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New Delhi, A rising tide of antibiotic-resistant bacteria -- if left unchecked, could kill an estimated 10 million people annually by 2050 -- was a fact known in the pre-Corona era and the Covid-19 situation has now put millions at risk by increasing their resistance to the antibiotics, warn researchers. To help address this alarming situation, researchers at University of Colorado Boulder in the US have discovered a <keyword id="1303648" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="chemical-compound">chemical compound</keyword> that works with a host's innate immune response to push <keyword id="10496956" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="past-cellular-barriers">past cellular barriers</keyword> that help bacteria resist antibiotics. "The Covid-19 situation is definitely putting us at risk for increasing resistance to antibiotics, so it's more important now than ever that we come up with alternative treatments," said Corrie Detweiler, a professor of molecular, cellular and developmental biology. In a paper published in the journal PLOS Pathogens, the authors said that the finding could lead to a new arsenal for fighting what could be the next big public health threat. "If we don't solve the problem of finding new antibiotics or somehow making old antibiotics work again, we are going to see sharply increasing deaths from <keyword id="654183" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="bacterial-infections">bacterial infections</keyword> we thought we had beaten decades ago," said Detweiler. Her lab developed a technique called 'SAFIRE' for screening for new small molecules which work differently than older drugs. Of 14,400 candidates screened from a library of existing chemicals, 'SAFIRE' identified 70 that hold promise. The new paper centres around "JD1," which appears to be particularly effective at infiltrating what are known as "Gram-negative bacteria." With a tough exterior membrane that prevents antibiotics from accessing the cell, and another <keyword id="10496957" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="interior-membrane">interior membrane</keyword> providing a buffer, these bacteria (including Salmonella and E. coli) are inherently difficult to treat. But unlike other drugs, JD1 takes advantage of the host's initial immune assault on that outer bacterial membrane, then slips inside and goes after the inner membrane too. "This is the first study to show that you can target a Gram-negative bacteria's inner membrane by exploiting the innate immune response of the host," Detweiler noted. In laboratory and rodent experiments, JD1 reduced survival and spread of Gram-negative bacteria called Salmonella enterica by 95%. By 2050, the authors noted, there could be more deaths from <keyword id="6369335" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="antibiotic">antibiotic</keyword> resistance than from cancer. "As our existing antibiotics adapt and work less, we risk essentially going back to a period 100 years ago, when even a minor infection could mean death," said Detweiler. The pandemic has shone even more light on the problem, as many patients die not from the virus itself but from hard-to-treat secondary bacterial infections. Meanwhile, Detweiler and other scholars worry that heightened use of antibiotics to prevent or treat those secondary infections, while at times necessary, may be exacerbating resistance. Most antibiotics in use today were developed in the 1950s, and pharmaceutical companies have since scaled back on research in the field in favour of more profitable ventures. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/top-stocks-to-watch-mrs-bectors-ril-bharti-airtel-vodafone-idea-ilfs-interglobe-aviation-future-group-deepak-nitrite-jubilant-foodworks-and-others/articleshow/79933826.cms">Top stocks to watch – Mrs Bectors, RIL, Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea, IL&amp;FS, InterGlobe Aviation, Future Group, Deepak Nitrite, Jubilant FoodWorks, and others</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/there-are-one-of-only-17-indian-companies-out-of-500-that-aced-the-du-pont-test/articleshow/79911627.cms">There are one of only 17 Indian companies out of 500 that aced the Du Pont test</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/corporates/news/wipro-buyback-offer-details-and-700-million-metro-ag-deal-drives-share-price/articleshow/79911875.cms">Wipro offers 10% more to buy back shares and signs a $700 million deal with Metro AG – everything that’s driving the IT services stock higher today</a>

