1. One thing that helps
When Denver planners needed to build over two giant sewer pipes, they faced a problem: wastewater had to release its heat before being discharged, making the pipes impossible to bury. Instead of treating this as just an engineering headache, they turned it into an opportunity.
Engineers installed a system that captures heat from sewage and uses it to warm and cool nearby buildings. The process works without mixing clean water and sewage, and it’s efficient because wastewater holds a steady temperature year-round. The result? Major parts of the National Western Center now run on energy that would have otherwise been wasted, cutting emissions and energy costs.
I've been involved in the wastewater industry for over a decade now as co-founder of National Onsite and OMA. It's an industry people never think about, but one that is fast becoming very innovative. It’s a great reminder that sometimes the key to a sustainable future is right under our feet.
2. One to be wary of
It’s tempting to believe we don't need to worry about the security issues that quantum computing will introduce yet. But the heist is already underway. Just in slow motion.
As quantum computing matures, it could break many of today’s encryption methods. Even before that day arrives, attackers can harvest encrypted data now with the goal of decrypting it later (“store now, decrypt later”). That means we have time, but not time to be complacent.
What to do now:
Researchers call it Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC)—but don’t let “post-” fool you. The right time to prepare is now.
3. One to amaze
If you’ve ever tried slicing a tomato and ended up with a red, seedy crime scene. Don’t worry, I'm the same.
Enter the Ultrasonic Knife from Seattle Ultrasonics. It looks like a normal kitchen knife, but it vibrates up to 40,000 times per second. The wild part? The vibration is so fast you can’t see it or hear it.
That speed creates a micro-slicing effect: cutting feels effortless, delicate foods hold their shape, and you get cleaner, thinner slices with less crushing. Bonus: food is less likely to stick to the blade, so you spend less time scraping and more time cooking.
Less “meal prep workout.” More restaurant-level slices. And it even charges via USB‑C. It's a slice of heaven!