Fifteen-year-old Evan Budz was on a camping trip when he saw a snapping turtle that would become the impetus for an award-winning invention. As someone who loves hiking, canoeing, and just being outside, the Canadian high school student from Burlington, Ontario, had actively been looking for ways that he could go out and help the planet.
“My parents brought me up with the sort of principle that every place that I visit, I should leave it a bit better than I found it,” he says. So when Budz noticed the turtle swimming in some nearby waters, he knew that he’d found his next passion project: a bionic robot turtle that could help protect underwater environments.
“When I saw the snapping turtle, it was so graceful, fluidic, and generally non-disruptive” to its surroundings, says Budz. “I thought it’d be really interesting to go and try and replicate its natural swimming kinematics [basically the study of how things move]” in a robot.
Along with mimicking the fluid motions of a wild green sea turtle in the water, his autonomous device uses AI to monitor underwater ecosystems for ecological threats, such as invasive species and coral bleaching.
“Most current underwater technologies can produce things like noise from their propellers or very high-pressure water streams,” which can erode environments, he says.
However, by mimicking the motions of a sea turtle, Budz’s robot can move through the water innocuously, gathering vital data in a way that doesn’t stress marine life or damage delicate habitats. “I don’t want to harm the various places that I’m hoping to protect.”
To create his bionic turtle, Budz got to work studying the reptile’s locomotion. He watched videos of sea turtles swimming and talked with experts at his local aquarium, learning how the reptiles use their front flippers to propel themselves forward and their hind limbs for steering. He then used his 3D design and electronics know-how to plan a prototype in SolidWorks, a 3D Computer-Aided Design (CAD) and engineering software. From there, the high school student started creating his robot turtle’s 3D parts.
The robot has four flippers in total—with the larger front flippers providing its main propulsion and its smaller rear flippers used mainly for stability and changing direction, just like a real turtle. It also has a main acrylic tube “body” for housing its electronic components, which include a Raspberry Pi microcomputer. This runs AI models to detect environmental threats and records and transmits data. In addition, the bionic turtle navigates the water using various sensors. These include a GPS module for position tracking, allowing the robot to follow a predefined grid pattern.
Budz’s robot also has a front camera for “seeing” its surroundings, along with additional sensors on its exterior to help guide the autonomous reptile, offer depth control, and check for ecological hazards like microplastics and bleached coral.
While not an official name, Budz has been calling his invention “BURT,” an acronym for “Bionic Underwater Robotic Turtle.” BURT maintains the same body-to-flipper-size proportions as a real-life sea turtle but is smaller overall, which allows it to move easily in different environments. It weighs about 11 pounds, though much of the robot’s weight is just added metal that allows it to sink down. This gives BURT an opportunity to monitor depths well below the water’s surface.
“To achieve neutral buoyancy in the water,” says Budz, “I needed the turtle to basically be heavier than the force of buoyancy that’s pushing it up.”
BURT can swim for up to eight hours per charge on a lithium battery, though it also has a solar panel that can keep it going for even longer periods. Right now, Budz has BURT set up to swim at the typical speed of turtles (approximately 0.5 miles per hour). “If I do want it to swim faster, I can just change the flipper oscillation frequency,” meaning the rate of its flipper strokes.
Most of BURT’s testing has taken place in Budz’s grandparents’ backyard pool, which has a depth of just over eight feet.
“I basically went out and created a simulated coral reef setup using 3D models,” he says, programming the turtle to understand what coral bleaching and invasive species actually look like. “And the turtle then swims around them to simulate what it would do in a real-world environment.”
BURT is also set up to follow a predetermined search pattern, “so there’s no need for any sort of tether like you might find on a traditional underwater drone.” The bionic turtle scans its surrounding waters through its front-mounted camera, with all of the recorded data then feeding back into its Raspberry Pi microcomputer. According to the Budz’s testing, BURT has been able to detect replicated coral bleaching with 96 percent accuracy.
