3. Apple Watch Series 3



Say what you will about Apple products, but you get great quality products for your money. At first glance, the Series 3 looks a lot like the newer model. It lacks some of the more unique features (the ECG testing, for example), but has all of the other features, including an option for LTE wireless connectivity. Plus, the fact that the newer Series 4 is out, means that the price tag for this model has dropped substantially.



4. Fitbit Versa



Fitbit is a newcomer to the smartwatch market, having primarily dabbled in fitness trackers before. What this means is that their smartwatches are perhaps the best-suited for fitness purposes. The Versa is rather lightweight, swim-ready, affordable, and comes with a unique female health tracking option. On the downside, the device lacks GPS tracking.

Is it a phone? A computer? A fitness tracker? A watch? Yes, yes, yes and yes.
Smartwatches are the hottest thing in wearable technology, and what makes them so appealing is a perfect combination of small size, a wide range of day-to-day applications and customization options, and specialized health tracking features.

Smartwatches aren’t new, per se. The idea of a watch that also serves as a computer and a phone could be seen in quite a few movies and cartoons as far back as the ’80s, and watch manufacturers have been trying to get the ball rolling on computerized watches since then, with the first proper smartwatch being introduced back in 2000. Technology has been making substantial strides since then, and the advent of smartphones- which are, for all intents and purposes, high-powered computers that fit in a palm- has contributed greatly to the refining of the smartwatch. Consequently, smartwatches are peaking right now, leading the wearable tech market by a large margin.

If you jog, work out, or just don’t want to carry your phone wherever you go, but still want to have all of its functions at the palm of your hand, the smartwatch is definitely for you. Here are the best ones on the market at the moment (as of February 2019) for your consideration:


1. Samsung Galaxy Watch



The newest member of Samsung’s smartwatch family, the Samsung Galaxy Watch is quite a bit cheaper than its Apple competitor, though still at the higher end of prices. Unlike the Apple Watch, it runs both Android and Apple operating systems and has a battery that can last for days on a single charge. It has a very easy and intuitive interface, is optimal for health and fitness tracking, and comes with a built-in GPS and is swim-ready.


2. Apple Watch Series 4



The question of Galaxy vs. Apple isn’t going to be answered anytime soon, and for the most part, it all boils down to personal taste. So we’ll try to focus on the facts: the Apple Watch is only compatible with Apple devices, is the most expensive smartwatch on the market bar none, and has a less-than-stellar battery performance. All of this being said, it has all of the fitness and health functions of a top-tier smartwatch, is swim-ready, and comes with an option of cellular internet connectivity, as well as a unique FDA-certified app that can perform ECG tests to monitor heart rhythm and electrical activity (sadly, only available in the US, pending certification in other countries). It can also alert you to an abnormal heartbeat that can be a sign of atrial fibrillation.

6. Lilyfield Housing Redevelopment in Sydney, Australia



This project was launched and opened in February 2011, and received a 5 Green Star Rating. Green Star is the equivalent of the LEED certification for the development of commercial and government buildings in Australia.

That makes the Lilyfield Project the first social housing development to be brought forward by the Green Building Council of Australia under the banner of the Green Star ratings. It has somewhere between 60-80 apartment units, varying in size.

The complex has also been built in a prime location for access to public transport and made bicycle friendly to reduce the need for large car parking lots. It also offers an efficient outdoor lighting system which only uses 2.5% of the total electricity produced in Australia, and uses solar water heating systems and Photovoltaic panels.


7. Smog-Eating Building in Mexico City, Mexico



(The Manuel Gea González Hospital, Mexico City, Mexico, with "Smog-Eating" Facade - Image Courtesy of Elegant Embellishments)

In an effort to promote the health infrastructure of the country, the Ministry of Health of Mexico funded this $20 billion dollar Green project. Of course, the building wasn't built to literally eat smog, but the Manuel Gea González Hospital, found in Mexico City, was given some real upgrades.

The technology was discovered and developed by a Research and Design manufacturing studio that concentrates on initiatives for environmentally friendly buildings, called Elegant Embellishments. Using a coating of photocatalytic titanium dioxide on thermoformed shells, a building facade was designed.

This lovely and functional white facade now covers over 2500 square meters of the building. The coating has a unique effect, whereby it neutralizes the effects of air pollution (from the thousands of passing cars each day) when it reacts with light.

A similar type of system was also exhibited in Milan’s Palazzo Italia.


8. SolaRoad in Krommenie, Netherlands



The brainchild of multiple organizations, after the development of the prototype in 2010, further projects were underway by 2011. These projects use various developments in solar technology to create bike paths made from solar panels.

In October 2014, the first official SolaRoad was opened in Krommenie, about 72 meters (which is 236 feet) in length. This path as it stands is a connecting point between two suburbs.