Scientists find novel compound as COVID-19 triggers superbug threat

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Andrew Lambrecht, who owns a 2019 Tesla Model 3, test drove the new 2024 Model 3.</li><li>While the new Model 3 comes with better materials and a fresh interior, it lost its tax credit.</li></ul>The <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-model-3-best-features-2017-6">2017 Tesla Model 3</a> changed the EV game. Offering rapid acceleration, plenty of range, and a somewhat affordable price, the Model 3 squashed most preconceived notions about what electric cars should be.But the original one didn't come without flaws. From noisy cabins to build quality woes, the early Model 3s excelled in some areas but lacked in others.Despite its shortcomings, I was allured by the Model 3. Last year, I <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/bought-used-tesla-model-3-high-mileage-happy-2024-3">picked up a used 2019 model for around $26,000</a> and have enjoyed my time with it.Given the Model 3's relatively long lifecycle without any significant updates, the refreshed 2024 Model 3 has been long-awaited. The day Tesla Charlotte began demo drives of the new Model 3, I signed up for a slot to see if it was different enough from the outgoing one to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-model-y-redesign-what-could-change-features-2023-12">warrant an upgrade</a>.<h2>Tesla's approach to vehicle production</h2>The average consumer probably couldn't tell the difference between a 2017 and a 2023 Model 3. Tesla's upgrade approach involves tiny alterations — like making the trunk power-operated, installing beefier computers, and implementing features like a heated steering wheel — on a frequent but non-set basis.Not all the changes were improvements, though. One controversial revision was <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-uptick-crashes-accidents-elon-musk-removed-radar-autopilot-report-2023-3">removing the ultrasonic parking sensors</a>, which many owners disliked.The 2024 Model 3 got more of a facelift than previous versions. It offers a new front and rear appearance, though the side-view is largely the same.<h2>The Model 3's new look</h2><div type="image" title="close-up of the nose of a black Tesla" height="3024" width="4032" msid="109161466" hostid="261"></div>The new Model 3 is a much more eye-catching car than the outgoing one. It offers sharper headlights, a chiseled front nose, and aggressive split-cut rear taillights that alert other motorists you're merging left with authority.The door handles are the same, but now the doors carry a heft that pre-2021 examples could only dream of. When you close the doors, you hear a confident thud. Is it like the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/audi-e-tron-gt-electric-sedan-performance-horsepower-specs-2021-2">Audi e-tron</a>, where closing the door feels like you're sealing off a bank vault? No, but it's a great improvement for Tesla's entry-level vehicle.A common theme in the new Model 3 is better-quality materials, both for feel and sound. The rear trunk insert and door sill pockets are made of carpeting, as opposed to plastic in older versions. Not only does it feel better but softer and squishier materials also help reduce rattling and vibrations.All the windows are now composed of acoustic glass, which is two layers of glass laminated together with a membrane in the middle that helps absorb sound waves, minimizing the 3's once echo-ey cabin.<h2>Inside the fresh interior</h2><div type="image" title="inside the Tesla Model 3" height="3024" width="4032" msid="109161467" hostid="261"></div>The first thing that sticks out when you sit in the driver's seat is the lack of any stalks. The previous Model 3 had two stalks behind the steering wheel — one for turn signals and the other for selecting drive, reverse, or park.The blinkers have been moved to haptic steering wheel buttons. The drive selector is now a vertical strip on the left side of the screen. When you've stopped, you simply press the park icon to put the car in park. I thought the blinker buttons were cool, but others may not.Tesla made some overwhelmingly positive changes to the rest of the interior. The base version has a nine-speaker audio system, and the Long Range features a 17-speaker system with two subwoofers. The nine-speaker version is an improvement from the old base system, which was already pleasant to listen to.The 2024 Model 3 comes with heated and ventilated front seats as standard. Complementing the new seats is a sharp and distinctive ambient light strip that encircles the driver and passenger and extends to the rear.<div type="image" title="the screen in the backseat of the 2024 Tesla Model 3" height="3024" width="4032" msid="109161470" hostid="261"></div>Backseat occupants get an 8-inch center display, which allows them to play games and activate the seat heaters. Tesla also reworked the rear air vents, so the direction and speed are now controlled through the screen.<h2>Improved ride quality</h2><div type="image" title="a wheel on a Tesla model 3" height="3024" width="4032" msid="109161472" hostid="261"></div>The outgoing Model 3 drove well, though it lagged in the noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) category. Excessive road noise, vibrations on certain road surfaces, and occasional creaks and rattles impeded the Model 3's otherwise <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-owners-share-perks-best-features-electric-car-ev-2023-7">silent driving experience</a>.The 2024 Model 3 felt quieter on the road, and the updated suspension soaked up road imperfections more eloquently. Whenever I drove over a bump, the shock no longer permeated throughout the entirety of the cabin.The comfort-tuned suspension resulted in more body roll when pushed through corners, though. Moreover, when you floor the accelerator, the car's nose now lifts upwards. Overall, the ride felt substantially more refined.<h2>Zero to 60 in 5.8 Seconds</h2><div type="image" title="a back of a black Tesla Model 3" height="2996" width="3995" msid="109161475" hostid="261"></div>Even the base rear-wheel drive (RWD) version I tested had plenty of power to accelerate. Tesla says it should go from zero to 60 in 5.8 seconds.If you crave the sensation of accelerative force, Tesla offers a Dual Motor version with a larger battery and an additional motor up front. This one is much quicker, offering a zero-to-60 time of 4.2 seconds.<h2>Pricing and range</h2><div type="image" title="the interior of a Tesla model 3" height="3024" width="4032" msid="109161477" hostid="261"></div>The 2024 Model 3 RWD starts at $40,630 with a 272-mile range. The Long Range Dual Motor version costs $8,000 more, running $48,630 with 341 miles of EPA-estimated range.The 2024 Tesla Model 3's sticker price didn't increase with the updates, but it no longer qualifies for the federal tax credit due to battery mineral sourcing requirements courtesy of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). Last year's version was effectively $7,500 less expensive.The more spacious Model Y still gets the credit, so it's actually less expensive than the Model 3. The 2024 Tesla Model Y RWD, which offers some 260 miles of range, starts at $45,630, meaning it'll run $38,130 when the credit is applied. While it doesn't have ventilated seats or a rear screen, I would take the Model Y over the 3 for the practicality and cost savings.<h2>Verdict</h2><div type="image" title="the steering wheel on a Tesla Model 3" height="3024" width="4032" msid="109161478" hostid="261"></div>The 2024 Tesla Model 3 is a massive improvement over the outgoing one. Its new luxury features and improved build quality make Tesla's compact sedan a worthy opponent of higher-end luxury cars.After leaving the driver's seat, I quite liked the new Model 3's feature list, but I think the less refined but more spacious Model Y is the better buy.

