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Biomaterials breakthrough: scientists solve genetic riddle of spider glue
While the architectural intricacy of spider webs is with no doubt a remarkable natural phenomenon, spider silk – the gluey fiber that spiders use to make their webs – is what has been captivating scientists for many years. The sticky material has been touted for years as the next big thing Read More...
Koalas are getting dehydrated. These special water fountains could do the trick
In a remote, rural part of Australia, six hours by car from Sydney, summer temperatures are reaching 113 degrees as climate change makes heat waves more common. To help the local koala population survive both blistering temperatures and prolonged drought, researchers have been testing water Read More...
Circus in Germany replaced all of its performing animals with realistic holograms
Animal abuse in the circus may be hidden from public eyes, but the truth is that elephants, tigers, lions, and other animals are trained with the most appalling cruelty to perform dangerous and uncomfortable tricks for their captors’ profits. Taking a stand against animal abuse in this Read More...
Rose-shaped gadget offers a revolutionary way of collecting and purifying water
Roses may traditionally symbolize love and romance, but who knew that the shape of this iconic flower would inspire a revolutionary new way of collecting and purifying water? The idea blossomed at the University of Texas in Austin, where a rose has inspired researchers to develop a new device Read More...
This trash-eating river robot is helping keep the Chicago River garbage-free
Pay a visit to the Chicago River this summer, and you’ll find that it has an intriguing new addition to the local wildlife. Amongst the myriad birds, fish, and occasional beaver or otter, keen-eyed visitors may spot a small robot, resembling a raft, scooping up trash along the river banks. This Read More...
Wearable thermostat-like device can regulate your body temperature as you prefer
Scientists have successfully managed to create a smart skin patch that can cool down or warm up the wearer – and it could save people thousands of dollars in utility bills. The two-inch square device works like a personalized thermostat that can be utilized at home, work, or on the go. It’s a Read More...
This smartphone app lets farmers control where their cows graze from afar
When left alone, livestock will often cluster in certain areas of a field while leaving other regions alone. That causes some sections to be overeaten, which makes the grass and soil there less healthy over time. The neglected areas—left to overgrow and develop weeds, and without the benefits Read More...
Barcelona fines landlords with empty properties to tackle housing crisis
The scarcity of affordable social housing is a major problem for some of the world’s biggest cities. What makes this issue extremely frustrating is that there's a decent number of empty properties in these cities that could help solve the problem. Drawing from this frustration, Barcelona – Read More...
UK government to fund scheme that will teach prisoners coding
Criminals who re-offend cost the UK government an estimated £15 billion each year. One of the main reasons why former prisoners return to a life of crime is because of their poor employment opportunities, which is why the British government plans on backing up a project that aims at reducing Read More...
Clean air regulations save Americans more money than you can imagine
Believe it or not, smog in US cities used to be a lot worse. In fact, at the height of the Second World War, residents of Los Angeles thought they were under a chemical gas attack. People in the downtown area experienced stinging eyes, streaming noses, and rasping throats, all due to a haze of Read More...