Design
Scientists just created a new “super wood” that’s stronger than steel
Spider silk has long held the record for being the strongest biomaterial on Earth — but that just changed. Scientists at KTH Royal Institute of Technology used wood nanofibers to create a new biomaterial that is even stronger than spider silk. Researchers “densified” wood to turn an Read More...
Ecobricks transform plastic trash into reusable building blocks
People are getting creative with plastic waste around the world, and now Ecobricks wants to utilize plastic for building. They encourage people to pack soft plastic garbage into plastic bottles to make blocks that can create buildings, walls, or modular furniture. The group says ecobricks Read More...
Never have a flat tire again with these 3D-printed bicycle tires
Cyclists know there’s nothing more frustrating than getting a flat tire. That’s why a Berlin-based company has created 3D-printed bike tires that don’t require any air. The airless tires are made out of a new thermoplastic elastomer that introduces flexibility and durability to 3D-printing Read More...
This guy reinvented the shipping pallet, making it safer, stronger and smarter
When Johnson & Johnson heard complaints in 2009 about a musty odor coming from Tylenol Arthritis Pain caplets, it retraced its entire supply chain to find the source. The culprit: shipping Read More...
Parks and green spaces 'save NHS more than £100 million a year'
Parks and green spaces save the NHS more than £100 million a year, new research has Read More...
The ecologists who think moving to cities will save the planet
For decades, conservationists have warned that urbanisation is destroying the planet. But now a new wave of eco-optimists think that it might hold the key to ecological Read More...
These students are preserving the city of Mogadishu digitally
Mogadishu was once a beautiful seaside city, but war has turned it into an empty shell hosting internally displaced people. Now a new initiative wants to document and preserve the city’s architectural heritage by digitally restoring these monuments and ruins. The goal of the initiative, which is Read More...
The miserable economy airline seat got a major redesign
Over the past few years, aerospace designers have introduced a slew of wildly uncomfortable-looking economy seats–the latest of which is a new cattle-class airplane “saddle” unveiled at Hamburg’s Airplane Interiors Expo. You’ll be relieved to know that at least one company is trying to Read More...
7 of the world’s greenest offices (literally)
Having a plant on your desk doesn’t just brighten the drudgery of your windowless cubicle. It can also make you more productive. So you can imagine what it would feel like to be surrounded by greenery whether you’re at your desk, in a conference room, or heading to the kitchen for a snack? Read More...
This is the first shoe ever to be made from used chewing gum
Approximately 3.3 million pounds of gum reside on the streets of Amsterdam each year. To put a dent in that number, a trio of organizations have teamed up to turn chewed gum into sustainable shoes. The team has created a new type of rubber called Gum-Tec by breaking down the synthetic rubber Read More...