Australia moves to ban engineered stone due to silicosis danger
Australia is considering banning engineered stone after a joint investigation by three news outlets accused manufacturer Caesarstone of not doing enough to warn people of the dangers of working with the material. More
Respiray develops air-purifying collar for allergy sufferers
Health tech company Respiray has launched a wearable air purifier designed to fend off allergens by creating a "bubble of clean air" around the user's face. More
Henn and TU Dresden complete world's first carbon concrete building
German architecture firm Henn and the Technical University of Dresden have completed the world's first building made of carbon concrete – a form of concrete reinforced with carbon fibre instead of steel. More
"Chameleon-like" facade material could help to heat and cool buildings
Researchers from the University of Chicago have invented a cladding material that changes colour to help with heating or cooling and could be retrofitted to improve buildings' energy efficiency. More
Mill bin dries and shrinks food waste so it can be sent off for reuse
US start-up Mill aimed to create the ultimate solution to household food waste when designing this bin, which dries out any leftovers so they can be posted to the company and given a new purpose. More
UCL researchers translate endangered languages into 3D-printed objects
An anthropologist and an architect from University College London have collaborated on a unique way to preserve endangered languages – by capturing their character in the form of 3D-printed objects. More
Researchers combine motion capture tech and AI to treat movement disorders
UK researchers have shown that artificial intelligence, combined with cinematic motion capture suits and digital twin technology, can offer a "faster, cheaper" way of treating patients with disorders that impair their movement. More
Jony Ive gives Red Nose Day nose a "dramatic" flat-pack redesign
Former Apple designer Jony Ive has reimagined one of the world's most recognisable fundraising products – the nose worn as part of the annual Red Nose Day appeal. More
MIT study finds huge carbon cost to self-driving cars
The widespread adoption of self-driving cars will create a major bump in carbon emissions without changes to their design, a study from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology has found. More
ZeroAvia test-flies largest airplane powered by hydrogen-electric engine to date
ZeroAvia has flown what the aviation company claims is the largest aircraft yet to be run on a zero-emissions hydrogen-electric engine, testing a 19-seater plane over the skies of England. More
Luca Nichetto designs apple-leather Malala handbag for Angela Roi
Designer Luca Nichetto has made his first foray into fashion accessories with the Malala handbag, which was partially produced from apples for vegan leathergoods brand Angela Roi. More
Space10 invites public into its Copenhagen HQ with kiosk-like design library
IKEA's innovation lab Space10 has worked with interior designers Spacon & X to transform the ground floor of its headquarters into a library and community space, with a look that is meant to recall a simple kiosk. More
SlowMo app aims to help people with psychosis
London design studio Special Projects has worked with clinical psychologists to develop SlowMo, a mental health app for people experiencing psychosis that will be trialled by the UK's National Health Service. More
MIT and Harvard researchers find secret to "self-healing" Roman concrete
Researchers from MIT and Harvard claim to have solved the mystery behind the durability of ancient Rome's concrete structures, and are now aiming to bring a modern version of the recipe to the market. More
Mui Board enables smart home control from a plank of wood
Japanese "calm technology" company Mui Lab has unveiled the consumer-ready version of its Mui Board – a minimalist control hub for the smart home that looks like an unassuming block of wood. More
BMW launches concept car that changes into 32 different colours
BMW has unveiled an updated version of its colour-changing car technology at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, expanding the concept from black and white to a full colour palette. More
Digby Design Authenticator links furniture with NFTs to fight counterfeiting
Technology company Digby has partnered with American furniture brand Heller to launch a tool for establishing the authenticity of physical design products using the blockchain. More
Space10 proposes linking NFTs to furniture to encourage better care
IKEA's research lab Space10 has developed a concept for connecting a physical furniture piece to an ever-evolving NFT tree, which "grows" through acts of care to incentivise people to keep, repair and recycle their belongings. More
BVN and UTS rethink air conditioning with 3D-printed "breathing" system
Australian architecture practice BVN and the University of Technology Sydney have created a low-carbon, 3D-printed system that "breathes" like frog skin. More
Layer designs Ledger Stax hardware wallet for storing cryptocurrency
Design studio Layer has collaborated with tech brand Ledger and designer Tony Fadell to produce Ledger Stax, a screen-wrapped, credit card-sized device for storing cryptocurrency and NFTs. More