Researchers find molecular switch to make old brains young again
It’s no secret that juvenile brains are more malleable and able to learn new things faster than adult ones – just ask any adult who has tried to learn a new language. That malleability also enables younger brains to recover more quickly from trauma. Researchers at Yale University have now found a way to effectively turn back the clock and make an old brain young again.
Los Angeles School Gets a Giant SOLAR Wall
Created by U.S. architectural firm Brooks + Scarpa, the recently completed Green Dot Animo Leadership High School in Inglewood, Los Angeles, wears its green heart very much on its sleeve. The new public school for 500 students is characterized by a large south facing façade covered with 650 solar panels, which not only help shield the building from the sun but also capture an estimated 75 percent of the energy needed to power the school.
Biometric credit card remembers its user's signature
If you watch a handwriting expert authenticate a signature, they will talk about echoes of the process of signing one's name – darker or lighter lines reveal pressure variations, the shape of the loops reveals the shaking of the hand, and the flow of the ink shows if the signature was laid down without hesitation. These echoes of the act of writing make a signature far more revealing than a simple squiggle on paper. Now researchers from the Fraunhofer Institute for Computer Graphics Research (IGD) have created a credit card that contains a thorough description of these signature traits, which can be used for instant authentication.
Astronomers using eclipsing binary stars to determine the distance to nearby Galaxy
After close to a decade of observations, astronomers have accurately determined the distance to our neighboring galaxy, the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). The measurement, which calculates the distance at 163,000 light-years, was achieved by studying rare pairs of stars known as eclipsing binaries.
Green Box irrigation system waters your plants with the help of your Phone
There's a smartphone-operated device available to control pretty much every area inside the home these days, so it makes sense that smart devices should extend beyond four walls to manage outside spaces as well. The team at 22seeds have developed just such a system, known as Greenbox – it uses local weather data to determine and set customized plant-watering programs.
Chevrolet unveils soft-top corvette stingray at Geneva Motor Show
This year’s Geneva Motor Show seems to be littered with motoring anniversaries from the Porsche 911 to Italdesign Giugiaro. Now it’s the Chevrolet Corvette’s turn as it hits 60 years on the market, and Chevrolet’s commemoration is the 2014 Corvette Stingray. Last month, we looked at the coupé version and now, at Geneva, it’s the turn of the Corvette Stingray convertible.
Insight - A Google Glass app that recognizes people by what they're wearing
A new system, known as InSight, aims to provide something a little more ambitious than facial recognition. The technology, which is part funded by Google, will work between Glass and a smartphone app and aims to let users spot their friends in a crowd based purely on what they're wearing.
Launch Edition Alfa Romeo 4C arrives in Geneva
For two years, the Alfa Romeo 4C has been one of the great teases of the auto industry. A lusciously Italian ultralight sports coupe rumored to be as affordable as a Porsche Cayman, the 4C has shown all kinds of potential since showing up as a concept at the 2011 Geneva auto show. Now it's officially here. The stylish coupe, which will mark Alfa's return to the U.S. market, is priced and ready to for production lines.
NASA orbiter reveals evidence of Martian Mega-Flood
While you may be aware of NASA's historic Curiosity mission (and the current problems it's facing), you might not have heard of the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, or MRO. The craft has been in orbit around the Red Planet since 2006 and its latest research, a 3D scan of a huge underground channel system, has provided researchers with an insight into the planet's recent hydrologic activity.
Lamborghini spits fiery venom with the Veneno
For years, Lamborghini has been looking to the skies for inspiration. Fighter jets have inspired such releases as the Reventón, Sesto Elemento and even the Aventador. The all-new Veneno takes sharp, angular jet-inspired design to an extreme level. Lamborghini will build only a handful of these hardcore racecars-for-the-road.
Apple considering April release for iPad 5, iPad mini 2?
Apple surprised everyone last October when the iPad 4 arrived just seven months after the iPad 3. That begged the question: would the company release the iPad 5 in the device’s typical March/April timeslot? Recently, all signs pointed to “no.” A new report, though, says that Apple is still considering launching new iPads within the next couple of months.
Austria's highest cable car unveiled atop the Pitztal Glacier
Perched atop of the Pitzal Glacier at an altitude of 3440 meters, the spectacular Wildspitzbahn became Austria's highest coffee destination when it opened its doors late last year. The visitor center designed by Austrian architectural firm Baumschlager Hutter features a free-suspension outdoor terrace to make the most of the breathtaking views across the surrounding Alps and is accessible by a new 61-gondola mono-cable ropeway.
