Researchers at Plymouth University's Marine Institute want seafarers to help measure the quantity of plankton.

BBC: Seafarer science: Sailors asked to help measure plankton

Helen Bilton, of University of Reading's Institute of Education, called for the government to help with the upkeep of school pools.

BBC: Primary schools 'failing to honour swimming obligations'

Researchers from the University of Helsinki and the Max Planck Institute for Informatics created high-tech gloves that help you find what you're looking for by vibrating when you get close to the lost item.

ENGADGET: Inhabitat's Week in Green: cardboard cockroach, a milk carton pavilion and the iPotty