The Great Naha Tug of War Gets Thousands Of People Pulling And Partying
This Sunday on Okinawa in Japan, it’s an event on a grand scale: the Naha Great Tug of War, with thousands of people pulling a 200 meter long rope.
Whey Protein Could Help Stop E-Waste
Could the secret weapon against electronic waste may be cheese? Research finds a process involving the byproduct of cheesemaking known as whey protein could help recover gold and other precious metals from old computer motherboards.
Whitney Smith Flew The Flag For Studying Flags
Today in 1940, the birthday of the world’s number one flag expert: Whitney Smith, who not only studied flags his entire life, he invented the word for studying flags.
Meet ESTHER, A Robot That Plays Wheelchair Tennis
We’ve talked a lot on the show about the many different skills robots are learning. Now we can tell you about Experimental Sport Tennis Wheelchair Robot, which is learning to play tennis.
A Company In Mexico Is Making 3D Printed Bricks Out Of Eggshells
Can you build a wall out of eggshells? You can if you're the Mexican design studio MANUFACTURA, which developed a sustainable way to make bricks out of discarded shells and bio-binders.
Sound Waves Could Help Keep High-Tech Batteries Going And Going And Going
Rechargeable batteries like the ones in our smartphones typically last a few years, but a new project out of Australia could lead to batteries that last nearly a decade. And that's thanks in part to sound waves.
This Solar Powered System Can Help Address Both Plastic Waste And Greenhouse Gases
Too much waste plastic? Too many greenhouse gases in the atmosphere? Researchers in the UK may have a partial solution for both problems: a process that uses solar energy to convert plastic and greenhouse gases into useful products.
Hydrogel Sheets Could Clean Up Spills Quicker Than Ever Before
A lot of us turn to paper towels when there’s a mess to be addressed, but they could also be greener. Researchers are developing a reusable kitchen towel made of hydrogel.
Cranberry-Based Packaging Is Plastic-Free And Completely Dissolvable
A lot of products, even some otherwise green ones, still use a lot of disposable single-use plastic. But there’s a research project that aims to replace that plastic wrapping with a completely biodegradable version made from cranberries.
With Solar-Reflective Paint, School Playgrounds Are Getting Cooler
Hot days make for stuffy classrooms, and that can make it hard to learn, but going outside to scorching hot asphalt playgrounds isn’t much better. A school near Atlanta is demonstrating one partial solution, and it’s as simple as getting a fresh coat of paint.