A team of agricultural scientists working with the CSIRO has invented a digital device called the Chameleon, which offers a simple new way to measure how moist the soil is under crops. It only costs a few dollars to manufacture, making it a truly viable solution for farming communities around the world. Quite often the only way of currently knowing if crops are getting enough, or too much, water is to wait until the plant shows physical signs of stress. https://blog.csiro.au/good-karma-for-water-saving-chameleon/

loquilove is building a new online live tutoring and language learning app for a good cause. The platform allows you to learn and teach a language online and at the same time help educate children or entrepreneurs in third world countries. On the app tutors and students from across the world can easily connect and interact online to learn or teach any language. Giving or taking live lessons will be affordable and as easy as using Skype or ordering an Uber. You can conveniently search students/tutors by skill level, schedule lessons, provide ratings and pay directly on the app. www.loquilove.com/kickstarter

This time of the year is very busy and it's easy to be impatient, particularly when grocery shopping. The L sign in front of this young cashier at Harris Farm Markets Randwick is a clever way to encourage patience. If you choose her queue, as I did, your expectations are lower. It was a pleasant surprise when she exceeded expectations. I told her the sign reminded me of a joke my son made that I should put an L plate on my car so drivers behind me would not become impatient with my slow driving!

Scientists from the Centre of Sustainable Chemical Technologies (CSCT) at the University of Bath have successfully created a plastic that doesn't use harmful chemicals, and is biodegradable. It's made from nothing more than sugar and carbon dioxide. http://www.weforum.org/agenda/2017/10/scientists-have-made-biodegradable-plastic-from-sugar-and-carbon-dioxide

Five ideas from IdeaSpies were presented by M&A lawyers in Mark Stanbridge?s team at the Ashurst December 2017 End of Year Boardroom Lunch. They were all winners at previous lunches during the year. The winning idea receiving the most votes from directors was C10H14N205+Co2 presented by Lee-Anne Yeo- biodegradeable plastic made from sugar and carbon dioxide. www.ideaspies.com/post/biodegradeable-plastic-voted-top-idea-at-ashurst-boardroom-lunch/

The Coogee Pavilion restaurant, a large and crowded venue, uses a GPS tracker on the table number to find us and deliver our order. We sat back and relaxed a long way from where we placed our order knowing that the cheerful staff would find us using the meal tracker. A great customer - centric idea using technology.