I drove the new 2024 Tesla Model 3. I liked it, but I wouldn't buy it.

Best non-electric water purifiers for home

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Popular home-furnishing stores sell luxury <keyword id="6378916" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="cement">cement</keyword> side tables for hundreds of dollars.</li><li>Kiva Brent loved the look but not the cost, so she built her own using <keyword id="6371031" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="IKEA">Ikea</keyword>'s $15 Lack tables.</li><li>Brent formed a cube with two Lack tables, applied cement, and sanded them down to make a nightstand.</li></ul>When <keyword id="6373314" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Design">design</keyword> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/DIYwithKB/featured">YouTuber</a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/kiva.brent/">Kiva Brent</a> started seeing cement side tables, coffee tables, and nightstands rise in popularity, she wanted to add the look to her <keyword id="6363870" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="home">home</keyword>.Places like <a href="https://www.potterybarn.com/products/concrete-end-table-mp/?catalogId=84&amp;sku=2042470&amp;cm_ven=FreePLA&amp;cm_cat=Google&amp;cm_pla=Furniture%20%3E%20End%20%26%20Side%20Tables&amp;region_id=669950amp;region_id=669950">Pottery Barn</a> and <a href="https://www.westelm.com/products/industrial-concrete-table-h1577/?catalogId=71&amp;sku=741111&amp;cm_ven=FreePLA&amp;cm_cat=Google&amp;cm_pla=Furniture%20%3E%20Side%20%2B%20End%20Tables&amp;region_id=669950amp;region_id=669950">West Elm</a> sell cement tables for hundreds of dollars, but Brent didn't want to spend that much money.Instead, she created her own trendy <keyword id="6354386" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="furniture">furniture</keyword> item, hacking two affordable <a href="https://www.insider.com/easy-affordable-ikea-furniture-hacks-from-super-fans-2021-2#for-less-than-40-in-extra-tools-and-materials-one-superfan-took-a-simple-affordable-side-table-and-turned-it-into-an-expensive-looking-concrete-nightstand-4">Ikea Lack tables</a> and transforming them into an expensive-looking, cement nightstand for less than $65.<div type="image" title="Untitled design 2021 04 05T124142.241" height="900" width="1200" msid="81922046" hostid="261"></div><h2>What you need for the hack</h2>Although the most affordable <a href="https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/lack-side-table-black-20011408/">Lack table</a> retails for $9.99 on Ikea, Brent said she went with the more expensive, wood-like tables, which were <a href="https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/lack-side-table-high-gloss-white-60193736/">$14.99</a> apiece, purchasing two for $30. These side tables were closer to the color of concrete and would help hide any blemishes or imperfections later on in the project. For the rest of the materials, Brent used uncoupled membrane mortar (<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/reviews/out?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.lowes.com%2Fpd%2FMAPEI-Uncoupling-Membrane-50-lb-Gray-Powder-Thinset-Medium-Bed-Mortar%2F50157886&amp;sessionid=16170726164636lyh2s6k2s6k">$15 at Lowe's</a>), a notched trowel (<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/reviews/out?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.lowes.com%2Fpd%2FQLT-by-Marshalltown-11-in-Ground-Steel-Square-Notch-Ceramic-Floor-Trowel%2F1000204165&amp;sessionid=1617072616463qd3srde8rde8">$11 at Lowe's</a>), a five-gallon bucket (<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/reviews/out?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.lowes.com%2Fpd%2FUnited-Solutions-5-Gallon-General-Bucket%2F1000462835&amp;sessionid=1617072616463oek0l50ul50u">$3 at Lowe's</a>), and high-grit sandpaper (<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/reviews/out?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.lowes.com%2Fpd%2F3M-SandBlaster-Pro-5-Pack-9-in-W-x-11-in-L-80-Grit-Premium-Sandpaper%2F1000065497&amp;sessionid=161707261646394d23iu63iu6">$5 at Lowe's</a>).Brent said she already had the majority of the materials, so the whole project cost her $30. But the total cost of the supplies came to $64. <div type="image" title="ikea concrete hack" height="900" width="1200" msid="81922047" hostid="261"></div><h2>How to do it yourself</h2>Brent started by building one <keyword id="462707" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Table">table</keyword> following Ikea's instructions. Then, she nailed the second table's top to the bottom of the built table to create a cube shape.Using some mortar, Brent covered the entire structure in a thin layer of cement. Then, she used a notched trowel to smooth out the coat of cement she had applied to the table's top, legs, and bottom.After the structure dried, Brent sanded down the entire piece to give it a smooth finish. Brent outlined the entire project in a video on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CCpIM8KJyyA/">Instagram</a>, which you can watch below.Brent said she loved the finished <a href="https://www.insider.com/ikea-fans-favorite-time-money-saving-secrets-hacks-2021-2">Ikea hack</a>, and decided to build another cement nightstand so she would have a matching set for her bedroom.