If and when the path is extended, it could potentially be used to power a number of suburban homes. This pathway has not only been a step forward in alternative transportation, but it's also paving the way to energy consciousness and healthier infrastructure.

No wonder a couple from Idaho, who first proposed the idea of solar paneled roads, raised $2 million dollars through crowdfunding alone!


9. KK Plastic Roads in Bangalore, India



Our introduction to what could be the road to the future. Yes, pun absolutely intended.

K.K Plastic Waste Management, a company based out of the city of Bangalore has created an incredible new innovative way to turn plastic waste into roads. Started by two brothers, Amjad and Ahmed Khan, their research into alternate uses of plastic led them to the discovery that plastic and bitumen (also commonly known as asphalt), are very similar substances.

Not only does this work towards reducing the amount of waste piling up in landfills across the country, it also assists in the mending and strengthening of battered roads covered with cracks and holes from years of ordinary wear and tear.

They laid down their first road in 2002, after getting approval from the Central Road Research Institute, Delhi.


10. Zero Waste Fashion



Who says environmental consciousness can’t be fashionable?

This interesting concept was first theorized and implemented by Dr. Mark Liu, Ph.D., who began looking into the concept in 2006, as a part of his thesis while completing his Masters of Textiles Futures.

The idea behind it was to minimize the amount of fabric wasted while making a garment through a seemingly simple method of restructuring the excess fabric in a pattern that would suit the design.

The original aim was to ensure a minimum of 15% material saving per garment, which would be beneficial both commercially and environmentally. According to Dr. Liu, the philosophy behind zero-waste designs heavily influenced the aesthetic appeal of the designs themselves.

His first line of zero-waste fashion apparel was debuted at Esthetica, a project for Eco-Fashion, in the 2008 London Fashion Week. His collections have since made numerous other appearances at LFW and were even on display in museums all across the world.     

The company Tonle is now a major producer of zero-waste fashion apparel.

With all the controversy that has now arisen surrounding the Paris Agreement, climate change has become a hot button issue. While many debate the science behind the concept of Global Warming, one thing has become clear. The weather is getting hotter, the ice is melting and resources are running out.

The hunt for sustainable sources of energy and resources continues, but the good news is, these efforts have had several great results. Many companies and entire cities across the globe have begun to implement green programs to help restore our planet to at least close to her former glory.

Like the company Lacoste, who have temporarily changed their logo to the images of ten endangered species in support of the “Save the Species” Campaign. Much like the efforts of Lacoste, here are 10 fantastic Go-Green initiatives from around the world that will surprise and inspire you!


1. The Green Buildings In Chicago, Illinois



Chicago is one of the cities leading the world in environmentally friendly programs and has over 295 Green projects with Certification under LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design).

The Chicago Center for Green Technology, which has been non-operational but still occupied since 2014, was the first major step toward the green path and received the highest LEED rating a building can get.

A Green Permit Program was also later initiated to speed up the process of getting permits and offered the possibility of reduced fees for green projects. It looks like Green is the new trending color.


2. Solar Energy Projects in California



If there ever was a perfect state for channeling the power of the sun for energy, it has got to be the Sunshine State.

This state is home to Solar City, a Tesla subsidiary, and Sunrun, two major companies that provide solar installation services for the whole country. It is also home to Sun Power, the manufacturer of the most efficient solar panels in the world.

California also has the best net metering programs, that allow you to store solar energy for use at night, and a Self Generation Incentive Program, which subsidizes the cost of solar batteries. This state has made solar energy not only the most efficient form of energy but also the most cost-effective.

The current goal for California's Electric Utilities companies is to ensure that by 2020, 33% of their power will be produced by renewable energy. True to its (nick)name, the main source of this renewable energy is likely to be solar energy.



3. Alternative Transportation in Portland, Oregon



Portland is working towards saying goodbye to traffic jams and pollution, both air and noise. In an effort to make the city safe for more people to ride bicycles, dedicated bike routes have been created.

This city is also the birthplace of the Bicycle Transportation Alliance, now known as the Street Trust. This organization promotes bicycle advocacy and aims to create communities that make frequent travel bicycle-friendly.

More new bike paths are in the process of being made, courtesy of the Portland Bureau of Transportation.


4. The Eco-City Project in Hamburg, Germany



This project has been designed to be a sustainable sizeable community, with offices, hotels, walkways and other amenities, all surrounding beautiful open-air plazas. The very construction of this city has been planned in a manner that reduces energy consumption by 30%.

The Eco-City is being built to be as energy efficient as possible, making use of solar water heating systems and high-rise wind turbines which has been built to generate at least 10% of the major power of the city.

The goal for this project has been set to reach the highest ranking for the GSBC (German Sustainable Building Certificate), BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method, launched in the UK), and LEED Certification.


