#reflective-materials

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fromTechCrunch
3 days ago

Commonwealth Fusion Systems leans on magnets for near-term revenue | TechCrunch

It's the largest deal of this kind to date for CFS, according to COO Rick Needham. The collaboration with Realta Fusion emphasizes the importance of high-temperature superconducting magnets in advancing fusion technology.
OMG science
Renovation
fromArchDaily
3 days ago

Designed Comfort, Purchased Comfort: Passive Design and Air Conditioning in Hong Kong

Widespread reliance on air conditioning has significantly altered architectural design incentives, particularly in Hong Kong.
#architecture
Design
fromwww.archdaily.com
4 days ago

Light, Lighter, Lightest: ArchDaily's April Editorial Focus

Building lightly is an ecological and ethical imperative shaped by environmental concerns and technological advancements.
Artificial intelligence
fromEntrepreneur
3 days ago

Why Entrepreneurs Can't Ignore AI's Growing Energy Demands

AI's rapid growth is significantly increasing global electricity demand, reshaping energy as a strategic business asset for entrepreneurs.
Environment
fromArchDaily
5 days ago

How to Measure the Life Cycle of a Construction Material?

The construction industry significantly impacts the environment, consuming 32% of global energy and contributing to 34% of global CO₂ emissions.
Science
fromThe Verge
6 days ago

A new manufacturing process uses lasers to seal paper packaging instead of glue

German researchers developed a glue-free sealing process for paper packaging using a carbon monoxide laser, enhancing recyclability and strength.
World politics
fromwww.aljazeera.com
5 days ago

What can nations do to make up for the ongoing energy shortfall?

The Middle East conflict has disrupted 20% of the world's fuel supply, prompting countries to seek alternative energy sources.
European startups
fromFast Company
1 week ago

Fast, modular, and solar-powered: a better way to build data centers

A modular data center powered by solar panels and repurposed EV batteries operates 99.2% of the time, showcasing a sustainable alternative to traditional data centers.
#biomimicry
fromYanko Design - Modern Industrial Design News
4 days ago
Design

Biomimetic Architecture Reaches New Heights With This Bird-of-Paradise Yoga Space - Yanko Design

Thilina Liyanage's architecture translates animal gestures into functional designs, exemplified by the Rifle Bird Yogashala inspired by the Victoria's riflebird's courtship display.
Design
fromYanko Design - Modern Industrial Design News
4 days ago

Biomimetic Architecture Reaches New Heights With This Bird-of-Paradise Yoga Space - Yanko Design

Thilina Liyanage's architecture translates animal gestures into functional designs, exemplified by the Rifle Bird Yogashala inspired by the Victoria's riflebird's courtship display.
#solar-power
Environment
fromwww.dw.com
1 week ago

Solar is winning the energy race

Solar power is rapidly scaling, becoming the world's cheapest energy source and surpassing coal, gas, and nuclear in capacity and usage.
Environment
fromwww.dw.com
1 week ago

Solar is winning the energy race

Solar power is rapidly scaling, becoming the world's cheapest energy source and surpassing coal, gas, and nuclear in capacity and usage.
OMG science
fromWIRED
1 week ago

One Way or Another, Most of Our Electricity Comes From Solar Power

Electric power generation primarily relies on the interaction between magnets and coils, with various methods to induce motion.
DevOps
fromMedium
2 weeks ago

The Bridge to Bulletproof: Connecting Alloy, Synthetics, and IRM for ShopFast

Integrate infrastructure monitoring, global synthetic probes, and centralized alerting into a comprehensive 24/7 production system that maintains revenue protection while preventing team burnout.
Exercise
fromArchitectural Digest
2 weeks ago

The Longevity Home Products That (Actually) Work

Home wellness features like exercise equipment, plants, and recovery tools support long-term health through habit formation, muscle maintenance, air quality, stress reduction, and cardiovascular benefits.
Fashion & style
fromFast Company
2 weeks ago

How diamond nanoparticles could be the trick for clothes that keep you cool in extreme heat

Nanodiamond-coated fabric releases body heat effectively, lowering skin temperature by 4-5°F and reducing air-conditioning energy consumption.
Startup companies
fromwww.housingwire.com
2 weeks ago

How FrameTec plans to cut build-cycle times and reduce waste

FrameTec uses robotic manufacturing to produce pre-cut framing systems, enabling builders to reduce construction cycle times and address skilled labor shortages while scaling sustainably.
fromEarth911
2 weeks ago

Should You Go Solar In 2026?

