Dave Wigstone

From Dinosaurs to Designer Bags: The Rise of Lab-Grown “T. rex” Leather Imagine high-end fashion crafted with prehistoric DNA—without harming any animals. A team led by Newcastle University is doing just that: engineering lab-grown leather using collagen synthesized from Tyrannosaurus rex gene fragments. The goal? Cruelty-free, biodegradable luxury materials, with handbag prototypes expected by the […]

Beyond Batteries: Long-Duration Energy Storage Solutions Powering the Renewable Grid The renewable energy transition isn’t just about generating clean power—it’s about storing it reliably. As renewables like wind and solar grow, energy systems need storage that lasts beyond hours. Long-duration energy storage (LDES) systems—ranging from pumped hydro and flow batteries to gravity-based and thermal setups—are

Plant-Based Leather Revolution: Biofabric Fashion Takes the Stage in 2025 Move over traditional leather—2025 is seeing a boom in **plant-based and biofabric leathers**. Materials like Piñatex (pineapple leaves), Mylo (mycelium mushroom), apple-skin leather, and even seaweed-based textiles are transforming the fashion landscape with cruelty-free, eco-conscious alternatives that don’t compromise on style or durability (industry overview).