5. Cool Pavements in America



This is a new concept that is beginning to inspire projects all across the country. The usual dark rooftops and pavements used to absorb a large percentage of sunlight which can add to the heat in the atmosphere.

Using a clear binder or certain surface coatings can make solar reflective “cool” pavements, that don’t absorb as much heat. The cost for the materials required to make these payments can be on the higher side and the collection of materials to build it can be a challenge.

However, California and Arizona are in the process of implementing a few of these reflective surfaces and are working towards further development of the design. Research has shown that making and maintaining these cool pavements could require the use of up to 6 times the energy used to produce the slurry seal commonly used to make roads and pavement.

Science fiction movies often tell tales of future discoveries that make us wish we were already there … - but in fact, the future is here, and we are surrounded by technological developments that prove time and again that there is no limit to what humanity can achieve and do. Scientists from all over the world work day and night to improve our lives, and they are slowly achieving positive results that can certainly change the whole world. Want to know exactly what these results are and how your life will change in the near future? Learn about the 10 most recent scientific discoveries in various fields.


1. An electronic device that helps the disabled walk again


A group of neurophysiologists from the United States and Russia did what seemed impossible until today - they gave a person who is paralyzed from the waist down the possibility of walking again! They did this with the help of electronic equipment intended for a completely different purpose - to reduce pain - but it turned out that the technology allowed people, paralyzed from the waist down, to move their lower extremities, even if the nerve damage in the area was very serious. According to neurophysiologists, the process of rehabilitation took 44 weeks, and as of writing, the person on whom the experiment was conducted can already stand on his own and walk on the treadmill.

2. The first full-color x-ray



Scientists from New Zealand have created the world's first 3-D full-color X-ray using a device based on the original X-ray machine. The new device uses particle detection technology called Medipix, which was also used in the large particle accelerator on the Swiss-French border used to find the Higgs boson, whose existence was only theoretical until 2012. MediPix technology works like a subatomic camera that provides high contrast images. Color x-rays clearly show differences between muscles, bones, and cartilages, as well as size and location of cancerous tumors.


3. A vest that warns of a heart attack a few days in advance



This smart vest looks like a simple vest, but inside there are sensors and electrodes that do ECG, blood pressure and pulse tests 24 hours a day without the need for a doctor. The information derived from the tests is sent directly to one’s smartphone using an app. According to the inventor of the vest, there is even the possibility of predicting heart attacks two days in advance by identifying abnormal cardiac activity. The vest has already been tested on volunteers and has shown good results, and we can expect it to be available for purchase in the next few years.


4. Eye drops that remove the need for glasses



This development comes from Israel, and these days researchers at Shaare Zedek Medical Center and Bar Ilan University are working on eye drops that can fix the cornea of the eye. This means that using these eye drops on a daily basis can permanently remove the need for glasses, and the product has already been tested and shown great results. The drops are effective for both nearsightedness and farsightedness, and according to one researcher, David Smadja, they can even prevent cataracts and make our vision better than it naturally is.


5. First flying cab



At first glance, Aerocar EHang 184 looks like a drone, but it is much more than that. This is a flying vehicle that can drive 2 people up to 15 kilometers away at a speed of 130 kilometers per hour, but this isn’t the most surprising thing. This flying vehicle doesn’t require a pilot because it is completely autonomous and has already been successfully tested in China. According to the developers of the flying vehicle, all passengers have to do is set their destination and off they’ll go.


6. An external hand skeleton controlled through the power of thought



Scientists from the EPFL Research Center in Switzerland have succeeded in creating a prototype of a hand that can be controlled with the power of thought. In previous versions, electrodes had to be attached to the hand under the skin of the body, but now these electrodes are kept in a helmet that just needs to be worn on the head. It is very easy to control the hand and the learning process takes only a few minutes. The device was tested on people with spinal injuries and those who have had a stroke. Now engineers are working on improvements to make this hand good enough for mass production.


7. Editing genes to treat diseases



In August 2017 experts at the University of Oregon in the United States succeeded in successfully modifying fetal genes that are responsible for the development of heart disease. With that being said, the significant innovation in biological engineering is that gene editing can also possibly be used in adults. A 44-year-old with Hunter’s syndrome – a rare genetic disorder - has undergone genetic modification to erase the disease, and researchers are still waiting to see the results of the process, and if they are positive, it will be possible to treat a host of serious genetics-related diseases through gene-editing.


8. The cure for cancer is just around the corner



Modern medicine is making huge strides in making the word "cancer" much less threatening. Although cancer can’t be cured completely, for the time being, it is possible that in the near future overcoming the disease will be much easier and simpler. As early as 2017, a number of people who had been battling cervical cancer received advanced treatment, in which a special drug was sent to the uterus using sperm. As a result, 90% of cancer cells were completely removed, and this method appears to be more effective than chemotherapy and may even replace it.


