of courage, compassion, and unforgettable success. At a time when anyone who looked different risked ridicule or exclusion, Frenchwoman Clémentine Delait (1865-1939) chose a remarkably different path. Instead of hiding the beard that began growing in her late teens, she embraced it and built a […]
African architects are creating comfortable, low-carbon buildings that offer valuable lessons for a warming world. As temperatures continue to rise, architects across Africa are showing that staying cool doesn’t always require energy-hungry air conditioning. By combining centuries-old building traditions with modern engineering, they are creating climate-responsive architecture – buildings designed to work with nature rather […]
Drought-defying plants could transform agriculture and food security in a changing climate. As the world faces intensifying climate challenges, from prolonged droughts to erratic rainfall patterns, scientists and policymakers are increasingly turning to nature-based solutions. Among the most fascinating of these are resurrection plants, a group of flora that can survive extreme dehydration and come […]
Social Entrepreneurs Are Turning Big Ideas into Global Impact At a time when climate disruption, inequality, and economic uncertainty dominate headlines, the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship offers a more hopeful story: one in which innovators are proving that business, social impact, and environmental stewardship can work together. Founded in 1998 by Klaus and Hilde […]
When you think of sharks, you might picture the dramatic scenes from movies like Jaws. But in reality, sharks are some of the most important, and fascinating, animals on Earth. These ancient creatures are essential to the health of our oceans and showcase incredible biological adaptations that have helped them survive for hundreds of millions […]
From classrooms to careers, a global volunteer movement is helping women and girls overcome obstacles and rewrite their futures Across the globe, women and girls continue to face barriers that limit their access to education, training, and economic opportunity, with poverty, violence, discrimination, and lack of resources among them. Stepping into this gap with purpose […]
The World of Pulses: Small Seeds, Big Achievements Who would have thought? Today, February 10, is World Pulses Day! The theme this year is: “Pulses of the world: from modesty to excellence.” But, really? A day to celebrate pulses? Yes, because, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), pulses play […]
Protecting the Red Sea’s Climate-Resilient Corals Here’s some rare environmental good news. An initiative based in Switzerland is helping safeguard one of the planet’s most climate-resilient coral reef systems at a moment when reefs worldwide are in steep decline. Coral reefs are diverse underwater ecosystems built by tiny coral animals that secrete limestone skeletons, forming […]
Today’s challenges can ignite a bold new era of progress. Throughout human history, we can see recurring cycles of crisis and collapse but also, critically, resilience and renewal. Today, when we face environmental degradation, climate change, social fragmentation, and existential risk, it is important to remember that our ancestors have weathered dark times before, and […]
How America’s First Female Codebreaker Outwitted Criminals, Spies, and History Countless women throughout history have been overshadowed by gender biases, their achievements attributed to men or overlooked entirely. Elizebeth Smith Friedman (1892-1980) is one such extraordinary figure whose groundbreaking work in cryptology remained hidden for decades. Born in Indiana, Illinois (USA), Friedman displayed an early […]
