Technology
Scientists develop a snake-inspired battery that could help save lives
Coming from the Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials, a novel battery design opens up new possibilities for the future of energy storage by bending and stretching like a snake. Inspired by the morphology of serpents, the innovative design is intended to open new doors in the world of soft Read More...
This new ultra-strong glass is inspired by mollusk shells
If you’ve ever experienced the frustration of a broken phone screen, you’ve probably wished there was a more durable material available for electronics. Thanks to researchers from McGill University, that may soon be a reality. The team has developed a new type of glass, inspired by the inner Read More...
Drone footage shows growth in California kelp forests
Kelp is a key pillar of marine ecosystems and a huge carbon sink, but along the California coast, populations have been dwindling in recent years. Overpopulation of sea urchins, which feast on kelp, as well as rising sea temperatures, have devastated these marine forests, but new drone images from Read More...
These biodegradable capsules could help solve the problem of microplastics
From the highest peaks to the ocean’s deepest points, microplastics are virtually everywhere. These pernicious plastics usually originate from unexpected sources such as laundry detergents, which are typically made with plastic microcapsules in order to retain fragrance for longer. Making those Read More...
Breast cancer survivor develops app to help other conduct self-breast exams
"I'm not an app developer. I'm just like a passionate advocate," Jessica Baladad tells WTVF. The 36-year-old woman from Tennessee is the creator of "Feel For Your Life,” an app that helps people conduct self-breast exams from home. After having a benign fibroadenoma removed in college, Baladad Read More...
How portable solar-powered batteries can help expand access to clean energy
Reliable access to electricity is a luxury in Lagos, Nigeria, where the power can go out multiple times a day, rendering many inhabitants dependent on expensive, noisy, and polluting diesel generators. A corner shop in the Nigerian city, however, offers a solution to this problem in the form of a Read More...
This technique measures drinking water quality using a smartphone camera
While the provision of safe drinking water in impoverished countries is of vital importance, people often lack the facilities necessary to test the water for pollutants. To help solve that problem, a team of scientists has developed a system that uses a smartphone camera to check up on tiny aquatic Read More...
This printing method eliminates the need for harmful dyes and pigments
The chemical processes needed to produce the pigments and inks for printers, combined with the issue of wasteful plastic cartridges, make printing a less than sustainable process. To address this issue, a team of researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Chemistry has come up Read More...
This sleek pair of sunglasses is made from carbon sucked from the air
In recent years, the fashion industry has welcomed an increasing number of innovative brands whose goal is to weave sustainability into the clothes and accessories we wear. Not long ago, for example, we introduced you to Pangaia, an eco-friendly clothing brand creating fabrics that are responsibly Read More...
Arachnophobia? There's an app for that
Spiders are creepy-looking creatures, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that an estimated five percent of all humans on earth have a serious fear of spindly arachnids. In fact, one 2017 survey found that six-month-old babies often show stress reactions when exposed to spiders, suggesting that Read More...