Social media app alleviates fear of harassment
Spotted: The new social media app, Squad, presents a safe space for women online. The social start-up aims to challenge ‘Tech Bro’ culture and prevent online harassment. Founded by CEO Esther Crawford, Squad has collected more than 450,000 users in just eight months, most of them teenage girls. The app allows users to video chat…
Rubbish bin uses heat to reduce volume of waste
Spotted: Imagine only having to make out the rubbish every two weeks. Austrian industrial designer Gesa Oeljeschläger has found a way to do this by using heat to reduce the volume of waste. The new rubbish can, which is named Hetta, dries organic waste by heating the rubbish for three hours every night. Decreasing the…
A barista training course for London’s homeless
Spotted: London-based coffee company, Change Please, aims to reduce the number of homeless people by training and employing them as baristas. Change Please estimates that the average Londoner purchases two cups of coffee per day. By 2020, 100,000 barista jobs will be created in the UK as a result. To meet that demand, the social…
Startup uses AI to predict weather and other transport delays
Spotted: UK-based Immerse has developed AI-powered simulation software that aims to simplify travel and transport logistics. The platform could help cities and private companies plan for extreme weather and other challenges. Based on real-time developments, the platform creates detailed digital simulations of travellers, places and other transportation infrastructure. The software then uses the simulations to…
Scientists develop fabric to reduce the pong of sweat
Spotted: Scientists in Portugal have developed a fabric that can turn the sour smell of sweat into the sweet smell of citronella. The results can be achieved by two different methods. In the first method, they modified cotton fibres using a protein found in pigs’ noses. The protein binds to the citronella scent molecules. At…
Startup allows parents to trade in outgrown baby clothes for new sets
Spotted: E-commerce startup Upchoose sells sets of organic cotton baby clothing. When a child outgrows a size, parents and carers return the products for a discount on the next set. New parents not only save time and money but also further sustainability if they choose to buy used, or “preloved” sets. The company offers different…
A selfie video that can measure blood pressure
Spotted: Kang Lee, professor of applied psychology at the University of Toronto, has discovered a way to measure blood pressure using a phone’s camera. The technology uses transdermal optical imaging, which is able to visualise and measure blood-flow changes under facial skin. Facial skin is, by nature, translucent. When light reaches the face, it penetrates…
Backpack converts into a desk for children in India
Spotted: India-based Prosoc has developed a convertible backpack for children who lack desks at school. The backpack turns into a desk so children can work sitting up instead of huddled over books on the floor. The creation, called DESKIT, looks like a regular school bag. However, one side opens into a portable desk, providing a…
An energy-efficient cooling system based on ancient technology
Spotted: California-based company SkyCool is developing a cooling system with roots going back hundreds of years to the Middle East and India. It uses radiative cooling, an energy-efficient process that essentially sends excessive heat into outer space. While at Stanford University, SkyCool’s co-founders Shanhui Fan, Eli Goldstein and Aaswath Raman invented a film-like material that…
Invisible, smart hearing aids
Spotted: Eargo, a Silicon Valley startup, is making invisible hearing aids that aim to de-stigmatise hearing loss. The Eargo Neo hearing aid also has several smart features, including Bluetooth connectivity that allows for settings to be customised remotely. The startup also took portability into account with a case that is rechargeable and USB-powered. One charge can…