The Rolls-Royce Wraith - the most powerful Rolls ever
After a couple of months of drip feeding silhouette images of its new model Wraith, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has finally turned the lighting up on the new fastback at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show. Powered by a V12 engine married to an 8-speed automatic transmission, the Wraith produces a refined 624 hp (465 kW) and 800 Nm of torque from 1,500 rpm, which outdoes the Ghost's 563 hp (420 kW) and 780 Nm of torque, making the new coupe the most powerful Rolls ever
iPhone 5S with fingerprint sensor reportedly on track for June or July
Apple has established a familiar pattern with its iPhone releases. Redesigned model (iPhone 3G, 4, 5), followed by a physically-identical spec bump/new software model (iPhone 3GS, 4S). So, unless the company shakes things up, we’ll be seeing an iPhone 5S in 2013. An analyst with a proven track record has some supposed details about the new iPhone.
Volar-e Prototype electric sports car unveiled
Spanish engineering company Applus+ Idiada has officially unveiled its Volar-e supercar prototype at the Circuit de Catalunya during the F1 Test Days in Barcelona. Developed for the European Commission and apparently based on the Rimac Concept One, the all-electric Volar-e boasts 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) acceleration of 3.4 seconds, does the standing quarter-mile in 10.3 seconds, and reaches its top speed of 300 km/h (186 mph) in only 12.1 sec.
Modular Teal campers and shelters hit the market
The modular, build-it-yourself Teal camper is officially available for purchase. Teal debuted its first model, the Tail Feather, at the Colorado RV, Sports, Boat and Travel Show last week and has begun production on the camper, which features a few structural changes from when we last saw it.
Dragon's Thrusters now operational, But rendezvous with ISS delayed
At a teleconference today (Mar.1) at 3:00 PM EST (2000 GMT), SpaceX and NASA confirmed that the malfunction of three of the four thruster pods of SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft has been corrected. Though the cause of the failure remains unknown, a note received during the conference from Dragon mission control stated that all four pods are working nominally with two of the pods preparing to come online this afternoon.
SpaceX Dragon launches, But Thrusters malfunctioning
This morning (Mar. 1), the SpaceX Dragon CRS-2 mission lifted off successfully from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida at 10:10:13 AM EST (1010:13 GMT) only to experience a major malfunction in Dragon’s thruster pods. SpaceX reported at 10:43 AM (1543 GMT) that three of the unmanned Dragon spacecraft’s four thruster pods have failed to activate – placing Dragon’s rendezvous with the International Space Station (ISS) in peril.
Next-Gen Nissan LEAF to break cover at Geneva Auto-Show
Fans of the all-electric, much-awarded Nissan LEAF can look forward to the next generation of the car arriving on showroom floors soon. Set to float gently to Earth at next month’s Geneva Auto Show, the new Nissan LEAF promises longer range, better ergonomics and driving experience, and a light to see where to plug the bloody thing in at night.
AIRWRITING glove turns arm-waving into text messaging
If you’re one of the many people who hate poking at the tiny virtual keys on smartphone keyboards, then you might like the experimental “airwriting” glove system created by a team of computer scientists at Germany’s Karlsruhe Institute of Technology. When the glove’s wearer draws letters in the air with their hand, the system can identify which letters are being drawn. Those letters are converted into digital text, which could then be input into an email, text message, or any other type of mobile app.
Rumor points to 4.5 inch polycarbonate I-Phone in 2014
Apple’s secrecy has its advantages. One of the biggest is the endless stream of rumors and speculation that keep the company in the spotlight year-round. In addition to the iWatch and the iTV, one of the trendiest Apple rumors right now is the fabled budget iPhone. A recent report out of Japan claims to have some new details about the alleged product.
Land Rover to show Electric Defender Research 4WD
As automotive electric technology advances and grows, we're seeing it move from small city cars to larger vehicles. Toyota and Tesla have both shown electric crossover models, and electric drivetrains are being swapped into existing vehicles like the Jeep Grand Cherokee. Now, Land Rover is preparing to show an electric update to the most unlikely of models ... the boxy, rugged Defender.
Volvo's permanent high beems keep other drivers in shade
Being dazzled by car high beams is no joke. Having someone come around the corner and forget to dip their headlamps isn't just annoying, it’s potentially dangerous. To be featured at next week's Geneva Motor Show, Volvo’s Active High Beam Control is a mechanical system installed in the headlamps that actively and selectively shields oncoming or cars being followed from the lights. This allows Volvo drivers to keep their high beams on continually without fear of dazzling others or being unable to see a suddenly darkened road.
BigDog grabs, lift and throws cinder blocks with its new arm
Boston Dynamics' BigDog may have already been replaced by the beefier LS3, but that doesn't mean it's totally obsolete. Today the company unveiled a version of the quadruped equipped with an arm where a head (or tail) would go. As can be seen in the following video, it's powerful enough to lift and toss a heavy cinder block.
