Articles
An ‘impossible’ 2D material stronger than steel
Researchers at MIT have developed an ‘impossible’ material: a 2D polymer that self-assembles into sheets and is stronger than steel. Usually, polymers, which include all plastics, form one dimensional, spaghetti-like chains made up of monomers. ...
Read more >A more sustainable alternative to fireworks inspired by fireflies
Dutch artist Daan Roosegaarde designed an installation of biodegradable light sparks that float through the air as a more sustainable and quieter alternative to fireworks. Called SPARK, the installation was inspired by the light of ...
Read more >A paving tile made of duckweed
Dutch studio Flip the City designed a biodegradable paving tile made of duckweed to facilitate biodiversity, improve drainage and improve water quality. Duckweed (Lemna) are a free-floating aquatic plants. They can reproduce at a high ...
Read more >A shark-bite resistant wetsuit
Australian company Shark Stop developed a fabric that is resistant to shank bites, even from Great Whites, which they used in combination with bio based neoprene to make wetsuits for diving and surfing. Annually, there ...
Read more >Plant-based nylon
Japanese textile Toray Industries developed a nylon fibre made entirely of plant-based polymers. Nylon was invented in the United States in the 1930s. Because of its supple, durable and wrinkle-resistant properties, it has been used ...
Read more >3D printed foam elements
In a project called FoamWorks, researchers at ETH Zürich explored how foam 3D printing can be used to produce unique shapes for functional stay-in-place or temporary and recyclable formwork in concrete casting. Making geometrically complex ...
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