How a homeowner turned $15 Ikea tables into a cement nightstand that looks like it's worth hundreds of dollars

The <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/insiderpicks">Insider Picks</a> team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><a href="http://www.pntrac.com/t/S0BLSkNKQERGRklFS0BKQ0tJSQ" target="_blank" rel="noopener"></a>Timberland</div></div></div><ul class="summary-list"><li>I own dozens of winter-ready boots from a variety of brands, but the <a href="http://www.pntrac.com/t/S0BLSkNKQERGRklFS0BKQ0tJSQ" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Timberland Super Boot</a> is always my go-to choice for cold weather and snow.</li><li>The brand just released a <a href="http://www.pntrac.com/t/S0BLSkNKQERGRklFS0BKQ0tJSQ" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Winter Extreme Collection</a>, featuring a shearling-lined pair and true-to-original Gore-Tex lined pair.</li><li>The <a href="http://www.pntrac.com/t/S0BLSkNKQERGRklFS0BKQ0tJSQ" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Timberland Winter Extreme Super Boots</a> are super warm, 100% waterproof, and well worth the $300 price tag - and that's coming from someone who has purchased three different pairs prior to reviewing this release.</li></ul>I got my first pair of <a href="http://www.pntrac.com/t/S0BLSkNKQERGRklFS0BKQ0tJSQ" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Timberland</a> boots when I was in kindergarten. The year was 1998 and I was only five years old, but I can vividly remember those classic Wheat six-inch boots being my favorite shoes at the time. Over the years, I' wore a handful of other Timberlands - and I'd probably still have a majority of them today, had I not outgrown them. Twenty years later, my feet have since stopped growing, so I don't have to replace my shoes nearly as often. When I shop for boots now, I look for build quality that can last a lifetime - and Timberland is still, without a question, my number one choice.Out of the 10 different pairs of <a href="http://www.pntrac.com/t/S0BLSkNKQERGRklFS0BKQ0tJSQ" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Timberlands</a> I currently own, the <a href="http://www.pntrac.com/t/S0BLSkNKQERGRklFS0BKQ0tJSQ" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Super Boot</a> is by far my favorite silhouette because of its longevity in both quality and style. I own three pairs of the Super Boots, but the brand just released two new "extreme" pairs in time for winter, which have quickly become my go-to for seriously cold weather.<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><a href="http://www.pntrac.com/t/S0BLSkNKQERGRklFS0BKQ0tJSQ" target="_blank" rel="noopener"></a>TimberlandThe Winter Extreme Shearling Super Boot (left) and the Winter Extreme GORE-TEX Super Boot (right).</div></div></div>Originally released in 1979, the <a href="http://www.pntrac.com/t/S0BLSkNKQERGRklFS0BKQ0tJSQ" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Timberland Super Boots</a> were designed for Alaskan frontiersmen and hunters in need of footwear that was durable, waterproof, and warm for extended periods of time. Often referred to as the Iditarod boot for its popularity among Alaskan dog sled racers or the 40 Below boot for being said to withstand -40° Fahrenheit temperatures, they have a strong reputation for cold-weather wear.The new <a href="http://www.pntrac.com/t/S0BLSkNKQERGRklFS0BKQ0tJSQ" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Winter Extreme Shearling Super Boots</a> feature an eight-inch height, a black Nubuck upper, 400 grams of PrimaLoft for insulation, authentic shearling interior linings, and durable Vibram outsoles. Also coming in an 8-inch height, the <a href="http://www.pntrac.com/t/S0BLSkNKQERGRklFS0BKQ0tJSQ" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Winter Extreme Gore-Tex Super Boots</a> feature a full-grain brown leather upper, Gore-Tex membranes, 400 grams of PrimaLoft for insulation, and Vibram outsoles. Despite having a tan and black midsole in the lifestyle images, the boots actually come with an all-black midsole like photographed <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BrYNHQFnPmi/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>. <a href="http://www.pntrac.com/t/S0BLSkNKQERGRklFS0BKQ0tJSQ" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Timberland </a>decided to make this change late in production in order to make it identical to the 1979 original and the mid-90s re-release.