Ecomimicry: the nature-inspired approach to design that could be the antidote to urban 'blandscapes'

Generic urban landscape design is damaging for people and nature: an ecomimicry approach instead encourages nature to flourish even in cities.

Caroline Nash, Research Fellow in Biodiversity Conservation, University of East London • conversation
June 29, 2021 • ~8 min

Cooling buildings by nearly 5ºC possible thanks to new whiter-than-white paint

New barium sulphate-based paint could help reduce effects of climate change.

Andrew Parnell, Research Fellow in Physics and Astronomy, University of Sheffield • conversation
June 7, 2021 • ~5 min

How to keep your house cool – cover it with new whiter-than-white paint, says research

New barium sulphate-based paint could keep buildings almost 5ºC cooler than outside.

Andrew Parnell, Research Fellow in Physics and Astronomy, University of Sheffield • conversation
June 7, 2021 • ~5 min

How do archaeologists know where to dig?

Archaeologists used to dig primarily at sites that were easy to find thanks to obvious visual clues. But technology – and listening to local people – plays a much bigger role now.

Stacey Camp, Associate Professor of Anthropology, Michigan State University • conversation
Dec. 4, 2020 • ~10 min

Making the most of a tree epidemic

With trees infested by the emerald ash borer deemed essentially worthless, a team of designers wanted to see if the decaying wood could be repurposed as a building material.

Leslie Lok, Assistant Professor of Architecture, Cornell University • conversation
Aug. 4, 2020 • ~7 min

Buildings have their own microbiomes – we're striving to make them healthy places

We spend 90% of our lives indoors, and every building has its own indoor microbiome. Can we learn to manage them in ways that support helpful microbes and suppress harmful ones?

Mark Fretz, Research Assistant Professor of Architecture, University of Oregon • conversation
April 17, 2020 • ~10 min

The story of a remarkable Hindu temple in Pretoria's inner city

Built by Tamil immigrants almost 100 years ago, the temple has survived apartheid and urban decay to remain at the heart of its community.

Johan Swart, Lecturer, University of Pretoria • conversation
March 22, 2020 • ~7 min

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