TIME’s Best Inventions of 2008
From a genetic testing service to an invisibility cloak to an ingenious public bike system to the world’s first moving skyscraper — TIME’s picks for the top innovations of 2008.
The Global Seed Vault
Superman had it right: if you want to keep something safe, build a mountain fortress above the Arctic Circle. That’s the thinking — more or less — behind the Svalbard Global Seed Vault. Almost every nation keeps collections of native seeds so local crops can be replanted in case of an agricultural disaster. The Global Seed Vault, opened this year on the far-northern Norwegian island of Spitsbergen, is a backup for the backups. It’s badly needed — as many as half the seed banks in developing countries are at risk from natural disasters or general instability. The vault can hold up to 4.5 million samples, which will be kept dry at about 0°F (-18°C). Even if the facility loses power, the Arctic climate should keep the seeds viable for thousands of years. Let’s just hope we still like corn then.
The Short Refinance
This new term describes a rare but growing option for homeowners struggling to make payments on a house now worth less than when they bought it: another new lender agrees to rewrite the loan tied to a fresh appraisal. The tricky part is getting the current mortgage company to take less than what it’s owed — but given banks’ woes, it’s more likely than it once was.Smog-Eating Cement
Take ordinary cement. Mix in an agent called a photo-catalyzer (titanium dioxide, if you really want to know), which speeds up the natural process that breaks down smog into its component parts. Now start paving things with the stuff. That’s what they’re doing in Segrate, an Italian town near Milan. The smog-eating cement is called TX Active, and the Italian firm Italcementi spent 10 years developing it. Now there’s a busy street in Segrate that’s covered with it, and Italcementi claims it has reduced nitric oxides in the area by as much as 60%. Bonus: buildings made with TX Active stay cleaner too.Photo by Infinite Wilderness.
Jaclyn on November 7th, 2008 3:33 pm
i think the short term loan is a great idea for homeowners. so many people are finding themselves in a huge bind when it come’s to their finances and home, and lets face it our home is one of the most expensive assets we will ever own! so if people can catch a small break with this new loan…that would be a life saver for most.
CoolProducts on November 11th, 2008 4:46 pm
I love the idea of the seed vault! I had no idea that this was a concern, but it makes complete sense!
James Spinosa on November 11th, 2008 5:06 pm
The global seed bank and smog eating cement are probably the two coolest things I have heard of so far today. That is absolutely amazing that they have a cement that can do that, hopefully we start using it in the U.S.
cassy on November 13th, 2008 2:00 am
This Global Seed Vault is very interesting! Imagine, the seeds viable for thousand of years.
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