Catenary power for heavy industry
Catenary power – the overhead wires that supply energy to countless trains and trams – is fundamental to transport, and...
Pneumatic power: How air-driven transport refuses to disappear
Pneumatic tube transport may seem to have gone the way of steam engines, but its unique characteristics mean not only...
Heat-resistant homes promise cooling benefits
Light-coloured roofs are one of the oldest cooling techniques in the book, but a new generation of materials is promising...
Engineers’ four-point plan for safer streets
Australia’s target of net-zero emissions by 2050 gets a lot of attention, but in 2021 every level of government in...
Why did timbrel vaults disappear from construction – and how could they make a comeback?
They’re fast to build, use low-cost and low-carbon materials, require only small teams and can last for centuries. So why...
These sail-powered craft offer a zero-emissions approach to maritime shipping
International trade was powered by wind for millennia, before falling from favour with the rise of fossil fuels. Now the...
What role can rammed earth play in the future of low-carbon construction?
The modern desire for low-carbon materials in construction means rammed earth is enjoying a resurgence in popularity.
Infographic: Why making tyres sustainable is so important
Tyres make the world go round, but their path to sustainability is far from clear.
