Saturday, December 31, 2011

Shock 4 all: A few Miracles of the 21st century

Shock 4 all: A few Miracles of the 21st century: "The bridge “Magdeburg” (Germany) – you need to look at it a number of times to understand what is actually happening.

It’s a bridge that goes over the Elba river. It allows boats easy access into canals. It cost more than 500 million Euros and took 6 years to build"

'via Blog this'

24 Websites Offering Free Full Length TV Episodes | blueblots.com

24 Websites Offering Free Full Length TV Episodes | blueblots.com: "In the past, people used to browse the channels on television with their remote. These days, you can easily watch TV shows on your computer at any time of the day, at anywhere you are if you only have a good internet connection. The improvement in technology made it possible for you to browse television shows, sports events, and special programming without having to pay a single cent. In today’s post, we are sharing sites that let you watch TV shows for free."

'via Blog this'

List of Free Useful Virus and Malware Scanners | blueblots.com

List of Free Useful Virus and Malware Scanners | blueblots.com: "Malicious Software or malware includes viruses and other security threats which slows down the system of your computer. Surfing the internet for a longer number of hours would surely guarantee that you have downloaded and installed without your consent some sort of malwares into your system."

'via Blog this'

Friday, December 30, 2011

Pipistrel asks budding artists to design livery for its new Panthera aircraft

Pipistrel asks budding artists to design livery for its new Panthera aircraft: "So you are in holiday mode, probably lounging down at the beach or by a big open fire - depending on where you live. There's nothing on TV and you have read all the books of interest, so now what? Well, if you fancy yourself as an artist, you might like to enter the competition to design the livery for the first of the new Pipistrel Panthera and be in the running to take home 1,000 euro (approx. US$1,290)."

'via Blog this'

SeaBird claimed to be world’s fastest personal submarine – and it doesn’t even have a motor

SeaBird claimed to be world’s fastest personal submarine – and it doesn’t even have a motor: "If the amount of personal submarine stories crossing our desks in recent years is any indication, recreational submarines are a burgeoning market. While most personal submarines, such as U-boat Worx's offerings, employ electric motors powered by a rechargeable battery pack, US-based company AquaVenture has taken a different approach to create what it says is the fastest personal submersible available"

'via Blog this'

Thursday, December 29, 2011

Kindle as a survival tool

Kindle as a survival tool: "One of the most important thing you need in a disaster or survival situation is information."

'via Blog this'

Unmanned K-MAX helicopter makes first combat cargo flight in Afghanistan

Unmanned K-MAX helicopter makes first combat cargo flight in Afghanistan: "The unmanned Kaman K-MAX helicopter has made its first combat resupply mission in Afghanistan. Designed to reduce the reliance on truck convoys that are often targeted by IED (improvised explosive device) strikes when resupplying front-line troops in remote areas and manned aircraft that place their crews in danger, the unmanned aircraft is a modified K-MAX intermeshing rotor helicopter with the ability to lift a payload of over 6,000 pounds (2,721 kg)."

'via Blog this'

Sedan? Supercar? Roadyacht.

Sedan? Supercar? Roadyacht.: "The sad irony about fast, fancy cars. You can pick up one woman in any clean, decent car. To get two, three...fawning over you all at once, well...you'll want a flashy supercar. Or at least you would want a flashy supercar if it came with more than one passenger seat - you know, so you could actually take those ravishing gals somewhere."

'via Blog this'

Apple files patents for hydrogen fuel cell technology to power mobile devices

Apple files patents for hydrogen fuel cell technology to power mobile devices: "Two recent patent applications by Apple indicate the company is looking at developing a hydrogen fuel cell system to complement the rechargeable batteries in a "portable computing device" - which could refer to Apple's range of mobile iDevices, its MacBook range of notebooks - or both"

'via Blog this'

New technique removes even trace amounts of heavy metals from water

New technique removes even trace amounts of heavy metals from water: "Once released into the environment from industrial sources, trace amounts of heavy metals can remain present in waterways for decades or even centuries, in concentrations that are still high enough to pose a health risk. While processes do exist for removing larger amounts of heavy metals from water, these do not work on smaller quantities."

