BEHA, the world’s first true hybrid aircraft
Aircraft today are known energy-suckers, drinking up thousands of gallons of fuel on a daily basis, which makes them an eco-threatening necessity. Given the fact that air travel is the best way to go, there is no real way to compromise on the way aircraft are powered today. However, things are set to change in the near future. The Faradair BEHA (Bio-Electric-Hybrid-Aircraft), the world’s first true hybrid aircraft, could very well change the aviation industry for good.
There’s more to modern day jewelry than just aesthetics. Besides the fact that these glimmering pieces are meant to be worn as accessories to accentuate your style, they can also be used as sources of energy to power your gadgetry! The 3D-printed SOL collection, inspired by Islamic geometric patterns, does just this. Each of these jewelry pieces have a designated slot for a solar panel that can soak in the sun’s energy and be used later.
Finding an empty piece of land in an urban environment is extremely difficult. Given the fact that our cities are getting more and more crowded as the days go by, the only intelligent solution to the problem is moving over the surface of water bodies. Italian designers Antonio Girardi and Cristiana Favretto of Studiomobile brought to life a concept greenhouse that floats on water and is completely self-sustainable. The construction is a low-cost alternative using recycled materials that sits upon 96 repurposed plastic drums.
One of the most unexplored regions on our planet is the depths of the oceans. Not many have ventured there, though we do dream about living below the surface quite often. Tokyo-based Shimizu Corporation is a step closer towards turning that dream into a reality. The company has unveiled plans for an underwater city that could very well be the next best place to live in the future. Called the Ocean Spiral, this sustainable underwater city is a futuristic Atlantis that could be turned into a reality for $26 billion!
Milton Keynes will now play host to a clean and green TGI Fridays restaurant. The company is looking forward to lighten its carbon footprint and become a greener and more sustainable business. The new restaurant in MK will cater to 266 guests and employ 85 people, most of who will be residents from the locality. 
Let’s not deny it, the air is not what it used to be. Urban jungles around us are being choked with exhaust fume and smog, now more than ever. Countries like China and India have been battling air pollution since more than a decade now and there seems to be no respite. To give the citizens of these heavily polluted countries some relief, a research team from Chongqing, China, unveiled this batterypowered wearable air purifier that promises to filter up to 99.9% of PM 2.5 fine particulates! 
Toshiba is better known for giving the world a dash of technology every now and then. Never before have we heard of this company growing vegetables. As alien as it sounds, that’s exactly what Toshiba is up to lately. The Japanese electronics giant is looking forward to producing 3 million bags a year, which in turn will strengthen its position as a healthcare company. Using all the technology it has got at its disposal, we think this isn’t going to be extremely difficult for the company either!
Whoever said streetlights are an indispensable means to road safety probably should have a look at what the folks over in Netherlands are up to. Instead of using electricity-hungry street lights, the Smart Highway project makes use of photo-luminescent stripes that glow in the dark, guiding drivers. The stripes soak in sunlight during the day and glow during the night. Design firm Studio Roosegaarde has been testing this concept that seems to be quite practical, so long as drivers keep their headlights on too.
Winter’s here and with it, comes the immense need for fire wood globally. While wood may seem like a great option to keep the fireplace roaring, it isn’t always so. Wood is better off in rural areas that are off the grid and have no connection to optional heat sources. Here’s why. Wood is a great way to heat up, so long as not everyone is cutting down trees for firewood. Instead, paper log bricks are a cheaper and much more environmentally friendly way of starting a fire! These paper bricks are made from waste newspaper and are perfectly combustible, making them a great option for those in urban areas.
Junk does not necessarily need to end in a dump yard and Portuguese artist Artur Bordalo (Bordalo II) just proved the same! The artist displayed the Owl Eyes installation at the WOOL urban art festival in Covilhã, Portugal. What sets this one apart from a big chunk of the art installations you’ve seen before is the fact that the Owl Eyes is made from scrap. The installation was constructed from all the waste materials scavenged by Bordalo.