Production of the cement used in concrete is a major cause of CO2 emissions worldwide, so Provencher Roy architects used a greener alternative for a pair of bridges in Canada. The bridges were built from concrete that incorporated locally sourced recycled glass, reducing its greenhouse gas footprint significantly.Continue ReadingCategory: Architecture, LifestyleTags: Building and Construction, Bridge, Canada

MVRDV loves to draw inspiration from the natural landscape, resulting in geological designs like the Valley and the Canyon. Now a project led by Diamond Schmitt and the Dutch firm riffs on nature for an impressively energy-efficient new university building in Toronto that will be arranged around a light-filled atrium likened to a fissure in a boulder.Continue ReadingCategory: Architecture, LifestyleTags: MVRDV, Building and Construction, Solar Power, Toronto, Energy Efficient

The latest towable dwelling by TruForm Tiny squeezes an impressive amount of living space into a length of just 38 ft (11.5 m). Most notably, the tiny house includes a spiral staircase that provides access to a rooftop terrace, while the ground floor also includes an enclosed porch area and a deck.Continue ReadingCategory: Tiny Houses, LifestyleTags: Micro-House, Tiny Footprint, House, Building and Construction

A new study has found that a majority of medical cannabis users suffering from insomnia and poor-quality sleep are ditching conventional over-the-counter and prescription sleep aids in favor of using the drug to treat sleep-related problems.Continue ReadingCategory: Health & Wellbeing, LifestyleTags: Cannabis, Sleep, Insomnia, Washington State University

If you?ve ever started a new exercise plan or diet, you?ll most likely have been told many times that consistency is the key to reaching goals. Now, scientists for the first time have found that sticking to a daily routine of when you work out could be just as important for bone and joint health.Continue ReadingCategory: Health & Wellbeing, LifestyleTags: University of Manchester, Arthritis, Circadian Rhythms, Behavior, Exercise, molecular biology, Joints, musculoskeletal, Bones, Age-Related

After screening 27 million compounds, researchers have found a small-molecule drug that performed as well as a common painkiller with no side effects in rodent tests. The hope is that the finding could lead to better pain management for humans.Continue ReadingCategory: Health & Wellbeing, LifestyleTags: Pain, Pain Relief, New York University, Molecules

Hard-sided pop-up pickup campers and camping toppers seem to be a growing trend of the early 2020s, evidenced by a steady wave of new launches like the Oru Designs Bruin, Cube Series QB and AntiShanty Dwell Shell. Ohio startup Hardsider is deep at work on the sleekest, most compelling take yet, pairing a military-grade truck rack with a removable pop-up roof and composite cladding. The camping cap further cements its unique future-proofed design with plenty of exterior track for accessory mounting, LED lighting and Starlink satellite internet capability.Continue ReadingCategory: Outdoors, LifestyleTags: RV, Pickup, Truck, Off-road, Origami, Camping, Outdoors

Another day, another spectacular-looking skyscraper project revealed for Saudi Arabia. Named Epicon, the development will be centered around two futuristic-looking towers that are meant to evoke a desert mirage.Continue ReadingCategory: Architecture, LifestyleTags: Saudi Arabia, Building and Construction, Skyscrapers, Neom

The 2023 James Dyson Award global winners have been announced. The prizes have gone to three different student teams, each of which offers novel solutions to modern issues including global warming and providing care in war and disaster zones.Continue ReadingCategory: Good Thinking, LifestyleTags: James Dyson Awards, Dyson, Ambulance, Battlefield, Medication, Global Warming, Climate Crisis, Mechanical engineering

A study has found that sex toys are an overlooked source of microplastics and phthalates, both of which can be toxic. Given their intimate use, the researchers say their findings highlight the need for greater regulation of the sex toy industry to ensure consumer safety.Continue ReadingCategory: Health & Wellbeing, LifestyleTags: Microplastic, toxic, Chemicals, Sex Aids, Duke University

Mint Tiny Homes definitely knows a thing or two about designing extra-large tiny houses and the Canadian firm has used this experience to produce a spacious and apartment-like living experience on wheels. Named the Orca Edition Park Model, the dwelling features a remarkably roomy interior that measures 528 sq ft (50 sq m), all of which is arranged on a single floor.Continue ReadingCategory: Tiny Houses, LifestyleTags: Building and Construction, Micro-House, Tiny Footprint, House, Home

