Mexican artist Gilberto Esparza is helping nature take it all back. Esparza has created the Planta Nomada, a hybrid plant/robot that runs on water-faring microorganisms and looks bloody awesome to boot. Scary, when you consider plants can now move of their own volition, but awesome nonetheless. When the fuel source (the microscopic critters) need their own food, the plantbot shuffles towards water, where the organisms convert their food into electricty, to power the bot. The plants also get fed, too – everyone wins! No word on what the robot does when it’s not hungry – probably contemplates…

Receiving a Special Mention in Evolo’s 2010 Skyscraper Competition, this underwater skyscraper from Malaysian designer Sarly Ardre Bin Sarkum redefines what it means to be an impossibly large metal tube full of human beings. Decked out with swaying tentacles that collect kinetic energy from the current and its own private forest on top, it is designed not only to have zero environmental impact, but to actually contribute oxygen to the atmosphere at that. As if no one can tell that it’s a thinly-disguised temple for awakening Cthulhu. That is the only logical progression after the reign of George…