1. Sometimes reinventing the wheel is a good thing

    An early (c. 1900) composite wheelBy applying composite materials, widely used in lightweight vehicles, to the design of wheels for heavy vehicles, a Columbia University team has made it to the national finals of Walmart’s Better Living Business Plan Challenge.

    [Their company] Composi-Tech – involves making significantly lighter wheels made of composite materials for large transport vehicles and buses, consequently improving total efficiency and reducing operational cost.

    Columbia University Students Reinvent the Wheel (cleantechnica.com)