Drones are widely used to record beautiful landscapes from up above, capturing bird’s-eye views of land, seas, and skies for humans to explore. Looking to the future, they could also revolutionize how medical personnel respond to emergencies around the world — and in turn, how many lives are saved as a result. On December 9, […]
At the Sahrawi refugee camps in Algeria, trash used to build up, with nowhere to go but a growing pile in the Sahara desert. That was, until an organization called Precious Plastic teamed up with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees as well as residents in the camps. Together, they created a recycling center […]
Manoj Patel, an architect based in Gujarat, India, uses everyday materials in unexpected ways to create designs that benefit people and the planet. One of his latest projects involves repurposing clay roof tiles to create beautiful, functional furniture that’s naturally cool, comfortable, and eco-conscious. As Patel explained to The Better India, most outdoor furniture is […]
It can track workouts, improve sleep, and provide easy access to all your favorite phone apps. And now, Apple’s smartwatch can also help you accurately monitor and manage atrial fibrillation (AFib), a condition that increases the risk for stroke, heart failure, and other heart problems. The AFib History feature is included in the watchOS 9 […]
Built on land reclaimed from the sea and surrounded by Holland’s world-famous tulip fields, the city of Almere is the perfect example of the Dutch’s delicate relationship with Mother Nature — and their flair for innovative urban development. So, it’s fitting that the modern “garden city” is the setting for Floriade, a solutions-focused horticulture expo. […]
Researchers at the University of Cambridge in England have developed a new kind of flower power, creating “artificial leaves” that convert energy from sunlight and water into clean fuel. According to an article published on the university website, scientists said they gleaned inspiration from Mother Nature. The lightweight, flexible devices work similarly to photosynthesis, the […]
Some countries are investing further into trains over planes, with hopes that the newest innovation in overnight European railway transportation will be more enticing for travelers than flying — based on the benefits to the environment, lower costs, and greater comfort. A new, “next generation” design in high-speed rail from the national Austrian train operator […]
It looks like a giant drone, or maybe a robotic dragonfly, but Beta Technologies’ ALIA is a plane — one with some very futuristic components. The shiny white aircraft, which can carry 1,400 pounds of cargo or six people, takes off and lands vertically and can hover much like a helicopter. In a major feat […]
Nestled in the heart of the Pacific Northwest, Washington is a treasure trove of natural beauty, famed for its lush, dense forests, majestic snow-capped mountains, and dramatic, rocky coastlines. But in recent years, the Evergreen State has also become known as a hotbed of the wildfires that have ravaged the west coast, laying bare millions of […]
Sustainable jet fuel alternatives will soon be taking flight in the commercial airlines industry. New York-based startup Air Company recently announced the launch of its Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), made from captured carbon dioxide. Major airlines like JetBlue, Virgin Atlantic, and even the United States Air Force, among others, have collectively committed to purchasing over […]
For nearly two decades, Yasmeen Lari — Pakistan’s first female architect — has directed her considerable talents toward building sustainable shelters and infrastructure for people experiencing homelessness due to natural disasters. A co-founder of the nonprofit Heritage Foundation of Pakistan, 81-year-old Lari had initially retired from her storied career in architecture in 2000. However, she was […]
Engineers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have built a battery-free, wireless underwater camera that can travel up to 130 feet below the surface, a groundbreaking device that may one day be capable of collecting never-before-seen images of the deep sea. We know more about the surface of Mars than Earth’s ocean floors. To […]