<a href="http://www.pntrac.com/t/S0BLSkNKQERGRklFS0BKQ0tJSQ" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Timberland</a> sent me a pair of the <a href="http://www.pntrac.com/t/S0BLSkNKQERGRklFS0BKQ0tJSQ" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Winter Extreme Shearling Super Boots</a>, but to be completely honest, I would've bought them with my own money had they not. Having already owned the traditional Super Boots in three different colors, I figured that the shearling-lined version would be a worthwhile addition to my collection - and I was completely right. It just so happened that I was already wearing my Super Boots in "Hazel Highway" leather from 2016 when the new pair arrived in the mail, so I was able to get a feel for how much of a difference the shearling makes. While the regular pairs have been my go-to boots for cold weather and snow, the new shearling-lined pair is a lot better in terms of comfort and warmth. The shearling is super soft and packs that coziness you'd want out of slipper into a rugged winter boot.<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><a href="http://www.pntrac.com/t/S0BLSkNKQERGRklFS0BKQ0tJSQ" target="_blank" rel="noopener"></a>Amir Ismael/Business InsiderMy "Hazel Highway" Super Boots (pictured above) were my go-to's for snow and cold, but the new shearling-lined pair exceeded my expectations in warmth and comfort.</div></div></div>Although I've never been to Alaska or stepped foot outside in sub-zero temperatures, I've worn my non-shearling-lined Super Boots countless times during harsh New York and New Jersey winters. Even with normal socks, I've been able to comfortably stand outside in them without frozen toes. So as you can imagine, the shearling-lined pair is just that much warmer.The boots are on the heavy side, but it's something you should expect considering its eight-inch height, thick Nubuck upper, shearling lining, and sturdy Vibram sole. If you're looking for a lighter weight yet extremely durable Timberland boot, I recommend the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/timberland-1978-waterproof-hiking-boot-review" target="_blank" rel="noopener">1978 Waterproof Hiker</a>, which became my second favorite silhouette from the brand after reviewing it last year.Another thing that I really like about this year's Super Boot release is that they're more readily available. On two separate occasions in the past, I was able to secure releases just minutes before they sold out completely. Being limited to 1,973 pairs (the number they released for <a href="http://www.pntrac.com/t/S0BLSkNKQERGRklFS0BKQ0tJSQ" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Timberland</a>'s year of establishment), the third pair was so hard to get that I resorted to eBay. This time around, both pairs are available in all sizes on <a href="http://www.pntrac.com/t/S0BLSkNKQERGRklFS0BKQ0tJSQ" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Timberland</a> at the time of publishing this post four days after the release.Both the Winter Extreme Shearling Super Boots and the Winter Extreme Gore-Tex Super Boots are priced at $300. As someone who's paid that on three separate occasions before receiving the shearling pair for review, I can say that they're well worth the money. I've tried a handful of boots that are similarly priced or higher that don't match up to the <a href="http://www.pntrac.com/t/S0BLSkNKQERGRklFS0BKQ0tJSQ" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Timberland Super Boots</a>.Whether you're going for the true-to-original Gore-Tex-lined version or the new ultra-warm shearling pair, the <a href="http://www.pntrac.com/t/S0BLSkNKQERGRklFS0BKQ0tJSQ" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Timberland Super Boot Collection</a> can handle anything that might come your way this winter. If you're looking for winter boots that will last a lifetime, you've just found them.<h3><a href="http://www.pntrac.com/t/S0BLSkNKQERGRklFS0BKQ0tJSQ" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shop the Timberland Super Boot Collection here</a>. </h3> <a href="http://e.businessinsider.com/join/ci/insider-picks">Subscribe to our newsletter.</a> Find all the best offers at our <a href="https://coupons.businessinsider.com/">Coupons page</a>. Disclosure: This post is brought to you by the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/insiderpicks">Insider Picks</a> team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners. We frequently receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising sales team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at insiderpicks@businessinsider.com.

