~new-atlas-new-techn | Bookmarks (1016)

MIT scientists have discovered an intriguing new way to produce hydrogen fuel, using just soda cans, seawater and coffee grounds. The team says the chemical reaction could be put to work powering engines or fuel cells in marine vehicles that suck in seawater.Continue ReadingCategory: Energy, ScienceTags: Hydrogen, Hydrogen-powered, Aluminum, Fuel Cell, MIT, Coffee, Alloy, Energy, Reactors

Speaking a language with different words for different color shades allows the brain to perceive those shades quicker than using a language with only one word for that color, according to new research. The findings highlight the important interaction between language and perception.Continue ReadingCategory: ScienceTags: Language, Brain, Color, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, University of Oslo

People may joke about tight jeans being "spray-on pants," but Swiss brand On's new Cloudboom Strike LS is a spray-on running shoe … sort of. Its LightSpray production process is said to be much faster and greener than traditional methods, resulting in an ultra-lightweight finished product.Continue ReadingCategory: Good Thinking, LifestyleTags: Shoes, Footwear, Environmentally-friendly, Robotics

Finding that many ebike riders prefer to throttle through commutes and urban adventures, LA-based startup Owlet opted to ditch the pedals altogether for its upcoming One model – a high-torque angular beast with attitude.Continue ReadingCategory: Urban Transport, TransportTags: Electric Vehicles, ebikes, Scooter, Mobility

Tycho Brahe is best known as a Danish Renaissance astronomer. But he was also a bit of an alchemist, and a first-ever analysis on shards found at his former home from the 1500s has shed some light on just what he was up to in his basement lab.Continue ReadingCategory: HistoryTags: Archaeology, Chemistry, Astronomy, University of Southern Denmark

Scientists at Berkeley Lab have used a titanium beam to make atoms of element 116. Not only does this represent a new way to make the super rare element, but it stands as a proof-of-concept that they could soon potentially create the as-yet-undiscovered element 120, which may be stable.Continue ReadingCategory: Physics, ScienceTags: new element, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Atoms, Titanium

In a fascinating discovery, scientists have pinpointed what happens in our brains when we're expecting pain relief but are given a placebo, unknowingly, instead. It not only confirms 'the placebo effect,' but offers clues into how powerful the mind is in mitigating physiological functions such as pain.Continue ReadingCategory: Medical, ScienceTags: University of North Carolina, Pain, Neuroscience, Brain, Treatment, Chronic, Stanford University, Howard Hughes Medical...

A new report has sounded the alarm on the evolution of the avian influenza virus, with comprehensive genome sequencing showing that the current strain is now capable of multidirectional infections across species. While human-to-human risk remains low, it's a worrying step towards the virus honing its transmission ability.Continue ReadingCategory: Biology, ScienceTags: Cornell University, avian-influenza, Virus, pandemic, University of North Carolina, Artificial Intelligence, Disease

China's Tsinghua University has scored a world first by demonstrating the inherent safety of the first operating commercial pebble-bed nuclear reactor by shutting off the power and letting the passive systems maintain control of the reactor core.Continue ReadingCategory: Energy, ScienceTags: Tsinghua University, Nuclear, Safety

Earth saw its hottest day on record this week – twice. According to the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) data, Sunday claimed the top spot for highest global average temperature since the records began in 1940, only to be broken again on Monday.Continue ReadingCategory: Environment, ScienceTags: Climate, Climate Crisis, Global Warming, Temperature, World, Record, Records, World Records, Copernicus

Aeon – a major Japanese supermarket chain – has implemented a new AI system that evaluates and seeks to "standardize" employee smiles.Continue ReadingCategory: TechnologyTags: Facial Recognition, Artificial Intelligence, Japan

Pickup camping toppers are a great lightweight RV solution that'll get you up out of the ground tent and into a more stable, better-protected vehicle. But they typically lack any amenities beyond a basic mattress to sleep on. Nevada-based Catapult Adventure Vehicle Outfitter has a more comprehensive solution that makes the pickup bed as versatile and comfortable as a small modular camper van. Its...

