A microscopic view of the rock which was found in 1996.

New evidence has made it more likely that remnants of Martian microbes were transported to Earth in a meteorite, it was revealed recently.
A study by scientists from the American space agency Nasa has found chemical signatures in the rock strongly associated with life.
The discovery strengthens [...]

The goal of the Green Life competition was to produce ecologically friendly solutions that were design-centric without looking completely unrealistic. One of the top three winners accomplished that feat by designing the “shelf.”
 

‘China Hills: a dream for future cities’
Dutch architecture firm MVRDV presents an interesting concept for a high density self-sufficient city of the future in China, at the Beijing Centre for the Arts and shown in Designboom. The architects call it “a scale model of a future Chinese city which offers alternatives to the current urbanization [...]

 
Manshiyat Naser (also known as Garbage City) is a slum settlement on the outskirts of the city of Cairo whose economy revolves around the collection and recycling of the city’s garbage.
The garbage is brought to Manshiyat Naser by the Zabbaleen, or garbage collectors, who then sort through the garbage to attempt to retrieve any potentially [...]

Mr Gilmour’s pieces are made without even a supporting structure of metal or wood.  His sculptures include everything from violins and bicycles to a full-scale Queen Victoria.  Mr Gilmour’s passion for using the unusual material stemmed from a desire to promote recycling.
 

On a scorching hot June day in northeastern Kenya, an hour west of the Kenyan-Somali border, Leila Chirayath Janah arrived at the Dabaab refugee settlement in an armed convoy. She was there on a mission: to connect jobless, displaced refugees to the rest of the world through legitimate Internet-based jobs.
Leila, 27, is the founder of [...]

Ultimate Package Tracking

Do you constantly worry about your important package that is being shipped to your friend? Well, with FexEX’s SenseAware, you’ll certainly get much better info regarding your package, than the traditional tracking number. The device uses an accelerometer, light sensor, cellular transmitter and GPS receiver to gather and report data on how the [...]

Parenting is challenging even in the best of times
Best advice to new parents – be flexible, be creative, and feel free to rewrite the rules whenever you have to. Being a parent is now more difficult that ever, and this amazing series of photos does an amazing job of capturing the craziness of our times. [...]

Architecture could help us tackle climate change, if we start to design our buildings with ‘living’ materials, according to Dr Rachel Armstrong, UCL Bartlett School of Architecture.
 

 
Pet rocks are way too old school, but not anymore thanks to ThinkGeek’s new USB Powered Pet Rock. Perfect for the geek on your list with “everything”.  The delightfully delicious hardcore geek present will only run you around $10. Does this mean the USB Powered Pet Skipping Rock is just around the corner?