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Cardboard and earth combine to create low-carbon alternative to concrete

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Cardboard and earth combine to create low-carbon alternative to concrete


A cardboard-confined rammed earth column and CFRP-confined rammed earth column. Credit: RMIT University

Engineers in Australia have developed a new building material with about one quarter of concrete’s carbon footprint, while reducing waste going to landfill. The research is published in the journal Structures.

This innovative material, called cardboard-confined rammed earth, is composed entirely of cardboard, water and soil—making it reusable and recyclable.

In Australia alone, more than 2.2 million tons of cardboard and paper are sent to landfill each year. Meanwhile, cement and concrete production account for about 8% of annual global emissions.

Cardboard has previously been used in temporary structures and disaster shelters, such as Shigeru Ban’s iconic Cardboard Cathedral in Christchurch, New Zealand.

Inspired by such designs, the RMIT University team has, for the first time, combined the durability of rammed earth with the versatility of cardboard.

Lead author Dr. Jiaming Ma from RMIT said the development of cardboard-confined rammed earth marked a significant advancement toward a more sustainable construction industry.

“Modern rammed earth construction compacts soil with added cement for strength. Cement use is excessive given the natural thickness of rammed earth walls,” he said.

But cardboard-confined rammed earth, developed at RMIT University, eliminates the need for cement and boasts one quarter of the at under one third of the cost, compared to concrete.

“By simply using cardboard, soil and water, we can make walls robust enough to support low-rise buildings,” Ma said.

“This innovation could revolutionize and construction, using locally sourced materials that are easier to recycle.

“It also reflects the global revival of earth-based construction fueled by net zero goals and interest in local sustainable materials.”

  • Cardboard and earth reshape sustainable construction
    Image of study lead author Dr. Jiaming Ma holding the cardboard-confined rammed earth material. Credit: RMIT University
  • Cardboard and earth reshape sustainable construction
    The RMIT-based research team. L–R: Hongru Zhang, Jiaming Ma, Dilan Robert and Ngoc San Ha. Credit: RMIT University

Practical benefits

The cardboard-confined rammed earth can be made on the by compacting the soil and water mixture inside the cardboard formwork, either manually or with machines.

Study corresponding author and leading expert in the field of structural optimization, Emeritus Professor Yi Min “Mike’ Xie, said this advancement can spearhead a leaner, greener approach to construction.

“Instead of hauling in tons of bricks, steel and concrete, builders would only need to bring lightweight cardboard, as nearly all material can be obtained on site,” Xie said.

“This would significantly cut transport costs, simplify logistics and reduce upfront material demands.”

Ma said cardboard-confined rammed earth could be an effective solution for construction in , such as regional Australia, where red soils—ideal for rammed earth construction—are plentiful.

“Rammed earth buildings are ideal in hot climates because their high thermal mass naturally regulates indoor temperatures and humidity, reducing the need for mechanical cooling and cutting carbon emissions,” he said.

The mechanical strength of the novel material varies based on the thickness of the cardboard tubes.

Ma said the team has developed the formula for this strength design.

“We’ve created a way to figure out how the thickness of the cardboard affects the strength of the rammed earth, allowing us to measure strength based on thickness,” Ma said.

  • Cardboard and earth reshape sustainable construction
    An RMIT-created cardboard-confined rammed earth column. Credit: RMIT University
  • Cardboard and earth reshape sustainable construction
    An RMIT-created cardboard-confined rammed earth column. Credit: RMIT University

In a separate study led by Ma and published in Composite Structures, was combined with rammed earth, proving it had a comparable to high-performance concrete.

Ma and the team are ready to partner with various industries to further develop this new material so it can be used widely.

More information:
Jiaming Ma et al, Cardboard-confined rammed earth towards sustainable construction, Structures (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.istruc.2025.110117

Jiaming Ma et al, CFRP-confined rammed earth towards high-performance earth construction, Composite Structures (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.compstruct.2025.119512

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RMIT University


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This App Makes Even the Sketchiest PDF or Word Doc Safe to Open

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This App Makes Even the Sketchiest PDF or Word Doc Safe to Open


Word documents, and even PDF files, aren’t necessarily safe. These normally innocuous files can be injected with malicious “poison” code or simple scripts of code that can be a serious security risk.

