How should a prison be designed? Should it purposefully be designed to punish inmates using uninviting materials such as steel and concrete, or should it be a place that invites criminals to rehabilitate themselves? While most prisons around the world are designed in a way that … [Read more...] about Does prison architecture have to be cruel? This prison shows us it doesn’t
The Optimist Today
These ingenious shutters keep buildings cool without using energy
Air-conditioning is disastrous for the planet, accounting for 9 percent of all energy consumption in the US on its own. As a means of cutting the fossil fuel emissions that come with the heating and cooling of buildings, an architect has invented a shading system made from a … [Read more...] about These ingenious shutters keep buildings cool without using energy
America’s first all-electric vessels will soon start operating at Niagara Falls
For decades, tourists have been able to get up close and personal with the roaring waters of Niagara Falls by getting on board one of the Maid of the Mist ferries. Soon they will be able to do this in a more environmentally-friendly manner thanks to a pair of all-electric boats … [Read more...] about America’s first all-electric vessels will soon start operating at Niagara Falls
For the first time, scientists have 3D printed an organ that mimics lungs
We’ve been covering solutions for a long time now, and well, it’s just mind-boggling how quickly new solutions are being invented and further developed. For example, a few years ago 3D-printing was still in its days of infancy, a mechanism used to create rather simple objects. … [Read more...] about For the first time, scientists have 3D printed an organ that mimics lungs
Pedestrians are taking over the streets of traffic-filled Brussels
Right now, there can be an almost eerie calm to some sections of central Brussels. Take an evening stroll down Boulevard Anspach, the broad avenue that forms the Belgian capital’s spine, and you may find the roadway empty, its limestone and wrought-iron facades echoing the … [Read more...] about Pedestrians are taking over the streets of traffic-filled Brussels
