The prototype ‘laundry gun’ in action during a fabric treatment test. Astronauts heading on long missions to Mars could face a surprisingly ordinary problem: how to keep their clothes clean without wasting precious water. Scientists at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, working with NASA‘s Marshall Space Flight Center, have developed a small device that…

Green roofs offer a solution to urban heat by absorbing sunlight and releasing water. Vegetation shades surfaces and evapotranspiration naturally cools surrounding areas. These living roofs also manage rainwater and provide habitats for urban wildlife. Extensive and intensive systems cater to different building needs and budgets. Cities worldwide are adopting green roofs to combat rising…

Among the myriad of actions performed exclusively by humans, crying appears to be the most enigmatic. While no other animals are known to cry, humans shed emotional tears from birth throughout life. As suggested by some scientists specialising in evolutionary biology, rather than being an act of vulnerability, crying is, in fact, a highly developed…