Ever since the 1890s, cricket bat blades have been made of willow wood. According to a new study, however, bamboo bats should offer better performance and a lower environmental footprint, plus they could make the sport more accessible to people living in poor countries. Led by Dr. Darshil Shah and design engineer Ben Tinkler-Davies, scientists at the University of Cambridge […]
Bamboo Cricket Bats
Working Home Hybrid Model
Dezeen promotion: the majority of employees expect to return to the office for at least four days a week post-pandemic, according to research from workplace leader Steelcase. The Steelcase Global Report forecasts that hybrid working will become the norm for companies all around the world after Covid-19 safety restrictions are lifted. Despite the rise of working from home imposed by the […]
Turtle Sanctuary on Sharjah Coast
British studio Hopkins Architects has created a cluster of prefabricated concrete pods to house the Khor Kalba Turtle Wildlife Sanctuary on the eastern coast of the emirate of Sharjah in the UAE. Built for Sharjah’s Environmental Protected Areas Authority, the turtle sanctuary and visitor centre stands on the edge of the Kalba nature reserve. Hopkins Architects aimed to design a series of […]
Sensor-Packing Gloves
Any fitness expert will tell you, weightlifting is about more than just lifting weights up and down. A new set of “smart” gloves is designed with that in mind, as they track multiple performance metrics in real real time. The Polish-designed Shape.Care weightlifting gloves each feature four integrated sensors; a removable electronics module containing the battery, a pulse oximeter and […]
Instant Analog Camera
Polaroid instant cameras of old were big, blocky snappers with one-press simplicity and the ability to throw out square photos that developed in front of your eyes. The latest addition to the family follows the same design aesthetic, but the Go is a fraction of the size. Where last year’s Polaroid Now instant camera has dimensions of 3.7 x 4.4 […]
3D Printable Turntable
Though digital accounts for much of our music consumption, vinyl sales have been steadily rising over the past few years, and turntables have returned to the living room hi-fi setup. But if you’re a maker looking for something a bit different, Frame Theory 3D has just launched a 3D-printable turntable kit on Kickstarter. The UK startup says that the Songbird […]
Morphing Shape Pasta
Scientists at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) have taken inspiration from flat-packed furniture to reimagine the way pasta is created, developing a flat form of the food that morphs into conventional shapes as it boils. By taking this approach to pasta-making, the researchers believe we could save on packaging, transportation and energy costs associated with its production, all while having it […]
Reversible Textile
It can be frustrating, when the jacket that you initially put on to keep you warm starts making you too hot. Jackets made from an experimental new reversible fabric, however, could both heat and cool their wearer. Developed by scientists from China’s Zhejiang University and Westlake University, the multi-layered “Janus textile” consists of a base of ePTFE (expanded polytetrafluoroethylene) polymer […]
Earswitch Assistive Tech
Although there are systems that allow physically challenged users to communicate by twitching facial muscles, for some people even those muscle movements are impossible. A new setup offers a possible alternative, however, by going into the ear. Known as “Earswitch,” the technology is being developed at Britain’s University of Bath, by a team led by Dr. Nick Gompertz. It’s designed […]
Luxomes Breathable Bamboo Bedding
Spring is here — and with it brings flowers, bumblebees and of course, fluctuating weather. No matter where you are in the world, our bodies’ temperatures tend to be intimately connected with our sleep patterns. Because a good night’s rest sets the rhythm for the entire day, investing in your sleep is always a good idea. That’s where high-quality bedding […]