BMW-powered T-REX joins 16S Campagna's line of reverse trikes
Campagna Motors’ family of side-by-side reverse trikes has a new addition. Joining the street legal T-REX 14 R, T-REX 14RR and V13R is the T-REX-16S. While the existing T-REX models are powered by a Kawasaki 1400 cc inline cylinder engine and the V13R gets its grunt from a Harley Davidson Liquid-cooled Revolution 60-degree V-Twin engine (the same used in the Harley Davidson V-Rod), the new 16S is powered by a BMW 1649 cc in-line 6-cylinder engine from BMW’s Motorrad division.
AMD's TrexFX Hair gives game characters lovely locks
The problems associated with rendering realistic hair has held video games back for years. When Nintendo first created the sprite for Mario in the original Donkey Kong, it gave him a hat because it was too difficult to animate his hair. When video games made the leap into the world of real-time 3D graphics, things didn't get much better. Today AMD is officially unveiling its solution, TressFX Hair, that will significantly improve the look of virtual hair beginning with the new Tomb Raider.
Nissan upgrades Nismo to Global-performance Road car brand
Nissan opened a new global headquarters for its Nismo performance brand in Yokohama, Japan yesterday, at the same time as announcing a considerable promotion of the formerly niche brand to major performance car brand with a presence in every Nissan showroom globally. The name Nismo will be now used in a similar fashion to the way Mercedes Benz uses AMG, or BMW uses the M logo, and joy-o-joy, there will be a high(er) performance Nismo version of Nissan's bargain-basement GT-R supercar.
Bizarre Self balancing Gyro-X to be restored
Back in 1967, California-based Gyro Transport Systems built a prototype vehicle known as the Gyro-X. The automobile had just two wheels, one in front and one in the back and, as the car’s name implies, it utilized a built-in gyroscope to remain upright when not moving. Although its developers hoped to take the Gyro-X into production, the company went bankrupt, and the one-and-only specimen of the car became an orphan. For much of the past 40-plus years, that car has passed from owner to owner, its condition deteriorating along the way. Now, it’s about to be restored to its former (weird) glory.
The Stamp House: Self-sustaining, Solar-Powered Cyclon Shelter
Thanks to its tropical climate, Far North Queensland (FNQ), Australia, is a place where residents regularly have to deal with threats from the environment in the form of cyclones, while being mindful of their impact on the environment. One architectural firm has constructed a building that attempts to address both concerns simultaneously. Designed by Charles Wright Architects, the Stamp House in FNQ is a self-sustaining home that's sturdy enough to withstand a Category 5 cyclone.
Great Ormond street hospital contains a top-secret Lullaby Factory
Great Ormond Street Hospital is a children’s hospital based in London, UK, which recently received an installation dubbed “Lullaby Factory,” courtesy of architectural firm Studio Weave. Spanning a total of ten stories in height, and 32 meters (105 feet) in length, Lullaby Factory enlivens a formerly dull space while producing gentle lullabies which can only be experienced from within the building.
Silex Power announces 1,000 KM-range Chreos High-performance EV
Alternative energy company Silex Power has announced its intention to enter the electric car market at the very top. The company intends to make a limited run of 300 units of its luxury Chreos EV by 2015, and, judging from the press release, the car boasts luxury, if perhaps aspirational, statistics to match – particularly with respect to range and charge times.
Galaxy Note 8.0 Vs. NEXUS 7
After several years of the 9.7-inch iPad dominating tablet sales, we’ve seen a shift. Customers are gravitating more toward smaller (and cheaper) 7 to 8-inch slates. Two of today’s top choices in that bracket are the Google/Asus Nexus 7 and Samsung’s new Galaxy Note 8.0. Read on, as we compare the specs – and other features – of these two mini tablets.
HydraPak's new pocket-friendly SoftFlask Collapsible water bottle
While water bottles are great for staying hydrated, they aren't so great once you're hydrated and they're empty. Lugging an empty bottle around is rarely convenient, especially if you're doing something athletic like running – and there isn't always a recycling bin or garbage can around to ditch it in. HydraPak's new SoftFlask helps get the empty water bottle out of your way by collapsing into a tiny package.
Wireless charging of electric buses to be put to real world test in Germany
Regional German transport operator Rhein-Neckar-Verkehr GmbH (RNV) is set to carry out a pilot project to test the viability of wireless inductive charging technology of electric buses. The trial will see two electric buses fitted with Canadian transportation manufacturer Bombardier's PRIMOVE inductive charging technology that will enable them to be recharged wirelessly as they let passengers on and off at bus stops along the inner city route 63 in Mannheim, Germany.
Nokia reveals €15 mobile phone with month-long battery
The 2013 Mobile World Congress (MWC) is in full swing right now with all the big players showing off their latest smartphones and mobile technology. But while companies like LG and HP are rolling out smart devices with a wide range of features, Nokia arrived with a stripped-down cell phone aimed at the budget-conscious consumer. The recently announced Nokia 105 mobile phone will retail for €15 (about US$20) and feature a battery that only needs charging once a month.
