Welcome to your bi-weekly dose of technology and innovation news, where we highlight the endless ingenuity people possess. From day-to-day tech, like in-home water purification systems, to unimaginably large ventures, like fixing entire coral reefs, there’s always something new to talk about. Enjoy!

Toronto: the city of the future

Sidewalk Labs is the company in charge of re-inventing Toronto, and they’re starting with the waterfront: a neighborhood called Quayside. The challenge they are tasked with is to design a neighborhood of the future, which will meet the needs of a growing and diversifying population. The company has already put some ideas on the table. Kristin Musulin on Smart Cities Dive showcases them for us. Some of the ideas include underground delivery systems, pavements that can heat up in winter to remove snow, and adaptable buildings. Curious to see what Quayside, Toronto might look like? Click here to find out more.

Selective filtering

Water purification is an essential process that keeps our society and industries going, so it stands to reason that scientists are always looking to improve it. Researchers at Rice University have come up with a new system that pulls only those toxins from water that are actually harmful, but leaves the rest alone. Catch-all filtration systems are costly, time-consuming, and energy intensive, so with a more selective filtering system in place, the advantages pile up. This system could even be scaled down for in-home water filtering, making tap water a safe drinking source worldwide. Read about the process and its many advantages on Manufacturing.net!

Fixing coral reefs by 3D printing its parts

Coral reefs are heavily impacted by climate change, and the consequences for the rest of the world are dire. However, several companies are giving it their all: they’re 3D printing corals to create an environment where natural coral can reproduce. The company SECORE is growing coral larvae in controlled environments, and then introducing them to the 3D printed units. Once the coral larvae attach to the printed units, those can be placed in reef areas that need restoration. This project would be costly and time-consuming, but it’s a strong solution for a problem that can’t be ignored. Maddy White tells us more on TheManufacturer, go here to see a prime example of how people are excellent problem-solvers!

Regular Wi-Fi to detect weapons

Standing in the security line at airports or other heavily secured areas can be a pain, especially when you’re already running late. The Rutgers University agreed, and found out that regular wi-fi, which exists virtually everywhere already, can be used to scan bags and look for harmful items. The tests they ran were very promising, the scan results were on average 95% accurate, so it could already be applied in large public places where individual bag/person scanning is just not feasible. If this method can be improved, we can wave those annoying lines goodbye. Read more on BBC News.

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