It was just this Wednesday that we heard about a non-toxic flame-retardant solution created by scientists at Texas A and M University. Well, researchers at Switzerland’s Empa institute have also come up with one, which could be used to keep wood and wood-based building materials from burning. Developed in partnership with Swiss company Bruag Fire Protection, the colorless liquid is […]
Making Wood Fire-Resistant
Circular Garden
Living in a crowded inner city means that many residents don’t have a garden of their own, so are unable to grow their own fruit and veggies. We’ve seen a number of indoor growing innovations – including Windowfarms and the Grobo – but last year’s OGarden was a little different, growing plants in a rotating wheel with a light at […]
Building With Robots
Following an architecture competition, Turkey’s Melike Altinisik Architects (MAA) has been selected to create the new Robot Science Museum (RSM) in Seoul, South Korea. Interestingly, the firm says that the building will be part-constructed using 3D-printing machines, drones, and other robots. The RSM was conceived by the Seoul Metropolitan Government to increase public interest in, and promote the knowledge of, […]
Can Artificial Leaves Help Pluck Out Carbon Dioxide?
Plants are amazing little powerhouses, converting sunlight, water and carbon dioxide into energy. Over the last few years humans have tried to mimic this with artificial leaves, but they’re never quite up to scratch. Now, researchers from the University of Illinois at Chicago have designed a new version that could work under real-world conditions, sucking carbon dioxide out of the […]
“Breathing House”
Vo Trong Nghia Architects has covered the roof and facade of Breathing House in Ho Chi Minh City with a canopy of climbing plants to create private outdoor spaces. Breathing House occupies a narrow and deep lot within a densely populated neighbourhood that is accessible only via a narrow alleyway. Due to the restricted site, the only surfaces that could […]
Top Ten Breakthrough Tech of 2019
Robot dexterity Robots are teaching themselves to handle the physical world. For all the talk about machines taking jobs, industrial robots are still clumsy and inflexible. A robot can repeatedly pick up a component on an assembly line with amazing precision and without ever getting bored—but move the object half an inch, or replace it with something slightly different, and […]
Surfboard Bag As Inflatable Tent
Love the idea of cruising the coast in a two-story surf motorhome or small camper van but are looking to go lighter and cheaper … much lighter and cheaper? Australia’s Boardswag has just the thing, a surfboard bag that transforms into a one-person tent with a few blasts of air. So whether you’re getting a quick jump on dawn patrol […]
Autonomous Tram To Be Ready For Moscow Debut
A Russian urban electric vehicle manufacturer and developers of artificial intelligence for autonomous driving systems are working on a city tram that will trundle itself around the streets of Moscow in the near future. The fully autonomous tram is due to start closed facility testing shortly, ahead of street tests along Moscow’s tram routes. The aim of the joint project […]
Curved Aluminium Facade Raises The Game
Revery Architecture recently completed work on a performing arts center in Hong Kong’s Kowloon Cultural District. The Xiqu Centre features a striking facade made up of curved aluminum that envelops glazing. The firm likens the effect to a lantern shimmering behind a beaded stage curtain. Created in collaboration with Ronald Lu & Partners, the Xiqu Centre has been in the […]
How Down Payments Work
In most cases, you’ll run into the need for a down payment when you’re trying to get a loan for land, a home, car, boat or an airplane. Basically, any large purchase for which you will need financing to complete will typically require you pay a portion of up front to reduce the amount of the loan you’ll need to […]