Miscellaneous
ASU makes biomimicry degree programs
Biomimicry is the practice of using nature to inspire design. It’s more common than you think but hasn’t been widely taught at universities like other forms of design. Now Arizona State University (ASU) has announced plans to create degree programs for biomimicry for both undergraduate and Read More...
Solar panels made from shrimp shells
Chitin and chitosan are valuable chemicals found in the shells of crustaceans and have been used as a component of fertilizer for many years. Scientists have discovered a way to make solar panels out of shrimp shells and the process is cheaper, and more environmentally friendly than current Read More...
Positive attitudes minimize cavities for your kids
It might not seem related, but the way in which you interact with your children could factor into their oral health. A recent study found that parents who were characterized as lenient and let their children make their own decisions had kids 13 percent less likely to have cavities than parents who Read More...
Mobile platforms bring banking to developing countries
The financial system is changing at a rapid pace, yet in many developing countries there are few banking options and people are forced to hide their money in secret places where it deteriorates because of inflation. However, mobile phones are very common in developing countries and new businesses Read More...
Making biofuel from trash could create thousands of jobs
One man’s trash is another man’s treasure—or in this case his job. A recent report by the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) found that making biofuels from trash could create 36,000 jobs across Europe and save 37 million tons of oil. The ICCT also says that biofuels have Read More...
Device gives deaf children gift of hearing
Cochlear implants have provided thousands of deaf people with the ability to hear. Cochlear implants work by using electrodes to send pulses to the auditory nerve, which the brain then recognizes by sound. But for those born without an auditory nerve cochlear implants and hearing has not been an Read More...
Suit gives paralyzed the gift of walking
A diagnosis of paralysis almost always means you will never walk again. But that’s changing. Watch this short video. Two companies in the US have created a bionic suit that basically walks for the person who is wearing it. The suits are strong and the person wearing them only feels the weight of Read More...
High seas fishing ban would boost catching equality
Our global fish stocks are being depleted at a rate that is not only unsustainable, but will leave future generations with nearly no fish. Right now 10 high sea fishing nations catch more than 70 percent of fish in international waters. Researchers from Canada have crunched fishing data from high Read More...
Volkswagen invests in EV charging stations
At the end of last month BMW and Volkswagen announced plans to build a network of electric-vehicle (EV) charging stations along the eastern and western seaboards. Now Volkswagen has followed up with this announcement and has pledged $10 million to start construction on a national network of EV Read More...
Micro-funding app lets you borrow money from your friends
Developers of a new app, called Puddle, want you to throw out the old idea of keeping money and friends separate. The way Puddle works is that you can borrow from it up to 5X what you put in. So lets say you put in $10 then you can take out $50, put in $500 and you can take out $2500, and so on. Read More...