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Researchers at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology just invented a building material that could make construction projects stronger and more sustainableand it’s based on the skeleton of an invertebrate that lives at the bottom of the ocean. The material, recently presented in the journal Composite Structures, was developed by RMIT University engineers. Its inspired by the skeleton of the deep-sea sponge, whose lattice-like internal structures, which have been optimized over millions of years in the ocean, allow it to thrive thousands of feet underwater. The materials unique structural properties make it simultaneously lightweight, strong, and extra resilient under pressure, meaning that it could eventually help make buildings sturdier with less steel and concrete. How are steel and concrete damaging the environment? For years, engineers have been researching new ways to cut down on steel and concrete in construction. Thats because both materials are produced at a massive scale, with equally massive impacts on the environment. As of 2023, annual global production of concrete was around a whopping 30 billion tons, and the production of cementone of concretes key ingredientswas responsible for between 5% and 10% of global CO2 emissions. Meanwhile, the steelmaking industry churns out about 2 billion tons of the metal per year, accounting for around 7% of greenhouse gas emissions. Scientists have explored a wide range of alternatives to traditional steel and concrete, including a steel alternative made out of plastic and a form of concrete stabilized by recycled diapers. Biomimicry as a basis for design The RMIT teams sponge-inspired material could help reduce steel and concrete use in construction because of something called auxetic behavior. The word “auxetic” is a structural descriptor which means that, instead of becoming thinner when stretched and thicker when compressed, the material actually becomes thicker when stretched and thinner when compressed. A honeycomb, for example, is typically auxetic, as are biological materials like cat tongues and human muscle tendons. In the manufacturing world, auxetic materials are often used on the bottom of running shoes, allowing the footwear to expand while walking or running. Auxetic patterns are desirable in construction because they can absorb force and maintain their strength under intense pressure, just like the deep-sea sponge. Existing man-made auxetic materials typically use a honeycomb pattern, but RMIT’s new material uses a double lattice design supported by diagonal beams. Based on the teams testing, the innovative structure makes the material 13 times stiffer than other fabricated auxetics. For this reason, the new pattern could be used in construction to enable “thinner load-bearing walls and slimmer columns without compromising structural integrity,” according to Jiaming Ma, the lead author on the new study. That would cut down on the amount of steel and concrete necessary to achieve a sturdy result. The material is still in the testing phase, so it’s too early to predict what wide-scale commercial use might look like. Still, Ma believes it could eventually have applications across a wide range of industries, from creating earthquake-resistant buildings to improving vascular stents and strengthening protective sports gear.
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E-Commerce
AI is poised to reshape businesses, but too many executives are oversimplifying its potential, focusing on automation rather than collaboration. As someone whos spent my career studying the future of work, Im excited about AIs breakthrough potentialbut cautious of the narratives being rushed into the spotlight. Recently, I reviewed Anthropics study, Which Economic Tasks Are Performed with AI? Evidence from Millions of Claude Conversations, and found that AIs real impact isnt as clear-cut as many believe. While AI is transforming business, leaders are overlooking key realities about AIs impact and its real-world applications. Heres what many are still getting wrong. 1. AI Is More About Augmentation Than Automation According to Anthropics findings, AI isnt neatly fitting the narrative of the ultimate automation engine. The data consistently suggests a more balanced story of augmentation (57%) versus automation (43%). Yet, in research we conducted early last year, we found that 58% of global leaders viewed AI as mainly an automation toolone that can reduce headcount and cut costswhile only 42% saw it as a way to amplify or augment human capabilities. This outlook ignores a crucial insight: AI often shines brightest when its working with people, not replacing them. In fact, the Anthropic study found that almost a quarter (23.3%) of tasks in these AI interactions are learning or knowledge acquisition tasksmeaning humans are leveraging AI to gather insights, sharpen strategies, and make more informed decisions. 2. AIs Managerial Role Is Limited This bias toward automation is also manifesting in how the C-suite envisions AIs managerial potential. The assumption is that AI can instantly step in to coordinate projects, supervise teams, or even make high-level decisions. However, the Anthropic data suggests that managerial capabilities show only minimal presence of AI usagean important reminder of the practical limitations of current-generation AI tools. Effective management isnt just a matter of oversight and efficiency. Its about empathy, nuanced communication, and the capacity to inspire and guide people through complex organizational challenges. Todays AI can sift data, generate written recommendations, and even assist with performance evaluations, but it cant replicate the inherently human aspects of leadership that spark motivation and maintain trust. In other words, while AI can help managers be better managerssay, by flagging important trends or offering real-time feedback mechanismsit isnt replacing them anytime soon. 3. AIs Impact on Work Is About Tasks, Not Titles Far too many executives assess AIs influence as though its a straightforward, one-to-one replacement for entire roles when in reality, AI is infiltrating our workflows at the task level. This is why some leaders are underestimating how AI redefines the contents of a job, since a position is essentially a bundle of taskssome routine, some creative. Unpacking roles to isolate the tasks most ripe for AI support is critical. A startling statistic from the Anthropic report: 36% of occupations show AI usage in at least 25% of their tasks, and in many cases, these tasks involve demanding cognitive skills, like critical thinking and systems analysis. AI is also used for active listening, reading comprehension, and writing support, but it hasnt taken over the full scope of any single job as we might traditionally define it. Leaders who fail to disaggregate tasks from titles risk missing AIs real value propositionand short-changing both their organization and their people. 