Researchers find dangerous amounts of lead in fidget spinners

Fidget spinners have recently spiked in popularity, used by kids and adults alike to curb stress and improve focus. But environmental activist Tamara Rubin recently found high levels of lead in these little devices. She tested two fidget spinners, and the results will shock you. Related:

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World's first commercial carbon-sucking plant goes live in Zurich

Carbon capture is essential to the fight against climate change and keeping temperatures below a two degrees Celsius increase, according to Swiss-based Climeworks. For a few years now they've been working on technology to suck carbon dioxide (CO2) from the air and sell it to agriculture or energy industries. They just debuted the first Direct Air Capture commercial plant on top of a waste recovery facility in Zurich, Switzerland today.

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White House official says Trump is pulling out of the Paris Agreement

President Donald Trump is set to withdraw from the historic 2015 Paris Agreement, according to several news outlets. It appears he'll stick with his ill-advised campaign promise after all, and favor nationalist voices like that of Steve Bannon against the more moderate tones of his daughter Ivanka Trump. Even oil and gas companies like Shell and ExxonMobil called for America to stay in the deal. The move will likely mean the United States loses their footing as a global leader in the fight against...

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Score 1150 worth of solar outdoor lighting in our summer solar giveaway

Now that spring is in full swing, we're spending as much time as possible outdoors - and as longer days give way to warmer nights, the benefits of solar-powered lighting really start to shine. Whether you're decking out your patio for an evening BBQ or setting up camp in the middle of the woods, solar lights keep the festivities going long after dark without relying on the grid. If you'd like to pick up some quality lamps, you're in luck - we've teamed up with Deelat to offer you a shot at winning...

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Climate change could make cities 8C hotter by 2100, new studies show

Climate change is raising temperatures, but the effect could be worse in the world's cities, according to researchers. They say the urban heat island effect - or the fact that cities are hotter thanks to human activity - combined with climate change could increase temperatures in urban areas by around 14.4 degrees Fahrenheit, or eight degrees Celsius, by the end of the 21st century. Related:

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Nonprofit teaches communities how to build homes out of straw, clay and soil

Emily Niehaus was working as a loan officer when she see realized that there was a need for affordable housing options in her community. So she founded Community Rebuilds - a nonprofit that teaches people to build affordable homes out of "dirt cheap" materials like clay, straw and soil. Interns participate in a 5-month program, completing two homes from foundation to finish using sustainable living principles. Community Rebuilds started in Moab, UT as a way to ease the financial strains...

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Glowing see-through garden house lets plants soak up the sun

Related: + H.a Architects Via Archdaily Photography via Quang Dam

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Solar-powered Villa Schoorl blends into Hollands polder landscape

Natural materials and sustainable principles led the design of Villa Schoorl, a contemporary home nestled in the green polders near the North Holland dunes. Surrounded by mills and farmhouses, the contemporary villa references the local rural vernacular with its vertical timber cladding but distinguishes itself using an eyecatching sawtooth roof. Designed by Paul de Ruiter Architects, the energy-efficient dwelling is predominately powered by rooftop solar panels. The Villa Schoorl was...

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Mobile Smartdome homes pop up almost anywhere starting at 20k

Dome homes are durable, efficient, and—above all—fun to live in. Now you can get your hands on your very own mobile dome home with Slovenian firm smartdome construction. Available in a variety of styles, the Smartdome consists of prefabricated modules engineered for energy efficiency and designed for the enjoyment of nature lovers and DIY enthusiasts. Built on a set of adjustable steel legs, the elevated Smartdome sits lightly on the land with the option of placement in degraded and...

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Arckit building blocks let you design and build the city of your dreams

Move over LEGO, a new set of building blocks wants to unleash our inner urban planner. Arckit, the makers of award winning architectural building blocks, have scaled up to create a modeling kit for cities. The firm just launched its first ever Kickstarter campaign today to bring its new city building kits to life. Founded by architect Damien Murtagh, Arckit took the architecture world by storm with the debut of their architecture building kits in 2014. The reusable building blocks share...

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Scientists invent graphene paint that makes your house super efficient

Graphene - the strongest material known to science - has been used to create everything from condoms to night-vision contact lenses. Thanks to the ingenuity of Spain-based The Graphene Company, paint containing the world’s “thinnest, strongest and most conductive” substance will soon be sold on shelves in the UK. Because Graphenstone is composed of a lime-base with a hexagonal lattice of carbon atoms one atom thick, it is incredibly thin, beneficial for the environment and capable of improving...

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World's first silo brewery opens in abandoned NY grain elevator

Abandoned grain silos in Buffalo, New York have been given new life as a brewery. Buffalo RiverWorks recently opened the $2.2 million brewery in an effort being hailed as part of the revitalization of the city's waterfront. Buffalo's grain elevators have long been emblematic of the area but now usher in a new area of innovation both in brewing and architectural restoration. General manager Pearl Street Family of Companies, which is behind the brewery,

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Bangladesh raises storm danger to highest level as Cyclone Mora batters coastline

Bangladesh was still picking up the pieces after April flash floods that impacted millions of people when a cyclone hit. Cyclone Mora just struck the country's southeastern coast with rain and winds hours ago, and the BBC reports five people have died. Hundreds of homes have been devastated.

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Disney's 'World of Pandora' Avatar park opens with floating mountains and glowing forests

Related: + Pandora — The World of Avatar Via CNN Pandora — The World of Avatar, Avatar Flight of Passage, disney world, disney world pandora, pandore exhibit disney, disney movie pandora, pandora special effects, botanical park disney, James Cameron, Avatar, Valley of Mo'ara,

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UK solar smashes record, supplying 25% of electricity demand

Solar supplied nearly 25 percent of electricity demand in the United Kingdom for a period of time last Friday starting around noon, according to the National Grid. The 8.75 gigawatts of solar power broke the previous record set earlier in May of 8.49 GW solar generation. The sun-drenched day across the British Isles allowed for solar to beat nuclear for the first time, coming in second only to gas.

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Set up camp anywhere with Latvia's luxurious Camping Box

InBoxLifestyle just made camping a lot more glamorous with their Camping Box, a modular eco-friendly box that's easy to set up. Their 97 square foot box can house four people comfortably. The Latvia-based company says their Camping Box allows campers to escape into nature while feeling like they're staying at a high class hotel. Related:

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Leaked Tesla document confirms Model 3 with 215+ mile range

Tesla hasn't released all the official performance specs for the upcoming Model 3 sedan, but a leaked dealer document just gave away a lot of the juicy details. A member of the Tesla Model 3 Owners Club recently came across a dealer product sheet that compares the specs for the Model S to the Model 3 - effectively revealing the Model 3's driving range and other performance specs. Rather than promote the Model 3, the leaked document looks more like a way to educate Tesla's sales staff about ways...

