Lab-Grown Lungs Successfully Transplanted into Rats for First Time

Having written previously about a synthetic lung on a chip that would provide an alternative to animal testing for toxic substances, this development caught our eye: researchers at Harvard Medical School have now grown lungs from living cells and successfully transplanted them into rats, who used them to breathe for up to six hours. The process suggests that humans with end-stage lung disease could one day have their lungs replaced with the petri-dish variety.

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Lab-Grown Lungs Successfully Transplanted into Rats for First Time

LIFE BOX – Brilliant, Seed-Sprouting Cardboard Packaging!

If you ever engage in online shopping (or even if you don’t), you probably recognize how ubiquitous and space-cluttering cardboard packaging is. But what if every cardboard box you got from Amazon came embedded with tiny seeds – so that you could plant your cardboard boxes in your backyard and sprout some CO2 sucking greenery? How awesome would that be

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LIFE BOX – Brilliant, Seed-Sprouting Cardboard Packaging!

My Neighbor Totoro: One of the Best Family Films Ever Made

As adorable as the animated characters of stories like “Shrek” and “Toy Story” may be, the trials and tribulations these protagonists go through often carry enough stress to send even the most tranquil adult into a padded white room. Unfortunately, this trend has become quite characteristic for the vast majority of new animated films made for kids in America; where storylines often inhibit stress over peace, action packed fight scenes rule and adults and children frequently find themselves in opposition rather than teaching and learning from one another. If you’ve been hoping to instill a more peaceful mode for growth and development into your little ones, the Japanese classic “ My Neighbor Totoro ” (Totoro for short) just may be the bit of entertainment you’ve been seeking

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My Neighbor Totoro: One of the Best Family Films Ever Made

Fiber Optic Stilettos Shine With Both Light and Sophistication

The last thing anyone would expect is for fiber optics add class to an outfit, but designer Francesca Castagnacci has turned this fashion flub into a sexy and sophisticated statement on energy efficiency. Taking an of-the-moment stiletto of her own design, Castagnacci wrapped it in fabric woven with earth friendly LEDs and light-reflecting optical fibers and created a stunning piece perfect for a night on the town! An impressive exhibit of craftsmanship and creativity – and certainly an attention grabber – we wouldn’t be surprised if Kate Perry were to slip these babies on for her next red carpet walk! READ MORE > Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg Post tags: eco friendly shoes , eco-fashion , fiber optics , Francesca Castagnacci , green fashion , Sustainable Fashion , sustainable shoes , sustainable style , wearable technology

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Fiber Optic Stilettos Shine With Both Light and Sophistication

Human-Scale Spider Web Made from 700 Rolls of Clear Packing Tape

Design team Numen/For Use transformed 700 rolls of clear packing tape into an incredible human-size inhabitable spider web at DMY Belin 2010 . The weaving took place over four consecutive days inside of the Tempelhof former airport

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Human-Scale Spider Web Made from 700 Rolls of Clear Packing Tape

Plant-Based Molecules Could Create More Efficient Photovoltaic Devices

Plants are excellent at harnessing solar power , so it only makes sense that scientists would eventually study them for hints on how to develop more efficient photovoltaic devices. Chemists at the University of Massachusetts Amherst are doing exactly that–they have figured out a way to build PV devices inspired by the photosynthetic processes of plants

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Plant-Based Molecules Could Create More Efficient Photovoltaic Devices

NEW YORKERS: Join Us for Inhabitat’s 5th BIRTHDAY PARTY BASH!

ATTENTION NEW YORKER INHABITAT READERS! You’re invited to our fabulous 5th Birthday Party – taking place at Green Spaces NYC on April 23rd! Can you believe that it’s been almost 5 years that we’ve been bringing you the best in green design every day? That’s right, our 5th birthday is coming up in just a few weeks and we’re having an awesome green party to celebrate!!! We couldn’t have made it this far without your support and in order to show you our appreciation and thanks, we’d love it if you could be our guest and share yummy cocktails (on us!), tasty treats, and of course, stimulating conversation with the editors of Inhabitat, on Friday, April 23rd at New York City’s premier green venue Green Spaces NYC .

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NEW YORKERS: Join Us for Inhabitat’s 5th BIRTHDAY PARTY BASH!

Underwater “Snookie” Robot is Inspired By Blind Fish

Biomimicry strikes again–this time with Snookie, an underwater robot that has an artificial sensory organ inspired by the “ lateral-line system ” seen in blind fish like the Astyanax . Snookie’s artificial organ is so accurate that it can sense obstacles and movements almost directly in front of it and on either side.

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Underwater “Snookie” Robot is Inspired By Blind Fish

Future “Artificial Leaves” May Create Hydrogen Fuel from Sunlight and Water

As far as sustainable energy systems go, nothing is quite as perfect as a plant: Through photosynthesis , plants create their own energy using only sunlight and water. For years, scientists have been trying to replicate this process to produce usable energy for people, but it’s proved difficult–until now. A group of Chinese researchers think they’ve come up with a blueprint for an “Artificial Inorganic Leaf” (AIL) that can produce hydrogen fuel using only sunlight and water.

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Future “Artificial Leaves” May Create Hydrogen Fuel from Sunlight and Water

Bioluminescent Lamp Made From Living, Glowing Hamster Cells

It may sound like something cooked up in Frankenstein’s lab, but Joris Laarman has created an incredible living lamp made out of (get this) bioluminescent , living, glowing hamster cells. Called the “Half Life,” his lamp produces a soft, ambient glow using cells from a Chinese hamster enriched with firefly genes (which are what make it light up). Biochemistry , meet interior design .

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Bioluminescent Lamp Made From Living, Glowing Hamster Cells

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