WEIRD FACTS

Eco-friendly foam outperforms the “real thing”

By Ben Coxworth – A sample of the foam, which is made of wood pulp-derived cellulose. (Credit: Washington State University). Styrofoam is not eco-friendly stuff. It’s made from petroleum, it can’t be efficiently recycled, it’s non-biodegradable, and it creates pollution when burned. A …

 

Nikola unveils its WAV electric personal watercraft

By Ben Coxworth – Plans call for the WAV to be released next year. (Credit: Nikola Motor Company). The Nikola Motor Company has previously brought us battery-electric cargo trucks and off-road vehicles. This month, the Arizona-based startup announced that another e-vehicle will be joining …

Space fire extinguisher sucks instead of blows

By David Szondy – The VEM extinguisher is designed for use on spacecraft and other special environments. (Credit: Valeev/Depositphotos).  The Department of Mechanical Engineering at Toyohashi University of Technology has developed an inside-out fire extinguisher for use inside spacecraft. Instead of spraying out …