The answer could be, "Yes." According The Washington Post, tech giant Apple is considering opening a 20,000-person, 4 million-square-foot campus in Northern Virginia, potentially in an effort to keep pace with Amazon as it pursues its second North American headquarters. (Apple spent an estimated $5 billion on the Cupertino, Calif., Apple Park campus by Foster + Partners that opened last year.) Per the report, economic development officials from Virginia Governor Ralph Northam's office have proposed multiple locations including sites in Crystal City, Alexandria, and Tysons. An Apple spokesperson declined to comment on potential locales for the new campus. [Washington Post]
A team of researchers led by Columbia University scientists has developed a method for controlling graphene's conductive properties. (To date, this has been one of the greatest barriers to integrating the super material into electronic devices.) Though graphene is considered the most conductive material on Earth, scientists have unable to create "an electrical on-off switch” until now, explained Columbia assistant professor of physics Cory Dean in a press release. However, the team discovered that sandwiching graphene between layers of boron nitride and applying direct pressure to the stack allowed the graphene to act as a semiconductor, which enabled blocking the flow of electricity. [Columbia University]
Following California's recent mandate requiring solar-powered systems for all new residential construction effective Jan. 1, 2020, photovoltaic technologies are likely to get a bump. Blaine Brownell, AIA, highlights innovative products and research to watch. [ARCHITECT]
Using LEDs, projectors, and laser-illuminated fiber optics, Paris-based Nonotak Studio choreographed immersive, dance-like sequences of light and music ranging from mesmerizing to aggressively intense for their first U.S. exhibition "Naked Eyes," on view at Artechouse in Washington, D.C., until June 30. [ARCHITECT]
Engineers at MIT have developed a virtual reality system for drones to reduce crashes during training sessions. Called "Flight Goggles," the system utilizes "a motion capture system, an image rendering program, and electronics that enable the team to quickly process images and transmit them to the drone," according to an MIT press release. The drones are programmed to "see" the images rendered by the system and can "train" in a gymnasium lined with motion-capture cameras to track their movement. Typically, practicing with drones must take place in expansive areas as they are likely to suffer frequent crashes. [MIT]
