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IAAs celebrate 75 years of awarding excellence
June 1st, 2021
What do Tupperware, bikinis and the International Achievement Awards (IAAs) have in common? They are all 75 years old this year. In addition to getting their start in 1946, these innovations seem to signal the dawn of a new era. The Great Depression and a terrible war were over, and a boom was about to […]
Swiss scientists explore the benefits of robotically ‘knitted’ roads
June 1st, 2021
Researchers at the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa) are investigating string patterns to reinforce roads. Here, a robotic arm lays out the knitting pattern. Photo: Empa. Researchers at the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa) are investigating how roads could be more easily reinforced and then recycled after […]
Bring Back the Trades scholarship program supports a new generation
June 1st, 2021
Bring Back the Trades Inc. founder Steve Turner. To raise funds for scholarships, hats, T-shirts, sweatshirts and stickers promoting trade professions are available for sale on the organization’s website, www.bringbackthetrades.com, and donation and sponsorships opportunities are available as well. Photo: Bring Back the Trades. Even in times of higher unemployment, specialty fabrics businesses can struggle […]
Mask mandates reduced COVID-19 in about two-thirds of U.S. states
June 1st, 2021
Researchers who concluded that mask mandates contributed to a reduction in cases of COVID-19 in two-thirds of states noted that masks must be worn properly and deployed in conjunction with other mitigating measures for maximum effectiveness. Photo: © Martinmark, Dreamstime.com. An analysis from Texas Tech University’s Department of Environmental Toxicology has affirmed the benefits of […]
Portable solar ‘clouds’ designed for remote locations
June 1st, 2021
An architecture and planning studio based in the U.K. has proposed an “ephemeral station” that could provide remote communities and other locations with energy, water and shelter. The project by OF. Studio, designed for the state of Nevada, takes its inspiration from the banyan tree and hot air balloons. Under the “clouds,” a steel frame […]
Pressure-sensing cap for a better fitting helmet
June 1st, 2021
Helmets are designed to protect athletes in many sports from head injuries, but a helmet that doesn’t fit properly could leave the athlete vulnerable to traumatic brain injury. To mitigate this danger, researchers at Western Michigan University have developed a pressure-sensing cap, worn under the helmet, that can provide specific data to show whether a […]
Engineers make a self-cooling fabric from polyethylene
June 1st, 2021
In considering materials that could become the fabrics of the future, helping humans adapt to climate change, scientists have largely dismissed one widely available option: polyethylene. This thin and lightweight material, commonly used in plastic grocery bags, could keep a person cooler than most textiles because it allows heat through rather than trapping it in. […]
Sailing apparel line includes smart fabric tech
June 1st, 2021
The Hungarian brand 878® has launched a line of sailing apparel with smart fabric technology, graphene-enhanced fabric and thermal control properties. The company describes its new sailing gear as ultra-lightweight, flexible, stretchy, waterproof and stronger than steel. The apparel can be made to measure utilizing 3D body-scanning technology. In addition to strength, graphene provides unique […]
Chalmers researchers develop conductive cellulosic thread
June 1st, 2021
Scientists at Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden, have developed a thread made of conductive cellulose that can be used in textiles that generate electricity. “There is a real need for organic, renewable materials for use in electronic textiles,” says Sozan Darabi, doctoral student at Chalmers. Small wearables are often dependent on rare or even […]
Donato Fraioli continues ASATI’s tradition of innovation
June 1st, 2021
In 2020, ASATI completed the installation of this 73-foot-tall, 86,400-square-foot air structure for Iron Peak Sports & Events in Hillsborough, N.J. The structure covers a FIFA-sized soccer field and is used for a variety of field sports. The news headlines were alarming. Just before Christmas 2003, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that a case […]