Inhabitat's Week In Green: 3D printed veins, solar cell towers, and the Ingocar

At Inhabitat we've seen 3D printers that create entire buildings out of stone and complete meals out of simple ingredients, but this week we watched in awe as scientists used a 3D printer to create the world's first "printed" human vein. And if advances in biotech get your blood flowing, you'll be excited to hear that this week a team of researchers successfully tested a new type of nanobot that travels through the bloodstream to turn off tumor cells. Contact lenses are also getting a much needed upgrade as scientists unveiled a new type capable of fighting glaucoma and other diseases by dispensing a powerful dose of medication.

In other news, solar energy is lighting up the world at large as India gears up to power all of its cellphone towers with photovoltaic cells, saving 5 million tons of CO2 and $1.4 billion annually. And speaking of silicon cells, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory recently unveiled its latest creation: a super robot capable of assembling an entire photovoltaic cell in 35 minutes flat. We also looked at a prototype of a prismatic solar balloon that uses a colorful new type of solar cell to soak up the sun's energy from high in the sky.

Finally, this week we took an in-depth look at the Ingocar, a hydraulic hybrid drive vehicle so light and efficient that it promises a mileage of 170MPG. This next-gen vehicle uses hydraulic fluid under pressure to accelerate, brake, and eliminate the need for a heavy mechanical drive train, making it 50% lighter than hybrid electric vehicles. And if you've ever experienced the maddening anxiety of circling for a parking spot on crammed city streets, relax - there's an app for that!

[Bobdiggitydog Posted Mar 29th 2010 4:34PM]

Gotta have more cowbell.

[rederikus Posted Mar 29th 2010 5:07PM]

@Bobdiggitydog Blue Oyster Cult spoof from Saturday Night Live, right?

[Bobdiggitydog Posted Mar 29th 2010 5:29PM]

@rederikus of course :)

[hemmy Posted Mar 29th 2010 9:56PM]

@Bobdiggitydog

You must have a fever :)

[gerrrg Posted Mar 29th 2010 4:35PM]

I was just thinking last night...when they do a bypass, wouldn't it be cool if they just printed a vein around blockages?

[Pingles Posted Mar 29th 2010 9:14PM]

@gerrrg

I'm sorry, ma'am. Your husband didn't make it. During the surgery there were complications. We ran out of black ink.

[joefresco Posted Mar 29th 2010 4:49PM]

The Ingocar look was certainly not in-depth. It was a general overview. I was really hoping to see a study of the tech and tests, as well as some idea of how dangerous it is to have such a highly pressurized canister in a wreck.

[Frankenstein Black Posted Mar 29th 2010 5:05PM]

When will one of the big 3 US mobile operators step up to the "green plate"? These, http://www.helixwind.com/ can be put on existing cell towers NOW and the cost/footprint compared to solar is considerably less. They could run day and night and would literally save Billions in energy costs not to mention the positive impact on the environment.

Hey, they COULD EVEN PASS THE COST SAVINGS ON TO US CONSUMERS. LOL can't even say that with a straight face. ;^/...

[paul34 Posted Mar 29th 2010 5:27PM]

@Frankenstein Black

Can it spin enough with all areas, regardless of actual wind speed and energy, at least enough to provide the minimum power requirements of the tower? Cell towers work best with baseload power, of which wind power is not.

[rederikus Posted Mar 29th 2010 5:06PM]

@GarkKrag
Nah. It's hydraulic as in oil you were think maybe of hydro as in water. Of course there is always hydra as in a many headed beast from greek mythology but I don't think they mean that...