While it’s important to keep crops irrigated, you certainly don’t want to overwater them – particularly in regions where water is scarce. With that in mind, scientists have now developed a method of gauging the moisture levels in soil, using an ordinary camera. First of all, there are already technologies that allow farmers to see how much water is in […]
Consumer Camera Tech Used To Measure Moisture In Soil
Slopehelper Agricultural Robot
Although we’ve been hearing about various agricultural robots that are still in development, there’s at least one which is already commercially available. It’s called the Slopehelper, and it’s made mainly for use in vineyards. The Slovenian-designed autonomous electric vehicle runs on rubber tank-like treads, and can be equipped with system-specific hinged tools for tasks such as mowing, weeding, mulching, spraying, […]
Plybot 3D Printer
On most consumer 3D printers, the print head moves by sliding horizontally along rails, and vertically along rods. The Plybot is different, though, in that it “holds” its head in two robotic arms. Invented by British engineer Josh Mitchell, the device is now being commercialized by California-based company Hangar 75. Like other fused deposition modelling (FDM) 3D printers, it utilizes […]
Canoo Electric Pickup Truck
LA-based electric mobility company Canoo has pulled back the curtain on its third vehicle, following the launch of a subscription-based people mover and a delivery van. The company has now joined the likes of Tesla, Bollinger, Rivian and others to add an all-electric pickup truck to its vehicle fleet. “Our pickup truck is as strong as the toughest trucks out […]
Nose-Tilting Bicycle Seatpost
While there are now a fair number of suspension seatposts on the market, the Sangle-Fit is a bit different. It features a tilting nose, designed to both smooth out the ride and make hill-climbing easier. Manufactured by Korean company Creven Bike & Components, the 6061 aluminum-bodied Sangle-Fit features a pivot in the rear, a coil spring in the front, and […]
Colorado’s Electric Lodge Powered Entirely By Renewable Energy
Just 9 miles from downtown Aspen, one of the world’s best ski resorts will soon welcome the Electric Pass Lodge, a luxury residential building that will run entirely on renewable energy. Designed by Colorado-based 4240 Architecture in collaboration with interior design firm River + Lime, the all-electric condominiums were created as part of the Snowmass Base Village, a LEED-certified, $600 […]
Weak Electrolyte Keep Lithium Metal Battery
Among the promising experimental battery architectures scientists are exploring is one that uses pure lithium metal for the anode, rather than the mix of materials used in today’s lithium-ion devices. Scientists working in this area have now made a breakthrough around how these devices function at ultra-low temperatures, building a version that relies on weak bonds in its electrolyte to […]
Creating A Plant-Based Leather
Allbirds put its best foot forward when it stepped into the sustainable footwear sphere. Now, the company is going further with the development of a new, plant-based leather. Made with rubber, vegetable oil and other natural ingredients, this leather alternative, aptly named Plant Leather, has 40 times less carbon impact than animal-derived leather and 17 times less carbon impact than […]
Renzo Piana Academy Museum
Work is now complete on the Renzo Piano Building Workshop’s much-anticipated Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles, California. The project involved renovating the iconic 1930s Saban Building on the site, as well as adding a striking new glass and concrete spherical building next to it that resembles a huge snow globe from above. The Academy Museum of Motion […]
IBM Develops AI To Invent New Antibiotics
Hiding behind the current COVID-19 pandemic, another serious public health threat is looming – the rise of antibiotic-resistant “superbugs.” New antibiotics are needed to help turn the tide, but developing them takes time. Now, IBM Research has put AI to work on the task, producing two promising new drug candidates very quickly. The discovery of penicillin was one of the […]