'via Blog this'

SILENCED NIGHTHAWK 1911 - YouTube

SILENCED NIGHTHAWK 1911 - YouTube: ""

'via Blog this'

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Tesla announces final pricing and options on Model S

Tesla announces final pricing and options on Model S: "Earlier this week, Tesla announced the final pricing and options on its Model S sedan, which will hit the US market next summer. Unlike Tesla's first vehicle - the Roadster, the Model S is a practical family car that seats five or seven. It's also about half the price of the sporty, performance-oriented Roadster."

'via Blog this'

Forget face detection - this Japanese car seat can tell who's sitting on it

Forget face detection - this Japanese car seat can tell who's sitting on it: "Who needs face detection when your car can know who's sitting in it based on their rear-end? A group of Japanese researchers at the Advanced Institute of Industrial Technology (AIIT) have developed a car seat that can identify drivers while they're sitting down."

'via Blog this'

Large Hadron Collider researchers find new particle

Large Hadron Collider researchers find new particle: "British researchers say they've seen a new particle using data from the ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider. The chi b(3P) is the first new particle that has been clearly observed using the LHC, the world's largest particle accelerator, which is housed in a 17-mile (27-km) long tunnel near the border of Switzerland and France."

'via Blog this'

Lazareth's 250 hp, Ferrari-powered Wazuma V8 quad goes up for sale

Lazareth's 250 hp, Ferrari-powered Wazuma V8 quad goes up for sale: "In my part of the world, quad bikes (or ATVs) are everywhere. They're great for dropping in and out of the fields to check the vines, as well as hitting the road or dirt track for a bit of well-earned fun. Although there are quite powerful examples, for the most part quads are unlikely to generate the same kind of drool as, say, a Ducati superbike."

'via Blog this'

US$25 Raspberry Pi personal computer nears launch date

US$25 Raspberry Pi personal computer nears launch date: "Budding computer hackers/scientists are about to get a welcome gift, albeit a bit late for Christmas 2011. The non-profit Raspberry Pi Foundation (RPF) is nearing the release date of its surprisingly powerful and remarkably affordable Raspberry Pi line of bare-bones machines that have been developed in an effort to broaden kids' access to computers in the UK and abroad."

'via Blog this'

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Archos 70b Internet Tablet aims at Kindle Fire - I4U News

Archos 70b Internet Tablet aims at Kindle Fire - I4U News: "Archos has been making Android devices for a while now for different needs. The firm has several different tablets to its credit and it has just introduced a new tablet that is cheap."

'via Blog this'

Tactus Technology raises $6M for very cool dynamic touchscreen buttons | VentureBeat

Tactus Technology raises $6M for very cool dynamic touchscreen buttons | VentureBeat: "Tactus Technology said today that it has raised $6 million to develop its next-generation touch interface components for all sorts of touch-enabled devices."

'via Blog this'

Faster organic semiconductors for flexible displays can be developed quickly with new method

Faster organic semiconductors for flexible displays can be developed quickly with new method: "Organic semiconductors hold immense promise for use in thin film and flexible displays – picture an iPad you can roll up – but they haven’t yet reached the speeds needed to drive high definition displays. Inorganic materials such as silicon are fast and durable, but don’t bend, so the search for a fast, durable organic semiconductor continues."

'via Blog this'

Monday, December 26, 2011

Technology predictions for 2012 - Telegraph

Technology predictions for 2012 - Telegraph: "Rumour has it Apple will launch a television set in 2012. Making predictions about what Apple is planning is a risky business but here goes: I think we'll see an Apple TV set with content delivered as iOS-style apps."

'via Blog this'

Gallery: The Best of What's New in 2011 | Popular Science

Gallery: The Best of What's New in 2011 | Popular Science: "When it comes to the most personal files, it can be hard to trust the cloud. The iTwin USB dongle provides secure access to a computer’s hard drive from any machine with a Web connection. Users plug half of the iTwin into a primary computer and set a password. "

'via Blog this'

"Magi-Cam" Uses Mirror-Covered Robot to Record Camera-Shy Animals (Video) : TreeHugger

"Magi-Cam" Uses Mirror-Covered Robot to Record Camera-Shy Animals (Video) : TreeHugger: "It can be tough work to capture animals on camera without disturbing them in their daily routines or making them nervous on their home turf. However, a smart device called the Magi-Cam could solve this problem, using remote control to navigate a camera camouflaged with mirrors. "

'via Blog this'

Sunday, December 25, 2011

Amazing Science Facts About The Earth

Amazing Science Facts About The Earth: "This is a collection of interesting facts and details about the Earth. You may or may not have heard or read about these facts before. There is something about reading interesting facts that you didn't know that makes you want to learn more."

