Whales can't hear each other in the noisy ocean. This inventor has a solution 200 years in the making.

All those container ships and fishing vessels are only generating noise in the first place because there's a consumer downstream paying them to do so. By simply opting to purchase more goods locally, Fournet notes, everyday people can play at least a small part in reducing their overall contribution to ocean noise. In other words, a farmer's market apple might not just taste better; it's better for whales too. "In this case, sure, humans are the problem," Fournet adds. "Humans in this case are also the solution. We created this problem, but we do have the capacity to fix it."