Written by Xintong Guo, Digital Marketing Intern.
Between school, homework, practice and spending time with loved ones, it’s easy to miss out on the latest in science, technology, engineering, art and math. But don’t worry, Thinkery’s got you covered. Here are some of our favorite STEAM discoveries from the previous week. It’s fuel for your weekend.
Do you know that mammals shrink when Earth heat up? According to an analysis of fossil teeth in Science Advances, an early compact horse became 14% smaller 54 million years ago, when the planet suddenly heated up. They were losing a lot of weight! How’d this happen? Mammals and other warm-blooded animals need to shed heat in hotter climates, so they shrink. Smaller animals have more skin per pound than bigger animals, which helps more heat escape their bodies. Learn more about their study!
Oh no! Have you ever dropped your phone and found yourself with a cracked screen? We’ve all been there—and wished our phone screens weren’t so fragile. Well, researchers from the University of British Columbia have invented a soft and flexible touch-sensitive material that could allow you to fold or roll up your smartphone or tablet. This invention could also let people wear adaptive health sensors that conform to bodies like an artificial skin. Take a look at this technology!
Houseplants add an unmistakable living beauty to the inside of people’s homes. However, they’re still pretty uncommon! Designer Beth Esponnette, an assistant professor of product design at the University of Oregon, uses both natural and synthetic materials to create home objects that are aesthetic and functional. Plants and fungi blended into clocks and lights definitely provide a more natural indoor environment. Blurring the line between outside and inside encourages people to intentionally bring the natural world into their built spaces and products.