Construction project completes the world’s first 3D printed two-story home
Considered one of the largest sources of environmental pollution in the world, it’s no secret that the construction industry is in need of a green revamp. One way the sector could shift towards more sustainable practices is by integrating 3D printing technology within its modus operandi. A recent Read More...
Cicada wings inspire scientists to develop waterproof surfaces of the future
Researching the physical and chemical properties of insect wings, a team of scientists from the University of Illinois has managed to reproduce the incredible material properties that help cicada wings repel water and keep bacteria at bay. The novel technique, which uses commercial nail polish, is Read More...
This bridge in Montreal is made of 70,000 recycled glass bottles
A construction project in Montreal, Canada has taken bridge building to a whole new level: adding recycled glass to the concrete mix. In what the city calls a world first, the Darwin bridge construction project on Nuns’ Island in Montreal has given a second life to more than 70,000 recycled wine Read More...
This company is creating ethical diamonds from captured CO2 and rainwater
Diamonds may be beautiful, but the industry behind it is not. To start with, there are the terrible environmental consequences that come with mining for diamonds. The Guardian reports that to get just one carat (0.2 grams) of a traditional diamond, miners could excavate up to 2.2 million pounds Read More...
3D printed tree hollows to serve as homes to Australia’s displaced wildlife
After wildfires ravaged the Australian bush this year and last, a great variety of birds and other small animals were suddenly left without a home as the tree hollows they relied on for habitat were no longer there. Deploying traditional wooden nesting boxes is one way to provide new homes for the Read More...
Living Coral Biobank to protect Great Barrier Reef for generations to come
Yesterday we shared a story about a newly discovered coral reef that stretches as high as the Empire State Building. Now, a new coral conservation center is aiming to protect this structure and all types of coral in the Great Barrier Reef. Drawn up by Contreras Earl Architecture, the world's Read More...
Nanofoam material could make football helmets endure repeated impacts
In case a football helmet withstands an impact severe enough to cause the wearer a concussion, chances are the safety features of the helmet are compromised, making it no longer safe for reuse. But engineers at Michigan State University (MSU) have recently developed a liquid nanofoam lining they Read More...
Could this plant-based material replace single-use plastic packaging?
While it’s important that everyday people do their part to avoid single-use plastics, what we really need is for major companies to find green alternatives to the plastic packaging that is currently being used to package goods. Only then do we have a fighting chance against the scourge of Read More...
Tiny sponge converts dirty cooking oil into biodiesel
Scientists in Australia have developed an incredible sponge-like material that can convert discarded cooking oil and other waste materials into biodiesel. The sponge, which is being described as the first of its kind, is micron-sized and highly porous. When molecules are fed into the sponge, they Read More...
These sunglasses are made of plastic waste from the Ocean Cleanup project
The promise of the Ocean Cleanup project was that it would not only help clean up the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, but also recycle the plastic so it doesn’t become waste again. Now, one year after collecting its first load of plastic waste, the nonprofit unveiled its first ocean plastic product: Read More...