You probably already know it’s dangerous to open files from sources you can’t necessarily trust. If you’re an activist or journalist—or anyone who occasionally depends on anonymous tips to do their jobs—you might run into a situation where potentially useful information is inside a Microsoft Word document or PDF file that you can’t exactly vouch for. Wouldn’t it be nice if you could open those files and read them without exposing your device to potential security risks?

Dangerzone is a free and open source tool built for this purpose. Originally built by journalist and security engineer Micah Lee, this application opens files in a sandbox environment with no internet access, then converts the file to an image-based PDF with no scripting enabled. The resulting PDF has any malicious code stripped out and should be safe to open—at least, as safe as anything can be.

“You can think of it like printing a document and then rescanning it to remove anything sketchy, except all done in software,” explains the about page, which includes a lot of fascinating details about how the application works.

To get started, download and install Dangerzone. There are downloads for Windows, macOS, and various Linux systems. The first time you run it there will be a brief setup, after which you can simply drag files to the window.

Photograph: Justin Pot

The application can open and convert PDF, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Open Office, EPUB, and image files. You can drag and drop multiple documents at once, if you’d like.

After adding documents you will be asked a few questions: where you’d like the resulting files to end up, whether they should open after the conversion is done, and whether you’d like to use optical character recognition (OCR) in order to make the document searchable. You can also move the original, potentially unsafe documents into a subfolder named “unsafe,” helping ensure you don’t confuse them with the newly made safe ones.

Image may contain Text

Photograph: Justin Pot



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Litter-Robot Promo Codes: $150 Off Bundles, $50 Off the Starter Bundle, and More

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Litter-Robot Promo Codes: 0 Off Bundles,  Off the Starter Bundle, and More


I always tell people that the best thing I’ve ever tested for my job here on the WIRED Reviews team is my automatic litter box from Litter-Robot. I recommend every cat owner invest in an automatic litter box. If they can swing it, the Litter-Robot is the best one to invest in. You’ll be able to say goodbye to the days of scooping and smells while this nifty machine does the grunt work for you.

Litter-Robot is the OG automatic litter box, and the name itself has become synonymous with the concept. And that’s not by accident, as the brand makes incredibly well-made, ergonomic products to help the lives of pet parents everywhere. Along with their famous automatic litter boxes, they also make a super sleek automatic pet feeder that I’ve also tested (and loved). These gadgets are an investment, and can be pricey, but we here at WIRED love the brand so much that we’ve rounded up some of the best Litter-Robot promo codes, coupons, and deals to make these life-changing pet machines more affordable. Because your pet (and you) deserve it.

Get $150 Off Litter-Robot Bundles This Month: No Promo Code Needed

One of the best ways to save big without needing a Litter-Robot promo code is to buy in a bundle. Litter-Robot has several bundles that give you all the essentials you’ll need to get started using your automatic litter box, like a litter trapping mat, replacement waste bags, odor eliminators, litter, and more. A bundle is a great way to save money on the purchases you’ll already have to make, without needing a Litter-Robot coupon. You can get $150 off several different bundles, including Litter-Robot 4 models, as well as the newly released Litter-Robot 5 and Litter-Robot EVO models.

Get the Best Deals on the Litter-Robot 4

I’ve tested well over a dozen models of automatic litter boxes from different brands, including several models from Litter-Robot. The one I keep coming back to is my personal favorite, the Litter-Robot 4. Even though the 5 is the newest model (I’ve tested it and I’m in the process of writing the review now), I just can’t quit you, Litter-Robot 4! I still think it’s one of the best automatic litter boxes you can buy: it has a user-friendly, intuitive connected app that isn’t overcrowded or confusing, the drawer is easy to pull out to remove waste, it has buttons on the top to manually change, and it doesn’t take up a large footprint on the floor. Plus, with a variety of discounted bundles to choose from, you won’t even need a Litter-Robot promo code.

