Archive for the 'Nature' Tag
Mother Nature Can Be the Mother of Invention
WSJ: From floodgates for homeowners to “diapers” for absorbing storm waters, they’ve come up with ways to tackle the problems brought on by tornados and other major events—including, of course, Hurricane Irene. “Often large disruptions such as natural disasters create the basis for new business opportunities,” says Andrew Zacharakis, a professor of entrepreneurship at Babson [...]
While residents of Taiwan and China are cleaning up after a typhoon, another company has secured a patent for a submarine that might be able to stop typhoons in the near future reports the Telegraph.co.uk. Ise Kogyo Co., a hydraulic engineering company based in Mie, central Japan, has obtained a patent for a submarine designed [...]
Niche Biz: Upscale PortaPottys
If you were a guest at Chelsea Clinton’s wedding, you didn’t poop in just any porta-potty. Oh no, you pooped in one of these: A porcelain toilet that flushes, with a stereo and hot water, reports Gizmodo. Founded in 2006, Pretty Pottys provide elegant restrooms for any occasion, from the corporate awards ceremony that lasts [...]
Bloomberg Businessweek reports that fear of financial collapse has enhanced gold’s glitter, with prices soaring more than 300 percent the past decade, including 30 percent just in the last 12 months. And just as strong U.S. real estate prices a few years ago created a burgeoning ecosystem of entrepreneurs exploiting that bubble, gold’s surge has [...]
From Butterflies’ Wings To Bank Notes
Scientists have discovered a way of mimicking the stunningly bright and beautiful colors found on the wings of tropical butterflies. The findings could have important applications in the security printing industry, helping to make bank notes and credit cards harder to forge, reports EurekAlert.org. The striking iridescent colors displayed on beetles, butterflies and other insects [...]
