A team of researchers is using photosynthetic microbes to create a living concrete, which can reproduce while absorbing carbon dioxide. Did we mention it changes color, too? The new construction material morphs from shades of green into more muted tones as it dries.
A Bird's Eye View of Urban Renewal
As we settle into 2020, a look back at the last decade shows it was a transformative one for building developments. Take a look at how the tech industry, and other factors, led to the creation entirely new neighborhoods as seen from 400 miles above.
Calculating Carbon Emissions is Key to Improving Health
In medicine, diagnostic tools are essential, arguably as important as advancements in treatments. Take the thermometer. In the early 1700s, physicist Gabriel Fahrenheit discovered that adding a bulb of mercury to a narrow glass tube created a more precise and efficient measure of temperature, forever changing the course of medicine. While the mercury thermometer was hardly the first means to document temperature shifts—Galileo created a device to do this in the late 1500s—its minimalist design and precise readings made for a widely accessible innovation. When it comes to the human body, an infection or abnormality only can be cured, or treated, when its presence is known, which means advancements in diagnostic devices are constantly in demand. The same goes for our planet, and instruments that help measure, maintain, and restore its balance are as vital as ever.
This hybrid between a yacht and a submarine skims the ocean's surface and travels deep beneath it, offering passengers an ultra-scenic ride while representing a new class of "mega yachts."
Would you work in an old airplane hangar?
Google has created a somewhat mythical office culture with its nap pods and upscale food options, but the company also has a knack for transforming old warehouses, factories, and storage facilities into sleek workplaces. Take a look at some of Google's most unique offices.
A Look At Future Farms
When it comes to technology, farming developments aren't always top of mind. But the 5G cellular software is transforming agriculture in more ways than one.
Find out how a Berlin-based search engine uses profits from advertising revenue to plant trees all over the world.
Drink Vodka out of Thin Air? Yup.
This company wants to make drinking this high-end vodka called Air one way to save the Earth. How? Well, they claim the vodka is manufactured in a way as to take greenhouse gas out of the atmosphere.
A House Blanket Could be the Solution to Wildfires
When wrapped around a building, these "whole-house fire blankets" can protect a structure from the ravages of wildfires.
Haptics—the science of touch—along with all the other sensory inputs can be influential tools, offering designers exciting possibilities when deciding which materials to use in a space. As workplace design shifts to prioritize more human-centric spaces, our approach to these environments morphs, too, says Mindy O’Gara, director of product and learning experience at Interface. Now more than ever, we’re understanding through neuroscience that we have the opportunity to forge memorable connections to materials creating more meaningful experiences with the built environment. “One of the first sensory connections we have is to material,” says O’Gara. “Our emotional interpretation of the materials that surround us inform how we feel about a space and whether or not we’ll use it. Is it appealing? How does it engage or behave? Can it shape to specific needs? All of these qualities are very important when we think about the value and depth of materials.” One solution is to seek out adaptive products with timeless design elements.
The Future of Food
Take a look at these companies shaping the way we eat with sustainable solutions and innovative technologies.
Inside the Controversial Plan to Cool the Planet
Could spraying chemicals into the sky reverse some impacts of global warming? Scientists are considering the possible benefits and risks of solar geoengineering, a controversial concept that could possibly cut global temperature increases in half.
Robotics engineers at MIT have built a threadlike robot worm that can be magnetically steered to deftly navigate the extremely narrow and winding arterial pathways of the human brain. One day it could be used to quickly clear blockages and clots that contribute to strokes and aneurysms, while at the same time making the current state of robotic evolution even more unsettling.
Paper or Pasta? A New Take on Eco-Friendly Straws
One U.K. start-up, called Stroodles, is betting on the future of pasta straws, which more closely resemble the texture of plastic than other materials on the market. The straws, made by an Italian pasta manufacturer, do not change the flavor of the drink and they’re edible–if you’re into alcohol-infused raw noodles.
Cat Allergies Could Become a Thing of the Past
Scientists in Switzerland are working on a vaccine for cats that could bring relief to pet owners with an ill-fated allergy to them. The research group, HypoPet AG, claims their vaccine already shows some success in neutralizing a known allergen in our feline friends.
