Design
Want your kids to be better off than you? Move to a high-density city
If you think of high-density cities, you may think of pollution, poverty and moral decline. But the reality, according to new research in urban studies, is that these cities offer residents more economic opportunities and upward mobility. Analyzing data on urban sprawl and economics, the Read More...
Mechanical trees become power 'plants' when they sway in breeze
New tools for harvesting wind energy may soon look less like giant windmills and more like tiny leafless trees. A project at The Ohio State University is testing whether high-tech objects that look a bit like artificial trees can generate renewable power when they are shaken by the wind—or by Read More...
How to make slums more resilient to climate change
In the coming decades, climate change is expected to drive more frequent extreme weather events—such as hurricanes, flooding, and droughts—in many parts of the world. Such disasters hit slum dwellers particularly hard because they lack physical accesses to essential services, such as water and Read More...
This new set of towers in Dubai will have its own indoor rainforest
The Rosemont Hotel & Residences is a massive, double-tower complex that's currently being constructed under the direction of ZAS Architects Dubai.Part of a the new Rosemont global hotel brand, the $550 million project will consist of two towers rising over 50 stories each, adding up to over 2 Read More...
Steel yarn jackets absorb energy from the sun to keep you warm
ThermalTech's jackets don't look too different from a North Read More...
The quest to build the world’s first ethical smartphone
For many people, smartphones are the first thing we see in the morning and the last thing we see at night. Yet despite our intimate relationship with these devices, we tend to know very little about how they are made—which is ironic, considering they put the world’s knowledge at our Read More...
In the not so distant future, glow-in-the-dark trees could replace street lights
According to Daan Roosegaarde, the future of art and design is awash with spectacular innovation. From giant vacuum cleaning systems aimed at eradicating smog to "smart" apparel that becomes translucent when the wearer is turned on, the Dutch artist/designer/architect has helped imagine some Read More...
Nature Offers Clues to Designing for Health
(Photo by Mikelzubi) Imitating nature might benefit fields from material engineering to urban planning, a group called the Biomimicry Institute says. Can it also improve artificial limbs? Biomimicry is a design philosophy that guides an innovative merger of natural evolution and modern science. Read More...
A solar-powered soccer pitch in Lagos uses players’ footfall to keep the lights on
Here’s another reason to love the game of soccer (football). In Lagos, Nigeria, a solar-powered football pitch which also uses kinetic energy generated by players running around to help power streetlights and other low voltage systems. While the game being played on the field may be interesting, Read More...
Fuel cell breakthrough: Expensive platinum catalysts replaced with cheaper nickel ones
Most electric cars are powered by rechargeable batteries. That comes with challenges like driving range, long charging times and even environmental issues. Fuel cells offer an efficient and clean alternative. They can be charged in less than 5 minutes and be driven for more than 300 miles in one Read More...