Buildings could soon be constructed using concrete solar panels
One ton of CO2 is generated by making one ton of cement, which is made from limestone and a few other things heated to an extremely high temperature. But what if concrete could generate its own energy? It seems we’re getting very close to that reality after the world’s largest cement maker Read More...
5 tips for staying healthy and active this holiday season
The more things you can do to boost your immune system, the less likely you will be run down by a pesky virus or stomach bug this holiday season. Follow these five tips to improve your immunity and keep you protected from unwanted Read More...
Bionic leaf is 10 times better at photosynthesis than real plants
Plants take in carbon dioxide, water, and sunshine to create a sugary fuel. Now researchers have done the same, but even Read More...
In Norway, an ambitious new standard for green building is catching on
In Drøbak, Norway, there’s a little school that’s one of the most unique — and possibly the greenest — in the world. On top, solar panels face the sun at a 33-degree angle, and beneath, energy wells tap geothermal Read More...
This researcher rode 5,000 miles with Uber to understand the gig economy
If you’re a frequent passenger of Lyft or Uber, there’s a good chance you’ve met your fair share of drivers. But probably not as many as Alex Rosenblat, an ethnographer and researcher at Data & Society, a nonprofit in New York that studies the social and cultural issues created by new Read More...
Finding the heart
How do we heal the heart? As a historian of religion, I often return to the Gnostic Gospels, an astonishing cache of more than fifty sacred texts, discovered in Egypt, in 1945. Many of them speak to this question: How do we gain the courage to overcome grief and despair? In one story, Jesus’s Read More...
Fungi research lifts lid on shy organisms that break down plastic
Could fungi help us deal with our plastic addiction? Scientists at London’s Kew Botanical Gardens think so. The first ever State of the World’s Fungi, produced by Kew Gardens and a team of around 100 scientists from 18 countries, reports that fungi successfully degrade polyurethane in a Read More...
Spice up your meals with this tasty healing aid
One of the main components that gives a curry dish its distinctive flavor is turmeric. Its tanginess, however, isn’t the only quality that gives this spice its reputation. For centuries, people have used it for its anti-inflammatory and disease-preventing properties. To reap the health benefits Read More...
Observe the frisky way houseplants behave when you’re not around
We know that having plants around the house can have amazing effects on our well-being, but did you know houseplants change their behavior when we’re away? Check out this exciting and oddly-satisfying timelapse to see the stunningly peculiar behavior of plants that we’ve been missing out Read More...
Research on the nutrition of your favorite foods is not what it seems
Our beliefs about how nutritious products are being increasingly shaped by scientific research dreamed up and paid for by major food companies. Borrowing a dirty tactic from the tobacco industry, the food industry has distorted science by paying for research that makes erroneous claims like that Read More...