Carbon-capturing concrete alternative driven by photosynthesis

A new material tackles the carbon problem of concrete production and usage by employing a pretty unusual workforce: cyanobacteria. The bio-cement these micro-organisms help to produce harnesses a process that’s existed in nature for 3.5 billion years.C… Continue reading Carbon-capturing concrete alternative driven by photosynthesis

Self-balancing commuter pods ride old railway lines on demand

Country folk tend to like the independence offered by their cars, so how do you get them to use public transit? The Monocab system may be the answer, as it utilizes individual on-demand pods that travel on existing abandoned railways.Continue ReadingCa… Continue reading Self-balancing commuter pods ride old railway lines on demand

Breath-analyzing sensor dims its glow to show blood oxygen levels

A new sensor could soon allow hospital patients’ blood oxygen levels to be checked via their breath. The technology is claimed to be more reliable and less painful than existing traditional methods.Continue ReadingCategory: Medical, ScienceTags: Fraunh… Continue reading Breath-analyzing sensor dims its glow to show blood oxygen levels

Smart helmet tracks shake to keep brains safe on the job

An experimental new helmet could save drivers of construction vehicles from serious injuries. The device measures the extent to which its wearer is being shaken up while driving, and sounds an alert when the shaking gets to be too much.Continue Reading… Continue reading Smart helmet tracks shake to keep brains safe on the job

Video: Robot climbs offshore wind turbines and paints while underwater

An experimental new undersea robot shows great promise for use in the upkeep of offshore renewable energy platforms. Because it has the ability to climb vertical underwater surfaces – and paint them – it’s known as the Crawfish.Continue ReadingCategory… Continue reading Video: Robot climbs offshore wind turbines and paints while underwater

Diamond nanomembranes make electronics 10x cooler, 5x faster to charge

Diamond is more than a pretty face – it knows how to keep its cool, thanks to its excellent thermal conductivity. Now, engineers at Fraunhofer have taken advantage of that, using ultra-thin diamond membranes to drastically cool electronic components an… Continue reading Diamond nanomembranes make electronics 10x cooler, 5x faster to charge

CycloPlasma tech traps toxic chemicals used in historic wooden buildings

Back in the 1970s and 80s, millions of wooden buildings (both new and old) were treated with preservatives that were later found to be neurotoxic and carcinogenic. A special process is now able to neutralize those chemicals in existing buildings, savin… Continue reading CycloPlasma tech traps toxic chemicals used in historic wooden buildings

Drone-mounted LUCY tech has an ear for hidden disaster-site survivors

The search for survivors at disaster sites is one of the most commonly suggested uses for drones. If those people are buried under debris, however, they won’t be visible from the air. That’s where LUCY comes in, as it could let drones locate survivors … Continue reading Drone-mounted LUCY tech has an ear for hidden disaster-site survivors

Mussel-inspired adhesive builds a bond between implants and bones

If you’ve ever tried pulling a mussel off a rock, you’ll know that they’re pretty darn good at holding on. The secret to their success is a natural adhesive, which has now been replicated in a glue that could help keep orthopedic implants attached to b… Continue reading Mussel-inspired adhesive builds a bond between implants and bones

Scientists use drones for inexpensive ice prevention on wind turbines

Not unlike the wings of airplanes, the blades of wind turbines need to be kept ice-free in order to function properly. Scientists have now developed an inexpensive method of using drones to apply an eco-friendly anti-icing coating to those blades.Conti… Continue reading Scientists use drones for inexpensive ice prevention on wind turbines