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Nomadic bookseller travels all over France with his tiny library on wheels

Related: + Via Treehugger

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First Apple Store in Southeast Asia is 100% powered by renewable energy

This weekend, Singapore welcomed its first Apple store in a beautiful glass-fronted building that blends minimalist design with nature. Designed by Foster + Partners and Apple, this long-awaited flagship store—called Apple Orchard Road—takes cues from Singapore’s lush environment and features mature trees inside and outside the shop. Home to the world’s largest Genius Grove, Apple Orchard Road is considered one of Foster + Partners’ “greenest Apple spaces yet” and is entirely powered...

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Tiny eco-minded home bathes owners in the dappled light of metal leaves

Who can resist an afternoon nap in dappled sunlight? Sleeping beneath a tree canopy can be wonderful but not always practical, so architect Eva Sopéoglou found a clever way to recreate the dramatic light effects indoors year-round. Inspired by ecological principles, Sopéoglou designed the Olive Tree House, a small prefabricated summer house in Halkidiki, Greece with metal textile-like cladding perforated with leaf patterns. Set on an olive grove hill overlooking the sea and nearby Mount...

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Desert Twins produce water through condensation in driest place on Earth

Safe water isn't easily accessible for one in 10 people on Earth. For nearly 10 years, artist Ap Verheggen has been working to address water scarcity, and his SunGlacier team recently had the opportunity to test their idea of making water from thin air in what they described as the driest, hottest place on the planet: the Sahara Desert.

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G7 leaders openly say climate change consensus does not include US

The rest of the world is beginning to count the United States out of the climate change battle, if a recent statement after the G7 statement is any indication. The G7 leaders met late last week at a summit in Taormina, Italy, and naturally climate change was on the agenda. But in a rather blunt statement, they said America "is not in a position to join the consensus" on the Paris Agreement and one of the biggest issues humanity faces today.

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Casa Pjaro de Plata offers stunning views of the Costa Rican jungle

This gorgeous house nestled amidst the Costa Rican jungle is a private retreat that offers panoramic views of its lush natural surroundings. Architect John Osborne of OS Arquitectura designed Casa Pájaro de Plata, which translates to 'Silver Bird House' in Spanish, to resemble a bird in flight. The house has a simple shape and sits on a promontory surrounded by a lush jungle. It combines natural stone with white marble and wood to create a variety of warm spaces that allow the owners...

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Code red aviation alert after Bogoslaf volcano erupts in Alaska

The highest aviation alert was issued on Saturday after a volcano on Alaska’s Bogoslof Island erupted. As a result of the code “red” alert being raised, pilots were instructed to fly at least 35,000 ft., and possibly as high as 45,000 ft, above the volcano to prevent its fiery ash from melting parts of the plane which would result in engine failure. According to the Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO), the volcano that erupted is part of the Aleutian Island chain. Not long after...

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Portable SolSource Sport solar stove heats up 5X faster than a charcoal grill

Imagine voyaging to your favorite local national park for a hot meal cooked outdoors with a portable stove that weighs 10 pounds and pops up in five minutes. And requires no fuel but the sun. And cooks food five times faster than a charcoal grill, but without the pollution. That's the SolSource Sport. One Earth Designs is crowdfunding for their latest small solar cooker just in time for summer. Related:

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Ecosistema Urbano envisions bioclimatic domes for Florida's West Palm waterfront

This green masterplan for the West Palm Beach in Florida will include the first public bioclimatic domes in the U.S. adorned with hanging gardens. Architecture film Ecosistema Urbano designed the project as a proposal for the Shore to Core competition which invited international designers, planners and architects to envision the future of the West Palm Beach waterfront. Van Alen Institute and the West Palm Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (WPB CRA) awarded Ecosistema Urbano's proposal, named...

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German community bands together to convert old WWII bunker into a 'green mountain'

Related: Century-old WWI bunker is reborn as a contemporary alpine shelter “We are rebuilding what we inherit.” The project’s initiative states, “Adding something to history while dealing with it and thereby reshaping history itself.” Via Archdaily

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Enviable cabin with coastal views dramatically cuts into bedrock

If you want a tasteful home with a sense of drama, you’ll love this spruce-clad cabin. Helsinki-based studio Mer Arkkitehdit set this white minimalist home into a rocky cliff that overlooks sublime coastal views in multiple directions. In addition to stunning landscape vistas, the compact Stormvillan home features a beautiful contemporary interior carefully furnished for a clean, modern, and cozy character. Located in Hanko, Finland, the 210-square-meter Stormvillan is set at the heart...

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Light-filled library doubles as a home-like environment in Shanghai

There’s nothing quite like curling up with a good book. Brooklyn-based nARCHITECTS imbues those feelings of comfort into their design of “Library As Home,” the winning entry in the 110,000-square-meter Shanghai Library East Hall competition held by the city government. The cylindrical library draws inspiration from Chinese traditional architecture and culture while maintaining a contemporary design. In addition to winning first prize in the Shanghai government’s 2016 International...

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BMW just unveiled the sleek electric motorcycle of the future

Ready to commute in style? A futuristic, zero-emission motorbike was recently unveiled by BMW at the Concorso D’eleganza Villa D’este, an event presently taking place in Italy. Modeled after the BMW Motoradd Vision Next 100, the design is both sleek and functional and is perfect for those who need to transit in urban settings. The BMW Motorrad Concept Link may look like a scooter, but it is anything but. The motorbike has a low-slung, stretched body with a flat seat and, according to the...

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Forward Labs' new solar roof is 33% cheaper than Tesla's - and it can be installed in half the time

Tesla gets all the attention when it comes to solar roofs, but meanwhile, start-up Forward Labs has been hammering away at their own solar roof technology that not only blends right in with traditional roofs, but it is 33% cheaper that Tesla's offering - and it can be installed in half of the time. Forward Labs' roof is different from Tesla's in that, instead of using individual solar shingles, it uses a standing-seam metal roof that is made up of one large, layered piece. It has a tempered...

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New autopilot software update improves performance and feel of Tesla cars

Tesla isn't content to be the most valuable car company in the United States. The company has been working to improve their software, and their new Autopilot comes with relaxed speed restrictions that make driving on undivided roads and off highways even better. Vice president of Autopilot software Chris Lattner said on Twitter the performance of the car is "much improved."

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Now Trump wants to condemn wild horses to slaughter

There's a new group on the chopping block under President Donald Trump's latest budget proposal: wild horses. His administration thinks they could save $10 million by allowing the sale of wild horses snared in the American West. But they'd toss out a requirement in place right now - buyers must guarantee the horses won't be resold to be killed. Under the Trump budget these iconic animals could be disposed of to foreign slaughterhouses to be processed as food. Wild horses are so integral...

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India cancels plans for coal power stations as solar prices hit record low

  Plans to construct nearly 14 gigawatts of coal-fired power stations in India (nearly the same as the total amount in the UK) have fallen through, now that the price for solar electricity is “free falling” to levels once considered impossible. Because solar tariffs have dropped by 25% in some regions, the shift from “dirty” energy sources to solar and wind is expected to have “profound” implications for global energy markets. Tim Buckley, the director of energy finance studies...

