It’s lighter, stronger, easier to make, and would make it easier to heat and cool buildings.A sheet of transparent new material at a University of Maryland lab looks like it might be plastic. But it’s actually wood—and it could eventually be used to make energy-efficient windows or even see-through buildings.“Compared to glass, wood has lower thermal conductivity, and it’s lighter, stronge...

A facility near seattle has begun the process of turning deceased human bodies into compost. recompose, an ecological death care company, announced that its first location has been open since december 2020, with ten individuals laid into vessels to begin their transformation into soil. The concept was previously covered on designboom here, when it was announced that architecture firm olson kund...

As automotive and industrial companies take tactical steps to survive the pandemic, they should seize the opportunity to embrace ten actions to sustain leadership and value creation in the coming decade.CEOs and corporate leaders are awash with uncertainty due to the persistent transmission of COVID-19, shifting regional dynamics, fluctuating customer demand, and transformational technology dis...

Mobile devices have become essential daily tools for people all over the world — from staying connected to taking pictures and accessing information. Thanks to sensors that are already built into smartphones — like your microphone, camera and accelerometer — these devices can also be helpful for daily health and wellness.Heart rate and respiratory rate are two vital signs commonly used to as...

Global commercial air traffic plummeted in the first quarter of 2020, as the Covid-19 pandemic took hold. In May 2020, we began making monthly forecasts of how soon aviation demand will recover, based on four potential scenarios and the latest information. We’re now publishing those forecasts in this dashboard, which we will update regularly.Here are the latest developments reflected in the da...

Metalenz said it has raised $10 million to create 3D sensors on a chip with structures that are 1,000 times smaller than a human hair.The new investment allows Metalenz to scale production and accelerate the development of miniature optics on a chip technology and its new lens that will power the next generation of sensors for use in smartphones and other consumer, health care, and automotive a...

Wild fluctuations in the cost of rental apartments across the country seem to be slowing after a tumultuous year.The impact of the pandemic on New York City real estate has perhaps been most stark in the Manhattan rental market, which had vacancies skyrocket in 2020 as tenants fled to greener places, to less expensive places from which they could work remotely, or to their parents’ homes. But...

The new backpack could be particularly beneficial for hikers, soldiers, and school children.A load-reducing backpack that powers electronics by harvesting energy from the long-distance walks might sound like a project that you'd dream of as a child; however, not all dreams have to stay as dreams. Researchers have designed a load-suspended backpack that not only makes loads feel about 20 percent...

Brand is helping French farmers with unusual giveaway.A fast food order might commonly come with a side of fries, but Burger King France is doing things somewhat differently this month—it's giving away bags of raw potatoes.In its latest effort to help out during the pandemic (which has already included helping indie restaurants and encouraging people to also buy from its fast food rivals), Par...