Scientists at the University of Portsmouth in England have inadvertently engineered an enzyme capable of digesting polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic. The discovery came about when the research team was looking into how the naturally occurring enzyme PETase functions when "they inadvertently engineered an enzyme that is even better at degrading the plastic than the one that evolved in nature." [University of Portsmouth]
eVolo Magazine has named the three winners of its annual 2018 Skyscraper Competition. Selected from a total of 526 submissions, the award recognizes "outstanding ideas that redefine skyscraper design through the implementation of novel technologies, materials, programs, aesthetics, and spatial organizations along with studies on globalization, flexibility, adaptability, and the digital revolution," according to the competition brief. [ARCHITECT]
Panasonic marks its 100-year anniversary at the 2018 Salone del Mobile in Milan with Transitions, an installation shaped like a water drop that functions as a giant air purifier. The dome cleans the air in it "by utilizing the combination of [Panasonic's] proprietary technologies: Nanoe X air purification ionization technology, and ‘silky fine mist’ another proprietary technology which micronizes water with high pressured air." [ARCHITECT]
International firm Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA) has designed two chairs—Bow and Rise—for Spanish 3D printing and robotic manufacturing company Nagami's debut exhibition, "Brave New World: Re-thinking Design in the New Age of Technology," which will be showcased at a pop-up showroom as part of Salone del Mobile 2018 in Milan. [ARCHITECT]
Prague-based Preciosa Lighting is exhibiting its latest design concept, "Breathing New Life into Light," at this year's Salone del Mobile in Milan. Visitors are invited to interact with the installation by walking in between and around the orbs, which brighten and dim. Visitors can blow into multiple custom orbs situated at the peripheries of the mass allowing further manipulation of the lighting patterns and surrounding music. [ARCHITECT]
Call for Entries [UPDATE]: ARCHITECT has extended the deadline for our 12th annual R+D Awards to April 27. New this year: Autodesk is offering winners of the program the opportunity to participate in its BUILD Space resident program in Boston. Winners will be featured in ARCHITECT's July issue and online. [ARCHITECT]
