Scientists at the University of Manchester have succeeded in creating a building material that can be used for construction on Mars. This “cosmic concrete,” called StarCrete, is made up of potato starch and salt that, when mixed with dust from Mars, forms a material twice as strong as regular concrete. It’s an efficient and viable recipe, as 55 pounds of potatoes could create half a …
To innovate in the fight against climate change, the startup Plantd devised a method of turning a fast-growing perennial grass into a building material that is stronger, lighter and more moisture-resistant than traditional panels—while maintaining the same price. The company works with local farmers near Durham, North Carolina to grow the renewable grass which is adept at capturing carbon. In their electric and modular factory, …
In partnership with Imperial College London, Swiss research lab Empa has created flying 3D printers to aid in the construction of tall buildings and with repairs in hard-to-reach areas. The printers are affixed to drones that can carry small amounts of material to deposit in a designated location, a system informed by the collaborative work of bees. Their technology, called Aerial Additive Manufacturing, relies on …