'via Blog this'

What are Earthquakes

What are Earthquakes: "An earthquake is the sudden and sometimes very violent release of energy from the movement of the earth surface."

'via Blog this'

SA-80 A2 TIRE LAUNCHING! (Merry Christmas!) - YouTube

SA-80 A2 TIRE LAUNCHING! (Merry Christmas!) - YouTube: ""

'via Blog this'

Saturday, December 24, 2011

Kinect Hacked to Weigh Astronauts in Space | PCWorld

Kinect Hacked to Weigh Astronauts in Space | PCWorld: "Astronauts might soon be able to watch their weight in space by using a Microsoft Kinect. And no, I don’t mean that they’ll be playing Kinect Sports and Dance Central. A group of European scientists have found a way to hack a Kinect so it can determine your weight just by "looking" at you."

'via Blog this'

A bionic prosthetic eye that speaks the language of your brain | ExtremeTech

A bionic prosthetic eye that speaks the language of your brain | ExtremeTech: "On the grand scale of things, we know so very little about the brain. Our thick-headedness isn’t quite cosmological in scale — we really do know almost nothing about the universe beyond Earth — but, when it comes down to it, the brain is virtually a black box."

'via Blog this'

Will the world end December 2012

Will the world end December 2012: "Will Dec. 21 2012 be the end of the world? There have been a lot of discussion on this topic. There are a lot of end of the world predictions and arguments saying that the world is going to end on this day. What is the basis for these predictions?"

'via Blog this'

Friday, December 23, 2011

Latest HondaJet test aircraft lifts-off

Latest HondaJet test aircraft lifts-off: "Honda's first ever commercial aircraft, appropriately named the HondaJet, follows in the footsteps of the company's ground-breaking CB750 motorcycle and S600 sports car by aiming to provide superior performance and value - this time in the light business jet market. "

'via Blog this'

O1M One Moment natural, biodegradable shoes are like condoms for your feet

O1M One Moment natural, biodegradable shoes are like condoms for your feet: "The concept for these bright plastic shoes comes from native Amazonians, that did essentially graft soles to their feet. As explained by the manufacturer, the indigenous people of the Amazon rainforest painted their soles with latex derived from Hevea trees"

'via Blog this'

New diode promises to uncork optical computing bottleneck

New diode promises to uncork optical computing bottleneck: "When it comes to speed, photons leave electrons for dead, which means optical computers will be much faster than their current electron-based cousins. While diodes for use in optical information processing systems already exist, these require external assistance to transmit signals so cannot be readily integrated into computer chips."

'via Blog this'

Researchers create invisibility cloak for sound

Researchers create invisibility cloak for sound: "Many of the current experimental "invisibility cloaks" are based around the same idea - light coming from behind an object is curved around it and then continues on forward to a viewer. That person is in turn only able to see what's behind the object, and not the object itself. Scientists from Germany's Karlsruhe Institute of Technology have applied that same principle to sound waves, and created what could perhaps be described as a "silence cloak.""

'via Blog this'

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Self-healing electronics may result in less expensive, longer-lasting devices

Self-healing electronics may result in less expensive, longer-lasting devices: "A hard material is impregnated with microcapsules that burst when the material cracks, releasing a stored liquid that hardens on contact with the air, thus repairing the crack ... it's a system that we've recently seen used in a number of applications, including self-healing concrete and polymers."

'via Blog this'

Researchers develop cheap and easy to mass-produce "solar-paint"

Researchers develop cheap and easy to mass-produce "solar-paint": "A team of researchers from the University of Notre Dame in Indiana is reporting the creation of a "solar paint" that could mark an important milestone on the road to widespread implementation of renewable energy technology. Although the new material is still a long way off the conversion efficiencies of commercial silicon solar cells, the researchers say it is cheap to make and can be produced in large quantities."

'via Blog this'

spnKiX motorized shoes edge closer to production

spnKiX motorized shoes edge closer to production: "Peter Treadway's battery-powered motorized shoes - which we first spied as a concept in mid-2010 - are edging closer to production. Called spnKiX, these electric roller-skates have gone through more than thirty prototypes over a five year period to reach the final design and if all goes to plan they will hit the pavement in March 2012."

