Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA) has turned its considerable design expertise to the exclusive world of luxury yachts, with a new catamaran concept for Italian shipbuilder Rossinavi. Named the Oneiric, it’s hailed as the shipyard’s green technology flagship and could run fully from solar power on shorter daytrips. Assuming it actually goes ahead, the Oneiric will have a total length of […]
Zaha Hadid Catamaran
Filtering Nanoplastics From Drinking Water
Today’s filtration technologies do a wonderful job of producing potable water, but the spread of plastic waste throughout the environment means there are new threats to contend with. A new study has investigated the performance of different techniques when it comes to removing nanoplastics from water, and shown that biologically active systems known as slow sand filters can remove the […]
Smart Pillow
Close overnight monitoring in a medical laboratory can offer a clear picture of sleep quality, and while wrist-worn tracking devices are a more viable solution for everyday folk, these don’t offer near the same level of accuracy. Scientists in China have developed a smart pillow designed to walk the line between these two sleep-tracking solutions, monitoring the quality of rest […]
Ammonia Fueled Tractor
Interest is growing in alternative fuel sources for tractors that help sidestep heavy diesel pollution, and given its widespread use as agricultural fertilizer, ammonia might just be a prime candidate. Brooklyn-based startup Amogy has broken important new ground in this area, fitting its zero-emissions energy system to a John Deere tractor to make the first ever tracks as an ammonia-powered […]
Sharp & Spark Survival Tool
Though there are plenty of compact survival tools around that feature all kinds of impressive functionality, sometimes it pays to keep things simple. Taking this approach is the newly launched Sharp-n-Spark, a lightweight camping implement that focuses on doing just two jobs and doing them well. The Sharp-n-Spark was conceived by designer and inventor Anatoliy Omelchenko, who focused his attention […]
Insta 360 Sphere Camera
Insta360 has been helping content creators capture immersive photos and videos for a number of years, most recently updating its One R modular actioncam with a new 4K Boost Lens. Now the company has announced a dedicated 360-degree camera setup for DJI’s Mavic Air 2 and 2S camera-drones that effectively cuts the drone out of recorded aerial images altogether. It is possible to strap a 360-degree camera […]
Powerful Music Machine
Back in 2019, Nashville-based smart instrument creators Artiphon launched a Kickstarter to fund the production of a portable music machine with a gaming controller vibe and sliced orange dimensions. Now the second-generation Orba has been revealed. The Orba 2 rocks the same palm-friendly dimensions as the original, at 3.14 inch diameter and 2 inches in height (7.9 x 5 cm), and features […]
3D Printing That Uses Sound Waves
3D printing typically involves depositing layers of molten plastic, laser-melting powdered metal, or using UV light to harden gelatinous resin. A new technique takes yet another approach, however, by utilizing sound waves. Developed by a team of scientists at Canada’s Concordia University, the technology is known as direct sound printing (DSP). In the current version of the technique, a transducer […]
Shibuya Sustainable Department Store
Following high-profile projects like the Mjøstårnet and Sara Cultural Center, engineered timber continues to grow in popularity around the world as a sustainable building material. The latest notable work comes from Foster + Partners, which has revealed plans to build a nine-story department store in Japan mostly from timber. The Shibuya Marui Department Store will be located in a prominent spot that’s just […]
Google Map Immersive View Vibe
Google is adding a new mode to its Maps platform that enables users to enjoy sweeping views of cities and neighborhoods in impressive detail. The newly introduced “immersive view” is a mish-mash of its existing Street View and aerial mapping imagery that comes together in a SimCity-esque tool for remote exploration, even allowing interior views of restaurants to help you […]