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Two versions of a new photosynthetic material. On the left we see a pineapple-shaped sample and on the right a cubic sample.

Engineering Scientists invent photosynthetic 'living' material that sucks CO2 out of the atmosphere

a microscope image of pollen

Technology Scientists propose using pollen to make paper and sponges

A photo of Earth from space showing its upper atmosphere

Planet Earth Tiny devices propelled by sunlight could explore a mysterious region of Earth's atmosphere

Two researchers holding a panel of their solar cells optimised for indoor light.

Technology Your household gadgets could soon be battery-free — scientists create tiny solar cells that can be powered by indoor light

Hands of woman under fresh water spring, focus on water, in Borjomi

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Pictures of luminescent succulents glowing red, green, blue, orange and multicolored.

Plants Chinese scientists create multicolored glow-in-the-dark succulents that recharge in sunlight

Rochester researcher Chunlei Guo tests a solar thermoelectric generator (STEG) etched with femtosecond laser pulses to boost solar energy absorption and efficiency in a lab.

Electronics Laser-blasted 'black metal' could make solar technology 15 times more efficient

a photo of a red onion cut in half on a yellow background

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An underwater photograph of a hybrid drone after it dove into a pool at Aalborg University in Denmark.

Robotics Students build new 'hybrid drone' — watch it fly in the air and then seamlessly dive underwater

Representative image of the electronic ink.

Electronics Scientists invent weird, shape-shifting 'electronic ink' that could give rise to a new generation of flexible gadgets

an illustration of a sparkling diamond

Chemistry Scientists have finally made an elusive meteorite diamond, predicted to be 50% harder than Earth diamonds

These Truss Links self-assembled to form a tetrahedron.

Robotics Watch this robot 'cannibal' grow bigger and stronger by consuming smaller robots

A photograph of a robot elephant with a ball standing next to bowling pins.

Robotics Watch this cute robot elephant go bowling — it's the first 3D-printed robot of its kind

A split image of a Yellowstone gray wolf and comet 3I/ATLAS.

Animals Wolves help restore trees in Yellowstone and the largest interstellar object ever seen

The direct-drive floating wind turbine in Fuqing.

Engineering China builds record-breaking floating wind turbine — it could change the face of renewable energy

Technology

Instant Grass Roof Possible with Turf Tiles

By Bill Christensen published 28 August 2006

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

The TM9 turf mat. (Image credit: Toyota Roof Garden)

TM9 turf mats are now ready for you to buy, making that grass roof you've always wanted a real possibility.

The chairdog

(This Science Fiction in the News story used with permission from Technovelgy.com

Urban Heat Makes Cities … Greener?

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Scientists invent photosynthetic 'living' material that sucks CO2 out of the atmosphere
Scientists propose using pollen to make paper and sponges
Tiny devices propelled by sunlight could explore a mysterious region of Earth's atmosphere

Bill Christensen

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Bill Christensen catalogues the inventions, technology and ideas of science fiction writers at his website, Technovelgy. He is a contributor to Live Science.

Read more

Two versions of a new photosynthetic material. On the left we see a pineapple-shaped sample and on the right a cubic sample.

Scientists invent photosynthetic 'living' material that sucks CO2 out of the atmosphere

a microscope image of pollen

Scientists propose using pollen to make paper and sponges

A photo of Earth from space showing its upper atmosphere

Tiny devices propelled by sunlight could explore a mysterious region of Earth's atmosphere

Two researchers holding a panel of their solar cells optimised for indoor light.

Your household gadgets could soon be battery-free — scientists create tiny solar cells that can be powered by indoor light

Hands of woman under fresh water spring, focus on water, in Borjomi

MIT's high-tech 'bubble wrap' turns air into safe drinking water — even in Death Valley

Pictures of luminescent succulents glowing red, green, blue, orange and multicolored.

Chinese scientists create multicolored glow-in-the-dark succulents that recharge in sunlight

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an image of a person holding a phone with waves of purple light emerging from it

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Two people work in an electrical engineering laboratory

Electronics breakthrough means our devices may one day no longer emit waste heat, scientists say

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Artist's reconstrution of the pachycephalosaur.

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A Camellia sinensis, or tea plant, flower.

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A side view of an intricately carved altar depicting Maya people

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