Dutch officials toasted on Tuesday the opening of what is being called the world’s first 3D-printed concrete bridge, which is meant to be used by cyclists. There was applause as officials wearing hard hats and workmen’s jackets rode over the bridge on their bikes at the opening ceremony in the southeastern town of Gemert.

“The bridge is not very big, but it was rolled out by a printer which makes it unique,” Theo Salet, from the Eindhoven University of Technology, told Dutch broadcaster NOS. Work on printing the bridge, which has some 800 layers, took about three months after starting in June and it is made of pre-stressed concrete, according to the university. “One of the advantages of printing a bridge is that much less concrete is needed than in the conventional technique in which a mould (泥浆) is filled,” it said on its website, adding “a printer deposits the concrete only where it is needed.”

The eight-metre (26-foot) bridge crosses a water-filled channel to connect two roads, and it was tested for safety to bear loads of up to two metric tons in cooperation with the BAM Infra Construction Company. “Although designed for bikes, it could take up to 40 trucks,”the designers said. “We are looking to the future,” said the head of BAM, Marinus Schimmel. “3D printing meant fewer rare resources were needed and there was significantly less waste,” he added.

The Netherlands is among countries, with the United States and China, taking a lead in this cutting-edge technology, using computers and robotics to construct objects and structures from scratch without using much traditional manpower. Last year a Dutch architect unveiled (提示) a unique 3D printer with which he hopes to construct an “endless loop” building. And a Dutch start-up called MX3D has begun printing a stainless-steel bridge, of which a third is already completed. The aim is to finish printing by March and lay the bridge over an Amsterdam canal in the future.

For many students, maths and science have always been boring and even difficult subjects. Teachers have long tried a variety of ways to get students excited about STEM, which stands for science, technology, engineering and maths. 【小题1】.

The use of robotics is on the rise in today’s world. 【小题2】 Not only does it give them a head start in subjects like computer programming, maths and science, it can also develop an interest in careers students may have never considered before.

Robots are most often related to technology and other STEM-related fields. However, playing with robots has educational benefits beyond simply learning to build and program the robots themselves. Robots can be used to in problem-based learning to develop students’ problem-solving skills and get them working cooperatively and more. In this learning model, students are presented with a problem they must solve. 【小题3】. This inspires creativity, critical thinking and cooperation—all important 21s-century skills.

Robots aren’t just for students who need a challenge. 【小题4】 Students with autism who may shy away from interaction with a human being are more likely to open up to a robot, and the risk of failure or embarrassment in front of the robot is much lower. Robots can provide a way for them to practice social skills without the pressure of interacting with a real person.

There are a wide variety of robots available for classroom use. 【小题5】 It now makes robots designed for students in elementary and middle school. The robots can be programmed using a computer or tablet and a simplified programming app. This introduces the basics of programming and robotics to younger students who might then choose to study further in high school and college.

Robots are only going to become a bigger part of everyday life in the future. Using robots in the classroom is a proven way to get kids excited and increase learning.

In recent times, with the emergence of electric cars, the concept of powering them with solar energy has also started picking up steam. Electric cars—even though they run on electricity and don’t use fossil(化石) fuels—are still NOT GREEN! People suffer from the misconception that not using fossil fuel means “green” which is kind of ridiculous, considering the electricity we use is generated by burning the very same fuels!

However, what if your car had solar panels that could charge it? Now that would indeed be a green machine! Basically, as much as we would like to incorporate this energy source into our car, the efficiency of the currently used solar panels is subject to the fulfillment of different criteria.

Firstly, solar panels occupy a large amount of area. An average car has an area of 10-25 sq. ft. on the roof, which can generate between 50-150W under ideal conditions. This is hardly enough power to light a small bulb! Also, moderate sunny temperature needs to be ideal, as extremely high temperatures can reduce the efficiency of the solar panels. Cars must work in all weather conditions, so if a solar panel limits the car’s functionality, it becomes practically useless. More importantly, the cost of the panels and development required to power the electronics using the sun’s energy outweighs the benefits that solar panels provide.

Most cars today that have solar roofs, use the solar energy to power only a few basic functions of the car. While there is still time before we will be able to drive cars fully powered by solar energy, there are some alternatives, such as solar power stations, which are being designed to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels for electricity.

Solar-powered vehicles are surely the future, but not the near future. As the cost of solar panels continues to fall and their efficiency increases, things will begin to look much “brighter” for this alternative and sustainable option!