Discovering the WORLD

Researchers from James Cook University in Australia have created a type of concrete that's reinforced by plastic waste, rather than steel. The technique, which is a first in Australia, will greatly reduce the environmental impact of concrete, and we can't help but wonder why we're not doing this already. “Using recycled plastic, we were able to get more than a 90 percent saving on CO2 emissions and fossil fuel usage compared to using the traditional steel mesh reinforcing," said Rabin Tuladhar, the lead researcher from JCU in a press release. "The recycled plastic also has obvious environmental advantages over using virgin plastic fibres.” The concrete was reinforced using recycled polypropylene plastic instead, and strength and durability tests show that the end result could be used to build footpaths and precast elements such as drainage pits and concrete sleepers. Tuladhar is now working with local concrete producers to find out how to apply the f...

Flash flooding is more dangerous than you might think: experts warn that a mere six inches of fast-moving water can knock you off of your feet. It's no wonder, then, that flash flooding is routinely one of the leading causes of weather-related deaths in the United States. A British firm recently unveiled technology that could help mitigate some of the dangers of flooding, especially on roadways. Designed by sustainable building company Tarmac, Topmix Permeable is an absorptive concrete pavement capable of soaking up more than 800 gallons of water each minute: Topmix can help rapidly remove water from roadways, preventing the potentially dangerous buildup of standing water. As it is absorbed, stormwater is filtered through a porous layer of pebbles, removing petroleum hydrocarbons and other pollutants commonly found on roadways before the water is ultimately returned to the water table. "Being able to control and actively manage the drainage of rainwater from ...