4. AI Adoption Rates Arent As High As Hype Suggests The hype suggests that nearly every industry is barreling toward AI ubiquity, with previous research forecasting 80% or more of roles quickly incorporating AI into at least 10% of their tasks. Yet, Anthropics real-world conversation data pegs that figure at 57%, not 80%. Thats a gap leaders need to take seriously. Its not that AIs transformative potential is in doubt, but rather that organizational readinessand the barriers to entry for these technologiesare more formidable than many realize. From regulatory constraints to outdated IT infrastructures to insufficient training, theres a lot that can stall AIs momentum once you move beyond the pilot stage. As I often remind business leaders, a successful AI deployment requires more than the technology itself; it needs culture change, skill-building, and a strategic plan that engages employees at all levels. 5. We Need Greater AI Literacy at All Levels The Anthropic study suggests that AI usage is not as high among those with extensive specialized training, which might seem counterintuitive. Why wouldnt advanced degree holders be at the forefront? Often, theyre operating in fields with strict regulations or complex intellectual frameworks that AI isnt yet equipped to navigate without significant human oversight. As we prepare the next generation of degree holders for an AI-infused workplace, we must teach them how to effectively integrate these tools into their expertise, not just how to code or prompt an AI system. Being AI-literate means understanding both its limitations and possibilitiesrecognizing when its a smart collaborator and when its an inadequate stand-in for deeper human judgment. Shifting Mindsets from ‘AI Versus People’ to ‘AI with People’ If theres a single takeaway for the C-suite, its this: Dont be so quick to believe your organizations future is solely about replacing humans with AI. Instead, focus on how human ingenuity can be amplified. Embrace the reality that AIs revolution is happening at the granular task level, not the job title level. And remember that the best managers will always be the ones capable of empathy, strategic vision, and nuanced communicationtraits AI, for now, can only tangentially support. Shifting from a mindset of AI versus people to AI with people is not just a semantic difference; its the key to unlocking AIs full potential for sustainable growth and innovation in the modern enterprise. If the past few decades taught us anything, its that technology alone doesnt define success; its how we adapt that sets us apart. And thats a distinctly human endeavor.
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E-Commerce
Theres a special place in you-know-where for spam callers. Theyre annoying. They waste time. Theyre also dangerous. And while it’s challenging to eliminate spam calls entirely, the good news is that with a little time and effort, you can significantly reduce the number of spam calls you receive. Heres what to do. Add yourself to the FTCs Do Not Call list One of the easiest and longest-lasting ways to reduce spam calls is to add your phone number to the National Do Not Call Registry, which is a free service managed by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Once youve added your number, telemarketers have a month to remove you from their lists so you dont get any more calls. These days, however, whether they will abide by these rules is another story, so read on for some more effective alternatives. Use call-blocking features and/or apps While the Do Not Call list relies on the . . . ahem . . . good nature of above-board telemarketers to take you off their lists, its largely ineffective against the real culprits: scammers and illegal telemarketers. Luckily, modern smartphones are packed with features designed to help combat spam. Most have built-in features that allow you to block individual numbers. While this won’t stop spoofed numbers, it can help you get rid of repeat offenders. Heres how to block numbers on iPhone, and heres how to do it on Android if you use Googles Phone app. You can also send unknown callers to voicemail. This is a handy feature that lets legitimate callers leave a message while ideally discouraging nefarious callers from doing the same. The two links in the previous paragraph contains information about how to enable the feature. And if all else fails, consider third-party call-blocking apps. Popular options include Hiya, Robokiller, Truecaller, and Nomorobo. These apps use crowdsourced data, known-offender databases, and AI to identify and automatically block or flag potential spam calls. While they’re not perfect, they can significantly reduce the number of unwanted calls you receive. Protect your personal info in the first place Spammers thrive on data, so the less information you share, the less likely you are to be targeted. Make sure to be cautious online. Think twice before entering your phone number on websites, especially those that seem suspicious or offer freebies in exchange for your information. If the caution ship has already sailed, look into opting out of data brokerages. Data brokers collect and sell your personal information, including your phone number, to just about anyone willing to pay for it. While it takes some effort, you can opt out of these services to reduce your online footprint. A quick Google search for “opt out data brokers” will provide a list of resources to help you get started. And finally, just dont engage. Never answer calls from unknown numbers, and never provide any personal information to callers you don’t recognize. Even answering the phone signals to spammers that youve got a live, active number. Just let the call go to voicemail and screen it later.
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E-Commerce
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