Miscellaneous
Earthquake detector
Another way to save lives with technology is in the news: An earthquake-predictive app. The app, developed by the Early Warning Labs in cooperation with the United States Government, warns of an earthquake half a minute before it starts. In an earthquake 30 seconds can make the difference between Read More...
A way to donate leftover subway fares
If you live in a metropolitan area chances are you have at least one leftover transit pass with some-odd amount of dollars and cents left on it. Instead of having the change on your transit card fall into the pockets of your local transportation authority, wouldn’t it be nice if you could donate Read More...
Inflatable incubator saving lives in poor countries
Giving birth in developing countries is dangerous. A costly and clunky incubator— basically a box that blows in hot air and regulates temperature—could save countless lives but is almost never available. A UK graduate student has designed an inflatable incubator, MOM, which is small, portable, Read More...
Coloring clothes with algae
The clothing industry is going green, slowly but surely. The use of organic cotton has been growing over the past years. But it’s still a dirty business due to the chemicals needed for the dye. A German-based design agency, Blond & Bieber, has found a way to use algae to color textiles. These Read More...
First 3D printed laptop
PiTop is going to be the first 3D printed laptop. The brainchild of two friends, PiTop just finished a wildly successful Indiegogo campaign where they raised $36,000 more than their $80,000 goal. The PiTop is completely open source and is designed to be a type of starter kit to get people Read More...
Eco-friendly packaging for oily products
Plastic is everywhere and is a horrid reminder of our throw away lifestyles. One of the big reasons we keep using plastics is because of the versatility of the material. Now scientists have invented a new biodegradable material that can be used for packing both liquid and solid oily products, the Read More...
Mid-term elections and the promise of a non-functioning democracy
America proudly sees herself as the leader of the democratic world. Democracy is on the rise around the globe. Forty years ago, think tank Freedom House published its first annual report ranking the world based on democratic freedoms. A mere 40 countries had free elections. Back then, Spain and Read More...
Making it easier to talk with your hands
The 21st century is turning out to be pretty welcoming place for people hard of hearing. In both the arts and the work force, the deaf community is currently getting a chance to shine more than ever before. Meanwhile, technology advances to allow for better communication between the hard-of-hearing Read More...
It’s good to give
We’ve all felt the high that comes from giving. Now, science suggests there is a biological basis for it. When researchers gave subjects some money and a list of causes to which they might contribute and tracked their brain activity when they did so, they found that the mere thought of giving Read More...
Expanding the EPA’s Clean Power Plan
If you’ve ever noticed smoke billowing from a power plant and been concerned about the effect that is having on the environment, don’t worry—you’re not alone. This past June, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released the Clean Power Plan, a proposal that endeavors to Read More...