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Paul Stamets has spent his life studying mushrooms and believes they can save the world. He's just one of the top five eco-TEDsters.
AP Photo/Chris Polk
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While BP opted not to use mushrooms in the Gulf, one TED speaker highlights some fascinating planet saving uses for mushrooms.
Since its very first gathering in northern California in 1984, TED—Technology, Environment, Design—has been showcasing some of the most visionary thinkers, entrepreneurs and artists working to reshape the world. Many of the presenters are focused on the environment, including our Top Top 5 Eco TEDsters.
WATCH VIDEO: Top 5 Eco TEDsters
5. Stamets on Shrooms
In his TED talk, mycologist and entrepreneur Paul Stamets share six ways mushrooms can save our lives. He's at number five in our Top 5 Eco TEDsters.
Stamets has filed 22 patents for mushroom-related technologies including pesticidal fungi that trick insects into eating them, mushrooms that clean soil and some that can treat smallpox. Stamets even has plans sow fungal spores on other planets to create an ecological footprint.
4. Jordan on Art
In a number four, photographer Chris Jordan eyes up American consumption and waste to startling effect.
His 2008 series Running the Numbers brings to life to statistics of US consumption. Facts like "We use 2 million plastic bottles every 5 minutes" are visually represented in manipulated digital photographs that are both alluring and shocking.
3. Oliver on Food
British TV Chef Jamie Oliver believes food has the powerful to transform our lives for the better. He's at number three in our Top 5 Eco TEDsters.
With the sobering news that two thirds of the US is obese and that kids will live on average 10 years less than their parents, Oliver's Food Revolution hopes to educate children about food, inspire families to cook again and wage war against obesity.
2. Gore on Climate
In at number two, Al Gore returned to TED post An Inconvenient Truth with new evidence that the pace of climate change may be even worse than scientists had predicted.
So what can we do about it? The former Vice President recommends a carbon tax to replace taxation on employment while in the developing world, we need to integrate solutions to poverty with the solutions to the climate crisis.
1. Pritchard on Water
In at number one, engineer Michael Pritchard delivers one of the most inspiring TED talks and demonstrations ever, making dirty water drinkable in just seconds.
Pritchard's Lifesaver purification bottle uses cutting-edge nanotechnology to transform contaminated water into pure drinking water—potentially revolutionizing water-delivery systems in disaster-stricken areas around the globe.
Credits:
Stamets - AP Photo/Chris Polk
Jordan – Chris Jordan
Oliver - Fred Duval/FilmMagic
Gore - Brian To/FilmMagic
Pritchard – Courtesy of Lifesaversystems