'via Blog this'

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Climate change from CO2 may not be as bad as predicted

Climate change from CO2 may not be as bad as predicted: "According to a recent study funded by the National Science Foundation's Paleoclimate Program, climate change may be far less sensitive to carbon dioxide fluctuations than previously predicted."

'via Blog this'

Mercedes to debut E 300 BlueTEC HYBRID and E 400 HYBRID in Detroit

Mercedes to debut E 300 BlueTEC HYBRID and E 400 HYBRID in Detroit: "Mercedes-Benz has announced that two new hybrid models will be making their world premiere at the 2012 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit next month."

'via Blog this'

How nuclear icebreakers work - and the reversible ships that will replace them

How nuclear icebreakers work - and the reversible ships that will replace them: "he Arctic North end of Russia is believed to hold as much as a quarter of all the world's oil deposits - an utterly monstrous economic prize, hidden in one of the toughest and least hospitable environments on the planet. Getting to this prize, and then transporting it back to refineries, is a monolithic task that requires one of the most awe-inspiring pieces of machinery man has ever built"

'via Blog this'

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Vision-based system that imitates insects designed to improve navigation of UAVs

Vision-based system that imitates insects designed to improve navigation of UAVs: "Along with the well known defense applications, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are also used for crop dusting, bushfire and environmental monitoring, and infrastructure inspection."

'via Blog this'

Japanese researchers develop six-legged "Asterisk" robot that can pick up objects

Japanese researchers develop six-legged "Asterisk" robot that can pick up objects: "Fans of the sci-fi film Minority Report will no doubt recall the autonomous insect-like searcher robots deployed to find Tom Cruise's character mid-way through the flick. While not as elegant (or sinister) as its film counterparts, the Asterisk robot being developed by the Arai Robotics Lab at Osaka University in Japan does an excellent job of resembling a big, mechanical bug with some interesting skills."

'via Blog this'

Undersea neutrino observatory to be second-largest human structure

Undersea neutrino observatory to be second-largest human structure: "An audacious project to construct a vast infrastructure housing a neutrino observatory at the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea is being undertaken by a consortium of 40 institutes and universities from ten European countries."

'via Blog this'

Monday, December 19, 2011

Scania Active Prediction system alters speed based on topography to save fuel

Scania Active Prediction system alters speed based on topography to save fuel: "Automakers around the world are currently working overtime to make their vehicles more efficient and cleaner through smaller engines, electric systems and lower weights. As this Active Prediction system from Volkswagen subsidiary Scania shows, secondary technological components can also play a role."

'via Blog this'

UK police testing laser rifle to blind rioters

UK police testing laser rifle to blind rioters: "After riots this past summer left parts of the UK in shambles, it's no wonder that police in that part of the world are looking for new methods of crowd control. Since the usual methods for subduing rioters were seen as largely ineffective against their sheer numbers at the time,"

'via Blog this'

KiteGen looks to get wind-power off the ground

KiteGen looks to get wind-power off the ground: "Wind-power has rapidly evolved over the last decade to become a key part of the alternative energy mix with towering rows of turbines now dotting horizons all over the globe."

'via Blog this'

The totally new 2013 Mercedes SL in all its glory

The totally new 2013 Mercedes SL in all its glory: "The SL is a defining vehicle for Mercedes Benz. It represents the core values of comfort, style and effortless power, and was for many years the default choice for successful lawyers and lucky lottery winners. With the outgoing model, introduced in 2003, Mercedes somehow lost its way. Over time the "Sports Light" model had gained significant weight and lost design coherence"

'via Blog this'

Sunday, December 18, 2011

High Tech Gifts For The Constant Upgrader - NY1.com

High Tech Gifts For The Constant Upgrader - NY1.com: "We see it every winter holiday season: New tech devices that are really just higher tech versions of something you likely already own. Take a new Motorola watch for example. Called the ACTV, chances are it does way more than what's on your wrist right now. Developers say the wearable digital music player is really designed for the fitness buff. Among the ACTV's features, it will learn which songs help you perform best while working out and then serve up those songs at the perfect time."

'via Blog this'

10 Nightmares When Travelling With Tech--and How to Prevent Them | PCWorld Business Center

10 Nightmares When Travelling With Tech--and How to Prevent Them | PCWorld Business Center: "As a business traveler, you typically can’t do your job without functional smartphones, laptops, power adapters and charging accessories. Add to this the stress of getting materials ready for meetings and deadlines and you can find yourself disconnected, offline, and frustrated. If you have to travel for work this holiday season, you can relate to these following issues with tech and travel."

