Tag: Nature

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...

Cancer residue caused by treatment could be removed. Alzheimer’s disease, accounting for 60-70% of dementia cases, is caused by degenerative nerve cells in the brain. The body’s energy to remove them comes from mitochondria. If these become damaged, however, the whole cell dies. Making the clean-up process increasingly problematic as we age. Now, an international research team spearheaded by...

Originality isn’t just for the fashion industry. Following on from the success of indigenous tribes in Australia, a PhD student at Charles Darwin University recently teamed up with a music producer. He recorded the sounds of endangered bird species and together with the producer they produced a 24-minute album within three weeks. It features the chatter and calls of...

Nature has healing powers. A startup from London is providing all those who are committed to saving the planet while helping others with a digital opportunity. Its platform allows private citizens or companies to purchase trees online. Farmers in 12 different countries - including Haiti and Madagascar - are then paid to plant them. Different types of trees such...