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, […]
Florida knows hurricanes. The Sunshine State has been hit by some of the strongest to ever make landfall in the United States, and it’s home to the International Hurricane Research Center and the Extreme Events Institute, both located at Florida International University (FIU). There, researchers are mimicking tropical cyclones using the Wall of Wind (WOW), […]
Over 400 years after the Pilgrims set sail for America in the Mayflower, an autonomous robotic vessel of the same name completed a momentous journey of its own. The Mayflower Autonomous Ship (MAS400) departed from Plymouth, England, for Washington, D.C. on April 27 and made landfall at Halifax, Nova Scotia, on June 5 after independently […]
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 […]
It sounds — and looks — like something of the distant future, but a real-life floating city is set to be completed in South Korea within the next three years. In partnership with the United Nations and the city of Busan, tech startup Oceanix presented its plans for the first-of-its-kind city this past spring. It […]
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 […]
The lionfish’s showstopping appearance makes it a star of many home aquariums. But in the wild, its presence is often sinister. Avid diver Aarav Chavda told The Guardian he became increasingly depressed witnessing the devastation the invasive species wrought on Florida’s tropical reefs. Then, he devised a plan to harvest lionfish and use their hides […]
Blood pressure is one of medicine’s most important measurements, not just as a diagnostic tool to predict cardiovascular disease and stroke risk, but also to monitor issues like kidney disease and diabetes. Inside the doctor’s office, restrictive blow-up arm cuffs do the job fine, but in more natural settings, measuring blood pressure is tricky. Fitbits […]
Ultrasounds, while safe and effective, require a trip to the doctor’s office or hospital, bulky equipment, and a slather of cold gel on the area to be imaged. But a group of MIT engineers hopes to change that process. The team has developed a small, ultrasound sticker that can provide continuous, high-resolution images of internal […]
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 […]