Here's another interesting article:
LAUNCH (warning, auto-play video) is an organization from the US, including NASA, the State Department and Nike, looking into ideas about sustaining life on the planet...
First area of concern: Water
Ideas:
semipermiable pipe to irrigate plants using salt water...
floating sensors for water quality and flow measurement, particularly during disasters
solar powered UV light and sand filters for purifying water in Rwanda...
other areas to be tackled in future: energy, food, air...
