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Underwater kites could be next wave in clean energy

They look like the kind of winged contraptions imagined by animation film director Hayao Miyazaki, but these experimental generators could represent the next wave in renewable energy. With what amounts to one of the biggest-ever European investments in ocean energy, the first commercial scale underwater “kite” power plant is being built off the coast of Holyhead, … Continue reading “Underwater kites could be next wave in clean energy”

The fight against mining in Sweden’s indigenous Sami community is a lot like ‘The Lorax’

If you don’t live in the Nordic countries, it’s quite possible you’ve never heard of the Sami — an indigenous people of the European Arctic, whose reindeer-herding culture has remained pretty much unchanged for tens of thousands of years. With their colorful, traditional embroidery, reindeer skin moccasins and wigwams, the Sami bring to mind some … Continue reading “The fight against mining in Sweden’s indigenous Sami community is a lot like ‘The Lorax’”

This mock Ikea catalog from the future is a blast to browse through

Almost just in time for Back to the Future Day, I got a look at the Ikea catalog of the future — sort of. The home furnishing company has partnered with the KTH Royal Institute of Technology’s research centre, Mobile Life, to envision the ways Scandinavian design can fulfill the promise of our digitalized world. … Continue reading “This mock Ikea catalog from the future is a blast to browse through”

Four discoveries show why your gut bacteria is so important

Your intestine is home to tens of trillions of microbes of at least 1,000 different species. So it’s no wonder we’re just beginning to understand all the ways they affect our physiology and health. Here are four things you might not have known about your gut bacteria, courtesy of KTH research. Babies need exposure to … Continue reading “Four discoveries show why your gut bacteria is so important”

“A good work environment does not have to be ugly”

Is office design getting “sexy”? Christina Bodin Danielsson seems to think so — insofar as designers are beginning get excited about what goes into making good working environments. Bodin Danielsson is a researcher at Stockholm’s KTH Royal Institute of Technology School of Architecture & Built Environment and Stockholm University’s Stress Research Institute, who just co-published a study showing … Continue reading ““A good work environment does not have to be ugly””