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China subverts pollution with contained vertical farms - and boosts yield

Around one fifth of arable land in China is contaminated with levels of toxins greater than government standards, according to 2014 data. That's around half the size of California, and it's a growing problem for a country that faces such levels of pollution they had to import $31.2 billion of soybeans in 2015 - a 43 percent increase since 2008. Scientists and entrepreneurs are working to come up with answers to growing edible food in a polluted environment, and shipping containers or vertical gardening...

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Atelier Space turn a 1925 nursery into a daylit solar-powered residence in the Netherlands

Smart adaptive reuse can do wonders with old, abandoned and disused buildings. Dutch firm Atelier Space breathed new life into this 1925 nursery in Leiden, the Netherlands, and converted it into a beautiful, daylit residence with all the amenities, technology and polish worthy of a modern urban home. The architects preserved much of the original 1925 nursery, turned the former gym into an airy, open-plan living, dining, and kitchen area. They divided a large classroom into three separate...

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Student-designed car could cross almost the entire U.S. on one gallon of gas

Every year engineering students contend for the prize to design a super efficient vehicle in the Shell Eco-marathon Americas contest. This year a team from Université Laval snagged the award with a car that gets 2,713.1 miles per gallon of gasoline. That means a driver could travel further than the distance between Atlanta, Georgia and Seattle, Washington in the efficient little vehicle.

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Tiny house startup Getaway to launch off-grid tiny homes in NYC this weekend

Getaway at Gateway Related: MUJI to sell eagerly awaited $27k minimalist tiny homes this fall + Gateway at Getaway Getaway, Getaway at Gateway, tiny house startups, tiny house design, Gateway National Recreation Area, nyc gateway park, national parks, tiny home exhibition nyc, nyc tiny homes,

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Formerly undiscovered tectonic plates may explain mysterious Vityaz earthquakes

A previously undetected layer of tectonic plates may offer answers to the mysterious Vityaz earthquakes in the Pacific Ocean. Researchers recently presented their preliminary findings on the extra layer of tectonic plates in Earth's mantle at a joint meeting of the American Geophysical Union and the Japan Geoscience Union in Tokyo. These plates might have moved into the mantle millions of years ago.

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Envirohaven's super green geodesic homes can be built in just a few days

Related: Zendome: Gorgeous Geodesic Domes Create Flexible Green Spaces + Environhaven Environhaven, sustainable tiny homes, tiny pods, tiny home design, eco tiny homes, green tiny homes, sustainable home design, pre-fabbed geodesic homes,

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LEED Silver-seeking Perry World House marries new and old at Penn

The newest building at the University of Pennsylvania also happens to be the oldest. This curious marriage of new and old is the Perry World House, the university’s new hub for international affairs. Designed by 1100 Architect, the academic building merges a historic 19th century structure with a modern new-build into a LEED Silver-seeking research center with open and flexible spaces. Completed in 2016, the Perry World House is a 17,400-square-foot academic center that combines a historic...

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Giant animal faces take over Mexico Citys forest for environmental awareness

Thousands of visitors to a Mexico City park were treated to an eerie sight in the treetops last weekend. Giant ghostly animals heads peered down from the canopy, fixing their intense gaze on the public in an environmental video installation for Marvin Festival 2017. Designed by studio Maizz Visual, the ephemeral intervention, called Animal Watching, was created to raise awareness about the destruction of ecosystems and animal species. According to the WWF, almost half of the world’s...

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The world's most compact electric bike folds to fit into your backpack

Forget traditional bikes or skateboards, the future of green transportation is the Smacircle S1, an incredibly compact and lightweight ebike that can be folded up and carried in your backpack. Introduced to the world via an IndieGoGo campaign, the invention has surpassed its startup goal by 281% - and it's not difficult to comprehend why. The carbon fiber S1 can be folded in five simple steps and can travel up to 12.4 mph. Additionally, though it only weighs 15.4 lbs, the ebike can hold 220 lbs. According...

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Worlds largest floating solar farm is now generating energy in China

A 40-megawatt solar farm in the South Anhui province of China is finally online and generating renewable energy. Larger than floating farms in Australia and India, the mass of solar panels is the largest in the world can produce enough clean energy to power homes in the immediate area. Though the city of Huainan is known for its coal-rich land, the Chinese government decided to invest in a floating solar farm because the rainy weather has resulted in flooding. In certain areas, water...

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China, Canada, EU join forces on climate action - without Trump

President Donald Trump still hasn't made up his mind on whether he'll keep the United States part of the 2015 Paris climate change agreement, even though everyone from the Vatican to ExxonMobil have called for America to remain part of the pact. But China, Canada, and the European Union (EU) aren't going to sit around and wait for him to make his decision. They've formed a pact for continued climate action regardless of where the Trump administration stands.

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Vivobarefoot is launching a sneaker made out of algae

Vivobarefoot, a London-based purveyor of so-called "barefoot" footwear, is going green in an altogether unexpected way: by creating the world's first molded shoe from algae.

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Pope Francis gifts Trump his book on climate change

Pope Francis and President Donald Trump have made no secret of their opposing viewpoints: on immigration, on climate change, or on walls. So many people were curious to see how their recent meeting at the Vatican in Rome would play out. The meeting appeared quite cordial but the Pope definitely won the day with his gift for Trump: an encyclidal on climate change. Related:

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Glass-encased circular Solo House snakes through a Spanish forest

Related: Villa Nyberg: A Passive Swedish Prefab with a Cool Circular Floorplan + Solo Houses Via Dezeen Solo Houses, Christian Bourdais, circular homes, round homes, round buildings, forest homes, forest living,

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This Texas supermarket is growing its own veggies in a shipping container farm

A Texas chain of supermarkets isn't just in the business of selling vegetables; it wants to grow them, too. Based in Dallas, the H-E-B-owned Central Market will be the first grocer in the country to grow some of its produce in an custom-built onsite shipping container, or "Growtainer."

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8 tiny folklore-inspired cabins pop up in the Welsh countryside

Related: Luxury off-grid Autonomous Tents can pop up almost anywhere in the world + Epic Retreats Via Dezeen Epic Retreats,Wales glamping cabins, tiny homes, glamping cabins wales, traveling glamping cabins,

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The wind turbine manufacturer putting unemployed coal miners to work

The transition to clean energy isn't always easy for workers in fossil fuel industries who fear losing their jobs. As coal miners find themselves out of work, one wind turbine manufacturer aims to give them jobs in clean industries through a free jobs training program. Goldwind Americas, the United States branch of a major Chinese company, wants to offer out-of-work coal miners in Wyoming new work as wind technicians instead.

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Green roof with bee hotel tops energy-neutral fair trade building in the Netherlands

Fair trade fruits and vegetables aren’t the only things coming and going at Nature’s Pride—buzzing bees and birds are also flocking to the sustainable distribution hub. Paul de Ruiter Architects designed the giant green-roofed facility in Maasdijk, where it serves as one of the largest Dutch importers of exotic fruits and vegetables. As a recipient of a BREEAM Excellent certificate, Nature’s Pride is also one of the top five most sustainable distribution centers in Western Europe. The...

