Sticky fruit labels may soon be things of the past thanks to a new EU ruling that allows grocers and retailers to make laser marks on the skin of citrus fruit, melons and pomegranates. Laser branding, previously banned because of the use of iron oxides and hydroxides, was approved after three years of liaising between the EU and Laser Food – the company behind the technology. The new law will come into effect on June 23rd.
If you love getting some air between you and the ground while doing tricks on your bicycle, then you will love the Paravelo. Designed by two British men who have a passion for both cycling and aviation, this extraordinary folding bicycle comes with a trailer powered by a giant fan and a fabric wing that doubles as a tent. The flying bike’s inventors don’t necessarily promote their product for the daily commute, but they do envision a future of combining flying the Paravelo and camping – “flamping.”
Coca Cola just launched a new bottle that’s as cool as ice. The soda megabrand is offering Coke to its Colombian market, served in a chilled bottle made of ice. Once your ice-cold beverage is consumed, the packaging melts away, leaving nothing to throw away or recycle. The ice bottle joins 7Up, which introduced an ice vending machine in Argentina a few months ago that melted once all of its beverages were dispensed.
Budapest-based Vinylize has created a sharp set of eyewear made from recycled vinyl records. The company uses a laser cutter to craft old records into chic eyewear for ladies and gents, and even the protective cases are made from recycled vinyl.
Buying a mobile device these days can feel like signing a pact with the devil – and to make matters worse, it’s difficult to determine where the parts were sourced and assembled and whether they were ethically produced. Fairphone aims to take the guilt out of gadgetry by producing the world’s first openly-designed, conflict-free smartphone. The company launched a successful crowdfunding campaign to reach their minimum goal of 5,000 pre-orders and now the Fairphone is on its way towards mass production.
It has been over two years since the catastrophic meltdown at the Fukusima Daiichi nuclear power plant, and the bad news keeps on rolling in. On the heels of an announcement by Tepco that the water at the facility is contaminated with low levels of cesium, the company reported that the groundwater is also polluted with strontium-90. The highly toxic substance is a by-product of the fission of uranium and plutonium in nuclear reactors. The discovery will no doubt complicate Tepco’s ongoing struggle to contain leaks inundating the basements of reactor buildings.
Designer Chris Hough created this set of biodegradable, portable speakers using only waste and reclaimed materials. Made up of a combination of nutshells and waste newspaper, the speakers are strong, light and tactile. Connected through a 3.5 millimeter audio cable, the product is intended for amplifying the sound on mobile phones and laptops. Each speaker is handcrafted using a two part cast mold and can be endlessly replicated.
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Bosch Automotive Service Solutions and the Evatran Group are developing a wireless electric vehicle charging system that could become the first commercially available system of its kind in the US. Unlike other EV charging systems, the Plugless Level 2 Electric Vehicle Charging System offers hands-free, automatic EV charging. All EV drivers have to do is park their vehicles on the system’s floor-mounted Parking Pad and their vehicle begins charging.
Yesterday, AT&T, Goal Zero and Pensa unveiled Street Charge, a new way for New Yorkers to charge their phones on-the-go using solar power. The new tree-like modules will be placed around the five boroughs in public plazas and parks, allowing people to plug in their devices for free. The first two Street Charge units went up yesterday in Fort Greene Park, but to view a full list of planned locations, click here.
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