9. Water was found on Mars



Science has long known that the red star was once full of liquid, and indeed has ice reservoirs, but researchers were still on the lookout for evidence that Mars has liquid water and they found it in July 2018. The Italian space agency found an underground water reservoir using advanced radar, according to them, they found a lake 20 km wide and 90 cm deep. This gives great hope to the future settlement on the planet, which is scheduled to start in the year 2022.


10. Birth control pills - soon for men too



For years scientists have been trying to develop birth control pills for men, but the problem is that they have always been found to have severe side effects, such as causing extensive damage to the liver. However, in March 2018 researchers at the University of Washington announced that they may soon release the first anti-pregnancy pills for men which actually work and aren’t harmful. In pills, there is a combination of hormones that suppress sperm production, and like the pills that exist for women, they need to be taken regularly once a day. In addition to being effective, the subjects reported only minor side effects that did not impair their daily routine. One of the most prominent side effects was changes in cholesterol levels, but it is not yet a phenomenon that will rule out the possibility that these pills will be available for purchase in the near future.

Google Chrome and Apple Safari are two of the most popular web browsers in the world, but did you know that you can add a whole lot of functionality to them by applications known as extensions? Here are five of the best extensions to add to Google Chrome and Apple Safari respectively:
 
Google Chrome

1. LastPass



Using secure passwords is a vital part of keeping yourself online, but sometimes it can be difficult to remember the more complex ones. LastPass solves this problem by saving a secure password for each site that you need to log in to, and storing it in an encrypted vault. It also fills in web forms and logins automatically as required. All you need to do is remember a single master password for LastPass, and it takes care of everything else on its own.


2. Evernote Web Clipper



Evernote Web Clipper is a fantastic extension to have if you’re researching a project. With a single click of the extension’s elephant icon, you can save an entire article, a simplified version of it, an entire webpage, screenshot or even just a humble bookmark. What’s more is that you can set the extension up to save your “clippings” to a particular notebook, as well as add tags and notes if you see fit to do so.


3. FoxClocks



A simple yet brilliantly-executed idea comes in the form of FoxClocks, which is an extension that shows you the time in different countries at the bottom of your browser, saving you from having to look up the information. The extension also takes daylight saving times into account to help you avoid missing deadlines. You can pick a time zone, or search for a city and add it to Chrome’s status bar. Various locations for the times to be displayed are accessible by clicking the button to the side of your browser’s address bar.


4. Full Page Screen Capture



Using this extension is as simple as installing it and clicking on the icon in your browser. Alternatively, you can hold Alt+Shift+P in order to take a full-page screen grab. The page will scroll as it’s being captured by the extension, so it’s better if you don’t move your mouse over it until the extension has finished working. The resulting image will then open in a new window, ready for you to download it. This is a great extension to use if you want to be able to read offline.


5. Pushbullet



If you don’t want to be distracted by your smartphone when you’re using your computer or laptop, then Pushbullet is the solution. This extension sends notifications directly to your browser when you receive messages and calls, and also puts chat services such as WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger into it. You can dismiss notifications from your computer, and doing this also dismisses them from your smartphone simultaneously.


Safari

1. Save to Pocket



This extension allows you to save web articles and video to your Pocket account for you to read and view them later. One of its great features is that it displays content in an easily-readable form, and also excludes advertisements and unnecessary content. Furthermore, you can also sync the extension to all of your devices, so that any content you save using Save to Pocket is accessible across all of them.


2. HoverSee



Zoom into images and links when you hover over them using HoverSee. This is especially useful when using sites such as YouTube because it’ll allow you to get the gist of a video without having to watch it all the way through (it shows you the video playback in a small section). In fact, most people tend to use this extension specifically for the purpose.


3. Shortly



It’s always annoying having to shorten a link to be displayed on the web but Shortly takes care of that for you in just a single click. All you need to do is tap on the Shortly extension button in your Safari browser to create a goo.gl-shortened link of the current webpage that you’re on. Once you’ve done that, just hit Cmd+C on your keyboard for the shortened version of the link to be saved.


4. Pied Piper



This extension features picture-in-picture functionality. In other words, you’re able to display a YouTube video in a popup window so that you don’t necessarily have to be looking at that webpage in order to view the video. Pied Piper is available for download and will display an additional button in the YouTube player’s user interface. A simple click on this button will launch the video in picture-in-picture mode.


5. Translate



If you happen to read around the web from a variety of different sources, then this extension is a must-have. Seeing as Safari doesn’t have a built-in translation feature, you can use this extension to hover over a sentence to see the actual set of foreign words and their meaning. An added bonus of using this extension is that it’s not resource-intensive when it comes to using computing power.