Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics and Paralympics commissioned Italian architect Carlo Ratti to design the official torchers for the prestigious sporting event. Titled “Essential”, the design consists of two torches which are identical in shape and form but differ in color. Each color was chosen to symbolize the connection between humanity, nature, sport, and the future. The Olympic torch features a "Shades of Sky" palette (a blue-green gradient inspired by Italy’s ever-changing skies and landscapes) whilst the Paralympic torch features a  "Mountains of Light" palette (a rich bronze tone that embodies the strength, resilience, and inspiring spirit of Paralympic athletes).

Ratti made the intentional choice to design the torches using sustainable practices. The torches are made from recycled aluminium and brass alloys and feature an open-frame structure that exposes the internal flame mechanism. In addition, the torches are designed for reuse, capable of being refueled up to ten times with bio-LPG—a renewable fuel derived from waste products like used cooking oil. This design choice significantly reduces the number of torches needed for the relay, minimizing material waste.

Both torches are finished with a reflective, iridescent coating applied through Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) technology, giving them a shimmering surface that shifts with the light, enhancing their visual dynamism and symbolic depth.

The ‘Essential’ torches were unveiled simultaneously at the Triennale di Milano and the Italian Pavilion at Expo 2025 in Osaka, the torches will be part of the Olympic Museum's permanent collection in Lausanne post-Games. The torch relay is set to commence on November 26, 2025, in Olympia, Greece, culminating in Milan for the opening ceremony on February 6, 2026

Researchers at the National University of Singapore have developed a ground-breaking method to harness electricity from falling rainwater, offering a promising addition to the renewable energy landscape. The innovative system directs rain-like droplets through a vertical tube, employing a "plug flow" mechanism—where water moves in separated segments rather than a continuous stream. This segmented flow causes the water’s electrical charges to split, which are then captured by electrodes positioned at both ends of the tube.

In laboratory tests, the prototype was able to power 12 LED lights for 20 seconds, demonstrating the viability of converting rain into usable energy. Although the current energy yield is relatively low, the results signal a positive step toward scaling the system for broader applications.

The researchers envision this technology being integrated into urban infrastructure—such as rooftops and drainage systems—particularly in areas with frequent rainfall. They emphasize its potential to complement existing clean energy sources like solar and wind to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and advance the transition to greener energy solutions.

Water flowing through a thin, polymer-coated tube in short bursts, or plugs, as demonstrated in these illustrations and images, can produce electricity. Credit: Adapted from ACS Central Science 2025, DOI: 10.1021/acscentsci.4c02110

In an exemplary display of public infrastructure deployment, Japan’s JR West (Japan Railway West) piloted its 3D-printed train station that was built in 6 hours. The project was a collaboration between JR West, architecture studio Neoub and construction company Serendix. The structure, built to serve as the Hatsushima Station in Arida, stands approximately 2.6m tall and covers around 10sqm and is scheduled to open in July 2025.

Constructed in under six hours—between the final train of the night and the first train the next morning; the building is made up of four components, including the roof and walls, all manufactured using a 3D printer that applied mortar, with reinforcing steel placed inside the hollow sections before being filled with concrete. According to JR West, the finished structure offers earthquake resistance comparable to that of reinforced concrete homes.

In addition to the incredibly rapid deployment, the total construction cost is estimated to be around half that of conventional reinforced concrete buildings; making the project a cost effective and sustainable solution for public infrastructure.

At Expo 2025 Osaka, renowned architect and Pritzker Prize laureate Shigeru Ban unveiled the Blue Ocean Dome, a pavilion designed as a call for  climate action, ocean conservation and sustainability. The pavilion, situated on Yumeshima Island, the installation features three interconnected domes, each built from eco-conscious materials and designed to spotlight urgent environmental issues.

Dome A is constructed from laminated bamboo—a fast-growing, sustainable material praised for its durability and carbon sequestering properties. It acts as the pavilion’s media hub, setting the stage for marine-focused content. Dome B, the largest and most technically ambitious, is the world’s first dome made entirely from carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP). Dome C, composed of Ban’s iconic paper tubes, forms a fully recyclable structure dedicated to live broadcasting and engagement.

Each dome explores a critical theme: from plastic pollution and marine innovation to climate consciousness. Blue Ocean Dome is a powerful provocation, urging global action to protect our oceans.

As part of Art of London’s Art After Dark series,Design Indaba Alumnus, Dr. Nelly Ben Hayoun-Stépanian unveiled her latest surreal and immersive installation, Piccadilly Un:Plugged. The programme is part of an initiative to support London’s nightlife. Hayoun-Stépanian is known for her unorthodox fusion of science, activism, and experiential art, Ben Hayoun-Stépanian transformed the bustling London landmark into what she describes as a “cosmic playground”.

The Piccadilly Un:Plugged the installation aimed to reconnect the public with the energy and purpose of the night. The installation featured asteroid-like boulders and surreal cat sculptures — a nod to Schrödinger’s cat, the famous thought experiment that explores the paradox of something being simultaneously alive and dead.

A central feature of the installation included a lunar sound experiment, in which audio signals — were transmitted to the moon and reflected back to Earth in which the sound comes back distorted, layered with cosmic static. This celestial remix blurred the boundaries between art, science, and sound, creating a truly otherworldly listening experience that invited audiences to tune into the unknown.

