AN eye-opening cover story in this month’s issue of National Geographic follows the magazine’s senior environment editor Robert Kunzig and photographer Luca Locatelli as they speak to engineers, chemists and inventors about the possibilities of eliminating waste on Earth.
Hopeful findings show how industries around the globe are slowly but surely investigating the possibilities of a circular economy, which feeds back into itself. Kunzig discovers that while a world without waste sounds impossible, “the vision of a circular economy – where we use resources sparingly and recycle materials endlessly – is inspiring businesses and environmentalists alike”.
His investigation looks into innovative ways to close the gap, that is, to reshape the global economy to a circular one, eliminating waste.
Kunzig says: “People can’t go circular on their own, the system has to change.”
He adds that the people featured in this article are beginning to make this change possible.
From agriculture, clothes and food, to metals, machines and energy, National Geographic documents the impressive innovations that could revolutionise the way these global industries operate.
They discover AI rubbish bins in kitchens which can reduce food waste, a family-run textile rescuing group which can collect and sort 460 tons of discarded clothing a day, and the Blue Lagoon in Iceland, where geothermal water generates heat and electricity for homes while also serving as a popular tourist attraction.
This edition of National Geographic also continues the magazine’s 2020 yearlong series Women: A Century of Change, with an article on trailblazing female explorers.
Nina Strochlic and Sara Manco present snapshot profiles of innovative women who have contributed to the history of the magazine and paved the way for women in the spheres of science, nature, and exploration.
The magazine also delves into the story of the surviving Chibok schoolgirls who were kidnapped in 2014 by Boko Haram, who have refused to give up hope and their education in the face of unimaginable threat.
In addition, the March issue unveils a photographer’s experiment with a wild bee nest, in turn yielding unprecedented images that show how the insects defend themselves, stay warm or cool and even socialise.
Over six months, photographer Ingo Arndt shot more than 60,000 pictures, creating a portrait of wild honeybees unlike anything seen before.
It also includes shocking photography of dancing monkeys, Japanese macaques, that have had a long history as entertainments and cultural symbols. The feature looks into the treatment of these animals and highlights the controversy around this tradition.
Finally, the issue includes a brief interview with Jeff Goldblum and a special insight into his new show coming soon to Disney+, The World According to Jeff Goldblum.
He answers three burning questions and how he finds himself in a “cycle of appetized curiosity”.
* The images are from the March 2020 issue of National Geographic on shelves from March 4. Extended coverage can be found online at www.nationalgeographic.co.uk
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