Kano's Harry Potter wand kit lets you code spells
Tech company Kano has created a coding kit for the Harry Potter universe, with a wand that users can programme to cast spells when they wave their hand. More
Kano battles "throwaway culture of electronics" by teaching kids how to take apart their tech
Slimmer, lighter devices are the goal for most technology companies, but not Kano. In this interview, the designers behind the pioneering STEM toy company make their case for tech products that can be easily disassembled. More
Cooper Hewitt reveals sinister side of facial recognition tech at London Design Biennale
Digital artists R Luke DuBois and Zach Lieberman have both created installations to reveal the primitive nature of facial-recognition technology that is used by organisations all over the USA. More
Mushrooms have the power to eat plastic say scientists
Fungi can be used to break down waste plastic and create sustainable building materials, according to scientists from Kew Gardens in London. More
Elvie launches wearable breast pump that's silent and wireless
Technology company Elvie has launched a cordless breast pump designed to be worn inconspicuously in any nursing bra. More
Opendesk launches augmented-reality shopping for its open-source furniture
Opendesk customers can now use augmented reality to see how the furniture brand's pieces look in their homes before ordering them from local makers. More
Odico's Factory on the Fly is a pop-up robotic manufacturing unit for construction sites
Danish company Odico is preparing to launch a mini all-in-one robotic construction system that can be sent to building sites inside a shipping container. More
Mind Over Matter installation descends into chaos in response to viewers' brainwaves
Designer David Carson and artist Thijs Biersteker have worked together to create a mind-controlled art installation, which goes on display in Amsterdam this week. More
Naked Labs launches at-home 3D body scanner
US start-up Naked Labs has launched a smart mirror and connected scale that can build a 3D scan and full health profile of your body. More
O-Wind Turbine captures energy even in the middle of dense cities
An omnidirectional wind turbine that works in the middle of big cities, which could "take urban energy harvesting to another level", is the UK's James Dyson Award winner for 2018. More
US military 3D prints concrete barracks on site
In a world first, the US Armed Forces has 3D printed a barracks out of concrete on site at an army base, in less than two days. More
Jaguar Land Rover's prototype driverless car makes eye contact with pedestrians
Jaguar Land Rover has created self-driving cars with eyes that are used to communicate with pedestrians when it's safe to cross in front of them. More
Michael Anastassiades designs Bang & Olufsen speaker you adjust by rolling
Minimalist designer Michael Anastassiades is behind Bang & Olufsen's circular Beosound Edge, which is both speaker and volume knob in one. More
MIT champions large-scale timber architecture with Longhouse proposal
Wood is the key to a more sustainable building industry, says architect John Klein, who has led Massachusetts Institute of Technology students in designing a large community centre from mass timber. More
Backpack-style robot companion gives wearer two functional extra hands
Syrian designer Yamen Saraiji has designed a wearable, two-armed robot that acts as an extension to the human body. More
Reebok launches plant-based Cotton + Corn sneaker
Sportswear brand Reebok has revealed the first product from its sustainability initiative Cotton + Corn — a pair of trainers with a bioplastic sole. More
Halo smart collar designed to protect athletes from concussion
A compression top with an auto-tightening collar that promises to reduce whiplash and concussion is the first product from Canadian sports tech start-up Aexos. More
Spider-shaped tiny robot could be the future of micro-surgery
Centimetre-sized soft robots could one day be used to perform surgery and enter other tight spaces, using a method devised by researchers at Harvard University. More
Reebok's gel-infused PureMove sports bra firms up in response to movement
Sportswear brand Reebok has applied a texture-changing gel used in NASA's spacesuits to make a bra that adapts to support different levels of movement. More
Mobike launches electric bike for dockless sharing
Chinese bike-sharing company Mobike has partnered with Dutch design studio Springtime to create an electric version of its signature orange bicycle. More