The most consequential shift for anyone considering rooftop solar in 2026 is the expiration of Section 25D, the Residential Clean Energy Credit. That 30% credit, which was worth up to $9,000 on a $30,000 system, is no longer available for home solar installations. The One Big Beautiful Bill, signed July 4, 2025, accelerated the phase-out that the Inflation Reduction Act had originally extended through 2034.
SF real estate
fromwww.bbc.com
1 week ago

Heat pumps for all new homes and plug-in solar in green tech drive

The Iran war has once again shown our drive for clean power is essential for our energy security so we can escape the grip of fossil fuel markets we don't control.
Environment
fromArchDaily
3 weeks ago

Light from Above: Measuring and Designing Daylight Under Sloped Roofs

From Alpine chalets shedding snow to Mediterranean roof tiles mitigating summer heat, the slope responded to climate and construction challenges long before it became an aesthetic code. Although modern architecture has favored horizontal planes and orthogonal plans, the pitched roof requires a project to be conceived in section.
Miscellaneous
US news
fromwww.npr.org
3 weeks ago

Easy-to-use solar panels are coming, but utilities are trying to delay them

Plug-in solar panels that connect to standard outlets are gaining traction in the U.S. as a cost-effective alternative to traditional rooftop solar, though utility opposition based on safety concerns is slowing legislative adoption.
Design
fromArchDaily
1 week ago

Designing with Living Matter: 5 Installations Using Bio-Based Materials and Digital Fabrication

Architecture must integrate ecological considerations and material intelligence to transform design practices and reduce environmental impact.
fromArchDaily
1 week ago

Designing for Obsolescence in an Age of Perpetual Upgrades

In the nineteenth century, entire railway networks became obsolete almost overnight, not due to physical deterioration, but because of changes in the technical standards that supported them. The expansion of railroads across Europe and North America adopted different track gauges, and as a dominant standard gradually emerged, these infrastructures became incompatible with one another.
Renovation
Science
fromwww.nature.com
3 weeks ago

Maximizing carrier extraction in hybrid back-contact silicon solar cells

Hybrid back-contact silicon solar cells achieve 27.62% certified efficiency through multifunctional front layers, improved rear contacts, and optimized 160-μm absorber thickness.
fromReadWrite
2 weeks ago

From Reactive Repairs to Smarter Home Protection: How Technology Is Changing Roof Care

In the past, roof inspections mostly focused on what could be seen from the outside. Contractors looked for broken shingles, worn flashing, or areas where water might enter the roof. The problem is that roof damage does not always show clear signs right away. Water can move through roofing layers before it becomes visible inside the home.
Renovation
#sustainable-architecture
fromBusiness Matters
2 weeks ago

6 Business Use Cases For Perforated Metal

Perforated metal has long been valued for its strength, versatility, and clean visual appeal. Created by punching patterns of holes into metal sheets, it offers a practical balance between airflow, light control, and structural support. Across industries such as architecture, construction, mining, and interior design, perforated metal has become a go-to material for projects that require both function and style.
Design
fromFlowingData
1 month ago

Illustrated engineering in everyday objects

I take the product apart. CAD it up. Illustrate each view. Then animate and lay it out for the web. That sounds quick, but it does take me quite a bit of time to create each one.
Graphic design
fromArchDaily
3 weeks ago

How Architecture Is Learning to Generate Its Own Energy

Photovoltaic (PV) solar energy represents a modular technology that can be manufactured in large-scale facilities, generating economies of scale, while also being adaptable to small-scale applications. From residential rooftop systems to large-scale power generation installations, photovoltaic solar energy has established itself as a cost-effective option for electricity production in many countries around the world.
Environment
#building-integrated-photovoltaics
Miscellaneous
fromDesign Milk
1 month ago

This Compact Space Heater Pays its Users

Heatbit redirects heat from bitcoin mining into home heating while paying users and purifying air, addressing technology's hidden environmental impact.
Design
fromArchDaily
3 weeks ago

Facing the Age of Robots? Material Innovation in Architectural Structures

Robotic technology in construction extends beyond automation and cost reduction to fundamentally reshape architectural design, material experimentation, and construction methodologies through collaborative human-robot workflows.
fromArchDaily
3 weeks ago

