Written by Aditi Justa

A professor of Fiber Science and Apparel Design makes another breakthrough in the world of fashion with the development of cotton threads that can conduct electric current as well as a metal wire, while remaining flexible and comfortable to wear. This technology is so efficient that simply knotting the threads is enough to create a complete circuit. A solar-powered dress with this technology literally woven into its fabric will be featured at the annual Cornell Design League Fashion Show on Saturday, March 13 at Cornell University’s Barton Hall.

Written by Aditi Justa

Researchers at the University of Florida in Homestead hope to accelerate the cultivation of the Jatropha plant to help in producing high quality oil that can be converted into an alternative energy fuel, or biofuel. With the experiment known as the National Lab Pathfinder-Cells 3, the scientists aim at learning if microgravity can help jatropha curcas plant cells grow faster to produce biofuel, or renewable fuel derived from biological matter.

Written by Aditi Justa

Ayrat Khusnutdinov, a Russian architect entered the eVolo Magazine 2010 Skyscraper Competition with his innovative proposal called the ‘Sky Table’. His proposed entry was one of the 27 that got special mention in the competition, which recognizes outstanding ideas that redefine skyscraper design using new technologies, materials, programs, aesthetics, and spatial organization. Energy generation and conservation is also a key component of the proposed design.

Written by Aditi Justa

IBM took its efforts to do its bit for the environment to another level with the announcement of the discovery of a method to make green plastic. The company proclaimed on Tuesday that researchers have come up with a way to make eco-friendly plastic from plants, which could substitute petroleum-based products that are harmful to the environment. The “green chemistry” breakthrough using “organic catalysts” results in plastic that is capable of being recycled again and again, unlike the petroleum-based plastic made using metal oxide catalysts that can be recycled only once.