Most tires have to be changed regularly, long before the rubber starts to crumble and becomes a safety issue. But rubber is extremely durable — with great recycling potential, from rubber mats to rainproof bags.

In a bid to reduce unemployment and get around rising energy costs, Sunny Akpoyibo started a "solar academy" in Lagos. There people can learn how solar panels work, and how to install and repair them.

A university in Germany has hit upon an eco-friendly way for its students to charge their phones while working out at the same time using bikes that harness power while they pedal.

Gourmets in China pay crazy prices. One kilo of dried sea cucumber fetches up to $1,000. Breeders in Madagascar's Tampolove village are protecting their marine ecosystem while earning extra income.

A group of women in Samburu, Kenya have taken it upon themselves to look after their gentle giants neighbors. Mama Tembo, which means "elephant mother" in Swahili, combines technology with community interaction.

In huge car graveyards components often get a second chance at life. Recent premiums to trade in dirty diesels for new cars mean that lots of nearly new parts are there for the taking.

Farmers in Ghana now have a new app to help them market their products and get paid quickly for whatever they sell. It puts them in touch with the right people and can keep food from spoiling.

Water is often wasted unnecessarily. Two men in Yaounde, Cameroon were inspired to start a group that goes door-to-door raising awareness about how water is used — and wasted — in private households.

An NGO is organizing training camps in Kenya for coffee farmers. Here they can learn different cultivation methods and how to deal with the sudden and unexpected effects of climate change.

It may look like a wasteland, but many animals and plants are finding a home among Germany's military training grounds. They don't seem to mind the noise and are well protected from predators.