Budz’s next step is to bring BURT into different environments to see how deep the robot can actually go. To deal with especially murky waters, he has installed lights on the front of the robot and added an ultrasonic transducer, which utilizes high-frequency sound waves to detect potential obstacles.
This year he’s even developed a new holographic imaging device, which he’s using to record the structural characteristics and shapes of tiny particles in waterways. He then uses a custom-trained neural network, which processes data in a way that’s similar to a human brain, to classify if each particle is a microplastic.
Although Budz built his robot as a labor of love, it’s since won some major awards, including first prize at the European Union Contest for Young Scientists, held in Latvia in 2025, and the Canada-Wide Science Fair, an annual science fair in which finalists qualify from approximately 25,000 competitors.
Budz’s goal is to have a fleet of these sea turtles that can be set out to detect ecological threats. “I’ve already looked at coral bleaching, invasive species, and microplastics,” he says, “but there are so many different places where this can be used.”
In The Workshop, Popular Science highlights the ingenious, delightful, and often surprising projects people build in their spare time. If you or someone you know is working on a hobbyist project that fits the bill, we’d love to hear about it—fill out this form to tell us more.
Teen brothers build a Disney-inspired ride in family basement
Teen turns his suburban home into elaborate haunted house every October
In Vermont, one man is bringing pay phones back to life
A pilot turned an old plane into a two-bedroom apartment
A life-long car lover recreated the Griswold’s famous station wagon
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There are over 283 million cars cruising the United States, and over 90 percent of them are still guzzling gas. Apart from the obvious environmental problems, fuel prices also continue to skyrocket thanks to the ongoing war in Iran. The average price for gas is currently around 33 percent higher than it was before the crisis, and there is little sign that those numbers are going down anytime soon.
The strain is forcing many drives to reconsider how they get around—and they’re getting creative with it. In Georgia, a 30-year-old handyman is showing everyone how to properly adapt to uncertain times. According to a recent Reuters profile, Mali Hightower has retrofitted a discarded, bright pink Power Wheels Barbie Dream Camper with a two-gallon, one-piston engine for his shorter commuting needs.
“I drive this when I can,” Hightower said on May 19.
To get it going, a driver simply pulls the rip cord that’s attached to the former power washer engine. At less than four-feet-tall, the Dream Camper may not be the most comfortable ride for a full-grown adult,but it’s definitely cheaper. Hightower likely still prefers driving his 1996 Mercedes-Benz convertible, but with a full tank costing him around $90 right now, he’s more than willing to use his Power Wheels alternative for errands like grocery runs.
While somewhat surreal to see at a gas pump, the DIY solution underscores a more important issue: the need for more people to divest from fossil fuel rides in favor of public transportation and electric vehicles (EVs). Unfortunately, that’s easier said than done for many people. The U.S. is dramatically underfunded when it comes to options like commuter bus routes and trains, while EVs are still out of many people’s price ranges. The Dream Barbie Camper may be one-of-a-kind right now, but there’s a good chance that similar, intentionally constructed alternatives are on the way. At least those will be able to comfortably fit the driver.
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Riding the coattails—or perhaps it would be more apt to say the gown trails—of the monumental retrospective exhibition in 2023 in Paris at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, the Brooklyn Museum is about to open the striking new edition of Iris van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses. Building upon the previous presentation’s emphasis on the way fashion meets art, this show also includes recent collections like Sympoeisis, reaffirming Iris van Herpen’s one-of-a-kind approach to sustainable, sculptural couture.
Van Herpen is known for her elaborate dresses that incorporate high-tech processes and materials, such as laser-cutting and Plexiglas, while also embracing the rhythms and patterns of biological and celestial realms. At this year’s Met Gala, for example, Olympic skier Eileen Gu arrived in a dress titled “Airu,” which was not only coated in plastic bubbles but also emitted real ones. In the “Living Algae” look from her 2025 Sympoeisis collection, van Herpen even incorporates real Pyrocystis lunula, a type of algae that forms a crescent shape and glows in the dark.