New device designed to restore brain functions - via the tongue
Scientists at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have created a device known as a PoNS, that shows promise for the treatment of traumatic brain injuries, strokes, or the effects of diseases such as Parkinson’s and multiple sclerosis. Researchers at the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command are now conducting a study on the device, which works by stimulating the patient’s tongue.
LG expands LTE offerings with new Optimus F Series
Following on from the update to its mid-range Optimus L Series phones, LG has revealed a brand new line of smartphones dubbed the "Optimus F Series." The company is focusing on providing 4G LTE support along with higher processing power with the two new devices, both of which run on the Android 4.1.2 OS.
Accidentally Extraordinary headphones feature capacitive touch controls in the cable
Due mainly to the influence of the iPhone and iPod, a good many headphones have a playback/call control unit of some sort bulging out from the audio cable. Though undeniably useful, this can add some unwelcome weight (particularly with earbuds), but more often the housing just gets in the way or adds its own thump to the music as it bangs against your upturned collar. California-based Accidentally Extraordinary is looking to change all that, with a pair of elegant studio headphones featuring a capacitive touch control interface on the surface of the cable itself.
Rinspeed releases details of microMAX "swarm car" concept
Rinspeed has released more information about and images of its microMAX EV concept, now invoking the smart city with its description of the vehicle as "the networked swarm car." The company has released a host of images which give a more detailed idea of Rinspeed CEO Frank M. Rinderknecht's vision for an efficient, space-saving mode of urban vehicle which clearly hopes to catch the eye of taxi operators and parcel delivery firms. It's the interior images that are perhaps most interesting of all.
Quadrocopters throw, catch, and balance an inverted pendulum
Apparently, balancing a pole on top of a flying quadrocopter robot wasn't challenging enough for the researchers at ETH Zurich's Institute for Dynamic Systems and Control. Their latest project has two quadrocopters playing catch with a precariously balanced pole – the first robot launches the pole into the air, while the second robot deftly moves into position in less than a second to catch it as it falls. The incredible precision flying achieved by the team can be seen in a video after the break.
SAMSUNG confirms GALAXY S4 launch date
Last week, Samsung’s launch event for the Galaxy S IV was all-but confirmed, as multiple news outlets pointed to the same date. Today, you can scratch the all-but out of that equation. Samsung confirmed to AllThingsD that it will reveal the Galaxy S IV, one of the most-anticipated phones of the year, at a March 14 event in New York City.
The Mycestro 3D wearable mouse
While we now have scroll-wheels, wireless connections and touch-surfaces, the basic form factor of the computer mouse remains remarkably similar to the box-with-a-button first demonstrated by Douglas C. Engelbart back in 1968. This doesn't mean there haven't been attempts to shake-up mouse design though, and the latest to cross our desk is the Mycestro 3D mouse – a thumb-activated, wireless mouse that attaches to your index finger.
ESA selects instruments for JUICE mission to explore Jupiter and its moons
The European Space Agency (ESA) is sending JUICE to Jupiter in 2022. Rather than some kind of interplanetary beverage delivery, JUICE stands for JUpiter ICy moons Explorer (JUICE) and is the first Large-class mission in ESA's Cosmic Vision 2015-2025 program. The spacecraft will carry out the most thorough exploration of Jupiter and its moons since NASA's Galileo mission that ran from 1989 to 2003. The ESA has now announced the eleven scientific instruments selected to for the unmanned probe to carry to the gas giant.
Ultra-Ever Dry hydrophobic coating repels almost any liquid
Ready to be amazed? According to Ultra-tech, a Florida-based containment provider for chemical clean-up and waste management, its new Ultra-Ever Dry coating is an amazing product. The coating is "super-hydrophobic" and "oleophobic," meaning it repels almost any liquid on a wide range of materials, including – but not limited to – hammers to boots and gloves as you'll see in the following video demonstration.
First space tourist plan to make trip to MARS in 2018
Earth's first space tourist won't be outdone by a few fancy NASA rovers with their cutesy names, sky cranes, and whatnot. So like the saying goes, if you can't beat 'em, make the unprecedented 500-day round-trip journey to Mars to join 'em. That's the insanely ambitious plan that Dennis Tito, who was the first private space traveler a little less than 12 years ago, will announce in more detail next week. A release from Tito's newly formed Inspiration Mars Foundation teases "plans to take advantage of a unique window of opportunity to launch an historic journey to Mars and back in 501 days, starting in January 2018."
Social Pollution Masks? Winning wearable tech ideas
While anyone could dream up a spinning virtual GPS globe constantly updated with a slideshow of global Flickr photos emanating from a hat, competitors in Frog Design's contest for new wearable technology concepts had to keep their designs within the realm of feasibility. The key requirement that keeps all the designs within reason is that they have to be able to come to market within three years. That doesn't necessarily mean they will come to market, but at least there's a chance.
