Bookmarks (1082)

Penguins are fast, fantastic swimmers, so why not make an underwater robot inspired by them? That's just what German underwater tech company EvoLogics has done, with its new-and-improved Quadroin AUV (autonomous underwater vehicle).Continue ReadingCategory: Robotics, TechnologyTags: Underwater, Autonomous, Biomimicry

A perfect storm is brewing for China's most densely populated areas due to rising sea levels and subsiding land that has been accelerated beyond normal fluctuations. Scientists have sounded the alarm that, without intervention, urban areas below sea level could triple in size by 2120, impacting up to 128 million people.Continue ReadingCategory: Environment, ScienceTags: Climate Crisis, China, Infrastructure, Sustainability

Logitech has introduced new software that gives users of its peripherals easy access to ChatGPT. After matching the feature to a keyboard key or mouse button, the user can quickly tap into the power of GPT via preset or custom recipes.Continue ReadingCategory: Computers, TechnologyTags: Logitech, Mouse, Keyboard, Artificial Intelligence, GPT

Officials have given the thumbs up for a new tallest skyscraper in the United States – and it's not headed for New York City or Chicago as you might expect, but to a tornado-prone area with a population of only around 700,000 people: Oklahoma City.Continue ReadingCategory: Architecture, LifestyleTags: Building and Construction, Residential towers, Skyscrapers

Tech company Beaverlab has launched a Kickstarter to raise funds for a smart super-telephoto camera called the Excope DT1 that can be had with a 400-mm zoom lens, and works with a smartphone to capture distant imagery.Continue ReadingCategory: Mobile Technology, TechnologyTags: Cameras, smartphones, Photography, Video, Lenses, Kickstarter

The Arsenale’s latest offering is the Plan B: a lighweight, ultra-long-range, 2WD, low-power, hybrid gas/electric bike for wet, slippery, snowy or sandy conditions. With two failed indiegogo campaigns behind it as the 2X2 Ultrabike, it has reemerged at The Arsenale, a high end boutique for unique transportation solutions in Dubai.Continue ReadingCategory: Motorcycles, TransportTags: Electric Motorcycles, Off-road, Utility vehicles

The four spikes on a new nanocrystal developed in Spain spin up under light and move through liquid, blasting any bacteria unfortunate to be in their path. The development could spell trouble for bacteria that resists traditional drug treatments.Continue ReadingCategory: Medical, ScienceTags: Antibacterial, Antibiotic-resistant bacteria, Bacteria, Nanotechnology, Disease, Micro-organisms

Over the first half of the 20th century the world saw growing rates of heart disease mortality. From the 1920s to the 1960s more and more people were dying from heart attacks. It was described as an epidemic of heart disease. But in the mid-1960s heart disease mortality suddenly plateaued.Continue ReadingCategory: Health & Wellbeing, LifestyleTags: Coronavirus (COVID-19), Influenza, Heart Disease, Heart attack, Epidemiology

Scientists have caught a once-in-a-billion-years evolutionary event in progress, as two lifeforms have merged into one organism that boasts abilities its peers would envy. Last time this happened, Earth got plants.Continue ReadingCategory: Biology, ScienceTags: Life, Evolution, Bacteria, Algae, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Hydrogen-fueled combustion engines have slowly emerged in the mobility world, designed to run everything from race cars to pleasure boats. The latest hydrogen ICE to rumble to life was born with a special mission at its core: claim an all-out land speed record or two for the emerging hydrogen-combustion space. A team of students at the University of Bath have successfully gotten their first...

Boom has been given permission to go supersonic by the US FAA. The first-ever Special Flight Authorization (SFA) to Exceed Mach means the company's XB-1 prototype will be allowed to break the sound barrier during its test flights.Continue ReadingCategory: Aircraft, TransportTags: Boom, Supersonic

The tracking of squid and other soft-bodied sea creatures may soon be a lot more doable, thanks to a new bioadhesive interface. It's claimed to be much gentler than current attachment methods, while still remaining up to the task.Continue ReadingCategory: ScienceTags: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, MIT, Tracking