“Fascinated by the complexity of nature and the power of science, van Herpen transforms scientific concepts into visionary fashion,” says a statement. “Drawing from wide-ranging fields spanning mathematics, neuroscience, marine biology, paleontology, mycology, mineralogy, astronomy, and more, her haute couture designs seamlessly merge art, science, and technology—evoking the often unseen structures of nature, from coral reefs and branching systems of fungi to the vast patterns of planetary motion.”
Sculpting the Senses features more than 140 haute couture designs, plus the works of numerous artists like Kenny Nguyen, Wim Delvoye, Agostino Arrivabene, 目[Mé], Katsumata Chieko, Tara Donovan, and many others—several of whom have pieces in the Brooklyn Museum’s own collection. The experience is also complemented by a multi-sensory soundscape created by Dutch composer and music producer Salvador Breed.
The show opens on May 16 and continues through December 6 in Brooklyn. See more on van Herpen’s Instagram and YouTube.
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Most homeowners think a grass lawn is the easiest way to keep a yard looking neat. In reality, maintaining that picture-perfect sea of green relies on constant mowing, watering, fertilizing, and upkeep. Traditional lawns can become especially costly in hotter, drier climates, where keeping grass alive requires even more time and resources.
Fortunately, homeowners are beginning to realize there is another option: the no-mow lawn. Instead of relying on thirsty grass, these landscapes use low-maintenance plants that stay attractive with far less work. As heat waves, droughts, and biodiversity loss intensify around the world, more people are rethinking the traditional lawn and replacing it with sustainable alternatives.
This growing interest in no-mow alternatives comes from the environmental costs of maintaining traditional grass lawns. Although lawns may appear harmless, they require enormous amounts of water, chemicals, and fuel to keep them green and uniform.
Outdoor landscaping accounts for a significant share of residential water use in the United States. In dry regions, lawns require constant irrigation, placing pressure on local water supplies during droughts and heat waves. Even regions that are not normally arid can experience droughts, forcing homeowners to use more water to keep their grass alive. Across the country, billions of gallons of water are used each day for landscape irrigation alone.
Moreover, traditional lawns depend heavily on fertilizers and pesticides to keep them looking uniform and weed-free. Excess chemicals from over-application wash into rivers and lakes through storm runoff and harm local ecosystems. Gas-powered lawn mowers add another environmental cost because they release carbon emissions and air pollutants every time homeowners use them. Perhaps the most overlooked environmental cost involves biodiversity. Traditional lawns create uniform landscapes that support very few pollinators, birds, or native plants.
No-mow lawns come in a variety of textures and styles, so the definition can vary depending on the landscape. Essentially, a no-mow lawn is a landscape designed to grow slowly or remain naturally short, reducing the need for frequent mowing and upkeep. These lawns often use drought-tolerant and native grasses, ground covers, or other low-maintenance plants that require less water and fertilizer.
Although a no-mow lawn may sound like the perfect solution, it does not mean zero maintenance. Certain varieties still require occasional trimming or seasonal care to remain healthy and attractive. However, not every no-mow option works well in every environment. Homeowners must choose plants that match their climate, soil conditions, and the amount of sunlight their yard receives.
Clover lawns are one of the most popular types of no-mow lawns. They are typically white clover, red clover, or micro clover, each of which grows low to the ground. Because clover naturally stays short, homeowners rarely need to mow it to keep it tidy.
Clover also offers several environmental benefits. As a legume, it naturally fixes nitrogen in the soil, which reduces the need for fertilizer. It also stays green longer during dry weather and requires less water than many grass varieties. Clover flowers attract bees and other pollinators, helping support local ecosystems and biodiversity.
