ANBARASUASOKAN

While the prospect of 3D printers pumping out  biological tissues  and replacement organs  has many justifiably excited, researchers at Oxford University have gone in a slightly different direction with the creation of a custom 3D printer capable of producing synthetic materials that have some of the properties of living tissues. Rather than being intended for supplying spare parts for damaged replicants, the new materials could be used for drug delivery or replacing or interfacing with damaged tissues inside the human body. The new 3D-printed materials take the form of “droplet networks,” which are made up of thousands of connected water droplets that are encapsulated within lipid films. Lipids are naturally occurring molecules whose main biological function is energy storage, signaling and as structural components of cell membranes. The researchers say that, because the droplet networks don’t contain a genome and don’t replicate, they don’t have some of the proble...

UK-based tent manufacturer Tentsile has unveiled an all-new suspended tent, dubbed “Stingray,” which the company bills as an ideal combination of hammock and tent. Employing three tree straps, two poles, and a polyester fly sheet, Stingray allows up to four campers to sleep suspended in the air, thus avoiding ground frost and errant rocks – not to mention all those creepy-crawlies which tend to live on the forest floor. Stingray's more streamlined and compact design is a departure from the large eponymous tent we  previously reported on , and has been created in a bid to make a tent more suited to mass-market production. Stingray weighs 13 lbs (6 kg) and can reportedly be assembled or disassembled in just 5 minutes, so should be more suitable for campers who like to travel light. When suspended, access to the interior of the tent is afforded via its collapsible ladder to either a floor hatch or side door. Additional accessories are also available, including a shoe drying rack, lu...

Treehouses are one of those childhood obsessions that never lose their appeal for many people, even after making their way into adulthood. Unfortunately, society frowns upon grown-ups messing around in treehouses, but Cacoon could possibly make the form factor acceptable for everyone, regardless of their age or level of maturity. In truth, Cacoon is more than just a treehouse substitute, with elements of swing chair, hammock, and hanging garden seat thrown in for good measure. Originally designed to be a part of the luxury spa at the Scarlet Hotel in Cornwall, U.K., Cacoon has now been given a life of its own thanks to a team of professional sail makers. The Cacoon design was influenced by the weaver bird's hanging nest, which provides the bird with a safe and secure bolt hole away from predators. Similarly, Cacoon offers a secluded personal space allowing individuals to get away from everything while still being aware of their immediate surroundings. Cacoon is designed to ...