Air purifying

The system produces a downward-flowing curtain of sterilized air that keeps airborne viruses from reaching the wearer's face

Infectious Diseases

'Air curtain' hard hat works like an invisible face mask

A new device has been shown to protect wearers from airborne viruses while leaving their face mask-free. It blocks microbes via a curtain of air which has itself been pretreated to kill any viruses present within it.

Dr. Andrea Burdack-Freitag applies toxin-trapping cyclodextrine gel to a contaminated wooden beam in a historic mill

Science

CycloPlasma tech traps toxic chemicals used in historic wooden buildings

Back in the 1970s and 80s, millions of wooden buildings were treated with preservatives that were later found to be neurotoxic and carcinogenic. A special process is now able to neutralize those chemicals, saving the structures from being gutted.

The scientists analyzed the leaves and needles of 11 different types of trees

Environment

Study suggests a mix of trees works best for cleaning air in cities

We all know that trees help clean the air in cities, but which trees do so best? According to new research conducted in Sweden, a mixture of deciduous and coniferous trees will give you the most bang for your buck.

Tredges consisting of western red cedars were shown to work best

Environment

Study shows how planted "tredges" can protect children from air pollution

It has long been known that plants can help mitigate air pollution in urban environments. New research reinforces such findings, showing that "tredges" planted around schoolyards can help protect children from traffic-derived airborne particles.

The new mask is lighter that the previous version and includes a microphone and speaker

Infectious Diseases

LG’s air purifying face mask now comes with built-in mic and speakers

LG has updated its PuriCare Wearable Air Purifier mask by incorporating a microphone and speaker to make it easier to talk. The new device will appear first in Thailand in August with other parts of the world to follow.

Plants may be nice to have around, but new research suggests opening a window could more effectively clear the air in an indoor space

Wellness and Healthy Living

House plants have little effect on indoor air quality, study concludes

New research is suggesting the claim that house plants improve indoor air quality is wrong. The research concludes it would take hundreds of plants in a small space to come close to the air-purifying effects of simply opening a couple of windows.

The research team, from left to right: Ryan Routsong, Long Zhang and Stuart Strand

Science

Modified ivy uses synthetic rabbit gene to clean the air

While plants do help clean the air within a home, it is estimated that over 20 per room would be required to make a difference. That likely wouldn't be the case with a new genetically-modified ivy, however, which has proven to be highly effective at removing chloroform and benzene from the air.

The Halo and Home Purifier can communicate with each other, via an app, and both monitor and clear the air in your house in real-time

Allergies

Wynd's Halo and Home Purifier get serious about cleaning the air in your home

Two new products from Wynd are suggested to be the ultimate in home air purification – Halo, an app-controlled sensor that can monitor specific pollutants in the air, and the Home Purifier, a massive air cleaner that can quickly clear contaminants from large spaces.

Billed as the world's first smog vacuum cleaner, Studio Roosegaard's Smog Free Tower was dreamt up by Dutch artist Dan Roosegaarde

Environment

Pollution-sucking Smog Free Tower makes its way to Poland

First installed in Rotterdam and Amsterdam, and then moving onto Beijing in 2016, the pollution-sucking Smog Free Tower is now headed for a park in Poland. Part of a wider project aimed to highlight the need for cleaner air in urban centers, the tower will be put to work in Kraków.

The device consists of two chambers separated by membrane and uses chemical reactions to turn volatile organic compounds into hydrogen gas

Science

Turning pollution into power

Although only at the proof-of-concept stage right now, scientists in Belgium have come up with a way of capturing polluted air and converting it into power in the form of hydrogen gas, a technology that could prove a two-pronged environmental panacea.

These things may be good for more than just compost

Environment

Air-purifying filter made from peanut shells

Peanut shells are generally considered to be a worthless agricultural byproduct. That could be about to change, however, as scientists have developed an air-purifying filter that utilizes the shells.