We've been reading...

13 year old makes solar power breakthrough
Inhabitat -- While most 13-year-olds spend their free time playing video games or cruising Facebook, one 7th grader was trekking through the woods uncovering a mystery of science. After studying how trees branch in a very specific way, Aidan Dwyer created a solar cell tree that produces 20-50% more power than a uniform array of photovoltaic panels. His impressive results show that using a specific formula for distributing solar cells can drastically improve energy generation. The study earned Aidan a provisional U.S patent - it's a rare find in the field of technology and a fantastic example of how biomimicry can drastically improve design...

Students volunteer to improve primary education in Ghana
Ashesi -- The African Renaissance Movement, an Ashesi student organization, has organized a program to improve the academic performance of students at two public primary schools in Labone, near the Ashesi campus. Groups of Ashesi students volunteer to help in school courses on a weekly basis, participating in one of three program areas: ICT education, personal financial management or academic mentorship. The information communication technology (ICT) program provides interested pupils between class six and Junior High School basic computer programming lessons. Pupils learn to use computers, become familiar with standard productivity software and even gain some basic programming skills...

Ban Ki-moon calls for UN, EU, and AU to Plan for Post-Qaddafi Libya
Bloomberg -- United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he will convene an “urgent” meeting on Libya’s future with the heads of the African Union, the Arab League, the European Union and a coalition of Islamic nations. “This is a hopeful moment,” Ban said today of the takeover of the Libyan capital, Tripoli, by the anti-government forces. “It is testimony to the courage and determination of the Libyan people to seek a free and democratic future.” Ban, speaking to reporters in New York, said that the meeting likely would be held Aug. 25 or 26 and that he is also calling for a meeting of the Security Council to give the UN a mandate to assist Libya’s transition to a new government...