The Waterly
"The Waterly" is a weekly all-things-water newsletter we share with our community covering the latest innovations and investment deal flow in the water sector and recent news on climate change and water-related crises.
In this first week of 2022, we look at the companies trying to stop the increasing microplastics entering our Oceans and why mussels are a key solution. Is Biden our climate crisis President? Another blow to Fracking as a newly discovered source of significant PFAS. We look back at the best photographs of nature in 2021. Meet our WELL Advisor Dr. James Doty, one of the brightest neurosurgeons and "Best Doctors in America".
Your weekly Bonus - Can 2022 be a super year for nature?
This week's water fact:
Universal access to WASH yields annual benefits of $123 billion
Tech & Innovation
PolyU scientists find way to remove polluting microplastics with bacteria
Researchers from PolyU have found a way to use bacteria to trap microplastics, removing them from the environment and making them easier to recycle. The novel technique was discussed at the Microbiology Society's Annual Conference.
Want to clean up microplastics in the ocean? We just need more mussels
An enormous amount of water passes through mussels each day—but microplastics stay behind. Introducing more of the creatures who could help keep oceans cleaner.
Robots collect underwater litter
Removing litter from oceans and seas is a costly and time-consuming process. As part of a European cooperative project, a team at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) is developing a robotic system that uses machine learning methods to locate and collect waste under water.
Corporate & Deals
Safar Partners and Hostplus Invest in Gradiant's New Funding Round for Cleantech Water
Safar Partners, a seed- to growth-stage venture fund investing in technology companies, today announced its participation in Gradiant's Series C funding round alongside Warburg Pincus and Schlumberger New Energy.
Companies race to stem flood of microplastic fibres into the oceans
From filters to bags to balls, the number of products aimed at stopping the torrent of microplastic fibres being flushed out of washing machines and into rivers and oceans is increasing rapidly.
Calif. offers $350M for groundwater sustainability projects
After releasing the final solicitation guidelines for DWR's Sustainable Groundwater Management Grant Program, more than $350 million in grants will be available for regional groundwater agencies.
Our Portfolio Companies
374Water Sets a New Target for 2022
The company reported that it successfully closed a $5M private placement. It has chosen Cherry Bekaert LLP as its new auditor, and retained Donohoe Advisory Associates LLC, all in support of a planned NASDAQ listing in 2022.
Water & the Environment
Floods, fires, freezes: how 2021 made Joe Biden a climate crisis president
The US president has made at least five disaster tours in the past year as his administration has tried to pass sweeping climate policies, with mixed success.
Travel Delays Are Expected After Record Snow Tapers in Western U.S.
The worst of a winter storm that brought record-setting snowfall and low temperatures to portions of the Western United States this week appears to be over, but travel delays, frigid temperatures and lighter snowfall are still expected in the coming days.
Nature photographer of the year 2021 – the winners
Nature Talks presents the results of the nature photographer of the year 2021 competition. Terje Kolaas from Norway was the overall winner in the results announced on 18 December.
‘Extraordinary is no longer extraordinary’: US scientists on a year of climate disasters
In the summer, we spoke to four experts about the record-breaking heatwave that scorched the western US and Canada. As the year ends they share their hopes and fears for the future.
I’m a climate scientist. Don’t Look Up captures the madness I see every day
The movie Don’t Look Up is satire. But speaking as a climate scientist doing everything I can to wake people up and avoid planetary destruction, it’s also the most accurate film about society’s terrifying non-response to climate breakdown I’ve seen.
PFAS and Chemicals
Purging contaminants from U.S. drinking water, including toxic PFAS chemicals
Physicians for Social Responsibility reports the use of PFAS in fracking has been going on for a decade and has been documented in more than 1,200 sites in the United States.
Dr. James R. Doty is a professor of neurosurgery at Stanford University with expertise in the treatment of brain tumors, stereotactic radiosurgery and spine surgery. He has been honored to be one of "America's Top Surgeons" by the Consumers' Research Council.
Dr. Doty is an avid inventor and entrepreneur having restructured Accuray (ARAY-Nasdaq) which went public in 2007 with a valuation of $1.3B. He co-founded DxTx in 2002, funded by Siemens Medical and subsequently acquired. He is also a philanthropist who has funded projects related to healthcare in the third world.
James is the New York Times bestselling author of 'Into the Magic Shop: A Neurosurgeon’s Quest to Discover the Mysteries of the Brain and the Secrets of the Heart'.
Dr. Doty generously shared his time and deep wisdom and passion for health and wellbeing with our Water Emissaries in our first program. Deep gratitude to James and his supporting the WELL community.
2022 & the Environment
‘We’ll get it done. Come hell, high water or Covid’: Can 2022 be a super year for nature?
Biodiversity talks in Kunming are likely to be delayed again, but the world urgently needs a Paris-style agreement for nature.