Building with Earth: Traditional Knowledge in Contemporary Architecture

Rather than representing a simple return to the past, this renewed interest reflects a broader reconsideration of how architecture engages with materials, local resources, and environmental conditions.
Renovation
Design
fromBusiness Matters
3 weeks ago

Why Plywood Boards Remain a Staple in Commercial Projects

Plywood remains essential in construction due to its superior structural performance, cost efficiency, and reliability compared to alternatives.
fromFuturism
1 month ago

The Economics of 3D Printed Homes Are Surprisingly Horrible

According to the outlet SlashGear, the neighborhood encompasses five 1,000-square-foot houses just north of Sacramento. Each domicile is produced by a hulking concrete printer worth about $1.5 million, which took about 24 days to spit out the first house. In the future, 4Dify expects the whole process to take about 10 days, but that isn't what's astonishing about the Yuba County neighborhood - it's the price tag.
Real estate
Environment
fromArchDaily
1 month ago

Can Shading Become Energy? From Passive Facades to Productive Envelopes

Facades can generate significant renewable energy by integrating colored photovoltaic shutters that combine shading, daylight control, and electricity production without adding envelope complexity.
Design
fromArchDaily
1 month ago

The Technosphere: ArchDaily's March Editorial Focus

Modern architecture's true weight lies in energy-intensive mechanical systems rather than physical structures, embedding buildings within planetary technospheres of 30 trillion tons of human-made matter.
Renovation
fromArchDaily
1 month ago

Understanding U-Value: The Foundation of Energy-Efficient Envelopes

Building envelope thermal transmittance (U-value) is the fundamental metric determining energy efficiency, calculated by dividing heat flow by surface area and temperature difference to assess insulation performance.
fromAeon
1 month ago

In solarpunk cities of the future, tech follows nature's lead | Aeon Essays

In Indra's Net of pearls and jewels, every gem reflects every other, a shimmering image of interdependence. This ancient Vedic metaphor for connection across the cosmos also illuminates what the environmental philosopher Glenn Albrecht first proposed in 2014as 'theSymbiocene': the era after the Anthropocene, in which human technologies take their cues from living systems and work in partnership rather than through dominance.
Philosophy
fromwww.nature.com
2 months ago

Exciplex-enabled high-efficiency, fully stretchable OLEDs

Here we addressed this challenge by incorporating an intrinsically stretchable exciplex-assisted phosphorescent (ExciPh) layer. The elastomer-tolerant triplet-recycling mechanism mitigates exciton energy transfer limitations arising from the insulating elastomer matrix, yielding a light-emitting layer with more than 200% stretchability and an external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 21.7%. To translate this performance to fully stretchable devices, we integrated MXene-contact stretchable electrodes (MCSEs), which feature high mechanical robustness and tunable work function (W
Wearables
Renovation
fromEarth911
1 month ago

Sustainable Roofing Buyer's Guide: 2026 Update

Roofing material choices significantly impact both home value and environmental sustainability, requiring informed decisions beyond cost and aesthetics.
#generative-ai
fromTasting Table
2 months ago

The Eco-Friendly Countertop Material That's Surprisingly Durable - Tasting Table

It's likely that you've encountered recycled glass countertops without realizing it. They're far from the hippie-style broken-glass mosaic art of yesteryear, instead presenting as sleek, highly polished, professional slabs with intriguing bits of confetti-style color trapped inside. That's the recovered glass bits set into a binding material such as resin, cement, or concrete, and then smoothly polished so that the composite surface feels like stone.
Remodel
Bicycling
fromBikerumor
2 months ago

Hey, Here's Another Airless Tire... Will This One Catch On?

