HORIZON SOLUTIONS SITE | Working to find and advance solutions to environment, health, poverty, and development problems


Groundwater Reserves Found In Drought-Stricken Northern Kenya	An exploration of groundwater resources has identified reserves of water in Turkana County in drought-stricken northern Kenya. Of Kenya’s 41 million people, 17 million lack access to safe water and 28 million do not have adequate sanitation.
Elephant Rescue Efforts Gaining Momentum	“Elephants across Africa and Asia are being poached for their ivory at increasing levels,” says WWF. Fortunately, there are many local human populations, national and international organizations and governments in the world often working together to save elephants and their habitats, groups in Asia and Africa, and even with elephant sanctuaries in the United States.
Modeling Disease Outcomes to Help Meet Challenges of Infectious Diseases and Climate Change	Climate change is already affecting the spread of infectious diseases--and human health and biodiversity worldwide--according to disease ecologists reporting research results in the August 2, 2013 issue of the journal Science. Modeling disease outcomes from host and parasite responses to climate variables, they say, could help public health officials and environmental managers address the challenges posed by the changing landscape of infectious disease.
Haiti to Bolster Protection of One of Its Largest Natural Reserves	Support for a sustainable management program at Macaya National Park: A $9 million grant will help Haiti carry out a sustainable land management program at the Macaya National Park, home to one of the country’s largest remaining forests, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) announced on 1 August 2013.
U.S. EPA Strengthens Chemical Assessment Process to Protect Public Health	The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced changes to its Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) Program to improve the scientific foundation of assessments. IRIS is a human health assessment program that evaluates information on health effects that may result from exposure to environmental contaminants.
Geckos Adhere to Surfaces Submerged Underwater: Study May Help Inform Future Bio-Inspired Gecko-Like Adhesives	“The geckos stuck just as well under water as they did on a dry surface, as long as the surface was hydrophobic [water-loving],” Stark explains. “We believe this is how geckos stick to wet leaves and tree trunks in their natural environment.” The study has implications for the design of a synthetic gecko-inspired adhesive. Geckos' ability to stick to trees and leaves during rainforest downpours has fascinated scientists for decades, leading a group of University of Akron researchers to solve the mystery.
Harvard Scientists Find Changing Atmosphere Affects How Much Water Trees Need	Increasing levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide alter how plants use water: Spurred by increasing levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide, forests over the last two decades have become dramatically more efficient in how they use water. "Findings from this study are important to our understanding of forest ecosystems--and how they can be managed more effectively now and in the future."
Oyster 800 Wave Machine Endures Massive Waves in Scotland	The footage was captured on April 23 this year, and shows Oyster 800 in waves over eight metres high at the European Marine Energy Centre in Orkney. "The big challenge in designing and building a wave machine is ensuring it can survive in massive waves. The video gives a good example of what we need to design for," says Aquamarine Power Chief Executive Officer Martin McAdam.
Underwater Camera Rig Built by Students and Teacher Deployed to Observe Antarctic Fish	The icy Southern Ocean that surrounds Antarctica is about as cold, stormy and inhospitable a body of water as can be imagined. But thanks to the ingenuity of a group of high-school students, their teacher and a miniature video camera on a cable, it has also become a real-life classroom for budding marine engineers.
Water Isotopes Found to Leave Fingerprints for Climate Scientists	Researchers study water vapor to learn more about the water cycle and impacts of climate change University of Colorado meteorologist David Noone and his team are working to understand how water moves around the planet. With support from the National Science Foundation (NSF), the project team observes and analyzes the stable isotope composition of water vapor and precipitation, primarily at the 300-meter (984-foot) Boulder Atmospheric Observatory tower.