- [Narrator] So I really like to snack and one
of my most favorite snacks
of all time happens to be bananas.
I mean, you can have them in a smoothie,
with some peanut butter, on some toast, in any way, really.
And usually like most people,
I just throw away the peels after I'm done eating,
but did you know that banana peels
and leaves can be used to make all kinds of things now?
In fact, since over 100 billion bananas
are consumed annually around the world,
scientists have developed technologies
that convert banana peels and leaves
into useful materials that are also bio-degradable.
For example, bananas can be used to make shoe soles,
which is truly mind blowing.
So a designer named Sarah Harbarth used banana peel waste
to create a durable material called Kouri, K-U-O-R-I,
which is used for everything from glasses, to belts,
and even phone cases and shoe soles.
Banana leaves are also used for making things
like disposable tableware or containers.
So in 2010, a young inventor named Tenith Adithyaa saw
how banana leaves were going to waste
and developed a technology that would preserve banana leaves
for up to three years.
And these could also be used
to create biodegradable containers.
So you're probably wondering why I'm rambling
so much about bananas
and as much as I love them as a snack,
I personally think that it's even more awesome
that scientists and engineers
are creating useful, biodegradable materials out of them.
Technologies like Sarah and Tenith's
that help reduce plastic waste are super great
for our planet and its biodiversity
because they prevent more plastic microfibers
from polluting our environment.
And that's the great news.
With science and engineering,
we humans can create technologies
that prevent ecosystem degradation,
reduce pollution and improve sustainability.
So let's take a look at a couple
of other really cool examples.
Since I live in the sunny all year long state of Arizona,
it's not uncommon to see residents making use
of solar panels here.
So this kind of technology was created to allow photons,
or light particles, to generate a flow of electricity.
And since it harnesses energy from the sun,
this kind of electricity doesn't require using fossil fuels.
So this means that solar panels help limit
greenhouse gas emissions, which contribute
to global warming and pose a threat
to the biodiversity present on earth right now.
And even cooler for people who want a more sleek option
to use for their homes, we now have this thing
called solar roof tiles.
So these are roof tiles that generate solar energy
and isn't that so cool?
Well technologies like this will only continue improving,
which will help us combat climate change
and preserve biodiversity.
Now, if we drive westwards from Arizona
to California, the chances are you'll spot
these huge white windmills lining the Hills
and windmills are another source of clean energy.
They are designed to harness wind
and convert it to electricity.
So windmills function in a similar way to solar panels.
thanks to the people who designed them,
we have another alternative to fossil fuels,
which is super great for our planet.
And I could go on and on about all
of the amazing new technology that's being created
to protect the environment.
Even now people are developing things
like eco-friendly vehicles, buildings, household devices,
even waste management systems.
And as you can probably tell from all
of these unique technologies,
scientists and engineers have already found
many different solutions to try
and address environmental issues.
But we also have to ask,
"Are there any drawbacks to all of these new contributions?"
Well, there are some cons that we have to consider.
For instance, since these environmental friendly
technologies, or green technologies are still
relatively new ideas, we have to do a lot
of research on them to make sure that
the technology can make a significant impact
and succeed, and that we minimize
the environmental impacts that these technologies can have.
So for example, solar panels can take up a lot of space
and impact sensitive habitats.
So we need to research ways to mitigate these effects.
So this requires large amounts of money
to be spent on researching
and developing these technologies,
which means that companies may be less willing to switch
and pay so much for green alternatives.
And the high implementation costs also means
that at first consumers like you
and me will probably have to pay higher prices
for these technologies compared
to traditional products.
Going back to our discussion on solar panels,
the drawback to installing panels
at home is usually a higher price.
So even though solar panels would save homeowners money
in the long run on electricity,
some consumers might not be willing
or able to pay for the higher initial price.
And last but not least, some people who work
in conventional industries may go out
of business or lose their jobs.
So in order for the world to go greener,
we have to figure out ways to protect these workers
and businesses as well.
So clearly there are many challenges that we have
to address if we want to implement technology
that's better for the environment,
but there's plenty of pros to, seeing how scientists
and engineers can do so much for the environment.
With science and engineering we can come up
with methods to save energy, reduce pollution,
conserve our planet's precious resources,
even feed more people
and also create new business
opportunities and jobs for people.
And that's the great thing.
Scientists and engineers and thinkers
around the world can use our existing pool
of knowledge to address some of the biggest issues of today.
So to wrap up this video, today we learned
that scientists and engineers can find solutions
to preserve the environment and make way
for a better future.
So the next time you have a banana,
or any fruit for that matter, spot solar panels
or a drive by some windmills,
I hope you can reflect on the fact
that these green innovations start as ideas.
So if you ever have an idea for a technology
that you think can help our environment,
you should write it down.
It just might be useful one day.