Aipex is developing a 26x2.1 airless bicycle tire prototype with replaceable tread, puncture-free design, and claims up to 6,000 miles of tread life.
fromThe Verge
2 months ago

Pila makes the power station pretty

With Pila, you could plug one battery unit, measuring 15.0 × 26.5 × 3.3 inches (380 × 675 × 85mm) and 45lbs (20.4kg), into a standard 120V kitchen wall outlet and keep the fridge permanently plugged into the Pila home battery - no electrician required. When there's an outage, the fridge will automatically failover to protect your food. The battery can also be configured to charge when energy rates are low
Gadgets
UX design
fromCarlbarenbrug
2 months ago

Friction by Design

Intentional friction preserves user awareness and reflection, trading pure speed for more considered decisions and preventing autopilot interactions.
Bicycling
fromBikeMag
2 months ago

What the Future of Bicycle Manufacturing Look Like According to Experts

American bicycle manufacturing faces tradeoffs between domestic craftsmanship and overseas scale, challenging small framebuilders to balance quality, identity, and business viability.
fromBig Think
2 months ago

How "tribology" became a new industrial science

the automation of heavy machinery enabled plants to operate continuously, increasing productivity and revenue. The downside was that any small hiccup was acutely felt, cascading through the production line. At first, it was assumed that inadequate lubrication of factory equipment was causing parts to seize up or break apart. And so, the Lubrication and Wear Group of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, along with the Iron
Science
Remodel
fromElite Traveler
2 months ago

6 Sustainable Home Trends for 2026, According to an Interior Designer

Luxury interior design in 2026 centers on sustainability, material longevity, tactile heritage aesthetics, and emotional resonance over novelty and visual excess.
Science
fromArs Technica
1 month ago

A fluid can store solar energy and then release it as heat months later

Molecular solar thermal storage uses sunlight-driven isomerization to trap energy in chemical bonds for on-demand heat release, enabling long-duration solar heat storage.
Science
fromwww.scientificamerican.com
2 months ago

Unsinkable metal discovery could build safer ships and harvest wave energy

Laser-etched superhydrophobic textures let damaged aluminum tubes trap air and remain buoyant, mimicking diving bell spiders' hair-based air-trapping mechanism.
Environment
fromFast Company
2 months ago

These super-insulating windows are as energy-efficient as walls-and could help save the power grid

Vacuum-insulated windows deliver R18 performance, cut building energy use up to 45%, reduce grid electricity demand, and pay back within three to seven years.
Science
fromFast Company
2 months ago

These molecules are remaking manufacturing

Advances in catalysts and enzymes are transforming plant-based processing into precise, energy-efficient, foundational infrastructure for lower-carbon manufacturing.
fromArchDaily
2 months ago

Circular Composites: Designing for a Sustainable Future

One of the earliest large-scale examples of composite materials can be found in the Great Wall of China, where stone, clay bricks, and organic fibers such as reeds and willow branches were blended to create a resilient and lasting structure. These early techniques reveal a timeless intuition: distinct materials, when combined thoughtfully, produce properties unattainable by any single element.
Environment
Science
fromTheregister
1 month ago

DARPA asks labs to outsmart physics with photonic circuits

DARPA is funding efforts to scale photonic integrated circuits to perform larger-scale computing with light using existing photonic components to overcome current physical limitations.
Environment
fromEarth911
1 month ago

Guest Idea: How Renewable Energy Innovations are Cultivating a Healthier Planet

Transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable energy is necessary to reduce deadly pollution, protect ecosystems, stabilize the economy, and requires coordinated policy and individual actions.
fromArchDaily
2 months ago

Self-Sufficient Facades: Where Solar Protection Meets Renewable Energy

Spaces of light and darkness are conceived to enhance circulation and spatial directionality, as well as to highlight the colors, textures, and forms of specific architectural elements. That said, the impact of natural light on building facades reveals the need to develop strategies that support energy savings, improve the thermal and visual comfort of interior spaces, and promote the reduction of carbon emissions.
Design
Science
fromwww.scientificamerican.com
2 months ago

Vertical Solar PanelsWind-Resistant Trackers for High Latitudes

A startup is developing wind-adaptive, vertical-tracking solar panels to improve energy capture at low sun angles in higher latitudes but prototypes have suffered structural failures.
fromArs Technica
2 months ago

New battery idea gets lots of power out of unusual sulfur chemistry

When the battery starts discharging, the sulfur at the cathode starts losing electrons and forming sulfur tetrachloride (SCl 4), using chloride it stole from the electrolyte. As the electrons flow into the anode, they combine with the sodium, which plates onto the aluminum, forming a layer of sodium metal. Obviously, this wouldn't work with an aqueous electrolyte, given how powerfully sodium reacts with water.
Science
fromArchDaily
1 month ago

