海角大神

If you keep innovators in view, it鈥檚 hard not to feel at least a little optimistic.

I recently wrote in this space about a teen inventor in Florida who鈥檚 developing motors for electric vehicles that don鈥檛 rely on the extraction of rare-earth elements.聽

Now comes news that some Dutch students 鈥� with an eye to the carbon dioxide emitted in an EV鈥檚 entire lifespan, from manufacturing to recycling 鈥� have developed a prototype that can capture more carbon than it emits.聽

鈥淭hey imagine a future,鈥� , 鈥渨hen filters can be emptied at charging stations.鈥�

Separately, in Amsterdam, , scooping river trash. In Portland, Oregon, 鈥嬧�婦isaster Relief Trials train the to deliver messages and supplies should a natural disaster break the city鈥檚 infrastructure.

Regions that lack communications infrastructure to begin with may get help from a U.S. startup making backpack-size 鈥� essentially independent internet service providers. A pilot project is planned in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

And in response to deepening drought, a 鈥渕odular鈥� approach to was approved last week by California regulators. It will supply a small water utility south of Los Angeles. It passed muster with many environmentalists who鈥檇 opposed a larger private effort because of its projected effects.

鈥淭his could be replicated 鈥� up and down the coast,鈥� an environmental scientist told Yahoo News.

Small steps, big ideas. All face hurdles and course corrections. All spring from daring to hope.聽