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Plastic waste pop-up pavilion rethinks recycling in the Netherlands

Plastic waste takes on new life in the PET Pavilion, a temporary structure that popped up in a public park in Enschede, The Netherlands. Project.DWG and LOOS.FM designed the 227-square-meter ephemeral pavilion to spark dialogue on topics relating to recycling and sustainable building. The experimental pavilion serves as an educational gathering space and can be easily dismantled for relocation within a day. The pavilion bears draws inspiration from Ludwig Mies van der Rohe’s Farnsworth...

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Gogoro launches Smartscooter 2 with better handling, brighter headlights, and extra storage

Groundbreaking transportation company Gogoro is at it again. Today, they are expanding their innovative scooter family with the Gogoro 2 Smartscooter. The new scooter will appeal to even  more people, thanks to better ergonomics, more storage and seating space and customizability options. If you haven't heard of Gogoro, the Taiwan-based company is kind of like the Tesla of scooters, with smart electric scooters, home batteries and a battery-swapping infrastructure that is changing the face of urban...

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World's fastest electric car just shattered its own record

Critics have claimed clean technology lags behind fossil fuel-powered devices. They once said electric cars weren't as powerful or speedy as gasoline-fueled ones, but one sleek clean car just showed vehicles can be super fast without polluting our planet. The Nio EP9 - which already put other cars to shame with a speed of up to 194 miles per hour - just smashed its own record.

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Trump budget proposes 31% cut to EPA funding

President Donald Trump is still trying to take a swing at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The White House's most recent budget proposal, released yesterday, would cut money for environmental cleanup, clean air, clean water, and lead risk-reduction efforts. Thousands of people could lose their jobs as the number of full-time employees drops from 15,416 to 11,611. Related:

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New on-demand energy system generates and stores power in one device

Your entire home could be powered, heated, and cooled all in one system one day, thanks to scientists at the University of Newcastle and Infratech Industries. They've designed a Chemical Looping Energy-on-Demand System (CLES) that eliminates the needs for a battery to store power, instead generating and storing power in just one device. The university described the CLES as a Swiss army knife for energy.

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Dwell on Design 2017: The West Coast's largest design event is coming to Los Angeles!

Dwell on Design, the West Coast's largest design event, is back and better than ever for 2017. The highly-anticipated three-day design event will be held at the Los Angeles Convention Center June 23 - 25 and will feature 300 exhibitors, continuing education opportunities and onstage programming from the top leaders in design.         For it's twelfth year, Dwell on Design will feature architect Sir David Adjaye.

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Solar-powered EarthCruiser camper expands at the push of a button

Related: Futuristic Nimbus E-Car is a cute hybrid microbus perfect for the eco-conscious road warrior + Via Techeblog EarthCruiser EXP, EXP expedition, expedition vehicles, efficient campers, camper design, eco vehicles, solar cars, solar powered vehicles, solar campers, green cars, green energy,

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Sweden lists entire country on Airbnb because roaming should be free

In Sweden, citizens aren’t only encouraged to explore the outdoors, they are guaranteed a right to. That’s the meaning behind the principle Allemansrätten which is protected by Swedish law and literally, translates to “freedom to roam.” Because the government wants people to feel at home wherever they are in Sweden, the entire country was recently listed on Airbnb. The AirBnB listing reads, “Swedish nature isn’t just a piece of land with trees and lakes and cliffs –...

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Magical Blue Forest treehouse is a fairytale castle for your backyard

Related: This playful Airbnb treehouse near San Francisco lets you sleep in a 150-year-old oak tree “We have worked hard to develop a reputation as the world’s leading tree house experts. This year’s tree house will be the largest we have ever exhibited at the Chelsea Flower Show. We are delighted to be on Main Avenue this year and can’t wait to experience the vibrant atmosphere of the show!” Andy Payne, Founder Blue Forest + Blue Forest + RHS Chelsea Flower 2017 ...

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LEED Gold home brings modern luxury to a Colorado working ranch

LEED-certified luxury living comes to a working ranch in Eagle County, Colorado. CCY Architects designed the Gambel Oaks Ranch, a lovely low-lying home that blends into its surroundings and is imperceptible from public roadways. In addition to its beauty, the 5,687-square-foot property achieved LEED Gold certification for its innovative use of a horizontal loop field ground-source heat pump, solar array, and other energy-saving techniques. The three-bedroom, predominately one-story Gambel...

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Peek inside the zero-waste kitchen of the future

The kitchen of the future will be healthier for our planet and improve our family ties through food. That's the vision behind The Future Kitchen, a proposal by New York-based architect Marc Thorpe and students of the industrial design department at Pratt Institute. Installed for WantedDesign Manhattan at the Caeserstone booth, the innovative kitchen prototype emphasizes sustainability with zero-waste systems and in-home gardening, while strengthening social ties with its community-oriented design. 
 Environmentally...

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Three-fourths of sunscreens don't work as they claim and may contain harmful chemicals

Before heading to the beach, most people make sure to pack a bottle of sunscreen. After all, the ultraviolet rays can be quite damaging and no one wants to develop skin cancer later on in life. While doing so is recommended, it turns out certain ingredients in hundreds of common sunscreens don’t work as well as advertised, according to a new report released by the Environmental Working Group (EWG). Additionally, 73 percent of 880 sunscreens that were tested contain “worrisome” ingredients people...

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Rare bag of moon dust to be auctioned for millions of dollars

Souvenirs from humankind's missions to the Moon are extremely rare; NASA usually holds on to moon rocks or moon dust instead of allowing private owners to keep them. But one bag of moon dust escaped the vaults. The moon dust - supposedly collected by Neil Armstrong - is the property of a Chicago lawyer, and now she plans to auction it off.

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Giant sinkhole opens up in front of Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort

One of President Donald Trump's claims on the campaign trail was that he'd "drain the swamp" if elected. Whether he kept that promise is up for debate; sure, he selected business tycoons like Rex Tillerson but also the wife of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Elaine Chao. But now the swamp may be encroaching on another part of America: Mar-a-Lago, where a sinkhole just opened up. Obviously, the Internet didn't pass up on such a perfect opportunity. Related:

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ORKA house is an incredible teepee-shaped home made with 24 interlacing beams

Twenty four interlacing beams form this teepee-shaped structure that shelters a large open-plan living space. Antony Gibbon Designs designed the project, named ORKA, as an exploration of different geometric shapes and unconventional forms for residential architecture. The house has twenty four wooden beams that coalesce, forming a pivoted illusion which transforms angles into a seemingly curved hyperboloid form. Using the frame as an aesthetic starting point, the architects interlaced...

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Bio-friendly energy storage device draws electrical power from the human body

Humans are constantly on the go, so doesn’t it make sense to harness some of that kinetic energy? That’s what scientists from UCLA and the University of Connecticut asked, and the question eventually led to them developing an energy-storing device that can draw electrical power from the human body. The biological supercapacitor is a protein-based battery-like device capable of extracting energy from the human body. A supercapacitor is a term used to describe a high-performance...