The SkyNest combines a hammock, bug mesh net and rainfly in a single package that can be used all together or in its separate components. It's claimed to be roomier than other hammock tents, and easier to set up.Continue ReadingCategory: Outdoors, LifestyleTags: Kickstarter, Tree tent, Hammocks, Camping

Boston Dynamics has unveiled a stronger, more agile, fully electric version of its Atlas humanoid robot. The kinda creepy-looking thing is already slated to enter use on Hyundai's automotive production line.Continue ReadingCategory: Robotics, TechnologyTags: Boston Dynamics, Humanoid, Electric

Back in January, researchers showed off the kitchen skills of an open-source Aloha housekeeping robot. Now the Unleashed project gets to grips with knotting shoelaces, hanging shirts and even repairing other robots.Continue ReadingCategory: Robotics, TechnologyTags: Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, Robots, Stanford University, Google DeepMind, Autonomous

The production of the cement used in concrete is a major contributor to worldwide CO2 emissions and since we're reliant on the stuff for our infrastructure, this is a serious problem. However, Nendo showcases an example of a greener way to build with its Block-Wall House, which was part-built using a novel concrete that actually captures CO2 instead of emitting it.Continue ReadingCategory: Architecture, LifestyleTags:...

One of the more fascinating start-ups we’ve seen in a long time is Oruga and it's rather unique single-track all-terrain-vehicle. Indeed, you will NOT have seen one of these before. There are three wheels with massive balloon tires inside a proprietary monotrack system, a big battery and an electric motor with oodles of grunt. The Oruga is designed for non-expert ease-of-use in very rugged...

After almost 10 years of often-jaw-dropping achievements, Boston Dynamics has said farewell to Atlas, the world’s most dynamic – and groundbreaking – humanoid robot.Continue ReadingCategory: Robotics, TechnologyTags: Boston Dynamics, Humanoid, Robots

NASA has given the green light for the nuclear-powered Dragonfly rotorcraft to explore Saturn's largest moon, Titan. Approval for the 2028 interplanetary mission comes after years of delay due to COVID-19 and a series of cost overruns.Continue ReadingCategory: Space, ScienceTags: NASA, Saturn, Titan, Helicopter

Eating a fatty, sugary Western diet (read: junk food) during the crucial years of brain development impairs memory long-term, new research has found. Caused by a reduction in a neurotransmitter associated with Alzheimer’s disease, the memory impairment wasn’t reversed by switching to a healthy diet in early adulthood.Continue ReadingCategory: ScienceTags: Diet, Brain, Memory, University of Southern California

Graphene is a bit like the Novak Djokovic of materials – it’s so damn talented that each new achievement feels passé. But now, an exciting new upstart is challenging graphene’s title. Meet goldene, a two-dimensional sheet of gold that has its own strange properties.Continue ReadingCategory: Materials, ScienceTags: Gold, Graphene, new material, Linkoping University, Semiconductors

Good news for anyone looking to become one of the first to park an all-new GMC Sierra EV in their driveways. General Motors announced today that the Sierra EV Denali Edition 1 will push well past the previously announced 400-mile range, putting it in position to battle its brother, the Chevy Silverado EV, for all-out electric pickup range supremacy. Despite that, it will actually...

Because GPS doesn't work underwater, divers usually can't track their real-time position on a digital map. The new Diver Navigation System (DNS) gets around that problem, however, using both floating and wearable acoustic transponders.Continue ReadingCategory: Outdoors, LifestyleTags: Scuba, Diving, Underwater, Communications, Acoustics

A worm-filled gel has been shown to protect crops from pests, without the use of environmentally-unfriendly pesticides. Its not-so-secret ingredient is scores of tiny nematodes, which ordinarily can't survive outside of their underground habitat.Continue ReadingCategory: ScienceTags: Agriculture, Crops, Plants, Pests

After taking care of wild riders with the XPeak fat-tire off-roader, Phoenix-based budget-friendly ebike brand Lectric is now riding into the full-size commuter space with the XPress – which can be had for under a grand.Continue ReadingCategory: Bicycles, TransportTags: ebikes, Pedal-assisted, City, urban transport, Mobility

We’ve tested 50 different waterproof headset designs over the 22-year history of New Atlas, and a clear favorite emerged in 2021 when Zygo launched its initial headphones focussed on the audio needs of swimmers. This week a 2nd-generation Zygo was announced for May 2024 delivery, with enhanced audio, longer range, longer battery life, lap counting, and on-the-go charging.Continue ReadingCategory: Sports, LifestyleTags: Bone Conduction, Swimming,...