Mystery mission of the X-37B now two months old
It's now been a couple of months since the U.S. Air Force's X-37B space plane lifted into orbit amid the expected shroud of secrecy. What's remarkable about this third classified mission in the X-37B program is how little the public knows about it. We don't know how long the craft is supposed to orbit the Earth, and we don't know the mission's objectives. The unmanned space plane ventured into orbit twice before on hush-hush missions for the Air Force. One tidbit that is known: the craft now in Earth orbit was also used during the first X-37B flight in 2010, which lasted almost 225 days.
Pentagon grounds entire F-35 Strike Fighter Fleet
The U.S. Department of Defense has suspended airborne testing of its Joint Strike Fighter because of a crack in an engine turbine blade discovered during routine inspection, the Pentagon said this week.
The grounding covers every one of the three versions of the F-35 involved in the $396 billion program -- 51 fighter jets that had hitherto been active for testing and training and have been described by the Pentagon as "the most affordable, lethal, supportable, and survivable aircraft ever to be used."
The grounding covers every one of the three versions of the F-35 involved in the $396 billion program -- 51 fighter jets that had hitherto been active for testing and training and have been described by the Pentagon as "the most affordable, lethal, supportable, and survivable aircraft ever to be used."
Signal snowboard carves a glass snowboard
It's been a while since we've checked in with the mad snowboard scientists at Signal Snowboards. In their ongoing efforts to experiment with the techiest, wildest, most multi-functional snowboard builds, they've come out with one of the most aesthetically pleasing board designs we've ever seen – an all-glass board. You go to the resort to see snow and mountains, why not get a clear view from beneath your feet.
Galaxy Note 8.0 Vs. Apple iPad mini.
If Samsung wants to convince the world that it isn't an Apple copycat, the Galaxy Note 8.0 isn’t its best argument. Less than four months after the launch of Apple’s (almost) 8-inch tablet comes a new 8-inch tablet from Samsung. But, despite the obvious parallels, these are two distinct slates – outside and inside. Read on, as we compare the specs (and other features) of the Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 and Apple iPad mini. Read More
Chelyabinsk meteor exploded high over Russiawas a blast heard around the world
When the Chelyabinsk meteor exploded high over Russia on February 15, it was a blast heard around the world. This isn't just a figure of speech. Though too low-frequency for human hearing, sound waves from the 500-kiloton detonation of the 17-meter (56-ft) rock were picked up in Antarctica – some 15,000 km (9,320 miles) away – by 17 Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Organisation (CTBTO) infrasound stations dedicated to detecting nuclear explosions above or below ground.
Robotalk - your desktop assistant
Siri, the artificial personal assistant for iOS devices, may have some competition from a new Japanese robot developed by Okamura Corporation. At least, that's what we might be saying if not for the tech toy's sticker-shocking price of ¥472,500 (US$5,087). Robotalk is billed as a "friend with functionality" that responds to your voice – head past the break to learn what else it can do
3D print your own robot with Hello Robo's MAKI
Hot on the heels of InMoov, the 3D-printable android, comes a similar but much less intimidating project for DIYers by Hello Robo. MAKI is a cute communication robot that can be assembled from 3D-printed parts and some off-the-shelf electronic components for less than US$500, making it an affordable platform for hobbyists and university labs. Hello Robo has opted to launch MAKI via crowdfunding site Kickstarter, where a $30 pledge will net you the 3D blueprints.
Game Review: Far Cry 3
If one was to use a single word to describe Far Cry 3 it would be “visceral.” Here we have a game full of intense, dramatic, and at times decidedly bloody moments that really cut to the core of what shooters are all about. Gizmag reviews the game on the Xbox 360.
Game Review: Hitman: Absolution
He may not be a nice guy to meet in a dark alley, but Agent 47 is always fun to take adventuring. 47’s latest game, Hitman: Absolution, shakes things up a bit too, with new features and a lovely twist in the tale narrative wise. Gizmag goes into stealth mode in this Xbox 360 review.
Project Fiona gaming tablet coming to market as Razer Edge
If you followed last year's CES, you'll likely remember Razer's Project Fiona prototype gaming tablet. Gamers salivated, and it won numerous "Best of CES" awards. But then it missed its estimated "late 2012" ship date, and many wondered if it would ever see the light of day. Well, Razer followed through at CES 2013, announcing that the Windows 8 tablet will launch soon as the Razer Edge.
Intellect motion shows off new motion-sensing gaming devices
While opinions are divided on how video games affect young minds, one thing seems to be definite – spending a lot of time playing sit-down games makes kids fat. Fortunately, gaming systems like Wii and Kinect are getting players active. Now, motion capture and medical diagnostics company Intellect Motion hopes to take that trend farther, with a line of active gaming products aimed at keeping children fit.
