Detours

4.0 Aug 2013

Ended

Overview

This summer we're traveling around the United States to see how science and technology are driving the next generation of American innovation, looking beyond just apps and gadgets. We'll be bringing you stories from Pittsburgh, Detroit, Kansas City, and New Orleans that explore how communities and companies are changing in our own backyards. This is the road less traveled. This is Verge Detours.

English

Saving the future with open-sourced food

At MIT Media Lab in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Caleb Harper’s CityFARM demonstrates the future of food production. He grows plants through aeroponics, a system that produces plants without soil.

Aug 27, 2014 6m

Doctor uses 3D printer to save a toddler's mind

For decades, diagnoses and surgical plans have been made based on x-rays and scans. At Boston Children’s Hospital, patient safety is being ensured by a Simulator Program that employs a 3D printer to replicate the exact anatomy of a patient. Can 3D-printed anatomies also save lives?

Sep 2, 2014 6m

You've never seen a boat sail like this

Sailing is 7,000 years old, but you've never seen a sail like this. It's designed to reduce our fuel usage and help save the earth.

Sep 10, 2014 6m

HandUp is like Kickstarter for the homeless

San Francisco's HandUp crowdfunding system brings a Kickstarter-esque model to the problem of poverty by connecting donors to those in need. Tune in tomorrow to see the full Detours video.

Sep 17, 2014 6m

This could be the new fire hydrant

The fire hydrant’s design is 100 years old. Now Sigelock Systems is upgrading the essential fire-fighting tool with the Spartan.

Sep 24, 2014 6m

Can a seawall save New York from the next big storm?

In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, New York City looks to a group of architects, engineers, and designers to protect the city against the next big storm. One of the leading proposals is a $335 million, nearly 10 mile long protective wall camouflaged in the city's infrastructure.

Oct 1, 2014 6m