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Silicon Valley start-up unveils worlds first modular self-driving car

Silicon Valley start-up, OSVehicle has unveiled the EDIT, the first modular Self-Driving EV that the company has been working on over the past year. What's unique about the EDIT is that companies can customize its specifications, like the self-driving hardware, and its styling to meet the needs of their company in half the time and with a lower investment than a regular service oriented vehicle. The EDIT's ‘Vehicle-as-a-Service’ design allows companies to quickly deliver models tailored for...

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MVRDV transforms an abandoned highway into a "plant village" in the sky

On a formerly abandoned highway in Seoul, architectural superstars MVRDV have created a 983-meter elevated "plant village" called the Skygarden. High above the traffic below, visitors can stroll along the elevated gardens containing 24,000 indigenous trees and shrubs.

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Elon Musk reveals boring tunnels are for Hyperloop

Cleantech pioneer Elon Musk wants you to drive a Tesla electric car, power your home with SolarCity solar panels and store renewable electricity with Tesla Powerwall battery packs. Oh yeah, he also want to zip you from D.C. to NYC in less than 30 minutes via Hyperloop Pods that can reach speeds of more than 600 miles per hour in evacuated tubes.

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Nations largest cross-laminated timber academic building is an icon of sustainability

The first and largest cross-laminated timber (CLT) academic building in the U.S. has opened at the University of Massachusetts (UMass) Amherst. Designed by Leers Weinzapfel Associates, the multidisciplinary Design Building brings together 500 students and 50 faculty across four departments into a light-filled 87,000-square-foot space. As a beacon of sustainability, the building features energy-saving elements, such as chilled beams and radiant flooring, and targets LEED Gold certification. Cross-laminated...

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Fabulous multigenerational home allows owners to comfortably age in place

Practical yet playful, the Charles House is a multigenerational home designed with an eye for detail and sustainability in Kew, Australia. Austin Maynard Architects designed the spacious home for a family of five who wanted a home they could live in for at least 25 years. The home, which is adaptable to meet the needs of a growing extended family, is one of the architects’ most sustainable homes to date and features a solar array, bulk insulation, and double stud walls. Unlike its “McMansion”...

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Switzerland votes to ban nuclear power and invest in renewable energy

The country of Switzerland has officially taken the next steps to meet its goal of generating 4,400 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of renewable energy by 2020, and 11,400 GWh by 2035. Over the weekend, approximately 42% of the Swiss population turned up to vote in a national referendum. As Swiss Info reports, voters chose to endorse a new energy law that promotes renewable energy and bans nuclear power plants. This is the eighth time in recent history Swiss citizens have voted on the issue. Though...

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Architect designs solar-powered research center to save dying Lake Chad

Lake Chad in Africa spanned over 770,000 square miles in 50,000 B.C., according to Cameroon-based architecture firm Hermann Kamte & Associates (HKA). But over the centuries it has shrunk, dwindling to a mere 1,544 square miles in 2001. HKA hopes to use architecture to regenerate the dying lake, in the form of a desalination and research center called The Forgotten - Dead or Alive.

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New research suggests plants use sound to find water and survive

For years, certain farmers and plant enthusiasts have claimed that playing music to plants makes them grow better. Brushed off as pseudoscience in the past, it now seems research does, in fact, show that plants utilize the sounds of nature - everything from the buzzing of an insect to the sound of water rushing through a pipe - to find water and survive. In a recent study conducted by Monica Gagliano, an evolutionary biologist at the University of Western Australia, pea seedlings were placed in...

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Retro electric motorbike with 40-mile range fits in the trunk of a car

Urban mobility is seeing something of a renaissance. As cars congest and pollute cities, people are rethinking how they get around urban areas, and one company, based in Singapore, is seeking to inject a little fun and imagination in mobility. Vanda Electrics is offering a small electric motorbike called the Motochimp that they claim will open your eyes "to the surreal in everyday spaces, as you meander through streets and dreamscapes." Related:

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'Indestructible' Arctic seed vault flooded after permafrost melts

Climate change is already reaching places on Earth once considered relatively safe: namely, the Svalbard Global Seed Vault. The vault was built inside the Arctic Circle to protect a diverse seed collection from climate change, natural disasters, or war, but was recently breached as meltwater from thawing permafrost rushed into the vault's entrance tunnel.

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$63k tiny home manages to feel open and airy in just 188 square feet

Related: + Tumbleweed Houses Roanoke Tiny Home, Tumbleweed Home, tiny home living, tiny home design, tiny home roanoke

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INTERVIEW: Designer Daan Roosegaarde on smog temples, space trash, and what's next

We've built cities that do us harm, according to Netherlands designer Daan Roosegaarde. Along with his team at Studio Roosegaarde, he's tackling the pollution we've generated in our metropolises with design. His Smog Free Project is currently touring China - their most recent stop is Tianjin - and Inhabitat spoke with Roosegaarde about the project and how design can help us create cleaner, more beautiful cities. Check out the interview after the break.

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These minimalist prefab cabins are designed for human "recharging"

Related: MUJI to sell eagerly awaited $27k minimalist tiny homes this fall + Vipp Via Dezeen Vipp, vipp cabins, prefabricated shelters, cabin design, recharging cabins, off grid cabins, prefab housing, energy efficiency, of grid living, nature retreat,

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Heatherwick Studio converts 90-year-old grain silo into stunning luxury hotel with pillowed glass windows

Related: Heatherwick Studio wants to build a tree-covered mountain in the middle of Shanghai + Heatherwick Studio Via Dezeen

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Passive solar home built of recycled natural materials "floats in the Australian bush

At first glance, the delightfully sinuous roof that tops the Lauriston house makes the building look more like sculpture than a home in the Australian bush. But a closer look reveals that the building truly is a welcoming retreat meticulously detailed with the luxurious comforts of home and more. Designed by Seeley Architects, the Lauriston house is a beautiful dwelling that embraces the outdoors as well as passive solar principles for an environmentally friendly footprint. Designed for...

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Prefabricated lakeside cabin is a beautiful exercise in restraint

Family reunions can be loud affairs, a fact that one Torontonian family patriarch with ten energetic grandkids knows well. To secure peace and quiet while staying close to visiting family, a homeowner on Ontario’s Lake Simcoe hired Superkül architects to design a retreat within a retreat—a modern kid-free cabin separate from his existing bungalow. Dubbed Pointe Cabin, the prefabricated modern dwelling is a beautiful exercise in restraint that fully embraces the outdoors. The two-bedroom,...

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Tesla is taking some major risks by accelerating production of Model 3

Tesla is raring to get its Model 3 sedan on the road, and it looks like the electric-car maker isn't above taking a few risks to do so. In its self-imposed race to launch the car by September, Tesla is leapfrogging past the testing phrase of its production line and eschewing temporary prototype tools in favor of permanent—and far pricier—equipment, according to Reuters. The move is a high-risk one, industry experts say, because of the higher cost of any tweaks to equipment designed to produce...

