Tag: Nature

Paper tags prevent theft, while algae protects against fire. And now, British students are turning to natural materials such as charcoal to provide safeguards against wildfires. Their patent-pending, pinecone-like sensor can be placed on the forest floor. If the surrounding temperature exceeds 80℃, wax in the ‘cone’ starts to melt. Its heat is converted into energy by a small...

Wasabi is good for memory cells, and curcumin an effective alternative to chemical antacids. Honey from the Manuka bush has long been hailed by the Maori community for its anti-inflammatory and wound-healing properties. And now a university research team in California has discovered that the liquid gold can help fight breast cancer. Particularly in cases where cancer cell growth...

Mushrooms can play a vital role in computer technology. And are equally good at dealing with noise pollution. They also form part of an underground network which supplies trees with nutrients, helping them to grow. If trees are felled and uprooted, however, these networks also disappear. Now, an Edinburgh-based startup is restoring this ecosystem by preparing individually-tailored pellets containing...

Those looking to change their diets can turn to seaweed or cream alternatives. But rich food causes more than just bloating or queasiness. In extreme cases of heartburn, proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) provide a solution by suppressing the build-up of stomach acid, shielding the oesophagus and intestinal tract from harm. However, they also reduce the body’s intake of nutrients...

Donations left by a desert robot could help create an oasis. The same cannot be said, however, for humans leaving their “mark” and their tissues in nature. Enter an Israeli design student’s sustainable toilet paper. Made from oranges and aloe vera, each individual leaf is woven with plant seeds such as mint, rose or parsley. Though thicker than traditional...

Making egg and meat substitutes means having the right ingredients in the right combination. Which is why an Israeli firm’s latest platform uses artificial intelligence to determine how natural plants can be interbred to create new food products. Taking into account food producers' requests concerning nutritional value, texture and taste, along with cultivation circumstances, the system combs a database...

Cocoa plants aren’t just used to make chocolate and buildings become more flexible. Now, an international research team has developed a design concept from which humans, animals, plants and organisms such as microbes could all benefit. The idea is to cover houses in several layers. Each of them is tailored to the needs of the organisms within. Humans, for...

Implanted visual cells help the retina regenerate. Meanwhile, a Brazilian marine biologist is working on regenerating entire coral landscapes. Her secret? Probiotics. As well as being good for our gut, the living microorganisms make coral more resistant too. After treatment with the helpful bacteria, around 40% of coral reefs were able to withstand the influence of heat, oil and...