The Albanian capital Tirana is currently undergoing a massive construction boom. Some of architecture’s biggest names, including MVRDV, BIG and Stefano Boeri, are busy transforming the city with eye-catching new buildings, and now Danish architecture firm Cebra joins the fray with an ambitious mountainous skyscraper that will be covered in greenery. The project is named Mount Tirana and also involves developer Nova Construction 2012. It will be situated […]
Albania’s Tallest Green Tower
Halo-Like Stadium
As is often the case with projects from MAD Architects, its recently completed Quzhou Stadium stands out with an unusual, almost alien-like form. Described as a halo hovering over the landscape by the firm, the sports stadium is also designed to become part of its surroundings and encourage visitors to explore and climb over over parts of the structure. The […]
World First Stem Cell Therapy
In a world-first clinical trial, three babies have been born after receiving stem cell treatment for spina bifida. The treatment involves administering a stem cell patch to the fetus’ spine while still developing in the womb, and early results are promising one year on. Spina bifida is a birth defect in which the spine fails to develop properly, which can […]
Crude Oil Harms Seabirds More Than We Know
It’s always upsetting to see images of seabirds covered in crude oil, as the result of an accidental spill. According to a new study, however, even tiny amounts of routinely released waterborne oil may seriously damage such birds’ feathers. Led by researcher Emma Murphy, a team at Ireland’s University College Cork started by collecting feathers from live Manx shearwaters, which […]
Hydrofoil Pedal Bike
Hydrofoil cycling is among the more intriguing young water sports out there, but it can also be rather intimidating for the uninitiated. Something seems quite unnatural about trying to balance a narrow frame on top of water while at the same time pedaling vigorously to lift it up out of that water, then trying hard to keep it hovering and balanced. But […]
Pfizer Partners With Australian Company
Pharma giant Pfizer has shelled out nearly US$120 million to acquire a small Australian company claiming to have developed a smartphone app that can accurately diagnose COVID-19 by analyzing the sound of a cough. For around a decade small Australian digital healthcare company ResApp has been working on developing an algorithm that can diagnose respiratory illnesses by simply studying the sound of […]
Keyring Flashlight
While there are now quite a few mini keyring flashlights on the market, most of them have to be held along with the keys when in use. YSMART London’s MQ3 is different, in that it magnetically – and quickly – pops on and off of a keyring-mounted base. Currently the subject of a Kickstarter campaign, the MQ3 measures 64 mm in length (2.5 inches) […]
Single Use Paper Circuit Board
Single-use electronic devices pose a challenge, as the heavy metals and other toxic materials in them shouldn’t just be released into the environment, yet those substances are difficult to reclaim. Scientists have developed what could be a solution, in the form of a paper circuit board. Led by Prof. Seokheun Choi, a team from the State University of New York […]
AI Enabled Eye Scan
A team of researchers in the UK has developed a fully automated artificial intelligence-enabled system that can scan retinal images for vascular health, helping identify those at high risk of heart disease and stroke. The old adage “the eyes are windows to the soul” isn’t that far off when considering how much one can infer about a person’s general health […]
Color Theory & How It’s Applied In Architecture
The science and art of color theory is divided by a wheel or chart into three main categories: primary, secondary and tertiary. Color is something we perceive through a combination of wavelengths produced by how light reflects off an object. So how does color in architecture affect us? While color is subjective, it is one of the oldest design elements of architecture and […]