Consumer tech multinational Xiaomi revealed a nifty battery-powered camping lantern in China back in March, with a mini lamp and torch module that could be popped out of its head. Now the 2-in-1 has been released globally.Continue ReadingCategory: Outdoors, LifestyleTags: Camping, Lighting, Xiaomi

For centuries, shipworms have vexed mariners by boring into ? and consuming ? the hulls of wooden ships and boats. Soon, though, we may actually be eating those "worms," as they have successfully been farmed for the first time.Continue ReadingCategory: Good Thinking, LifestyleTags: University of Plymouth, University of Cambridge, Aquaculture, Sustainable

For as long as humans have been imbibing alcohol they have also been battling with the drug?s notorious side effects. Headaches and nausea often follow a few beverages due to the build up of a toxic by-product of alcohol ? acetaldehyde.Continue ReadingCategory: Health & Wellbeing, LifestyleTags: Wine, Alcohol, Brain, UC Davis

German industrial designer Lea Lorenz has created a new clay cooler based on the age-old principle of evaporative cooling. Dubbed TONY, this simple design offers a modern reinterpretation of the traditional clay jug cooler, providing an eco-friendly solution to keep food fresh without the need for electricity.Continue ReadingCategory: Around The Home, LifestyleTags: Eco-Friendly, sustainable design, Food technology, Coolers

A research review has found that eating at least two handfuls of nuts a day may improve sperm quality ? and, therefore, fertility ? in young, healthy males. This simple strategy had positive effects without requiring any other changes to diet.Continue ReadingCategory: Health & Wellbeing, LifestyleTags: Diet, Fertility, Monash University

A large study has found a link between higher consumption of ultra-processed foods and the risk of developing head, neck, and esophageal cancers. However, they found that obesity, often caused by eating too much of these foods, was not a large contributing factor. The findings highlight the need to examine factors other than body fat to explain this association.Continue ReadingCategory: Health & Wellbeing, LifestyleTags: Food, Processed, Cancer, Obesity, University of Bristol

The River Forest Lookout is an interesting project that puts shipping container-based architecture on a pedestal ? literally. The tiny retreat takes the form of a fire lookout tower-style design that consists of two containers raised 60 ft (18 m) above the forest floor in Whitfield County, Georgia.Continue ReadingCategory: Tiny Houses, LifestyleTags: Building and Construction, Airbnb, shipping containers, Tiny Footprint, Micro-House

A new study has found that interrupting prolonged sitting with a minute of half-squats every 20 minutes improved blood flow to the brain and, with it, cognitive functioning and concentration. This simple exercise could be done at work or home to provide a brain boost.Continue ReadingCategory: Health & Wellbeing, LifestyleTags: Brain, Exercise, Sedentary

New research has found that, in people with PTSD, the brain processes traumatic personal memories differently from sad ones, activating a region of the brain normally associated with things like introspection and daydreaming. The findings may be critical to PTSD treatment.Continue ReadingCategory: Health & Wellbeing, LifestyleTags: PTSD, Brain, Memory, Trauma, Yale

New research has found that some personality traits increase the risk of a dementia diagnosis, whereas others reduce it. Interestingly, no consistent association was seen between personality and dementia-related brain pathology. The findings suggest that targeting personality traits in interventions earlier in life may be a way of reducing dementia risk in the long term.Continue ReadingCategory: Health & Wellbeing, LifestyleTags: Dementia, Alzheimer's Disease, Personality, UC Davis

Researchers have identified how Lactobacillus, a member of our guts? microbiome community, affects a critical immune system protein, influencing stress levels and mental health. The findings could lead to new ways to prevent and treat depression and anxiety using specially formulated probiotic supplements.Continue ReadingCategory: Health & Wellbeing, LifestyleTags: Microbiome, The Immune System, Depression, Anxiety, Stress, University of Virginia

The recently completed PituRooms in Indonesia has to be one of the skinniest hotels in the world. Designed by Sahabat Selojene, it has a width of just 280 cm (110 in) and provides an excellent example of overcoming a very challenging inner-city plot.Continue ReadingCategory: Architecture, LifestyleTags: Building and Construction, Hotel, Tiny Footprint

Women and girls in industrial countries may have ready access to inexpensive menstrual pads, but such is not always the case in developing nations. That may soon change, however, thanks to the sisal plant.Continue ReadingCategory: Good Thinking, LifestyleTags: Stanford University, Women, Plants, Hygiene