Man-made

Through structures like oil rigs, humans have made a big imprint on the world's oceans

Environment

First map of marine structures shows how much we've modified the oceans

Scientists in Australia have turned their attention to what human development means for the world’s marine environments, calculating the extent of our construction footprint on the oceans for the first time ever.

The Heart of Europe comprises six islands of the 300 that make up The World in Dubai

Architecture

Europe pushes the houseboat out at Dubai's The World

Ever wondered what it looks like if you combine Dubai's wealth, ambition, coastline and climate? Well, it looks like floating villas with submerged bedrooms that provide views of the surrounding sea-life off a reclaimed island archipelago shaped like a map of the world in the Persian Gulf.

The view of Supertree Grove from the skyway at Singapore's Gardens by the Bay (Photo: Loz Blain)

Holiday Destinations

In pictures: Singapore's surreal Supertree Grove and Cloud Forest

There are places on this Earth where you simply stand, slack-jawed, and pinch yourself to make sure you're not dreaming – and Singapore's Gardens by the Bay is as surreal a place as I've ever been. This billion-dollar techno-garden theme park is absolutely stunning right through.

A sample of the man-made mother of pearl (top), compared to the real thing (Image: Nature)

Science

Scientists create artificial mother of pearl

Scientists have succeeded in creating artificial mother of pearl.

Artist's illustration of the proposed Al-Shamal Stadium to be built in Ash-Shamal, Qatar for the 2022 World Cup

Sports

Man-made 'clouds' to shade 2022 World Cup in Qatar?

A team of engineering scientists from Qatar University (QU) have reportedly developed an artificial cloud system designed to float above Qatar's World Cup Stadia and provide relief from the sun.

Scientists have used biosynthetic muscle fibers to observe the changes that polymers exhibit when subjected to mechanical stress (Image: TUM)

Science

Man-made muscle fibers help scientists understand strain on plastics

Scientists have used biosynthetic muscle fibers to observe the changes that polymers exhibit when subjected to mechanical stress.

Scientists hope to emulate the honeybee's aerial navigational skills through human technology

Robotics

Man-made bee's eye could mean big things for flying robots

Scientists have created an artificial honeybee eye, in hopes of applying bees' aerial navigational skills to micro air vehicles.

The Berg - a 1km-tall man-made mountain, but is it a hoax or a real opportunity?

Holiday Destinations

Dubai has The Burj, but Berlin might get The Berg

German architect Jakob Tigges has unleashed a daring plan to create a man-made mountain in Berlin – 1km tall with a snow-capped peak. But is it a hoax or a hopeful plan?

That's the Palm Deira on the right, next to the World, then Palm Jumeirah, then Palm Jebel Ali on the left. Check out the great piccies and renderings in the photo library and all the links inside.

Holiday Destinations

The world's largest man-made island

Conceptualized to solve Dubai's beach shortage by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the person who has masterminded the emergence of Dubai, the Palm Trilogy is to be completed with a collossus, adding a few records to Dubai's already splendid set of man-made biggests.

Holiday Destinations

More man-made designer realty – Reef Island

Dubai's coastline remodelling has seen its coastline grow from 76km to 1500 km, thanks to the World and Palm projects. Then Qatar came up with the Pearl, and now Bahrain is in th

Holiday Destinations

The Pearl-Qatar: multi-billion dollar man-made island home

An exotic name befits an exotic destination. The Pearl-Qatar is a multi-billion dollar man-made island under construction off the coast of Doha, Qatar.