While ocean-based fish farms do help take pressure off of wild stocks, they have eco-unfriendly drawbacks of their own. A new underwater robot is being designed to address that situation, by autonomously inspecting the fish and their pens. Among the potential problems with marine aquaculture operations are the facts that non-native fish may escape and upset the local ecological balance; […]
Underwater Robot Tracks Fish Farms
Pressurised CO2 Bacteria Proofs Almonds
While you might think that dried almonds are one of the “safer” foods, they’re actually prone to contamination by harmful bacteria. A simple new process could help keep that from happening, while also boosting their shelf life. It is already a known fact that exposure to pressurized carbon dioxide kills pathogenic bacteria in drinks such as orange juice. Led by […]
New Zealand Targets Carbon Neutrality By 2025
New Zealand has joined 32 other nations in formally acknowledging a climate emergency. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern described climate change as “one of the greatest challenges of our time” and pledged that New Zealand would have a carbon-neutral government by 2025. But not all New Zealand governmental officials agreed. The Green Party and the M?ori Party supported the motion, which […]
Tallhouse An Adaptable, Timber Model For Low-Carbon Housing
In an effort to bring down carbon emissions and streamline the building of cost-effective urban housing, Boston-based AEC technology company Generate is focused on revolutionizing the city’s construction industry. Generate has created The Tallhouse, a template for adaptable, low-carbon housing that prioritizes the structural use of mass timber. It’s no secret that buildings account for a massive portion of greenhouse […]
Water Joins The Commodity Market
Water has now joined oil and gold on the commodities market. This week, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange launched the United States’ first water market tied to California water prices. “Climate change, droughts, population growth, and pollution are likely to make water scarcity issues and pricing a hot topic for years to come,” said Deane Dray, RBC Capital Markets managing director […]
Good Days Brings Sustainable ActiveWear
Out of yoga studios and into closets all over the world, activewear remains a huge fashion trend. One company in Hong Kong is putting a twist on the trend by cleaning up the planet while making leggings, tops and sports bras. Good Days has created an entire activewear line made from recycled post-consumer plastic waste. Former Lane Crawford brand manager […]
Soft Aquatic Robot Activated By Light And Magnets
Researchers at Northwestern University have developed a new soft robot that can walk at roughly the speed of a human, activated by light and magnetic fields. The robot can squeeze into tight spaces and pick up, carry and release objects on demand. The robot resembles a four-legged octopus, measuring about 1 cm (0.4 in) wide. It’s made mostly of hydrogel, […]
Stromer E Bike Features Frame-Integrated ABS
Given the fact that some upper-range ebikes can travel pretty fast, it’s definitely important that they don’t skid uncontrollably when braking. That’s why a new model from Stromer is one of the first such bicycles with frame-integrated ABS. For starters, it should be noted that Bosch does already offer an ABS system for ebikes. It incorporates a module that’s mounted […]
Single Gene Therapy Injection
One of the ways scientists hope to offer better treatments for vision loss is through gene therapy, where carefully selected genetic material is injected into the eyes to address mutations. Researchers have been left surprised by the effectiveness of an experimental form of this treatment, which involved an injection into one eyeball yet improved vision across both. Gene therapies have […]
Volocopter Sells Out Singapore Tickets
Germany’s Volocopter has committed to launching commercial eVTOL flights in Singapore “within the next two to three years,” and advance tickets have already sold out to early adopters eager to take the first joyrides in this electric air taxi. The company has been very active in Singapore, where it’s done several test flights, including a high-profile manned flight late in […]