The installation was designed as a Cosmic Playground to spur radical imagination when thinking about the future – whether it's on earth or in space.

Kodiak Brush, MIT alumnus and former football player, is using his engineering knowledge and linebacker experience to lead the charge in football headgear safety and innovation. In Brush’s role as head of research and development at LIGHT Helmets, he achieved a major milestone: his Apache helmet design was rated the safest football helmet ever tested by Virginia Tech’s renowned helmet lab.

The achievement highlights LIGHT Helmets’ focus on reducing impact energy by lowering helmet weight without compromising protection. “It’s a balancing act,” Brush explains, “but we’re aiming for a complete, polished product with minimal mass.”

Brush’s design uses an impact-modified nylon shell and a 3D-printed liner of compressible pods with variable stiffness. This approach allows the helmet to absorb more energy than traditional foam models and extend the duration of impacts—helping reduce their severity.

It’s innovative design and injury prevention performance has led to NFL players across 30 of 32 teams now wearing the helmets. 

For Brush, who once called plays from the middle of the field, it’s deeply rewarding to help make the game safer for players at every level—combining his passions for football, engineering, and innovation.

Source: MIT

Acclaimed stage and experience designer Es Devlin, opened her latest project ‘Library of Light’ at the Milan Design Week 2025. The multisensory installation consists of a momunemtal circular sculpture, measuring 18 meters in diameter, comprising of illuminated bookshelves housing over 3,000 books. Visitors can listen to readings "recited" by the library itself while texts are displayed on an LED screen as beams of light which illuminate the literary pages, creating a blend of literature and lighting. 

The Library of Light aims to generate active participation, with visitors browsing the collection, encouraged to contribute their own books and help build a growing archive of books that will form part of the Milan Library System. This participatory element transforms the installation into a communal space, emphasizing the collective nature of knowledge and storytelling. 

Design fair Salone del Mobile commissioned the piece with the 3,000 books on display chosen and donated by Italian publishing house Feltrinelli to go with the fair's theme, Thought for Humans.

Design studio 100architects have created a vibrant and interactive public space in the Fuzhou, Jianxi Province in China titled Rubix Sqaure. The space is situated in a residential area and has been designed to foster sports, community engagement and interaction. 

Rubix Square spans 1,400-square-meters and comprises of five distinct installations, each inspired by different sports and activities. At the heart of the square stands a three-story structure modeled after a Rubik's Cube, serving as both a playground and an architectural landmark. Visitors can explore its colorful interior, engaging with various interactive elements that encourage physical activity and creativity. 

In addition, the four additional installations and interactions that surround the cube are: A ground-level labyrinth featuring slides, swings, and lighting games; an unconventional basketball area with hoops positioned at various angles and heights, challenging traditional play; a football-themed wall with multiple holes of varying sizes, designed to test and improve players' aiming skills and a beginner-friendly skatepark with ramps and slopes, encouraging balance and coordination.

The design incorporates EPDM surfaces for safety, painted pavements, and strategically placed greenery and seating areas. At night, the installations illuminate, transforming the space into a magical environment that continues to invite interaction and play. 

Rubix Square exemplifies how thoughtful design can transform urban spaces into dynamic, inclusive environments promoting health and wellbeing in communities.

An innovative pacemaker, smaller than a grain of rice, has been unveiled by researchers at Northwestern University. In contrast to the traditional pacemakers which requires sewing electrodes to the patient’s heart via wires and attaching to the a patient’s chest externally, the new pacemaker device is tiny, dissolvable and can be implanted without any wires.

The tiny pacemaker provides temporary rhythmic support for patients undergoing congenital heart surgery and can be administered on varying ages from newborns to adults. The device is wireless and can be injected via a syringe which is then accompanied by a chest patch that detects irregular heartbeats and emits light to trigger electrical pulses, stabilizing the  cardiac rhythms. The pacemaker is designed to dissolve naturally after use, eliminating the need for surgical removal. 

The introduction of the new device design aims to provide cardiac care in a safer and less invasive manner.

New York City’s MTA (The Metropolitan Transportation Authority) has unveiled a refreshed design of the iconic and longstanding subway map, originally designed by Massimo Vignelli and Unimark International in 1972, which remained in use to date. Vignelli’s original map, designed in a minimalist, diagrammatic style, was celebrated for its simplicity. The refreshed design version balances Massimo Vignelli’s design philosophy with practical usability, incorporating clean lines, bold typography, and improved readability. It plays off Massimo Vignelli's iconic 1972 geometric subway map and retains the brand colors of the maps. In addition, The MTA has unveiled a new digital map that simplifies the visual clutter of past iterations while keeping crucial geographical accuracy. The updated map, designed by Work & Co, dynamically updates in real-time, displaying service changes and delays. It also integrates accessibility features, making navigation easier for riders with disabilities. This digital-first approach aligns with the MTA’s broader efforts to modernize public transit tools. While traditionalists may still prefer the MTA’s standard map, this new design offers an intuitive alternative. As the city’s transit system evolves, the blend of design heritage and technology ensures that Vignelli’s influence remains embedded in New York’s subway experience.