Wikipad gaming tablet returns with a 7-Inches redesign
We first saw the Wikipad tablet, which features a detachable game controller and runs on Android OS, way back at CES 2012. After that though, its release date passed, and we didn't hear anything new about the gaming-centered device. But that doesn't mean the Wikipad disappeared – the developers have been busy over the past year redesigning the tablet with almost completely different features, including a 7-inch screen, extra storage space, and Android 4.1 support.
New test developed for the addictive potential of computer games
Have you ever felt that one computer game is more "addictive" than another? Leaving definitions aside for the moment, it's fair to say that an addictive computer game is likely to be a more successful product than a game that is merely fun to play. Gaming developers apply numerous techniques and tests in an attempt to evaluate which games will hit the right buttons. Now researchers at Academia Sinica and the National Taiwan University (ASNTU) have developed a direct test for the addictiveness of a computer game based on physiological responses of a group of new players
New Bentley Flying Spur set for Geneva Debut
Spurious Bentlivius, latin for a large flying machine of bespoke origin, Bentley’s Flying Spur has been one of those top shelf luxury items reserved for those of Grey Poupon-loving origins. Famous for its old world mix of natural materials and current day performance technology, the British marque is set to debut its new Flying Spur at the Geneva Motor Show next month.
McLaren reveals F1 engine details
We’ve seen the early images and taken a peek at the carbon fiber interior, but now McLaren has seen fit to let slip the finer details of just what's powering the P1. The long-awaited successor to the mighty F1 will sport both a 3.8-liter twin-turbo V8 petrol engine, and an electric motor – each of which combine to push out a total of 903 bhp, and 900 Nm of torque. It is Hybrid.
HubDock makes it easier to remove Bike's Back wheel
Probably just about all cyclists will agree – removing your bike’s rear wheel is a hassle. You have to open and loosen off the quick-release, pull the derailleur cage and chain back out of the way, smack the axle loose of the dropouts, and then guide the cassette cogs around the now-dangling chain. Your hands get dirty in the process, plus you get to look forward to repeating everything in reverse when putting the wheel back on. California-based inventor Leonard Ashman figured that the process ought to be easier, so he created the HubDock – it lets you remove your back wheel, without even touching the drivetrain.
Google's ChromeBook Pixel: glimpse of the future or bizarre mishmash?
Not long ago, Chromebooks – laptops that run Google’s Chrome OS – looked like a doomed product category. With the rise of the tablet, who needed a laptop with a glorified web browser for an operating system? Well, as the Chrome Web Store has evolved and Chromebook prices have dropped, the machines appear to be doing quite well ... So well that Google is now releasing its own high-end model, the Chromebook Pixel.
Luxi turns an I-Phone into an incident light meter
For professional photographers, an incident light meter is rather important. Unlike a reflective light meter, which measures the amount of light bouncing off a subject, an incident light meter measures light before it reaches the subject. This is helpful in situations where lighting is inconsistent. A new product called Luxi is designed to turn your iPhone into just such a light meter.
NIKON announces the D7100, its new flagship DX DSLR
Nikon has revealed a new enthusiast-level flagship DX-format camera, the 24.1-megapixel Nikon D7100. The much-awaited update to the aging D7000 has a professional-level 51-point AF system, and continuous full resolution shooting at 6 fps. Notably, the camera also does away with the optical low pass filter – meaning it should be able to capture sharper detail than cameras with a similar resolution.
Review: 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina Display
When Apple released the 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina Display last June, it started at US$2,200. When the 13-inch model arrived last October, it rang up at only $1,800. Progress, I suppose – but still a pretty penny. Now, however, Apple has dropped the prices on all Retina MBPs, and the entry level is now $1,500. With its more affordable price tag, perhaps you’re eyeing its gorgeous 2,560 x 1,600 screen. Is it worth it? Read on, as we review the 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina Display.
Lofi-Fisheye Digicam shoots HD videos, fits in the palm of your hand
After a fruitless search for a teeny key-chain digital camera with a fish-eye lens out front, Greg Dash decided to design and build his own. The subsequent prototype was just intended for his own use, but when more and more folks asked him where they could buy one when they spotted him snapping photos, he hatched a crowdfunding plan to bring his LoFi-Fisheye Digicam to market.
Study of remoras may lead to new adhesives
Remora
If you’ve seen even a few minutes of any documentary on sharks, then chances are you’ve seen a remora. They’re the smaller fish that hitch rides on sharks by sucking onto them. Not only are the remoras able to achieve a seal against their hosts’ rough, sandpaper-like skin, but they also don’t appear to harm that skin in the process. Researchers from the Georgia Tech Research Institute are now studying how the remoras manage this, in hopes of applying their findings to the development of next-generation adhesives.
Sky-flash: Jetman-like wings designed to allow ground take off.