Litter-Robot 5 Pro Insights Bundle Discount: $150 Off

As previously mentioned, I just tested the Litter-Robot 5 Pro, part of Litter-Robot’s recently released line of brand new models. I was seriously impressed with this model, which looks super similar to the Litter-Robot 4, but has a built-in camera to see what’s going on inside and outside of the box. The newest model isn’t cheap, but right now, the Litter-Robot 5 Pro Insights Bundle is only $999 ($152 off). This bundle includes the newest Litter-Robot 5 Pro with built-in camera, plus a litter tracking mat and waste drawer liners to get you started. And as an added bonus, Litter-Robot has a 90-day in-home trial, one-year warranty, and free shipping to the lower 48.

Take $50 Off the Litter-Robot EVO Starter Bundle

The Litter-Robot EVO is another newly released model from Litter-Robot, but this one is a more pared-down, basic version that’s streamlined and compact. I personally love the simpler models (hence my paragraph-long love letter to the Litter-Robot 4 above). If you’re someone who doesn’t need to watch a camera feed of your cat peeing and pooing, the EVO is a more affordable, basic option that gets the job done efficiently. Right now, the Litter-Robot EVO Starter Bundle is $782 ($50 off), and has everything you need to get settled with your new auto box, including waste drawer liners, a litter trap mat, a bag of litter, and odor traps to keep things smelling fresh.

Save 35% on Cat Essentials With a Litter-Robot Discount Code

If you live in a big city like me, there’s nothing worse than carrying heavy litter down icy streets or in hot, packed subway cars. Autoshipping my (often heavy) cat essentials has been a game-changer. If you choose autoship, you’ll save 35% on cat essentials like litter, waste drawer liners, odor traps, filters, and more with this Litter-Robot discount code.

{​Get 35% Off Litter-Robot Accessories

I love my Litter-Robot 4, but I highly encourage everyone to spring for the Litter-Robot-branded accessories to accompany the device. This automatic litter box works excellently as is, but things like a ramp for senior cats, filter replacements, and odor traps will keep the device running like new for longer. Keep your investment in tip-top shape for way less with discounted accessories and bundles, for up to 35% off.



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Our Favorite Amazon Streaming Stick Is Almost Half Off

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Our Favorite Amazon Streaming Stick Is Almost Half Off


If your TV isn’t as smart as you hoped, or you just hate its built-in interface for some reason, there are a variety of other options for dedicated streaming. For households that watch a lot of shows and movies on Prime Video or use Alexa for their smart home management, we recommend checking out the Fire TV Stick 4K Max. The latest generation is currently marked down to just $35 for the Amazon Big Spring Sale, a $25 discount from its usual price.

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Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Generation)

While the Fire TV Stick is a good choice for Prime Video, it plays well with basically all of the major streaming services you’d expect, including Netflix, Disney+, and HBO Max. The previous generation had just 8 GB of storage, but the new model’s upgraded 16 GB means you won’t have to choose which apps to keep and which to delete. If you have a compatible controller and an Xbox Game Pass subscription, you can even stream games directly to the Fire TV Stick right from the cloud. With some help from Wi-Fi 6E, apps will download faster and stream at higher quality with less buffering, as long as your router supports it.

One of the standout features is the Fire TV Stick’s integration with Alexa smart home systems. While watching your shows, you can easily pull up a picture-in-picture of any security feeds, and there are options to control other smart devices, like lights, right from your television. The remote even doubles as an Alexa with its built-in microphone, letting you find shows or ask questions without getting off the couch. With a built-in gallery mode, the TV can slowly rotate through photos and paintings like a screensaver, and you can ask the remote to quickly find out what you’re looking at.

The world of streaming devices is surprisingly deep, so if you’re curious what else is out there, make sure to swing by our guide to the best 4K streaming sticks and hubs. For the Alexa and Amazon-powered home, there’s no substitute for the Fire TV Stick 4K Max, so make sure to grab yours for just $35 before the sale ends.



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