'via Blog this'

G Form Encased Ipad Falls From Plane With Skydiver Video - Video Vault - Portfolio.com

G Form Encased Ipad Falls From Plane With Skydiver Video - Video Vault - Portfolio.com: "-Form's polymer technology was originally developed to protect skateboarders and BMX racers, but it has found a whole new market as military/tactical gear, and as—demonstrated in this video—as a protector of the beloved iPad."

'via Blog this'

You can thank 1940s sex symbol Hedy Lamarr for today's Wi-Fi and Bluetooth devices | MNN - Mother Nature Network

You can thank 1940s sex symbol Hedy Lamarr for today's Wi-Fi and Bluetooth devices | MNN - Mother Nature Network: "Whenever you use your cellphone, Wi-Fi or a Bluetooth headset, you have actress Hedy Lamarr to thank."

'via Blog this'

Friday, December 16, 2011

Scientists create "the world's smallest steam engine"

Scientists create "the world's smallest steam engine": "It sounds implausible, yet scientists have managed to create a functioning engine, analogous to a Stirling engine, just three micrometers wide and made of a single particle. The minuscule engine was created by Clemens Bechinger and Valentin Blickle at the University of Stuttgart, and though it has its quirks, the pair have apparently demonstrated the engine's ability to do work."

'via Blog this'

Researchers claim new data transfer rate world record

Researchers claim new data transfer rate world record: "An international team is claiming a data transfer record that puts any home broadband connection to shame. At last month's SuperComputing 2011 (SC11) conference in Seattle, researchers reached transfer rates of 98 gigabits per second (Gbps) between the University of Victoria Computing Centre located in Victoria, British Columbia, and the Washington State Convention Center in Seattle"

'via Blog this'

Treated cotton cleans itself when exposed to sunlight

Treated cotton cleans itself when exposed to sunlight: "For some time now, we've been hearing about the benefits of drying our laundry outside on the clothesline. We save money and energy by not running the dryer, the sunlight kills germs, and we don't run the risk of generating harmful dryer emissions. In the future, however, we might also end up washing our clothes by hanging them outside - scientists in China have successfully used sunlight to remove orange dye stains from cotton fabric, that was treated with a special coating."

'via Blog this'

Thursday, December 15, 2011

North Sails unfurls game-changing new sail technology

North Sails unfurls game-changing new sail technology: "Sail technology has come a long way since the days tall ships were carried along by billowing clouds of canvas. In fact, new aerodynamic discoveries coupled with exotic materials have turned modern sails into veritable works of high tech art."

'via Blog this'

The Rotauf MRK5 combines beacon and avalanche airbag functions

The Rotauf MRK5 combines beacon and avalanche airbag functions: "Fifteen minutes. That's how long the American Avalanche Center gives you for a good chance at survival if you become buried in an avalanche. At that point, you are essentially helpless and entirely reliant on the other members of your group."

'via Blog this'

The smartphone controlled Aquabotix Hydroview underwater vehicle

The smartphone controlled Aquabotix Hydroview underwater vehicle: "Smartphones can already be used to remotely control a variety of vehicles, including flying toy helicopters and airplanes, or even starting your car. Now remotely operated underwater vehicles (ROVs) can be added to the list with New England-based company Aquabotix rolling out its Hydroview vehicle."

'via Blog this'

Matrix-style instant learning could be one step closer

Matrix-style instant learning could be one step closer: "How would you like to have the ability to play the piano downloaded into your brain? You might not end up with the same sense of achievement, but it sure would be a lot quicker and easier than years of lessons and practicing. Well, we're not there yet (and perhaps we never should be), but that sort of scenario is now a little closer to reality, thanks to research conducted at Boston University and ATR Computational Neuroscience Laboratories in Kyoto, Japan."

'via Blog this'

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

New MIT video camera shoots a trillion frames per second

New MIT video camera shoots a trillion frames per second: "We've been hearing about trillions in the news so much lately, it's easy to become desensitized to just what a colossal number that is. Recently, a team of researchers at MIT's Media Lab (ML) built an imaging system capable of making an exposure every picosecond - or one trillionth of a second."