Jetman
While most of us sit around grumbling and demanding to know, “where’s my jetpack?", German Fritz Unger and a group of friends have decided to do something about it. On a shoestring budget they are building their own one-man, jet-propelled wing. Dubbed “Skyflash,” it’s meant to not only emulate the jet wing made famous by Jetman Yves Rossy, but to go one better by taking off from the ground instead of having to be dropped from an aircraft.
Monkey kit offers numerous tablet-holding possibilities.
Monkey kit
A new tablet stand called the Monkey Kit takes what users expect from a stand, which is obviously holding a tablet, and adds some creativity. Instead of being limited to just one position, the Monkey Kit is adaptable.
Scientist use 3d printers and cartilage cells to create artificial ears.
Artificial Ears
When a child is born with the congenital deformity known as microtia, they have an underdeveloped external ear – also known as the pinna. Even though their inner ear may be normal, the lack of the external structure can affect their hearing, plus it looks unusual. Normally, a replacement pinna is made from a foam-like material (or sometimes even cartilage from the rib cage) and implanted under the skin, although these don’t always look particularly natural. Now, scientists from Cornell University have developed a more realistic pinna grown from biological material, using a 3D printer.
First Asteroid tracking satellite will be Canadian.
Satellite
In the wake of the meteor blast over Russia and the close quarter fly by of asteroid 2012 DA14last week, many people's thoughts have turned to potential dangers from above. It is timely then that the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) will next week launch NEOSSat (Near-Earth Object Surveillance Satellite), the world’s first space telescope for detecting and tracking asteroids, satellites and space debris.
Chromebook Pixel Vs. Mac-Book Air
Chrome Pixel Vs. Mac-Book Air
Apple and Google are no strangers to competition. Ever since Google created Android to rival the iPhone, the two have been fierce rivals. Never before, though, have they competed in the laptop arena. Yet Google’s new Chrome-book Pixel is bumping heads with several of Apple’s MacBooks. Read on, as we compare the Chromebook Pixel to the MacBook Air.
Volkswagen prepares to build the world's most fuel efficient production car.
Back in 2009, before the Nissan Leaf and Chevy Volt were ready for market, the world heard loud, overinflated claims of "367" and "230" mpg ratings. Talk is cheap, and actual EPA testing sent those ratings rocketing right back down to Earth at 99 mpg-e and 60 mpg, respectively. Volkswagen is the latest to get in on the 200+ mpg game, claiming its XL1 will be capable of 261 mpg (European cycle). Thanks to a radical approach that slashes weight, optimizes aerodynamics and wrings every last drop of fuel, Volkswagen may actually make good - or at least get close.
Dyson working to perfect robotic vacuum cleaner
A launch event in Sydney, Australia, this week was the latest stop on Sir James Dyson’s world tour introducing his company’s new line of Airblade hand dryers. While the dryers and the new digital motor that powers them were the main focus, the billionaire British industrial designer also confirmed that his company is still working to perfect an autonomous vacuum cleaner.
Bacterial colonies lend whole new meaning to "smartphone culture"
A relatively straightforward classroom experiment this may be, but the fascinating (and beautiful) images produced by students at the University of Surrey when they imprinted their smartphone onto a bacterial growth medium will inevitably give owners of similar devices pause for thought.
Frenchman nails perfect backflip...in a Mini
Despite what you may have seen in movies and TV shows, cars aren’t generally much good for aerial acrobatic work. That hasn’t stopped professional skier and rally driver Guerlain Chicherit combining his two areas of expertize to become the first person in the world to perform an unassisted back flip in a car and execute a perfect landing on a bed of fresh powder snow.
NASA confirms the origin of cosmic rays.
The study of data collected by NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope has revealed that cosmic rays, some of the fastest traveling particles in the universe, are produced by supernovae. A separate study by the European Southern Observatory (ESO) has made similar findings, largely corroborating the Fermi results.
Google shows what it's like to use Google glass.
With smartphones and tablets firmly embedded in mainstream culture, where will the fast-moving world of technology focus its attention next? According to two of its biggest players – Apple and Google – the future is in wearable computing. Apple is reportedly developing a smartwatch, while Google has been upfront about its smart-glasses, Google Glass. But what’s it like to actually wear a pair of smart-glasses?
NASA's basement nuclear reactor.
If Joseph Zawodny, a senior scientist at NASA’s Langley Research Center, is correct, the future of energy may lie in a nuclear reactor small enough and safe enough to be installed where the home water heater once sat. Using weak nuclear forces that turn nickel and hydrogen into a new source of atomic energy, the process offers a light, portable means of producing tremendous amounts of energy for the amount of fuel used. It could conceivably power homes, revolutionize transportation and even clean the environment.
New Capacitor developed for brighter camera flashes on mobile devices.
