Sparks of genius give hope on climate

Does ingenuity always save us in the end? Clever new inventions made for a competition could help us fix the climate crisis.  What's happening?  Have you ever seen a cow wearing a mask?  It might sound like the start of a joke, but soon it might be common. A new invention has just won an award. It is called Zelp. And it might help fight climate change.  Find out more Cows are important for food around the world. But they cause a problem. When they burp, they produce a gas called methane. It is a greenhouse gas.  Zelp is a mask that goes over a cow's nose. It does not hurt the animal or stop it from breathing or eating. But it filters out the methane.  The inventors have won a prize. Three others have had special mentions in the competition.  One is called Amphitex. It is a fabric that breaks down in nature. Another is Aerseed. These are pods made from food waste carried by the wind to spread seeds.  The third is a device that stops rubber rubbing off car tyres. This could help solve a plastic pollution problem.  Humans are often ingenious. We are clever at finding ways to solve problems.  Does ingenuity always save us in the end? Some say Yes! One example is Covid-19. When it first appeared, nobody knew much about it. Now we have ways to test it. And we have vaccines! We can always think of ways to solve problems.  Others think No. Some problems are too big. Climate change can only be fixed if we all work together to change how we live. Clever inventions will not save us.   KeywordsMethane - A particularly strong greenhouse gas produced by fossil fuels and cattle.