'via Blog this'

Varley evR-450 Electric Supercar set for 2012 launch

Varley evR-450 Electric Supercar set for 2012 launch: "Australia has a new home-grown electric supercar. The recently announced Varley evR-540 is handbuilt around an aluminum monocoque chassis and powered by locally developed and engineered twin Carbon ironless core AC motors with Tritium Wavesculptor inverters claimed to be up to 95% efficient."

'via Blog this'

Heat adds volume to the carbon fiber production process

Heat adds volume to the carbon fiber production process: "When the Wright Brothers first took to the skies more than hundred years ago they did so with an aircraft made with a fabric skin. Over the years a variety of materials have been used including sheet metals such as aluminum and titanium, and even ceramics."

'via Blog this'

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Strap-on macro lens works with any smartphone camera

Strap-on macro lens works with any smartphone camera: "The cameras on most smart phones tend to be rather simple affairs so it's not surprising that savvy inventors have dreamed up numerous add-on attachments such as mini-microscopes and wide/telephoto adapters."

'via Blog this'

New 3D transistors could mean faster, lighter, cooler computers

New 3D transistors could mean faster, lighter, cooler computers: "Starting next year, computers will be available with three-dimensional transistors - these will incorporate vertical components, unlike the flat chips that we're used to seeing. "

'via Blog this'

MIG 675 draws its power from the water

MIG 675 draws its power from the water: "If money is no object to you, but environmental concerns are, then LUXURY's MIG 675 might be your kind of boat. The 22 x 8-foot (6.7 x 2.5-meter) cruiser seats three, has a top speed of 70 mph (113 km/h), and produces emissions consisting of nothing but water vapor - this sucker is hydrogen-powered."

'via Blog this'

Coby announces five new Android 4.0 tablets to debut at CES 2012

Coby announces five new Android 4.0 tablets to debut at CES 2012: "The scramble to take the new flavor of Google's Android operating system for a test drive has been pretty intense since the source code was released in the middle of last month. The first commercial hardware products running on Ice Cream Sandwich, though, will not hit the shelves until early in the new year"

'via Blog this'

New software dramatically simplifies addition of objects to photos

New software dramatically simplifies addition of objects to photos: "For more than twenty years, the software program Photoshop has been the industry standard for seamlessly manipulating images, especially the removal of unwanted items like blemishes, wires and telephone poles."

'via Blog this'

Monday, December 12, 2011

Scientist Creates Cheap, Effective Medical Tools From Old Toys (Video) : TreeHugger

Scientist Creates Cheap, Effective Medical Tools From Old Toys (Video) : TreeHugger: "Old toys rarely get a second chance for a new life. Most of them head to landfill without a second glance. But Jose Gomez-Marquez of MIT has come up with a way to hack old toys into medical devices for dealing with everything from diabetes to dengue fever, providing cheap solutions for developing nations all while reusing existing products."

'via Blog this'

50 things killed by technology - Telegraph

50 things killed by technology - Telegraph: "Ringing the cinema to check film times, owning an encyclopaedia and dialling 1471 are among 50 things killed off by modern technology, according to a new poll."

'via Blog this'

Tinyest fuel cell generates power from bacteria | KurzweilAI

Tinyest fuel cell generates power from bacteria | KurzweilAI: "A tiny biological fuel cell, the smallest of its kind (0.3 microliters), has been built by researchers at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), powered by bacteria."

'via Blog this'

Sunday, December 11, 2011

FAA-Conforming HondaJet Achieves Utmost Operating Elevation of 43,000 Ft | Auto Blog, Auto News, Auto Reviews from Auto Industry With AutoUSP.com

FAA-Conforming HondaJet Achieves Utmost Operating Elevation of 43,000 Ft | Auto Blog, Auto News, Auto Reviews from Auto Industry With AutoUSP.com: "Advanced light business jet of Honda attained an utmost speed of 425KTAS (489 mph) during flight testing at the company’s Greensboro, North Carolina, world headquarters facility. Soon after, at the yearly European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (EBACE) in Geneva, Honda Aircraft Company, Inc. announced that it has fruitfully accomplished extra milestone flight tests with FAA-conforming Honda Jet which includes the accomplishment of an utmost operating elevation of 43,000 ft."