However, clover lawns do have some drawbacks. While pollinators are beneficial, the increase in bees may be a concern for families with bee allergies. They are also less durable than traditional grass and may not hold up well under heavy foot traffic or frequent outdoor activity.
Meadow or wildflower lawns replace traditional grass with a mix of native grasses and flowering plants. Unlike conventional lawns, these landscapes are designed to mimic natural ecosystems and require far less mowing once they become established.
One of the greatest benefits of meadow lawns is their support for biodiversity. Native flowers and grasses provide food and shelter for pollinators, insects, and birds. These lawns also contribute to “rewilding,” a landscaping approach that restores natural habitats and encourages urban biodiversity by bringing native plant and animal life back into developed spaces. Because meadow lawns grow more naturally, homeowners may only need to mow them once or twice a year, if at all.
However, meadow lawns can present challenges. Their wilder appearance may seem untidy to some homeowners or violate certain homeowners’ association (HOA) rules. Also, meadow lawns change with the seasons, so they may not remain consistently green or colorful year-round.
Creeping ground covers are a somewhat unconventional alternative to traditional grass lawns. Common examples include creeping thyme, sedum, Irish moss, and Corsican mint. Unlike turf grass, these plants spread horizontally rather than growing upward, allowing them to stay naturally short with very little mowing or trimming. Many ground covers also produce small flowers or pleasant fragrances, making them attractive additions to outdoor spaces.
Creeping ground covers work well in small yards, decorative spaces, or garden pathways where appearance matters more than durability. Because these plants add texture and color variation, they are often paired with stone walkways, gravel, or other landscaping features to create a more natural, visually appealing design.
Keep in mind that creeping ground covers are not perfect replacements for traditional turf grass. Some varieties cannot tolerate heavy foot traffic and may become damaged if children or pets regularly play on them. They look best when incorporated with other design elements, such as stone paths or garden borders, rather than used as a large standalone lawn replacement.
Some homeowners want the environmental benefits of a no-mow lawn without giving up the traditional appearance of grass. For these homeowners, slow-growing grasses offer a practical middle ground.
Popular options include buffalo grass, fine fescues, and specially designed slow-grow turf blends. These grasses grow more slowly than conventional turf varieties and provide several environmental advantages. While technically these grasses are not zero-mowing, they require less maintenance. Because they grow more slowly, homeowners may need to mow them only a few times each season. Their traditional appearance also makes them a popular choice in neighborhoods with strict HOA rules.
As our definition of the ideal lawn changes, more homeowners will likely embrace no-mow alternatives. Homeowners no longer define the perfect yard by neatly trimmed grass alone but by landscapes that conserve water, support biodiversity, and adapt to changing climates. The yard of the future may focus less on controlling nature and more on working with it.
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Let’s face it, sunscreen is important to our health, but can really be a drag. Some feel greasy, they wear off after only two hours, and finding the right one can feel like a game of whack-a-mole. Certain ingredients can also pollute the planet’s critical coral reefs, so scientists around the world are looking to nature to create new formulas. Pollen could serve as an eco-friendly sunscreen solution, but there could be an even smaller source—bacteria. Escherichia coli, better known as E. coli, may help create an ultra violet (UV) compound that can be used in sunscreens. The findings are detailed in a study published today in the journal Trends in Biotechnology.
To survive relentless sunlight in the open ocean, fish can make their own natural sunscreen with a UV-protective compound called gadusol. This rare molecular compound is found in the eggs of several fish species, but is scarce elsewhere in nature and not easy, efficient, or environmentally friendly to extract.
“We want to find a scalable and greener way to produce gadusol,” Ping Zhang, a study co-author and biochemist at Jiangnan University in China, said in a statement.
Zhang and the team turned microbes into mini chemical factories, instead of taking them from nature. To do this, they rebuilt a zebrafish’s pathway for making gadusol inside of an E. coli bacterium. They then tweaked the E. coli’s genetics and growing conditions. The alterations increased the gadusol yield by nearly 93 times—from 45.2 milligrams per liter up to 4.2 grams per liter. The lab-made compound is also showing promise in early UV-protection tests.
