Halcyon Highlights is a bi-weekly round-up of some of the most compelling trends that we have spotted over the past fortnight. + , - or = indicate whether we consider each trend/development to prove mainly positive, negative or neutral/too early to judge...
- Cambridge University research showed a rise in #HIV #heroin #prostitution #homicide #suicide in the wake of the #Greekcrisis.
- Food price volatility featuring high prices is likely to continue and possibly increase, making poor farmers, consumers and countries more vulnerable to poverty and food insecurity, Meanwhile, meat production and consumption continued to grow over the past year.
+ The energy efficiency of computing is doubling every 18 months.
+ A new clothing range has been designed specifically for people with Down syndrome.
+ There are new attempts to boost green spaces in urban areas.
+ In fewer than 15 years, nanomedicine has gone from fantasy to reality .
+ 80% of all visual impairment can now, reportedly, be avoided or cured
+ One person in 10 apparently now leaves passwords in their wills.
+ Solar could be the cheapest energy by 2018.
+ In 10 years, some windows will double as lighting/display screens.
- Is domestic slavery an invisible modern tragedy?
- Every day 1,000 women still needlessly die in pregnancy and childbirth.
- It is becoming clearer which cities will get hit hardest by rising sea levels.
= The future of air power will belong to unmanned systems and cars will drive themselves, in traffic.