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Solar prices in India dip below coal

Solar power is soaring in India. A recent auction for 500 megawatts of capacity at Bhadla solar park in Rajasthan saw a record-low tariff of 2.44 rupees per kilowatt-hour (kWh) - that's around four cents in dollars. Solar tariffs have plummeted by 25 percent in the past three months. But this isn't all good news - there's worry that as tariffs get so low, many solar projects in India could become unviable. Related:

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China claims major energy breakthrough with 'flammable ice'

Flammable ice - or a frozen mix of natural gas and water also called methane hydrates - could revolutionize energy in the future, and China now says they've made a major breakthrough in mining the substance. They say they've extracted gas from reserves in the South China Sea. But is extracting gas from flammable ice such a good idea?

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Scientists may have found evidence for a parallel universe

A parallel universe may not just be an idea of science fiction anymore; scientists think they may have found evidence for the idea of a universe other than our own. It all has to do with a strange cold spot, which in the past was explained away by the thought it was caused by a supervoid. But new research reveals the supervoid answer doesn't fit in with our standard model of cosmology, and that something far more bizarre may be going on in the universe: the formerly undetectable parallel univers...

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Gorgeous year-round bath house in Sweden soaks up the winter sun

This bath house allows inhabitants of Karlshamn, Sweden, to enjoying the sea all year round. White Arkitekter designed the timber-clad building as an addition to the facilities on offer in the area, and the town's first bath house. Local organization Kallbadhusets Vänner (Friends of the Bath House) worked together with local sponsors and the municipality to realize a project which would allow people to enjoy the sea all year round. Kallbadhus is located along a beach promenade, close...

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Minimalist Leyda House takes inspiration from local farmer's huts

Related: Chilean Folding House allows owners to control the temperature to adapt to the season + Alfredo Gonzalez Briceño + Ignacio Rojas Hirigoyen Via Dwell Photography by Rodrigo Daza Leyda House, Ignacio Rojas Hirigoyen, Alfredo Gonzalez Briceño, architecture, design, homes in chile,

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Teen creates world's lightest satellite and NASA is sending it to space

An 18-year-old from Tamil Nadu in India has built what experts are hailing as the "world's lightest satellite." Bonus: NASA's going to send it into space. Rifath Shaarook's 1.5-inch cube weighs a mite 2.2 ounces—lighter than many smartphones. Via BBC News

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Terrifying cliffside 'nests' let you live on the edge in style

Related: These 6 jaw-dropping cliff homes will take your breath away + Nestinbox Via Archdaily Nestinbox, cliff houses, cliff homes, hanging homes, wooden homes, unique home design, wooden cliff homes, vertical ground homes, efficient home design, tiny home, hanging tiny homes, tiny home design, tiny cliff house, efficient homes, efficient tiny home, efficient cliff homes, energy efficiency, green design, sustainable design,

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Spherical timber teahouse hides in the treetops of Austria

Teatime is served with a side of enviable treetop views at the pod-shaped Teahouse Riedenthaln nestled in an Austrian garden. Architecture firm a-lp architektur designed the curious igloo-shaped timber hideaway as a modern interpretation of the traditional Japanese teahouse. The 10-square-meter elevated space was largely built from recycled oak wood offcuts. Located in a private garden, the spherical room serves as a place to drink tea, for hosting regression therapy clients, and as a...

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Zaha Hadid Architects designs ecological residential complex for Mexicos Riviera Maya

Mexico’s stunning Riviera Maya looks nothing short of paradise, but its beauty has also proven a burden on ecological preservation. With the Yucatan Peninsula’s booming tourism and environmental degradation in mind, Zaha Hadid Architects designed Alai, a residential complex in the Riviera Maya that embraces luxury but still maintains low environmental impact. Inspired by local Mayan culture and architecture, the nature-filled development will also contribute to restoration of native flora and...

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Dubai firm wants to tow icebergs from Antarctica for fresh water

As global temperatures increase due to global warming, ice caps and glaciers continue to melt at an increasing pace. While this reality disturbs some, it is being regarded as positive news by the National Advisor Bureau Limited, based in Dubai, India. This is because the firm seeks to harvest icebergs in the southern Indian ocean and tow them 5,700 miles (9,200 kilometers) away to the Gulf, where they could be melted and sold to local businesses or marketed as a tourist attraction. However ambitious,...

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3D-printed ovaries let infertile mice give birth

+ Northwestern University Photo by Duncan Hull

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Extraordinary man builds 25 plastic bottle homes for refugees in Algeria

Discarded plastic bottles comprise energy efficient homes in the desert, thanks to 27-year-old Sahrawi refugee Tateh Lehbib Breica. He was born and raised in the refugee camp where he's now constructing homes for others. These eco-friendly recycled homes are built to endure harsh desert conditions. Images © UNHCR/Russell Fraser

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Research suggests humans emerged 2.8M years ago amid major climate change event

Mystery still shrouds much of the story of our origins, but new Arizona State University research sheds new light on where we first emerged, and how long ago. Around 2.8 million years ago our genus, Homo, emerged in a valley in Ethiopia. It was a time of change on that older Earth - global cooling may have helped set the stage for humans to arise.

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Barcelona set to double tree population in major urban greening push

You may think there isn't much space for a centuries-old, built-out city like Barcelona in Spain to radically greenify itself with double the amount of trees and expanded park space. But that's exactly what the city aims to do. They recently rolled out a Plan of the Green and Biodiversity Barcelona 2020, including ambitious goals that could offer ideas to other dense cities needing greenery too.

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Score an organic mattress worth 2199 from PlushBeds

Getting a good night's sleep depends on a lot of factors, but a well-made mattress makes all the difference. Unfortunately, a lot of mattresses on the market (especially the cheap ones) are made with materials that contain harmful chemicals, which in turn contribute to an unfriendly list of maladies. Think allergies, asthma, endocrine problems and, in some cases, even cancer. They also come with an environmental footprint that would give any green-minded person nightmares. But PlushBeds is raising...

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Britain installs worlds biggest wind turbines near Liverpool

It’s official: Britain is now the world’s leader in wind turbine technology. Earlier this morning, Danish company Dong Energy finished installing 32 turbines in Liverpool Bay as part of the Burbo Bank extension. Standing 195-meters in length with blades longer than nine London buses, the turbines are now live and generating clean energy. Each of the new turbines stands taller than the Gherkin skyscraper and has more than twice the power capacity of those in a neighboring windfarm...

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Minimalist barn-inspired home was built as a "landscape viewing instrument"

Related:Rammed earth walls form the core of this modern Australian home + MLS Architects MLS Architects, Muir Craig House,

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Savvy seniors are buying tiny homes to enjoy their golden years in off-grid style

Related: + Tumbleweed Houses

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Houston superbug problem has been lurking for years, say researchers

+ American Society for Microbiology Via CBS News Photos by Unsplash

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Nature-inspired Chrysalis pavilion pops up in a Maryland forest

New York-based architecture studio MARC FORNES / THEVERYMANY completed an experimental amphitheater that “provides an experience around the clock.” Located in Merriweather Park of Columbia, Maryland the organic, nature-inspired venue, called The Chrysalis, comprises cascading green arches that give it a sculptural appearance. In addition to their eye-catching beauty and structural support, The Chrysalis’ arches also vary in size and function. The largest arch frames Stage A, the...

