Detroit debuts brand new 20,000-square-foot pedestrian plaza

Detroit, Michigan is one of the most dangerous cities in the United States for pedestrians. But the city is taking one step to overcome that with the recent opening of a new plaza by the iconic Spirit of Detroit statue. The 20,000 square foot civic square offers space for live performances and art displays, and will host food trucks. Related:

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7 eco-friendly and conservation-minded safari lodges across Africa

Gallivanting across Africa in search of majestic and fascinating wild animals is at the top of many people’s bucket lists, and there’s thankfully more ways than ever to safari with an eco-friendly and socially conscious mindset. We found seven safari lodges that were created with heavy consideration for conservation and community; the only heavy footprint left is that of a gentle and gigantic elephant as he passes by. 1. Chem Chem Safari Lodge   This Tanzanian lodge, located within...

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This tropical paradise home has an all-natural swimming lagoon filled with live fish

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Researchers successfully made a battery out of trash

If there’s one thing that abounds on planet Earth, it is man-made trash. Fortunately, researchers have developed a method of using discarded goods to create sodium-ion batteries. Made from recycled materials and safer than lithium variants, the battery is the latest step in renewable energy storage. To create batteries out of trash, the scientists accumulated rusty, recycled stainless steel mesh. Then, they used a potassium ferrocyanide solution — the same solution used in fertilizers...

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Elegant Australian home shows the beauty and toughness of rammed earth

Rammed earth may be an ancient building material, but the modern homes that use compact earth are anything but old-fashioned. One such example is Robson Rak Architects and Interior Designers’ recently completed Layer House, a robust and elegant home in Victoria, Australia that keeps naturally cool with rammed earth walls. Made from local materials by local artisans, the rammed earth is paired with timber to create a beautiful palette that will last the test of time. Built to last generations,...

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Luxurious solar home wraps around a sloped green roof

Architecture and landscape unite in the MeMo House, a solar-powered home in Buenos Aires built to maximize green space. Located between infill buildings, the MeMo House is the work of local studio Bam! Arquitectura, which based the design on sustainable design principles, such as low energy consumption and native plantings. The light-filled home embraces nature with its back garden and sloping green roof that connects all three floors. Located on a dense urban plot in San Isidro, the...

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Giant condor returns to thank man who saved him after he fell from his mother's nest

The bond between a human and an animal can be a powerful one, and the following video is a testament to this. After an Argentinian man named Edgardo rescued a condor that fell from its nest as a baby, he proceeded to care for it until it was well enough to be returned to the wild. Even after the giant condor — a subspecies of the vulture considered to be the largest flying bird in North America — found freedom, it returned to “thank” Edgardo, as the footage below reveals. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arZ3vJHVCfc The...

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