These $300 Timberlands were designed to handle harsh Alaskan winters - here's why they get my vote for the best cold-weather boot

The <keyword id="6358301" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Monsoon">monsoon</keyword> season, experienced every year, inevitably damages both the exteriors and interiors of homes and apartments, leaving the walls drab and shabby to the dismay of the home owners. The colour of the walls accentuates the look of a house. 
 We asked the experts at <keyword id="355029" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Kansai-Nerolac">Kansai Nerolac</keyword> Paints for some tips on keeping the houses monsoon ready and this is what they had to offer: 
 
Reasons for damage 
 
The primary reason for damage to the interior wall is the inferior quality paint used on the exterior of the property. Concrete allows water and moisture to seep in, which ultimately gets collected within the wall. This leads to a build-up and creates damp patches along the interior wall surface. 
 
Further, the wall paint may start to peel or develop blisters. In the longer run, this tends to become a breeding ground for algae and fungus. The choice of exterior paint is crucial as it protects the external wall by preventing rain water and moisture from entering the concrete. It should be well-equipped to fight the vagaries of the weather. 
 
How to be monsoon safe 
 
Before painting 
· Any plastering, repairing and waterproofing should be done before painting. All structural cracks must be open in V-shape filled with white cement/cement-based plasters and any leakage should be stopped before painting. 
· Before undertaking any interior painting, have your walls scanned with a moisture meter to detect if there is any moisture left behind on the walls. 
· Remove all hardware from doors and windows, loosen lighting fixtures or mask them with tape or paper. 
· Dust walls thoroughly with a dry mop. Use roller, brush or spray gun to paint large surfaces. 
· Choose paints which are ‘lead free’ and ‘low’ or ‘zero VOC’ as it will ensure the well-being of your loved ones and will also help you use the rooms while they are being painted. 
 
While painting 
· Before applying the first coat, all the wall surfaces should be evened with a quality primer/putty. 
· For best results, apply 2-3 coats of paints, rather than one thick coat. 
 
Maintenance tips 
· Wash walls with a soft sponge and mild detergent twice a year for best results. For distempered walls, minimum pressure should be applied while cleaning. 
· If any dampness is observed, check for the source and rectify it immediately to prevent flaking and peeling of paint. 
· Remove stains and dust from a painted surface with a clean white cloth or sponge dipped in mild detergent. After cleaning, wash away all traces of detergent and wipe dry. 
· Never use water for spot cleaning unless the wall is totally free from extraneous dust. 
 
Mr Anuj Jain, Director, Sales and Marketing (decorative), Kansai Nerolac Paints, went on to share that years of research in Japan and India has led to the introduction of Nerolac Excel – a premium exterior emulsion by Kansai Nerolac Paints equipped with unique weather defence formula. This Japanese technology keeps your walls looking as good as new through high humidity, torrential rain and scorching heat. 
 
For exterior walls, Nerolac Excel’s weather defence formula acts as an anti-UV agent, deflecting the harshness of the sun. It also forms an outer membrane that repels water before it can permeate down to the inner layers. 
 
For the interior walls, Nerolac Impressions Eco-Clean works the best as it is a No-VOC paint, and is devoid of the strong odour that most paints emit. It is also anti-fungal and bacteria resistant, making it an ideal option for the monsoons. Other qualities include washability, excellent sheen and best-in-class visco-elastic properties. 
 
We also asked Mr Jain about the cost of painting a 200 square yard house. As per his estimates, the cost of painting a 200 square yard house would be Rs 7500 (the cost of material) plus Rs 7000-8000 (labour, miscellaneous expenses), if we go for Nerolac Excel. However, for Excel Total, the cost of material would shoot up to Rs 9800. 
 