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Paris launches electric scooter sharing program with Coup and Gogoro

Getting to and fro in Paris is about to get easier than ever. Gogoro, in collaboration with Bosch subsidiary Coup, just announced plans to bring 600 Smartscooters to Paris this summer for their first electric scooting-sharing program in France. The expansion to a new European capital builds on the success of Gogoro's e-scooter sharing program in Berlin that recently grew to 1,000 rental scooters in March. As one of the world's most congested cities, Paris is no stranger to alternative...

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Stanford study says fossil-fueled cars will vanish in 8 years as big oil collapses

It might seem as if the world is resisting “going green,” but a new study published by Stanford University suggests that within eight years, citizens will have no choice but to invest in electric vehicles or similar technologies. This is because the cost of electric vehicles - including cars, buses, and trucks - will ultimately decrease, resulting in the collapse of the petroleum industry.   Led by Stanford University economist Tony Seba, the report has caused in spasms of anxiety...

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Frank Lloyd Wright architecture school graduate builds beautiful desert shelter for $2K

Students at The Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture, Taliesin West have erected small sleeping shelters on the school's desert property in Arizona, hearkening back to the early days of the school, when young architects resided in tents as they built the permanent building. Chilean architect Jaime Inostroza just raised his won tiny shelter, and in keeping with the principles of the famous architect is meant to "respond to the landscape of the Sonora desert." Inostroza's shelter plays with the...

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Sleek Swiss-designed electric supercar takes on Tesla

Tesla's got some competition from the Swiss-designed Elextra car, which draws design inspiration from classic Italian supercars. The vehicles will be hand-built in Germany, and the company plans to offer only around 100 to ensure exclusivity. The all-electric Elextra can reach 62 miles per hour from zero in a snappy 2.3 seconds, and can travel for almost 400 miles on one charge. Related:

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Architects cracked this concrete building to fill its interior with daylight

The beautiful cracked concrete facade of this mixed-use building in Aarhus, Denmark, provides glimpses of the building's illuminated interior and references the industrial history of the city's Sonnesgade district. Copenhagen-based architecture studio Sleth designed the building to reflect its surroundings and the transformation of the old freight terminal area into a lively cultural district. The Sonnesgade building, realized by the architects as a design-build project, revitalizes...

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Send your loved one's ashes to space - on one of Elon Musk's rockets

Sending a deceased family member or loved one's ashes into space may seem like a grand gesture, but San Francisco-based Elysium Space makes it possible. They've offered interstellar burials for a few years now, but yesterday they announced their Elysium Star II memorial spacecraft will hitch a ride on none other than one of Elon Musk's rockets. And it costs less than the average cost of a funeral with a price tag of $2,500. Related:

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Amazing solar house generates enough energy to share with its neighbors

Related: 8 homes that generate more energy than they consume + Joris Verhoeven Architectuur

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Italy is giving away hundreds of historic castles and villas for free

Have you ever wanted to own your own castle or, perhaps, an Italian monastery? Now’s your chance. As part of Italy’s Strategist Tourist Plan, the country is giving away old houses, farmhouses, inns, monasteries and even ancient castles. However, only those who intend to renovate and transform the structures into tourist hotspots, such as restaurants and spas, will receive a plot of historic property. The State Property Agency and Ministry of Cultural Heritage are responsible for...

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Research shows the UK tosses out 1.4 million edible bananas - a day

Grocery stores to food banks to big corporations like Walmart and Hasbro have all taken measures to combat food waste. But there's still a long way to go in the fight: new research from United Kingdom supermarket chain Sainsbury's reveals Britons still throw away 1.4 million bananas that could have been consumed daily.

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LEED Gold house puts a modern twist on historic Aspen architecture

Architecture firm Rowland + Broughton designed Game On, a stunning modern home sensitive to historic context and the environment in Aspen, Colorado. Crafted as a contemporary take on the West End neighborhood’s late 19th century architecture, the elegant new home uses smart technology to achieve LEED Gold certification. Solar panels power over half of Game On’s energy needs and stormwater management is seamlessly integrated into the design. Since Game On is located in a historic neighborhood,...

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Cypress home embedded in the landscape lets rainwater flow underneath

O’Neill Rose Architects designed a home for a nature loving couple that maximizes the experience of the outdoors. Located in the countryside of Sheffield, Massachusetts, the Undermountain home covers a spacious 3,000 square feet across a linear footprint. The elevated home also allows rainwater to flow underneath through a boulder-strewn rain garden and out to the meadow beyond. Built for a couple who wanted a home where they could age in place, Undermountain was conceived as a single-story...

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"Bee-friendly" plants sold in the UK are coated in harmful pesticides

Conscientious buyers know to look for plants that aren't covered in bee-killing pesticides, but as it turns out, those plants may be doing more harm than good. via The Independent

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One of the world's most remote islands is also the most polluted

Henderson Island is so remote that humans only visit it for research every five to ten years. But the island is also home to the highest density of plastic debris found anywhere on Earth, according to the University of Tasmania. Scientists found the island's beaches are polluted with around 671 pieces of trash per 10 square feet.

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Trump saved a toxic pesticide - and then it poisoned a bunch of farmworkers

If President Donald Trump is waging a war on local farmworkers in California, it appears he's winning. His Environmental Protection Agency opened up the use of a pesticide to agriculture in March, and earlier this month 50 laborers were exposed to the pesticide, which caused some to vomit or faint and sent one to the hospital. Related: Via Grist and Kern Golden Empire Images via

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Norwegian billionaire is funding a plastic-gathering marine research yacht

Norwegian billionaire Kjell Inge Røkke has profited from offshore drilling. The businessman who started as a fisherman seems to have had a change of heart about the ocean, however, and has now purchased a massive yacht for marine research. The vessel will be able to scoop up around five tons of plastic every day, and melt it down to clean up the ocean. Røkke, who's worth around $2.6 billion, owns almost 67 percent of shipping and offshore drilling conglomerate Aker. Related: Via Images...

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HWKN unveils plans for a green-roofed business district in Munich

New York-based architecture firm Hollwich Kushner just released images of Die Macherei– their first European project– a mixed-use business district based in Munich, Germany. HWKN collaborated with German firms msm meyer schmitz-morkramer and OSA Ochs Schmidhuber Architekten to design the new financial hub that will bring together offices, retail and hospitality spaces. Art-Invest Real Estate and Accumulata Immobilien developed the new business district, which will total 64,000 square...

