Scientists estimate there are at least 14 million metric tons of microplastics on the ocean floor, but these pollutants are everywhere — from the snow on Mount Everest to the bodies of honeybees. Due to their minuscule size, microplastics can also easily infiltrate the human body, and traces have been found in breast milk, blood, […]
Nonprofit Makes Whirlpools to Remove Microplastics From Water Supply Continue Reading »
Using the wind as a means of harnessing energy is not a newfound concept — turbines have been cropping up for decades now, and wind generates nearly 10% of U.S. electricity. But scientists at Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University have developed an innovative new technology that can harness energy from the gentlest of breezes. At just
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
This Underwater Camera Is Battery-Free, Wireless, and Powered by Sound Continue Reading »
It’s difficult to determine the world’s most expensive microscope — one powerful electron microscope cost $27 million to get up and running back in 2009 — but it may be easier to call out the cheapest. The Foldscope is made of paper and costs $1.75 to produce. Don’t let the low price point fool you,
The Award-Winning Paper Microscope That Costs Less Than $2 to Produce Continue Reading »
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
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
Traveling to a doctor’s office can be arduous for people with Parkinson’s disease, a neurological condition that causes spontaneous, uncontrollable movements and cognitive challenges. But clinical monitoring is essential to track the disease’s progression and evaluate treatment efficacy. A new at-home monitoring system might provide a solution that’s not only more convenient but also more
At-Home Radio Sensors Could Improve Care for Patients With Parkinson’s Disease Continue Reading »
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
After three years of testing, the world’s first zero-emissions ferry has set sail from the south of France, raising hopes of a greener future when it comes to commercial water travel. The ferry was crafted by shipping company La Méridionale, which sails from Marseille to three different ports in Corsica, an island in the Mediterranean
France Debuts the World’s First Zero-Emissions Ferry: Watch It Set Sail Continue Reading »
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