This extraordinary residence is crafted from the fuselage of a Boeing 737 aircraft and perched on the edge of a cliffside in Bali. Named the Private Jet Villa, its functional cabin has been replaced with an all-new luxurious interior, including a bedroom with a jacuzzi in the cockpit.Continue ReadingCategory: Architecture, LifestyleTags: Building and Construction, Aircraft, Boeing, House, Luxury, Home, Holiday

NASA has completed the analysis of a chunk of metal that crashed into the roof of a house in Naples, Florida, a few weeks ago. The agency says it came from a pallet of trash released from the International Space Station three years ago.Continue ReadingCategory: Space, ScienceTags: NASA, Space Junk, International Space Station, Orbit

When Action Comics #1 (1938) sold for US$6 million dollars last week, it was just over 14 years since the humble comic book first smashed through the $1.0 million barrier at auction on 23 February 2010. No comic had previously sold for more than $350,000, but Action Comics #1 was the first to sell for seven figures.Continue ReadingCategory: Collectibles, LifestyleTags: Superman, batman, Heritage Auctions,...

We've now spent several months with the latest wire-free Landroid robo-mower, and we've found it a mix of confusing, educational, satisfying and highly entertaining. Oddly enough, the one thing the Vision seems to need... is a bit more vision.Continue ReadingCategory: Around The Home, LifestyleTags: Robotic, Lawnmower, Garden, Artificial Intelligence, Reviews

Blinking keeps our eyes moist – but we actually blink way more often than we need to if that was the only reason. Scientists at the University of Rochester have now found that the involuntary action plays a bigger role than we thought, helping us process visual information.Continue ReadingCategory: Biology, ScienceTags: Eye, Vision, Sight, University of Rochester, Retina, Visual

If you thought the Hypershell was a weird one-and-done style of product, it's time for a rethink. There are more AI-driven outdoor exoskeletons on the way, designed to help amateur adventurers go farther faster with less effort.Continue ReadingCategory: Outdoors, LifestyleTags: Exoskeleton, Hiking, Outdoors, Wearable, Artificial Intelligence, Backpacking, Kickstarter

Warp drives are among the more plausible of science fiction concepts, at least from a mathematical perspective. Now, Applied Physics, a multidisciplinary group of international scientists and engineers, has launched Warp Factory, open-source software that anyone can use to design a functional warp drive.Continue ReadingCategory: Physics, ScienceTags: Warp drive, Warp bubble, Space Travel, Software

Future Moon bases may be a bit tidier thanks to an electric shield that protects equipment from destructive lunar dust. NASA's Electrodynamic Dust Shield (EDS) technology promises to tame the destructive dust that clings to equipment.Continue ReadingCategory: Space, ScienceTags: NASA, artemis, Moon

We've looked at several rugged, expanding camping trailers from Australia's Offline Campers over the years, and now the builder is preparing a flagship. Still built tough enough for anything the Outback can throw at it, the new Solitaire carries over the Domino's jaw-like expandable design, this time making room for a full ensuite bathroom alongside its interior cafe lounge, kitchen and bedroom.Continue ReadingCategory: Outdoors,...

A newly discovered ant has been aptly named after the creepiest of all Harry Potter villains, Lord Voldemort. Like the lord, the ant is pale, slender, and it lives in the dark – unlike Mr. Voldemort, however, the ant did not give young Harry his lightning-bolt forehead scar.Continue ReadingCategory: Biology, ScienceTags: University of Western Australia, ANT+, Insect

A new underwater robot can swim through the water with fins, and walk or crawl along the bottom when necessary. These capabilities could really give it a leg up – pun fully intended – at outperforming its traditional thruster-powered counterparts.Continue ReadingCategory: Robotics, TechnologyTags: Postech, Biomimicry, Underwater, locomotion, Swimming, Walk