Image courtesy: Thinkstock

Make Your Home Monsoon Proof

This post is part of the "<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/category/future-of-business">Future of Business</a>" series, which examines how cutting-edge technologies are rapidly reshaping our world, from how businesses run to how we live. "<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/category/future-of-business">The Future of Business</a>" is sponsored by <keyword id="6358384" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="SAP">SAP</keyword>.
<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/category/future-of-business">See more Future of Business &gt;&gt;</a><div class="image-container float_right" style="width:400px"><div class="image"></div><a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Delaware_River.jpg">Wikimedia Commons</a></div>
A new trend is emerging, where researchers, designers, and everyone in between are starting to ask, "how can we be more like <keyword id="6360307" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Nature">nature</keyword> — more renewable, more constructive and more sustainable?" 
In a world filled with 7 billion people crammed into mega <keyword id="6399501" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Cities">cities</keyword>, human kind will have to adapt before we can continue to grow, or else we will destroy the only home we've ever known. We need to look to nature for instructions on how to survive on this planet in ways that are "conductive to life," according to biomimicry pioneer Janine Benyus.
Benyus is the founder of Biomimicry 3.8 (the name is a play on the 3.8 billion years that life on Earth has spent evolving). She's also the author of a book called <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Biomimicry-Innovation-Inspired-Janine-Benyus/dp/0060533226">Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired By Nature (William Morrow Paperbacks, 2002)</a>.
Benyus's Biomimicry 3.8 workshops have spawned dozens of groups at local levels, bringing together people from all over the world to discuss, talk to scientists, and learn about biomimcry. 
Adiel Gavish attended one of these workshops in Costa Rica in 2007, and set up the <a href="http://biomimicrynyc.com/">BiomimicryNYC</a> group in December of 2011.
"Our network is really just here to create a community, to connect these people who are really excited about this next frontier of <keyword id="49089" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Sustainability">sustainability</keyword>," Gavish said. The program brings people together "to inform one another of all the exciting things we are doing and to catalyze some biomimcry projects and programs in the New York City metro region."
Elegance of the natural world
We talked to Gavish about how this "nature-inspired" and "bio-designed" movement can be applied to the world around us.<div class="image-container float_left" style="width:400px"><div class="image"></div>Marc Meyers and Joanna McKittrick/Jacobs School of Engineering at UC San DiegoAn abalone shell is made of thousands of layers of "tiles" made of calcium carbonate (more commonly known as chalk). A key to the strength of the abalone shell is a protein adhesive that binds to the top and bottom surfaces of the calcium carbonate tiles. The glue is strong enough to hold layers of tiles firmly together, but weak enough to permit the layers to slip apart, absorbing the energy of a heavy blow in the process. This pictures shows the tiles under various degrees of magnification.</div> There are three general ways that people can learn from nature:
1. We can mimic its natural form — the physical features of a finished product.
2. We can watch how things come together in nature and mimic that natural process — for example, how our cells use proteins and enzymes in groups.
3. We can look to entire communities in nature — ecosystems — to lean how to better <keyword id="6373314" type="CITY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Design">design</keyword> our cities.
In the past, designers and inventors have used nature sporadically — for example, the design of velcro was inspired by the hooks on burrs that catch on hair and clothing. Biomimicry enthusiasts think this that there's almost no limit to how the natural world can inspire new design principles and methods.
"We don’t see humans and nature as separate; we see it as life. If life creates conditions conducive to life it’s both people and planet together," Gavish said. "It’s definitely not separated in any way. That’s our philosophy and the guiding principle. Really let nature serve as mentor, model and measure."
The organisms all around us — from bacteria and fungi to trees and primates — manage to solve many of the tough parts of living in the world while working with a very small tool box of common chemical components. They use these components at body temperature and pressure in water-based solutions. Many human-made materials need to be processed at very high or low temperatures, and use uncommon, expensive materials.
Benyus writes: "Their models are organisms that manufacture without 'heat, beat, and treat,' and ecosystems that run on sunlight and feedback, creating opportunities rather than waste."
There are many ways that we can integrate natural design into our lives. Here are some main examples:
Materials
Knowledge gained from the study of natural materials, like spider silk and keratin (the protein that makes up our hair, nails and animal horns), can be applied to man-made structures. For example, in the toucan's beak, keratin and other proteins work together to form a incredibly light but also structurally sound and strong "foam."
A group of researchers at University of California, San Diego, have been studying these kinds of natural materials for decades. Two of these bio-inspired engineers, Joanna McKittrick and Marc Meyers, recently wrote a paper, published in the<a href="http://www.sciencemag.org/content/339/6121/773.abstract"> journal Science in February</a>, about some of the transformative work inspired by studies of natural materials.<div class="image-container float_right" style="width:400px"><div class="image"></div>Marc Meyers/Jacobs School of Engineering, UC San DiegoThe interior of the toucan's beak is rigid "foam" made of bony fibers and drum-like membranes sandwiched between outer layers of keratin, the protein that makes up fingernails, hair and horn. The result is solid "foam" made of air-tight cells that gives the beak additional rigidity. Like a house covered by a shingled roof, the foam is covered with overlapping keratin tiles, each about 50 micrometers in diameter and 1 micrometer thick, which are glued together to produce sheets.</div>
