Eco-Friendly Soundproofing Material

Fungus already shows promise as a “green” form of leather and protective packaging. Thanks to new research, it has now also found use in an environmentally-friendly sound-absorbing material. Acoustic insulation is currently made of synthetic or mineral-based materials, neither of which are easily recyclable – their production processes also aren’t always very eco-friendly. Instead, scientists at Germany’s Fraunhofer Institute for […]

Steam Heating Your Lunch Wherever You Go

While having a hot lunch certainly is nice, it’s not always possible if you don’t have access to an electrical outlet or a microwave oven. That’s where the Dutch-designed Heatbox comes in, as it uses an integrated battery to steam-heat your food. Users start by pouring 20 ml (0.7 oz) of water into the Heatbox, then adding its stainless steel […]

Bose’s Hookover Earbuds

Despite being a relatively new technology, there are numerous true wireless earphones to choose from. But if you don’t like to plug buds in your ears, or worry about losing an earpiece while working out, Bose has launched the Sport Open Earbuds with you in mind. We knew they were coming, and what they would look like, after a filing […]

Smart Ring For Sports and Fitness

There are many sports where both of your hands are occupied, making it difficult to remotely control your smartphone – even if you’re using a smartwatch. The ArcX Sports Ring, which will make its debut at CES 2021 later this month, was designed to remedy that problem. Worn on the index finger, the silicone-bodied ArcX has a combination joystick/pushbutton control […]

Custom Lipstick

Lipstick is a personal thing – you generally don’t just slap on any ol’ color that’s close at hand. The Lip Factory system takes that concept to the extreme, by creating customer-specific lipstick on the spot. Created by Korean company Amorepacific, the system consists of the Lip Factory machine itself, and the Color Tailor app. Utilizing artificial intelligence-based algorithms, the […]

Sweat Powered Wearables?

Sweat is important for keeping us cool, but too much of it isn’t very pleasant either. Now, researchers at the National University of Singapore (NUS) have developed a new film that can absorb sweat – and better still, potentially use the moisture to power wearable electronics. For sweat to cool us down properly, it needs to evaporate, which carries the […]

Bruvi Biodegradable Pods 

Coffee aficionados struggle with a balance between smooth flavor, convenience and environmental impact. While most single-serve coffee pods rank high in the convenience category, they fail to perform in quality, and the waste from coffee pods ranges from challenging to detrimental. Enter Bruvi, a startup aimed at solving these dilemmas.’ Bruvi looks like many other single-serve coffee pod systems with […]

Minimalist Homeware Collection For Pet Owners

Colombian pet-accessories brand Fer?z has released a trio of wall-mounted storage units, where owners can keep their furry, four-legged friends’ toys, treats and leashes. Created in collaboration with Madrid’s Studio Noju, each piece in the Casa Fer?z collection is made from local flormorado oak and designed to house a very specific item. Above: the Merlot organiser features a single hook. Top […]

Amsterdam’s Plans To Purify Local Water

DELVA Landscape Architecture / Urbanism has revealed designs for Het Oog (Dutch for “The Eye”), a multifunctional “(under)water” landscape park that will connect the two neighborhoods of Strandeiland, a future residential area that will accommodate 8,000 homes in Amsterdam’s IJburg collection of artificial islands. The 22-hectare city park is part of Strandeiland’s urban plan developed in collaboration with the municipality […]