When Light Meets Energy in Glass Ceilings

From the large industrial roofs and galleries of the 19th century to the contemporary atriums of museums and public buildings, glass has been a recurring material in shaping large and monumental interior spaces. More than a technological or engineering solution, these horizontal glazed planes introduce a distinct luminous quality: light that comes from above. Unlike lateral daylight entering through façades, zenithal light is more evenly distributed, reduces harsh shadows, and lends spaces a sense of continuity and openness that is difficult to achieve otherwise.
Design
fromEarth911
2 months ago

Guest Idea: 7 Solutions to Give Your Old Sunglasses a Second Life

Just like that coffee cup, eyewear is a complex fusion of materials. Metal hinges are screwed into polymer frames, which hold chemically-coated lenses. This mix of metals, plastics, and coatings means standard sorting machines cannot process them. As a result, they are rejected as contamination and sent directly to landfills, where they contribute to non-biodegradable waste. Unlike a disposable paper cup, however, a pair of sunglasses is built for durability. Its high-quality components make it a perfect candidate for repair, reuse, or reinvention.
Environment
Science
fromTheregister
2 months ago

MIT scientists move structural color beyond the lab

A handheld laser system called MorphoChrome paints programmable iridescent structural colors onto holographic photopolymer film for integration into flexible and rigid objects.
Design
fromwww.archdaily.com
2 months ago

From Material Intelligence to Circularity: Lessons from Architecture in 2025

Architects prioritize material innovation in 2025—agricultural waste, recycled plastics, and living materials—balancing tradition, circularity, and material intelligence for resilient, low-carbon construction.
fromNature
2 months ago

Surface optimization governs the local design of physical networks - Nature

The vascular system and the brain are examples of physical networks that differ from the networks typically studied in network science owing to the tangible nature of their nodes and links, which are made of material resources and constrain their layout. The importance of these material factors has been noted in many disciplines: as early as 1899, Ramón y Cajal suggested that we must consider the laws conserving the 'wire' volume to explain neuronal design8
Science
Environment
fromEarth911
2 months ago

Guest Idea: The Cradle to Cradle Mindset Is A Call for Bold Leadership

Cradle-to-cradle leadership transforms wastewater into recoverable energy, nutrients, and reusable water, enabling renewable energy, fertilizer production, and expanded water reuse.
fromdesignboom | architecture & design magazine
1 month ago

can desert sand with plant-based materials be used to build houses and roads?

Researchers at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology and the University of Tokyo have made a prototype of botanical cement made of desert sand and plant-based additives in hopes that it can be used to build houses and roads. Once mixed, the team adds tiny pieces of wood together and presses them all with heat to produce the cement.
Science
Design
fromArchDaily
1 month ago

Rethinking Interior Surfaces, From Finishes to Frameworks

Surface materials function systemically, integrating color, texture, and technical performance to shape spatial quality, durability, and coherent design across applications.
Science
fromwww.housingwire.com
1 month ago

Trailblazing MIT team demos 3D-printed, recycled plastic floor truss

MIT engineers prototyped 3D-printed floor trusses and structural elements from recycled dirty plastic that print as continuous pieces, reducing waste and protecting forests.
fromdesignboom | architecture & design magazine
1 month ago

reflective red chamber emerges from prism mountain shelter's charred wood shell

Prism Shelter is a by Space10 Studio located at the foot of Changbai Mountain, conceived as an inhabitable optical installation within a winter landscape defined by snow, wind, and low temperatures. Positioned to frame views of the mountain massif, the structure provides a sheltered point from which visitors can pause and observe the surrounding terrain. The project combines the typology of a small with a calibrated visual device that alters the perception of the distant ridgelines.
Design
fromdesignboom | architecture & design magazine
1 month ago

reflective steel sheet cladding wraps acheres technical center in france

The site lies within the Petite Arche joint development zone, where design considerations include the town entrance, contextual integration, and alignment with natural elements. The building's form signals its position in an urbanized area and maintains visual dialogue with the surrounding landscape, including the protected Saint-Germain-En-Laye forest. A vegetated threshold along the northern edge reinforces landscape continuity, while the southern boundary engages with the urban character of the area.
Design
Design
fromYanko Design - Modern Industrial Design News
2 months ago

Students Just Built a Pavilion That Robots Can Rebuild Forever - Yanko Design

A modular timber pavilion assembled with reversible joinery and robotic precision demonstrates waste-free, reusable construction through adaptable components and disassembly-friendly design.
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