Nature is filled with great examples of materials that have extraordinary properties: extremely tough, very lightweight, or super strong. Harnessing the methods that are used to make these materials can help researchers develop better body armor, lighter aircraft and stronger, more flexible materials.
"It's a huge challenge because the way nature manufactures them it works from the bottom up. It lays structures from the bottom up," Meyers told Business Insider. "Conventional processes work from the top down so we have to change our way of producing things."
Lessons from these materials could be used in the lab using 3D printing, even, to build products from the ground up instead of top down.
"An abalone doesn't grow a shell overnight," <a href="http://ucsdnews.ucsd.edu/pressrelease/tough_light_and_strong_lessons_from_nature_could_lead_to_the_creation_of_ne">McKittrick said in a press release</a>. "But you could build a material similar to the abalone shell using principles we learned from nature by printing layer upon layer of mineral deposits — and do it much faster than nature would."
Design
Physical properties of the natural world, like shark's skin — which has a special texture to help it glide through the water — can be applied to design. Shark skin ripples inspired the now-banned swimsuits created and worn by competitive swimmers because they reduce drag on the body in the water.
Another example, <a href="http://www.stocorp.com/index.php/component/option,com_catalog2/Itemid,196/catID,43/catLevel,5/lang,en/productID,34/subCatID,44/subCatIDBP,44/subCatIDnext,0/">Lotuson paint</a>, was inspired by the Lotus flower, which, though it lives in a swamp, is always clean. The plant's petals have nodules that collect rain water and wash the plant. This same nodule approach can be used in house paint, which saves time in washing down your house, and it also means you don't need to use hazardous chemicals.<div class="image-container float_left" style="width:400px"><div class="image"></div>Joanna McKittrick/Marc Meyers/Jacobs School of Engineering, UC San DiegoThe longhorn cowfish, from the boxfish family, can be found in tropical and subtropical waters in the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. Its shell is a good example of a material that is both light and tough. It is made of mineralized scales that do not overlap and are held together by zipper-like connections. The scales rest on a bed of fibers that imparts flexibility to the fish's carapace. These gold-on-black images were taken with micro-computed tomography.</div>
Other natural inspirations, like the toucan's beak, can show us how to build things that are both lighter and stronger.
It was actually the toucan's beak that got Meyers interested in bio-inspired engineering to begin with, he said.
"I was walking in the jungle and I found the skull of a toucan, it was so light and so strong," he said. "It's something that stayed with me and that inspired me."
Color
Many of the colors found in nature come from physical structure of proteins, instead of pigments. These compounds aren't toxic like pigments, Gavish said.
"If you looked at a butterfly wing microscopically, you would see there’s this really incredible structure to it that allows light to reflect off of the butterfly wing thus creating these incredible structures you see, and that’s without toxins, that’s without chemicals," Gavish told Business Insider.
"So nature has this really awesome way of taking structure, and then utilizing it to create things like color and these amazing patterns that serve multiple functions."
The <a href="http://www.qualcomm.com/mirasol">Mirasol display by Qualcomm</a> use these natural structural colors to make colorful displays with long battery life that are readable in low and bright lights. These displays are made without the toxic heavy metals and manufacturing methods currently used in creation of many pigments and dyes.
Sustainability
Watching how nature works — say, in a coral reef — could help design more sustainable communities and better ways of working.
For example, in an ecosystem, when an animal dies, it provides food for other, smaller animals. These animals (usually bacteria and other microbes) make sure that the dead animal doesn't end up as "garbage" — they break it down and use it as a source of energy, what we typically call rotting. This may seem gross to you, but it means that all the chemicals go back into the Earth and support more life.
Nothing is wasted in these systems, a theme that we could take and apply in our ecosystems — like cities. 
"Right now we are taking material from the natural world and we are downcycling it — a tree that is used as a piece of paper once and thrown away. The natural capital that you gain is now lost," Gavish said. 
Robotics
Using animals as their muses, roboticists have been working to develop robots that can run and fly and jump as efficiently, if not more efficiently than animals in nature. 
There's a <a href="http://biorobotics.ri.cmu.edu/projects/modsnake/">snake-like robot</a> that can snuggle through debris to find people after an earthquake, and there's the <a href="http://www.bostondynamics.com/robot_bigdog.html">big dog developed by DARPA and Boston Dynamics</a> to carry large loads for soldiers. The researchers at MIT's robotics lab are even developing a running "cheetah" robot based on how a cheetah really runs.
The cheetabot will soon be running faster than its natural counterpart. It wastes very little energy while it trots along at a steady 5 miles per hour for hours.
"With our system, we can make our robotic leg behave like a spring or damper without having physical springs, dampers or force sensors," researcher Sangbae Kim <a href="http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2013/mit-cheetah-robot-0308.html">said in a press release</a>.
It's a little creepy, but see it here in action:

As you can see, biomimcry isn't just one thing, it's applicable everywhere. It's a thought process and a way of seeing the world around you as a teacher, not a warehouse. And it's going to change everything, Gavish thinks.
"It’s now just how can we take X and how can we apply it to one thing," Gavish said, "it’s how we fundamentally change how we view the natural world."

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