While stand-alone compact cameras are increasingly at risk of being made obsolete by smartphone cameras, they do still have their advantages. One of those advantages is the fact that, in most cases, their flashes are considerably more powerful. Smartphones may soon be catching up in that area, however, thanks to a new small-but-mighty capacitor paired with a dedicated xenon flash.
Sony reveals PS-4 details
After months of rumors and speculation, Sony has finally revealed the PlayStation 4 at a special event in New York City – well, details of the console, but not the console itself. The company revealed a wide range of impressive features for the new system, including a DualShock 4 controller that syncs with a 3D camera, games streamed from a cloud service, and the ability to play PS4 games on the PlayStation Vita. Here's everything you need to know about Sony's next gaming console.
NASA's Kelper finds exoplanet smaller than
NASA’s Kepler space probe has discovered the smallest planet yet orbiting a Sun-like star. Dubbed Kepler-37b, the exoplanet orbits the star Kepler-37 about 210 light-years from Earth in the constellation Lyra. It’s only one-third the size of Earth and smaller than Mercury, which makes it not only the smallest planet yet found outside the Solar System, but the smallest planet ever discovered.
HTC One Vs. I.Phone 5
Three years ago, one of Apple’s prime competitors from the Android side of the pond was the HTC EVO 4G. How times have changed. While Apple and Samsung duke it out at the top of the smartphone heap, HTC’s profits have dropped off the face of the earth. But everyone loves a good comeback story, and HTC is pulling out all the stops with its new flagship, the One. Read on, as we compare it to Apple’s top-selling iPhone 5.
Shipping Container Orphanage.
Having last looked at a temporary use of shipping containers as building blocks, with O+A's festival backdrop Amsterdam, we're back in permanent territory (as permanent as new buildings are, that is) with 4D and A Architects' shipping container housing at New Jerusalem Orphanage at Gauteng, South Africa. The project is among the more ambitious uses of shipping containers we've seen, using 28 containers in all. Info-World spoke briefly to its designers to find out more about it.
Heimplanet shrinks its inflatable tent design.
Heimplanet received much buzz for its funky, geodesic inflatable tent, the Cave. Realizing that not everyone wants to lug a big, round, air-filled cave around into the woods, the company has designed a lighter, more streamlined tent-for-two. The Wedge maintains Heimplanet's striking styling but packs it in a smaller, sleeker package.
Possible to travel back in time?
Imagine the wealth of knowledge we could uncover if it was possible to travel back in time and re-construct ancient languages. While that’s impossible right now, scientists at UC Berkley and the University of British Columbia reckon they’ve managed the next-best thing, by developing new software which uncovers existing fragments of “proto-languages” from languages still in use.
A meteor exploded over Russia injuring almost a thousand people.
On the same day that a meteor exploded over Russia injuring almost a thousand people and an asteroid passed too close to Earth for comfort, the asteroid-mining company Deep Space Industries (DSI) proposes setting up sentry lines in space to track and study rogue asteroids posing a threat to Earth. Using technology originally intended for prospecting for water and minerals on asteroids, the sentry lines of satellites would provide information for deflecting potentially dangerous near-Earth objects. On Friday, February 15 at 9.26 a.m. local time, a rare instance of a meteor causing injuries and widespread damage occurred in Russia’s Chelyabinsk region. According to reports by Roscosmos and NASA, a meteor about two meters (6.6 ft) in diameter and weighing ten tonnes (11 ton) hit the Earth’s atmosphere traveling at least 33,000 mph (54,000 km/h) and causing a massive sonic boom as it passed over the populated areas. "While our primary mission is the harvesting of asteroid resources, we believe that virtually the same effort and technology can be applied to removing this threat to our precious planet," Tumlinson said.
Qoros 3 Sedan
Every major auto show has its share of car debuts. Rarer is the debut of an entirely new automotive brand. In Detroit, we saw a first look at Bob Lutz'sVL Automotive. The upcoming Geneva Motor Show will also host at least one brand debut as Chinese manufacturer Qoros shows its first vehicle and two concepts.
Qoros will give the world a first look at what we can expect with the compact, C-segment 3 Sedan. Boasting a "powerful appearance" and "coupé-like silhouette," Qoros says that European influence is a driving force in its greater design ethic, but the car looks pretty nondescript to us. It will blend in quietly with the Corollas and Fiats on the roads. Measurements are 4,615 mm long, 1,839 mm wide and 1,445 mm high (182 x 72 x 57 inches) with a 2,690 mm (106 inch) wheels.
Qoros will give the world a first look at what we can expect with the compact, C-segment 3 Sedan. Boasting a "powerful appearance" and "coupé-like silhouette," Qoros says that European influence is a driving force in its greater design ethic, but the car looks pretty nondescript to us. It will blend in quietly with the Corollas and Fiats on the roads. Measurements are 4,615 mm long, 1,839 mm wide and 1,445 mm high (182 x 72 x 57 inches) with a 2,690 mm (106 inch) wheels.