Imagine a lamp. Any lamp. Now imagine having to water it. Dutch product designer Ermi van Oers created Living Light: plants that double as lights. Or lights that double as plants ? whichever way you prefer looking at it. The lights run on electricity generated by bacteria in the soil. Healthier plants produce more energy. If you take care of it properly, the Living Light will produce up to 0.1 mW. Enough to use it as a night lamp, but not sufficient to properly light a room. Imagine if we could use boulevard trees for powering street lights?

Self-sustaining batteries are needed for activities that use sensors. These include long-term tracking of?wildlife. ?CSIRO software aims to help devices operate in an energy-neutral way, so that the battery can last indefinitely or until its recharge cycles are exhausted. An example is a device attached to animals using collars that collects GPS data to understand their movements. It also has a tiny battery and solar panel to recharge each day. https://blog.csiro.au/make-batteries-last-almost-forever/

The first automated, crewless ship is expected to set sail next year. The Norwegian-built Yara Birkeland is expected to lower operating costs by 90% and be zero admission. Dubbed the Tesla of the seas, the 1,000-container vehicle is expected to launch with a small crew, move to remote operation in 2019, and then transition to fully autonomous by 2020. https://www.theverge.com/2017/7/24/16018652/first-autonomous-ship-launch-2018?

In Japan, toilets that offer showers are commonly called washlets, and include many advanced features rarely seen outside of Asia. The features commonly found on washlets include bidet washing, seat warming, and deodorization. The washlet isn't cheap yet, in Japan, they are everywhere. In fact, compared to plain, old, featureless toilets, washlets are in the majority of restrooms. https://www.google.com.au/amp/s/www.engadget.com/amp/2014/05/09/westerners-guide-to-japanese-toilets/

This cool invention allows you to ride an exercise bike while simultaneously performing a very commonly disliked chore, the laundry. This way you get exercise as well as save on energy costs and hopefully it's fun as well! https://thehomestead.guru/bike-powered-washing-machines/