June 16th, 2005 | Filed under: Future, Materials, Sustainability, Technology | No Comments »
A proposal for implementing a new interface for purchasing alternative chemicals in institutional and industrial labs by Kendra Bussey ’05 and Jacqueline Tio ’06 from the Department of Chemistry at MIT aim to steer the entire chemical industry towards using green chemicals.
“The project will develop data on the amounts and types of chemicals purchased by research laboratories; survey users to determine the uses for which these materials are employed; use Green Chemistry data bases to identify less toxic and less polluting alternatives; and make this information readily available to users. A key component will be to identify the barriers to implementation and means of encouraging independent researchers to adopt these strategies. The results will be incorporated into MIT’s Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) Management System. Evaluation metrics will include ongoing monitoring of the amounts and types of hazardous waste requiring disposal.”
Their project titled “Encouraging Toxic Use Reduction (TUR) in Academic Laboratories” recently won the EPA P3 award.
via MIT News | Treehugger
June 13th, 2005 | Filed under: Architecture, Building Tech, Mapping, Materials, Programming, Technology | No Comments »
Ruairi Glynn‘s Reciprocal Space is composed latex surfaces controlled by a matrix of pistons that react to the occupant’s position. [building process] [video]
via wmmna
May 25th, 2005 | Filed under: Architecture, Design, Lighting, Materials, Products, Technology | 3 Comments »
The SENSACELL system is a new human interface technology for various interior and exterior applications and is scalable from a single module to 1000′s of square feet. The modular sensor detects objects within 6″ through materials such as glass, plastics, wood, tile, etc. The system’s network can also interface with a computer for control over any module within the system. Prices will range from $150- $350 per square foot, depending on the model, type and color of LEDs etc. [video]
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May 21st, 2005 | Filed under: Architecture, Internet, Materials, Products | No Comments »
Material Explorer is now adding new materials to its extensive database each week. The search interface offers a great way to find new materials according to the performance and properties specified by the designer. Future additions to the site include articles and a forum. Check out 360Glas and many more innovative products.
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May 15th, 2005 | Filed under: Architecture, Design, Materials, Products, Technology | 2 Comments »
The ICFF returns to NYC for the 17th time with the best in furniture design. Over 500 exhibitors from 29 countries are showing of their latest product and furniture lines. Check out Future Feeder’s top selections.
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May 8th, 2005 | Filed under: Architecture, Building Tech, Design, Fabrication Tech, Materials | 9 Comments »
Lucio Blandini calls it “a soap bubble just floating over the ground�. The frameless glass structure, designed at the University of Stuttgart’s Institute of Lightweight Structures, consists of laminated glass panels elevated off the ground with titanium supports, which expand at the same rate as glass.
via The Architect’s Newspaper
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May 5th, 2005 | Filed under: Architecture, Building Tech, Fabrication Tech, Materials, News, Products | 45 Comments »
Victor Li, at the University of Michigan has developed a new fiber-reinforced bendable concrete. Li claims his Engineered Cement Composites (pdf) are superior to other fiber-reinforced concretes because his composite not only uses microscale fiber reinforcements, but they have also designed the ingredients to the concrete itself to provide more flexibility. The 40% lighter ECC is also 500 times more resistant to cracking, 37% less expensive, consumes 40% less energy, and produces 39% less carbon dioxide than regular concrete.
via wmmna | Physorg
April 28th, 2005 | Filed under: Fabrication Tech, Future, Materials, Nanotech | No Comments »
NASA is funding development of carbon nanotube power cables or quantam wires at Rice University which are 10 times more conductive and 1/6th the weight of copper wire. Quantam wires will replace the copper wires in space shuttles with potential applications varying from space elevator tethers to flat panel displays.
via Wired News
April 26th, 2005 | Filed under: Architecture, Building Tech, Fabrication Tech, Materials, Products, Sustainability, Urbanism | No Comments »
Living in Paper offers an extensive introduction into “papercrete”, an innovative construction material currently going through testing. The construction material’s performance has several advantages over concrete and uses recycled paper from just about any source as the aggregate.
via Treehugger
April 22nd, 2005 | Filed under: Fabrication Tech, Materials, Nanotech, Products | 1 Comment »
The eyes of moths have evolved to collect as much light as possible without reflection, in order to prevent moths being detected by predators. Motheye and MARAGâ„¢ films mimic this property with nano-scaled bumps reducing reflectivity to less than 1%.
Frounhofer | more info on motheye anti-reflective coating
via Blaine Brownell