Our first encounter with extraterrestrial life isn’t likely to be a spaceship landing on the White House lawn, but tiny fossils in the rocks of another planet. To aid in that search, scientists at the University of Hawaii at M?noa have developed a portable device called the Biofinder that can highlight organic residue in fossils tens of millions of years […]
Fossil Fluorescence
Discovery of Mechanical Itch Protein
Scientists investigating the cellular basis for itching have made an important discovery, and one that could lead to new treatments of chronic conditions like eczema. The breakthrough centers on what’s known as mechanical itching, with the research team behind it demonstrating how a protein can be blocked to alleviate itching sensation in mouse models of the condition. Much of the […]
Best Breakfast Items to Maintain a Fiber-Rich Diet
Breakfast is often referred to as the most important meal of the day, and for good reason. What you eat in the morning can determine your mood and energy levels for the rest of the day. It’s for this reason that getting a consistent intake of protein, calcium, and, of course, fiber. Fiber is an integral part of our diets, […]
Wearable Muscles
The ETH team developed the Myoshirt particularly to enhance the strength and endurance of people with restricted or declining mobility, and ran a small test, placing the unit on 10 people without any physical impairments, one with muscular dystrophy, and one with a spinal cord injury. In an endurance test, which required people to lift their arms and/or an object […]
Electricity Producing Bacteria
Diversifying our energy sources is a key part of reducing our reliance on fossil fuels, and one intriguing possibility is to tap into electricity-producing bacteria. Engineers at Binghamton University have now developed a biobattery that contains three layers of different bacteria species, which together take in sunlight and produce electricity. This latest biobattery comes from a long line of projects […]
Birdhouse or Treehouse
Back in March, we reported on plans for a remarkable new treehouse-style hotel by the Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) that was to be covered in birdhouses. The one-of-a-kind getaway is now complete and has opened to visitors. The Biosphere is located in a forest in Swedish Lapland, near the Arctic Circle, and is part of the Treehotel project, which is an […]
Preventing Hereditary Blindness
Scientists in Europe have discovered a molecular “zipper” mechanism that can lead to cell death in the genetic disease retinitis pigmentosa. The good news is that injecting certain proteins could slow down or prevent vision impairment from the disease. Retinitis pigmentosa is a relatively common hereditary disease that affects the photoreceptors, cells in the eye that register light. As they […]
Zurich’s New Timbre Airport
A team of prestigious architects and engineers, including Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), HOK and Buro Happold, has revealed plans for an ambitious new airport expansion for Zurich, Switzerland. The building will be primarily constructed from sustainably sourced timber and will feature an attractive interior design that’s focused on maximizing natural light and making it easy to get around. Zurich Airport – Dock A is the […]
World’s Latest Electric RV
With a modular, multifunctional rear lounge so comfy it puts most full-size camper vans to shame, the Vanderer Urban Camper was easily one of the coolest mini-campers of 2021. A year and a half later, it’s getting even better. The homey tiny lounge-on-wheels is going fully electric atop the Peugeot e-Rifter and Citroën e-Berlingo. It’s hard to tell what’s most efficient about the […]
Portable Kitchen Range Hood
As important as ventilation is in the kitchen, it’s something that’s often not up to scratch. French designer Maxime Augay has now launched the AirHood, a portable range hood that can sit on a bench and efficiently pull grease and smoke out of the air. A built-in range hood is a necessity for modern kitchens, but installing one into an […]