A global consortium of scientists is proposing a hugely ambitious project to sequence the genomes of all known complex life on Earth.

We can unlock a wealth of secrets by sequencing every species on Earth, says Alice Klein

How a giant Amazonian frog could help save millions of lives

The Earth Bank of Codes wants to collect the genetic sequence of the natural world–and let countries make money from the scientific breakthroughs that would result, rather than selling their natural resources.

From smarter electric grids to automated monitoring of at-risk environments, there are many areas where technology could have exponential effects on sustainability.

How to map the DNA of all known plants and animal species on Earth

The nature of environmental and natural resource security has changed dramatically since the 1990s. Over the last two decades, the global economy, geared towards exploiting natural resources to serve an exponentially growing population of consumers, has far exceeded the carrying capacity of the planet. The depth of the transformation has been so profound that it has pushed Earth into a new geological epoch, the Anthropocene. Indeed, scientists have identified planetary boundaries that it would be unwise to transgress, and we seem to be in the process of crossing many of them right now.

The nature of environmental and natural resource security has changed dramatically since the 1990s. Over the last two decades, the global economy, geared towards exploiting natural resources to serve an exponentially growing population of consumers, has far exceeded the carrying capacity of the planet. The depth of the transformation has been so profound that it has pushed Earth into a new geological epoch, the Anthropocene. Indeed, scientists have identified planetary boundaries that it would be unwise to transgress, and we seem to be in the process of crossing many of them right now.

The Amazon urgently needs a Fourth Industrial Revolution

For a long time now, humans have drawn on the Amazon and its tremendous biodiversity – countless living organisms, plants, animals and insects – for raw materials and commodities. We have done it in the most unsustainable way possible, and unless we change course, the damage will be irreversible.

Diante do nível abissalmente baixo do debate público sobre qualquer tema relevante nos últimos anos, a gente até leva um susto quando percebe que, meu Deus do céu, ainda há seres humanos capazes de pensar no Brasil - e pensar "o" Brasil, como projeto de país. Foi mais ou menos essa a minha reação - OK, estou hiperbolizando um pouco, mas releve - ao ler um artigo publicado nesta semana na revista científica "PNAS", da Academia Nacional de Ciências dos EUA, por um time de pesquisadores brasileiros (e um empreendedor peruano).

Ameaçada por desmatamento, queimadas, uso insustentável do solo e dos recursos, Floresta Amazônica já perdeu 20% de mata. Pra proteger a floresta, cientistas propõem transformar a biodiversidade em tecnologia.

O futuro da Amazônia pode depender de uma terceira via de desenvolvimento baseada na inovação tecnológica de ponta, no conhecimento tradicional e nos ativos da biodiversidade. Esta arquitetura inclui erguer em vários pontos da floresta centros de pesquisa como o Vale do Silício, na Califórnia e ter uma rede de cientistas internacionais estudando sua riqueza biológica.

From smarter electric grids to automated monitoring of at-risk environments, there are many areas where technology could have exponential effects on sustainability.