Tag: #71

Vibrating beds soothe premature babies. The desire to become a parent is not based on gender. In the course of a lifetime some females identify as male and undergo bodily changes. But the desire to be a parent can remain. This means interrupting testosterone therapy and enduring accompanying physical and psychological challenges. Now a reproductive biologist from Edinburgh University...

Gin and whisky are saving trees from being felled. Apple leftovers or kombucha are also playing their part. In the USA alone, wood processing produces 100 tonnes of sawdust annually, which could be used as packaging material. A Massachusetts-based startup is manufacturing furniture, kitchen utensils and automobile parts from the valuable waste product. Their design pieces come from a...

Older models are all the rage. But some items of clothing wear easily. Now, a Swedish company founded by scientists is recycling used clothing and production waste from cotton or viscose. Having been de-zipped and de-buttoned, the textiles are ground and dissolved into non-toxic chemicals. The resulting pulp of cellulose fibres is freed from unwanted residues, dried and made...

Enzymes break down plastics, while seaweed helps us avoid them altogether. Now, a local startup is using a weather-proof robot boat to help keep Hong Kong waters clear. Taking a predetermined route, the 3-metre-long vessel autonomously collects waste, with a conveyor belt offloading it into a 200kg capacity container. An AI camera system identifies the type of rubbish and...

A placenta gene provides information on potential autism. Now, a research team from Northwestern University has discovered a different gene that is crucial to our ability to hear. Outer hair cells in the ear amplify sound for the inner hair cells. These, in turn, transmit vibrations to the nerves, enabling us to perceive sound. Age or medical treatment causes...

A few clicks can change our mood, even our carbon footprint. Now, thanks to a Munich-based startup’s new app, companies and their volunteer teams have a chance to get active in the local community. There are currently more than 1,000 opportunities - from environmental projects to helping the homeless and supporting refugees. It’s also possible to make a donation...