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Anyone can be a designer using this amazing modular system made from cardboard stools

This amazing "spaceship" playhouse can be assembled in an endless variety of combinations using nothing but kids' folded cardboard stools. Noa Haim of Collective Paper Aesthetics this project that allows everyone to become a designer. Visitors of the Design Pavilion cultural event at Times Square, which will run between May 18th and 22nd, will have the opportunity to experience this interactive installation and create their own designs. The design team, led by Noa Haim, conceived Spaceship Heart...

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The 60k tiny house of the future can be controlled with a smartphone

Most tiny homes are built with the simple life in mind, so what to do if you love technology as much as you love tiny living? Fear not, tech fans, your ship has come in. Oregon-based Covo Tiny House Co just released the Covo Mio, a super-compact dwelling packed to the rafters in smart home features.

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These mini spherical reactors could help scale fusion energy by 2030

The sun produces energy through nuclear fusion, and scientists around the world are attempting to mimic that process in fusion reactors. But United Kingdom-based Tokamak Energy aims to speed up the progress with mini reactors, or tokamaks. Their small tokamaks allow them to test ideas quicker than other laboratories can, and they're hoping to provide fusion energy to the public as soon as 2030.

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Gorgeous solar-powered Colorado home produces almost all its own energy

Sustainability and a love for nature inspired Colorado-based CCY Architects’ design of the gorgeous Starwood Residence. Set on a ridge line, this luxury mountain home with floor-to-ceiling glazing overlooks the Roaring Fork Valley and Elk Mountains. Solar energy powers the energy-efficient Starwood Residence, which is capable of producing 70% of the energy that it consumes. The Starwood Residence lies low on the landscape with a series of sloping rooflines that appear to echo the surrounding...

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School principal uses $22,000 of paint to transform former slum into a rainbow wonderland

We all know a fresh coat of paint does wonders for a room but what about repainting an entire town? That's exactly what this small village in Indonesia did and the results are nothing short of spectacular. Armed with just $22,000 worth of paint, Kampung Pelangi transformed their village in Semarang into a multicolored wonderland and Instagrammer's paradise.  https://www.instagram.com/p/BUIUhBWjviT/ https://www.instagram.com/p/BT5hJ3plTgF/ https://www.instagram.com/p/BUHIzEdArDb/ https://www.instagram.com/p/BT_IG9mDYm-/ ...

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Resources shrinking as Earth's population hits 7.5 billion

Over 7.5 billion people now reside on spaceship Earth, according to the World Population Clock. But with more people comes less access to resources like food and energy. Charity organization Population Matters says this increased global population will impact society and the environment.

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100-million-year-old dinosaur remains discovered in Canada look 'weeks old'

In March of 2011, a mining team in Canada made an unexpected discovery. Heavy equipment operator Shawn Funk, specifically, was carving through the Earth in Millennium Mine when his excavator contacted something hard. As it turns out, what looked like walnut brown rocks was actually the fossilized remains of a dinosaur that is 110-million-years-old. The dinosaur the mining team had found 17 miles north of Alberta, Canada, is a nodosaur - an imposing herbivore that stretched 18 feet...

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NPS offers $5K reward for information about beloved white wolf shot in Yellowstone

There are only three white wolves known to reside in Yellowstone National Park. But one of them, a 12-year-old alpha female, was recently mortally wounded from a gunshot and had to be put down by park staff. It's a criminal act, and the park is offering $5,000 for information on who might have shot the white wolf.

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Revolutionary printed solar sheets reach final trial stages in New South Wales

When disaster strikes, whether it be man-made or natural, power is the resource people need most. For this reason, Professor Paul Dastoor has been working for decades to develop a lightweight “printed solar” panel that is capable of generating power. Now, the invention is in its final trial stages at the University of Newcastle in New South Wales. The revolutionary solar panels are made by printing electronic ink onto clear, plastic sheets. The final product is lightweight enough...

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Daan Roosegaarde introduces smog-sucking, air-cleaning bikes

Daan Roosegaarde isn't afraid to dream big. At TED 2017 in Vancouver, Canada the designer known for his Smog Free Project presented other ideas for a cleaner future, including a smog-sucking bicycle.

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Japan's House of 33 Years was once two separate buildings in two different towns

The past and the future coexist in this daylit house in Nara, Japan. Tokyo-based architecture studio ASSISTANT designed the house as a cluster of small pavilions for an elderly couple who places great value on preserving memories. The result was a steel-framed structure built in several phases on different locations, and assembled on site to create several overlapping spaces. Local carpenters in Aomori built the main quarters of the house using locally available materials. The team built it as...

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Japanese food artist carves fruits into incredible masterpieces using just an X-Acto knife

Playing with your food is generally frowned upon, but Japanese artist Gaku elevates humble fruits and veggies into art with his skilled and gorgeous carvings. With a simple x-acto knife, he transforms radishes, pitaya, apples, taro root and more. Honoring and exploring the Japanese and Thai traditions of food carving, Gaku makes precise cuts into his chosen fruit or vegetable. His designs often take on traditional Japanese floral and wave patterns and are amazingly detailed and intricate,...

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Scientists discover enough new forests to cover 60% of Australia

A new survey of the world's dryland habitats has found a massive amount of previously unreported forests -- 467 million hectares (over 1.1 billion acres). The dryland forests cover an area equivalent to 60 percent of the size of Australia, putting dryland forest extent on par with tropical rainforests or boreal forests. The discovery is also good news for reversing global warming, increasing the estimates of total global forest carbon stocks by 15 gigatons to 158 gigatons -- an increase of 2 percent...

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MIT's breakthrough liquid 3D printer creates furniture in vats of goo like Westworld

Remember those 3D-printed, human-like figures emerging fully-formed from that white, viscous ooze in HBO's Westworld? No big deal, but, MIT is totally doing that with furniture. They're calling it Rapid Liquid Printing, and it basically takes 3D printing to a whole other level where printed objects can grow and change on its own.

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Amazing plastic bottle architecture withstands earthquakes in Taipei

Plastic bottle architecture is fantastic at turning a problem into an eco-friendly opportunity. The amazing EcoARK in Taipei, Taiwan is one such example. Built from 1.5 million recycled plastic bottles, this massive pavilion is surprisingly strong enough to withstand the forces of nature—including fires and earthquakes! Designed by architect Arthur Huang, the nine-story $3 million USD pavilion is powered by solar energy and was built to the mantra of “Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle.” Constructed...

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Escape into the glass rivers and lakes of these beautiful wood tables

If getting lost in a coffee table sounds improbable, you may change your mind once you see these beautiful furnishings. Artist and designer Greg Klassen transforms reclaimed wood into mesmerizing works of art embedded with glass rivers and lakes. Klassen, who we’ve featured previously, handcrafts unique pieces that mimic topographic forms in the Pacific Northwest. Spotted by This is Colossal, Klassen’s newest works include a variety of coffee tables of different sizes and shapes, as...

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Navajo mum gets new lease on life with this solar-powered home

With a footprint of just under 1,000 square feet, the new house was constructed using clay, sand, straw, and water bricks clad in recycled sheets of aluminum, and then accented with recycled shipping pallets. It gets hot and dusty on the reservation in the

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