“Achieving this level of production in the lab is very promising,” says Zhang. “It suggests that we may be able to meet future demand for natural sunscreen ingredients through microbial production.”
In other experiments, gadusol showed that it may offer more than just protection from the sun. It showed antioxidant activity comparable to vitamin C, suggesting that gadusol may help neutralize cell-damaging free radicals that can result from excess sun exposure.
These antioxidant properties also inspired a color-based screening test that allows researchers to quickly identify bacterial strains that produce more gadusol. When the gadusol neutralizes free radicals, a purple chemical signal turns yellow, indicating that it is producing more of the UV-protective compound
“Compared with traditional chemical analysis, this approach is more convenient, efficient, and economical,” added study co-author and Jiangnan University bioengineer Ruirui Xu.
While gadusol’s combination of UV protection and antioxidant activity could make it an attractive natural ingredient for future sunscreens, it won’t join your next beach day just yet. The study didn’t compare gadusol head-to-head with currently available sunscreens, or assess its long-term safety or large-scale manufacturing. Before it can hit store shelves, it will also require regulatory approval.
However, Xu believes that this is a starting point for using gadusol in practical applications. Based on current technology, he expects that some products using gadusol could appear on the market within two years.
“For small molecules with application potential, we hope people look beyond traditional extraction methods,” said Zhang. “Microbial cell factories are emerging as a greener and more sustainable way to bring laboratory discoveries into real-world use.”
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Nestled amid plants native to the U.K., a giant figure of Gaia, or Mother Nature, sleeps in a verdant garden. With willow-branch locks shaped by artist Tom Hare and a crown of leaves, the figure’s face and shoulders are made from a fallen mature tree carved by Tim Wood. A winding pathway leads beneath an arch that extends the character’s torso, created in the tradition of dry stone walls and meticulously assembled by the family-run outfit Noble Stonework.
You’ll find Gaia in a garden titled “On the Edge” at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show, which has taken the top prize of Garden of the Year. The project is a collaboration between designer Sarah Eberle and Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE), which champions the countryside and the sustainable practices necessary to protect and preserve its ecosystems.
For this year’s exhibit, Eberle emphasized “edgelands,” or spaces between rural and urbanized areas like the borders of fields or even residential gardens. Think roadside berms or the seemingly unruly growth beside a canal. Often, these spots just look like a lot of weeds. Eberle sees not only the beauty, but the value, in these overlooked areas.
“These spaces connect millions of people to nature in everyday life, yet they’re undervalued and under constant pressure,” CPRE says in a statement. “This garden is an invitation to see them differently: not as ‘leftover’ land, but as living places that can recover and thrive with the right care.” Eberle’s choice of plants has a slightly wild aesthetic, with vines taking over the stone arch—redolent of the U.K.’s historic stone bridges—and a graceful yet somehow satisfyingly chaotic arrangement of plants we might associate with untamed overgrowth.
The garden’s design encourages people to consider using natural materials, cultivating local plants to help pollinators, and embracing “flaws” like old stumps or rocky areas that can be havens for wildlife. Amid nature’s innate rhythms, Gaia is a gentle protector who snoozes calmly with everything in balance. Eberele describes the effect: “A sense of abundance, a landscape under repair, the beauty in the ordinary. It’s about how it makes you feel—it’s almost a homecoming, an embrace, a hug.”
The Chelsea Flower Show is the flagship event of the Royal Horticultural Society, and it has been held on the grounds of the Royal Hospital since 1913, with the exception of a few skipped seasons during the two World Wars and in 2020. It’s not just limited to British gardeners, however: exhibitors from around the globe conceive of some of the most creative gardens imaginable. Tickets are available on the RHS website, and the show continues through May 23 in London.
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