Plant life in your home can do far more than brighten up the space, filtering toxins and pollutants from the air your breath everyday – this infographic draws on NASA data to help guide you toward the best options for your home. For best results, buy and place one plant per 100 square feet of interior space. Fortunately, many of these are also quite common species you can pick up pre-potted at your local flower or gardening shop.

As the Clean Air Study shows (graphic by Love The Garden), not all plants are as useful when it comes to cleaning your air. Indeed, different plants have varied strengths and weaknesses when it comes to particular particulates and other pollution. “The NASA Clean Air Study has been led by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in association with the Associated Landscape Contractors of America (ALCA). Its results suggest that certain common indoor plants may provide a natural way of removing toxic agents such as benzene, formaldehyde and trichloroethylene from the air, helping neutralize the effects of sick building syndrome.” 

The post Purifying Plants: NASA Guide to Air-Filtering Houseplants first appeared on Gajitz.

The idea of humans being able to breathe underwater once seemed as impossible as humans flying. But just as airplanes let us take to the skies, the invention of SCUBA let us explore underwater. A conceptual design from Jeabyun Yeon would make shallow diving even more natural by allowing us to “breathe” underwater sans air tanks.

The Triton Oxygen Mask would take the tanks out of diving by performing the amazing feat of separating hydrogen from oxygen. The water would filter through itty-bitty holes smaller than water molecules. The designer says that this technology has already been invented by a Korean scientist.

A mouthpiece fits between the teeth while the two handlebar-like filters jut out to the sides. A tiny battery-powered micro-compressor would keep the water circulating in and out through the “artificial gills,” providing the diver with essential oxygen. For the diver, this means swimming almost like a fish, unencumbered by SCUBA gear.

While the science behind this fascinating design isn’t explained fully by the designer, the Triton looks like a fantastic way to enjoy the underwater world without the hindering effects of a full SCUBA setup. Divers would still have to take courses to teach them to dive safely, but going into the water without worrying about tanks could greatly enhance the experience.

The post Artificial Gill Mouthpiece Could Let Humans Breathe Underwater first appeared on Gajitz.