Viking-style seaweed thatch updated into prefab panelling
Traditional Danish seaweed thatching could be updated into a sustainable contemporary building material, according to research by Kathryn Larsen. More about Viking-style seaweed thatch updated into prefab panelling
Twitter redesigns website for first time in seven years
Twitter has launched its first major website redesign in seven years – a subtly streamlined experience that is more in line with the company's app. More about Twitter redesigns website for first time in seven years
Bricks made from loofah and charcoal could promote biodiversity in cities
Plants and insects can thrive on the surface of these Green Charcoal bio-bricks, engineered as an alternative to concrete by researchers at the Indian School of Design and Innovation in Mumbai. More about Bricks made from loofah and charcoal could promote biodiversity in cities
Ultravioletto's Neural Mirror shows audiences an AI reflection of themselves
Visitors to a former church in the Italian city of Spoleto will encounter a mirror that uses artificial intelligence and facial recognition to build an otherworldly image of themselves. More about Ultravioletto's Neural Mirror shows audiences an AI reflection of themselves
Daan Roosegaarde's Presence exhibition encourages visitors to make their mark
Dutch designer Daan Roosegaarde has opened his first major solo museum show — an interactive experience meant to awaken its audience to human impact on the environment. More about Daan Roosegaarde's Presence exhibition encourages visitors to make their mark
ElectroDermis researchers make stretchy wearable tech that sticks to the skin
Wearable devices can be stuck onto the stick like plasters, using a new method pioneered by researchers at Carnegie Mellon University. More about ElectroDermis researchers make stretchy wearable tech that sticks to the skin
Climate-change data turned into colourful towering totems
Designer Alicja Biała and architect Iwo Borkowicz have aimed to capture the realities of climate change with these colourful Totemy towers that serve as multi-storey data visualisations. More about Climate-change data turned into colourful towering totems
Microsoft and Kano partner on build-your-own PC for children
Kids can now build their own fully functional Windows 10 PC tablet laptop, using this powerful new kit by creative-tech toy company Kano. More about Microsoft and Kano partner on build-your-own PC for children
Spot toy by New Deal Design encourages kids to be "in-the-moment"
Gadi Amit's studio New Deal Design has invented an Artificial intelligence-equipped toy to fight the "distraction economy" by nurturing children's attention spans. More about Spot toy by New Deal Design encourages kids to be "in-the-moment"
Smart chest binder promises to ease pain for trans people
Transgender men and non-binary people have a safer, more comfortable option for chest binding in the form of Breathe, a smart garment designed by Loughborough University student Miles Kilburn. More about Smart chest binder promises to ease pain for trans people
Michelin and GM to bring airless tyres to cars
Michelin is partnering with General Motors to bring its airless tyre prototype to the roads, potentially saving 200 million punctured car tyres from the scrap heap annually. More about Michelin and GM to bring airless tyres to cars
MIT researchers engineer "cyborg" plants for motion-tracking and sending notifications
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology's "cyborg botany" researchers have turned plants into sensors and displays, suggesting we use them as a gentle alternative to electronic screens. More about MIT researchers engineer "cyborg" plants for motion-tracking and sending notifications
Carlo Ratti imagines how Boulevard Périphérique in Paris will look in 2050
Paris' famous Périphérique ring road could have its car lanes slashed by half and replaced by a playground in the switch to driverless cars, says Carlo Ratti. More about Carlo Ratti imagines how Boulevard Périphérique in Paris will look in 2050
Wild Flower launches gender-neutral sex toy Enby for "all of life's transitions"
The first sex toy created by retailer Wild Flower is a genderless object meant to suit a variety of bodies. More about Wild Flower launches gender-neutral sex toy Enby for "all of life's transitions"
Sony explores robot-human relationships with Affinity in Autonomy exhibition
Sony has staged an artificial intelligence-themed exhibition, featuring a field of white spheres that move as if they have their own personalities. More about Sony explores robot-human relationships with Affinity in Autonomy exhibition
Aitor Throup develops "speed-warping" technique for The SLP music video
Kasabian's Sergio Pizzorno had to sing in a "crazy" mix of slow and fast speeds to achieve the glitchy effect in the music video for Favourites, directed by designer Aitor Throup. More about Aitor Throup develops "speed-warping" technique for The SLP music video
Drone-equipped hospitals could be resilient to disasters
Architecture and engineering firm Leo A Daly has proposed building "drone-powered" hospitals in hurricane-prone areas, which could continue operating even when roads are closed or destroyed. More about Drone-equipped hospitals could be resilient to disasters
University of Stuttgart makes Urbach Tower from self-shaping wood
University of Stuttgart engineers have harnessed the natural shrinking process of wood as it loses moisture to create this world-first self-twisted tower in Germany. More about University of Stuttgart makes Urbach Tower from self-shaping wood
United Nations criticises voice assistants for promoting gender biases
A United Nations report has found that Apple's Siri, Amazon's Alexa, and other female-voiced digital assistants "reinforce commonly held gender biases". More about United Nations criticises voice assistants for promoting gender biases
Aivan grows headphones from fungus and yeast
Fungus, yeast-based bioplastic and other materials grown by microbes have been used to make the Korvaa headphones, designed by Finnish studio Aivan in collaboration with scientists. More about Aivan grows headphones from fungus and yeast