fastcompany.com: Illiteracy, paralysis, blindness, cancer, lack of drinking water – the list of afflictions and troubles that ail the world seems never ending. But there are nascent ideas, which when cultivated and allowed to flourish, can make a difference. Saatchi & Saatchi’s World Changing Ideas Awards pays homage to brilliant thinking across the globe, identifying ten innovative ideas that have the potential to change — and save — millions of lives.

This year’s winner, LifeStraw walked away with $100,000 – and with good reason. The straw-like device is a highly portable, personal water-purification tool that turns even the dirtiest water into safe drinking water. It contains a halogen-based resin that filters out almost 100% of bacteria and 99% of viruses that cause deadly diseases. For the more than one billion people who lack access to safe drinking water, LifeStraw is an innovation that could mean the difference between life and death. [ read more ]