Using the first complete dataset of more than 415 million buildings across 50 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, researchers at the University of Chicago created an unprecedented approach to urban development, down to each street block.

Thanks to a rotating platform, a new 3D metal printer can deposit and fuse metal powder in a single step, thereby working faster than conventional machines.

The system can process two different metals in a single operation, which streamlines manufacturing and minimises material waste.

A prototype was developed in just nine months and offers potential for application in aerospace and propulsion technology – in fact, in any area where there is a need for lightweight, roughly cylindrical objects.

A research team indicates that treatments with ethylene and 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP), especially in combination, dramatically inhibit postharvest sprouting, enhance flavor and color, and extend shelf life.

Soft materials hold onto “memories” of their past for longer than previously thought, according to MIT research. The findings could help manufacturers design gels, lotions, or paving materials that last longer and perform more predictably.