This trash-eating river robot is helping keep the Chicago River garbage-free
Pay a visit to the Chicago River this summer, and you’ll find that it has an intriguing new addition to the local wildlife. Amongst the myriad birds, fish, and occasional beaver or otter, keen-eyed visitors may spot a small robot, resembling a raft, scooping up trash along the river banks. This Read More...
Must see: Billionaire stuns grads by promising to pay off their student loans
Student debt in America is no joke. As of now, there are more than 44 million borrowers who collectively owe a mind-boggling $1.5 trillion in student loan debt in the U.S. alone. Fortunately for the 396 college seniors that make up the graduating class of Morehouse College, they won’t have to Read More...
Here’s how to stop people from interrupting you while you work
You’ve finally gotten started on a project that you have been putting aside for a while and you’re entering a flow-state where your focus is optimal. Then, out of nowhere, someone barges into your workspace and interrupts your concentration. Does this sound familiar to you? According to a Read More...
England is offering millions in grants to plant 130,000 trees in two years’ time
While engineers around the world race to build effective carbon capture technologies, there’s one simple tool we already have that can effectively sequester carbon from the atmosphere and clean up air pollution: trees. That’s why the UK government has announced funding to plant more than Read More...
How Africa is leading the world when it comes to banning plastic bags
Tanzania is moving into the second phase of the country’s anti-plastic initiative, which means both locals and tourists will no longer be able to make use of plastic bags. But will banning plastic actually help the country rid itself of plastic waste? To find an answer to this question, all we Read More...
Satellites are helping scientists prevent disasters cause by land subsidence
Land subsidence is the shifting and sinking of the ground, and it can be disastrous for low lying countries. It’s usually caused by several factors, including erosion, earthquakes, mining, and even rapid urbanization. Because of the risks that subsidence poses to urban areas and agriculture, it Read More...
Wearable thermostat-like device can regulate your body temperature as you prefer
Scientists have successfully managed to create a smart skin patch that can cool down or warm up the wearer – and it could save people thousands of dollars in utility bills. The two-inch square device works like a personalized thermostat that can be utilized at home, work, or on the go. It’s a Read More...
Why living near public amenities such as parks can change your life
As our political discourse generates derision and dissension, our time in the virtual world crowds out our time in the actual one, and trust in our institutions and each other has plummeted, local places such as markets, libraries, and coffee shops can help. A new study shows that living near Read More...
App helps quickly detect ear infections with just a phone and a paper cone
The symptoms of ear infections can be a little vague, and can be easily confused with other conditions. To help clear up such diagnoses, researchers from the University of Washington have come up with a “user-friendly” mobile app that can quickly detect the presence of fluid behind the eardrum Read More...
This program will make these five American cities bike-friendly by 2020
When it comes to quick, efficient, inexpensive, and relatively enjoyable ways for cities to lower their carbon emissions, it’s hard to beat bike lanes and good public transit. Well-designed, safe cycling infrastructure encourages more people to ride bikes that emit no carbon and take up a lot Read More...