When 3D printing first became popular with the general public in the early 2000s, there was absolutely no limit on what it could do. People wanted to print new gadget prototypes, food, even human organs. One stone that was left unturned for too long however, was 3D printing for infrastructure….
Now more than ever, efforts to combat climate change are becoming universal. Individuals, corporations, and governments are looking for ways to consume more sustainably, reduce their natural resource usage, and better steward the environment. With everyone looking for ways to aid in the fight for climate equilibrium, a key part…
Farming has been around since the dawn of man and has always managed to keep pace with our needs. Technology has changed many aspects of farming, making it quicker, easier, and more efficient. However, when considering limitations on land and growth in population, there is only so much that technology…
In the race for more viable forms of energy, a promising contender is that of natural gas vehicles (NGV). Rather than traditional gasoline-fueled vehicles, NGVs run on alternative forms of power: liquified natural gas (LNG) or compressed natural gas (CNG). Not only has there been a rise in manufacturing of…
Would you be shocked to learn that many technologies in modern society were not designed for today’s needs? It is almost instinctive to presume that most inventions are created as solutions to current demands, but in fact the opposite is often true. Many technologies used today were actually designed over…
When most people think of drones, they usually picture cool aerial shots streamed on YouTube or advanced military technology. But drones have much wider applicability, including for building and maintaining the world around us. Nowadays, drones are becoming more and more commonplace for infrastructure needs. Whether it is inspecting the…
Windy days may be a welcome change from summer heat or a warning of the calm before the storm. Whatever its impact, it is almost always there in the background of our lives. Wind has been a great renewable energy resource for centuries and may only be getting better. Not…
Imagine the U.S. crisscrossed with rapid, efficient, and accessible high-speed passenger trains. That is the ambition of the nation’s youngest Secretary of Transportation, Pete Buttigieg. Vision-casting in February, Buttigieg said he wants the United States to be “leading the world when it comes to access to high-speed rail.” This comment…
The power pulsing into your home right now probably comes courtesy of an antiquated system of power plants and transmission lines thought up while horse and buggies were still common on the streets. Even with the advent of the Internet age, we largely still use this one-way power network, and…
Since the term ‘climate change’ entered into society’s collective lexicon in the 1990s, the issue has steadily amassed political and societal relevance. Now, with many projected consequences of climate change looming, scientists are investigating innovative solutions to avert crisis — one of the more surprising of which is algae sequestration….
As this tumultuous election year comes to a close, the public eye is now focused attentively on the incoming administration’s proposed agenda to revive a beleaguered economy and suppress the spread of COVID-19. However, another crisis has been looming. As the Council on Foreign Relations reports, the state of U.S….
In November 2018, Italy inaugurated the world’s first high-speed rail service dedicated to … carrying no passengers. Rather than cart people from one place to another at ultra high land speeds, this rail service blasts cargo and freight faster than traditional rail, truckers, or ships ever could. The Italian rail…
Airless bike tires may sound like an oxymoron, but they are a functional product becoming an increasingly plausible reality. In 2018, the first 3D-printed airless bicycle tire was released, designed using a thermoplastic elastomer that is specially designed to render 3D-printed objects that retain pliability. The airless tire is both…
Residential solar systems are becoming an increasingly popular trend in the United States. By the end of 2018, the U.S. had installed enough solar panels to power 12.3 million homes, and the solar industry managed to generate a $17 billion investment in the economy. These statistics indicate that the implementation…
You are enjoying your day, looking up at the shapes in the clouds when all of a sudden, a pilot far above you releases thousands of gallons of jet fuel. It is jarring, confusing, and seemingly illegal, but it is an accepted practice known as fuel dumping. The relatively uncommon…