As if Komodo dragons didn't seem ferocious enough already, scientists have now discovered that the reptiles tear through flesh using a coating of iron on their teeth. It is now believed that dinosaurs such as Tyrannosaurus rex may have been similarly endowed.Continue ReadingCategory: Biology, ScienceTags: King's College London, Imperial College, Reptile, Dinosaurs, Teeth

For the first time, researchers found that chickens fluff their facial feathers and blush in response to varied stimulation, likely as a way to reveal their inner emotional states. The link could help improve our stewardship of the birds.Continue ReadingCategory: Biology, ScienceTags: Farming, Chicken, Emotions

Sometimes a forward-facing-beam flashlight is what you need, while other times a side-facing beam is more appropriate. The Wuben X2Pro combines the two in one device, plus both of its beam modules are multi-functional.Continue ReadingCategory: Outdoors, LifestyleTags: Flashlights, Torch, Kickstarter

Vayu Robotics has today unveiled its first delivery robot. The One can follow staff around stores to load up customer orders, before autonomously navigating city streets at speeds up to 20 mph to deliver the goods. Commercial deployment has begun.Continue ReadingCategory: Robotics, TechnologyTags: Delivery robots, Autonomous Vehicles, Artificial Intelligence

If you've ever wanted to own a fallout shelter of your own to ride out the inevitable nuclear/virus/zombie apocalypse, this might be your chance: a bonafide UK nuclear bunker dating back to the Cold War is about to head to auction, starting at approximately US$20,000.Continue ReadingCategory: Architecture, LifestyleTags: Building and Construction, Shelter, Auction

Though it might be tempting to stump up serious cash for a crazy powerful electric unicycle, learning on such a beast is probably the wrong move. InMotion's beginner-friendly E20 promises to have you gliding in minutes, and won't cost a packet.Continue ReadingCategory: Urban Transport, TransportTags: Unicycle, Self Balancing Unicycle, Electric Vehicles, Learning, Reviews

In the Belgian North Sea, maintenance vessels are now able to tether to an automatic cable at a wind farm to get their batteries topped up. The innovative system is the first of its kind and a major step in keeping electric vessels as green as possible.Continue ReadingCategory: Energy, ScienceTags: Shipping, Offshore Wind, Wind Power, Wind turbine, Green+Energy, Electric Boats, Recharging

Conventional helicopters have a built-in speed limit, imposed by the physical limitations of their top-rotor lift systems. This fascinating Airbus project has found a way to break through that speed limit, and it's already done it in flight testing.Continue ReadingCategory: Aircraft, TransportTags: Airbus, Helicopters, Helicopter, High-speed, Aircraft

A unique material inspired by a pigment in the skin of octopus, squid and cuttlefish has been harnessed to boost the skin-protecting active ingredients in sunscreen, as well as providing a shield against skin damage. And while it comes with all the benefits to humans, including antioxidant properties, it's harmless to the environment, which could revolutionize not just sun protection but skincare in general.Continue...

Researchers have combined the bacteria-killing actions of two classes of antibiotics into one, demonstrating that their new dual-action antibiotic could make bacterial resistance (almost) an impossibility.Continue ReadingCategory: Health & Wellbeing, LifestyleTags: Antibiotic, Antibiotic-resistant bacteria, University of Illinois

One dose of a new treatment, delivered by nasal spray, clears away build-ups of the toxic tau protein associated with Alzheimer’s disease from inside brain cells, improving memory, according to new research. It paves the way for new treatments for the debilitating disease.Continue ReadingCategory: Health & Wellbeing, LifestyleTags: Alzheimer's Disease, Immunotherapy, antibodies, University of Texas

Born from the high-powered world of electric jetboarding, ZeroJet is now channeling all its energy into building performance electric boat drives. Its very first outboard combines drop-and-drive convenience with a superior power-to-weight ratio ready to give small boats a quiet but potent boost.Continue ReadingCategory: Marine, TransportTags: Electric Boats, Outboard Motor, Electric Motors