In the city of Munich, Germany, a groundbreaking architectural endeavour is transforming communal living. Crafted by German architectural firm Peter Haimerl Architektur, the Clusterwohnen Wabenhaus – affectionately known as the Honeycomb House – emerges as a symbol of efficiency and community harmony.Continue ReadingCategory: Architecture, LifestyleTags: Micro apartment, Urban Redevelopment, Community

Many of the gadgets we use every day have a limited shelf life, and often end up as e-waste before their time. The Dutch company that launched a repairable, upgradeable, sustainable smartphone has now taken the challenge to true wireless earphones.Continue ReadingCategory: Wearables, TechnologyTags: sustainable design, Earphones, Digital music, Audio, Bluetooth, Noise-Canceling, Repair, Upgrade

Despite its modest length of just 26 ft (almost 8 m), the Mi Casita tiny house has a space-saving interior boasting the kind of features usually found in a much larger model, including a bathroom with a tub and a downstairs bedroom.Continue ReadingCategory: Tiny Houses, LifestyleTags: Building and Construction, Tiny Footprint, Micro-House, House, Home

China's CATL – the world's largest EV battery producer – has launched TENER, which is described as the "world's first mass-producible energy storage system with zero degradation in the first five years of use."Continue ReadingCategory: Energy, ScienceTags: CATL, Battery Technology, Storage, Batteries

Fractals are a fascinating type of pattern for mathematics nerds, with their repeating, artificial-looking structures. Now, scientists have discovered the first known fractal protein – and it seems to be an evolutionary accident.Continue ReadingCategory: Biology, ScienceTags: Protein, Mathematics, Max Planck Institute, Evolution, Structure, Bacteria

A big-thinking Slovenian startup has created a curious smart security camera that doesn't just spy on your visitors, but will actively open fire on potential intruders with paintball pellets – or even tear gas rounds – with "ultra high precision." What could possibly go wrong?Continue ReadingCategory: TechnologyTags: Kickstarter, Home Security, Paintball, Camera, CCTV

Researchers have tracked muscle contractions in a bird's vocal tract, and reconstructed the song it was silently singing in its sleep. The resulting audio is a very specific call, allowing the team to figure out what the bird's dream was about.Continue ReadingCategory: Biology, ScienceTags: Birds, Song, Muscle

When NASA returns to the Moon, its astronauts will enjoy tooling around in a pressurized camper van courtesy of JAXA and Toyota. The two-person vehicle is part of a US/Japan agreement that includes putting the first Japanese astronauts on the Moon.Continue ReadingCategory: Space, ScienceTags: NASA, JAXA, Rover, Moon, Campervan

The geography of the education world appears to be changing.Continue ReadingCategory: Good Thinking, LifestyleTags: QS World University Rankings, MIT, Harvard, University of Cambridge, University of Oxford, Princeton University

Bringing the fight straight at the Pössl Campsters and Crosscamp Lites of the world, Slovenian RV shop Adria Mobil has introduced an ultra-adaptable mini-camper of its own. And it's done its homework to develop something that leaves its unique fingerprints on the market. The all-new Mode minivan-camper debuts as a functional cross between an all-out camper van and a basic car overloaded with loose...

Apple TV+ has clearly decided to invest in top-shelf science fiction as a defining pillar of its offering – and overall, it's put together an impressive slate. Some shows have been outright successes, and where others have missed, there's at least been a refreshingly grand artistic swing.Continue ReadingCategory: Home Entertainment, TechnologyTags: TV, Streaming, Science Fiction, Entertainment, Space exploration, Apple TV, Apple

By hopping like a person on a pogo stick, a modified aerial drone can operate for almost an hour as opposed to several minutes if it simply flew. Descendants of the aircraft could one day find use in applications such as wildlife monitoring, crop inspection or search and rescue.Continue ReadingCategory: Drones, TechnologyTags: City University of Hong Kong, locomotion, Flight

Two new technologies allow a single pair of glasses to track eye movements and read the wearer's facial expressions, respectively. The systems use sonar instead of cameras, for better battery life and increased user privacy.Continue ReadingCategory: Wearables, TechnologyTags: Cornell University, Facial, Gaze-tracking, Eye-tracking, Smart Glasses, Sonar, Sound