'via Blog this'

Alarm Clock App That Won’t Let You Snooze

Alarm Clock App That Won’t Let You Snooze: "Many times in the morning when you hear that alarm clock you instinctively hit the snooze button various times and end up being late for work. Sometimes you can’t even recall hitting the snooze button."

'via Blog this'

Genius wireless Ring Mouse released | gizmofresh

Genius wireless Ring Mouse released | gizmofresh: "Genius has announced the release of its Wireless Thumb Cursor Controller, or ring mouse for short. The clicking and scrolling action of the lightweight mouse replacement is thumb-controlled, its proprietary optical touch technology offers users 1000 dpi sensitivity and it’s said to last a month between charges."

'via Blog this'

Saturday, December 10, 2011

flyboard zapata - YouTube

flyboard zapata - YouTube: ""

'via Blog this'

10,000 W iNuke Boom iPod Dock - it's huge

10,000 W iNuke Boom iPod Dock - it's huge: "If one had to describe Behringer's 10,000 W iNuke Boom dock for iPhones and iPods, it would not be big. That word does not begin to do it justice. The 700 pound dock is 8 feet wide, 4 feet tall and about as deep, and looks like the results of a crossbreeding experiment between a common or garden iPod dock and a monolith from 2001: A Space Odyssey."

'via Blog this'

Soon you could control your smartphone with your eyes

Soon you could control your smartphone with your eyes: "Could you one day control your smartphone by just looking at it? Tech company Senseye thinks so, and is developing the technology to do just that."

'via Blog this'

SatPlus Sat Chair is satellite dish in disguise

SatPlus Sat Chair is satellite dish in disguise: "Want to install a satellite dish at your home but can't due to a building regulation or uncooperative landlord? Hiding an in-built dish and LNB, the SatPlus Sat Chair will let you pull in those satellite signals and the landlord will be none the wiser. The chair can be installed on a terrace, balcony or anywhere else you want to install a satellite dish without breaking any rules - although it might look out of place on the roof."

'via Blog this'

Ferrari debuts active aerodynamics system

Ferrari debuts active aerodynamics system: "For the past couple of years, many of the technologies destined for Ferrari's road-going supercars were initially developed on the automaker's track-only 599XX. Based on the 599 GTB Fiorano, the 599XX is made in very limited numbers, and serves as a kind of mobile testbed for new ideas. "

'via Blog this'

Friday, December 9, 2011

Nanoscale electronic circuit suggests new possibilities for computers

Nanoscale electronic circuit suggests new possibilities for computers: "A team of scientists from Montreal's McGill University have successfully formed a circuit between two wires which were separated by a gap of only 15 nanometers - that's about the width of 150 atoms. It is reportedly "the first time that anyone has studied how the wires in an electronic circuit interact with one another when packed so tightly together." Along with being one of the smallest electronic circuits ever created, it has also led to a discovery that may have big implications for the world of computing."

'via Blog this'

Amazon makes a move which could fundamentally change retail sales

Amazon makes a move which could fundamentally change retail sales: "Amazon, one of the companies at the very forefront of online retailing in the United States is to make a compelling offer this coming Saturday for one day only - use its smartphone app (Android or Apple app) to compare prices, and they'll effectively pay you $5 to walk out of the store."

'via Blog this'

Confederate's X132 Hellcat "affordable" überbike is finally in production

Confederate's X132 Hellcat "affordable" überbike is finally in production: "Birmingham UK may be the birthplace of many an historic motorcycle marque but Birmingham Alabama is where we'll find Confederate Motorcycles, builder of exclusive "heirloom" machines for the rich and famous."

'via Blog this'

Top 10 things you CAN'T have for Christmas 2011

Top 10 things you CAN'T have for Christmas 2011: "2011 provided more than a few cars that would be a welcome addition in the garage of readers on Christmas morning, from the one million euro Pagani Huayra Supercar to the four-seater Ferrari V12 FF. But for a car that combines desirability with unattainability the one that's hard to beat is Lamborghini's Sesto Elemento with its extensive use of carbon fiber contributing to a weight of just 999 kg (2,202 lb), making it the lightest Lamborghini ever produced. "

'via Blog this'

Thursday, December 8, 2011

M55 expands Terminus e-bike range

M55 expands Terminus e-bike range: "The folks at Budapest's prestigious M55 e-bike studio have been far from idle since we brought news of the launch of the company's Terminus e-bike a few months ago. All of the remaining limited production run editions have now been released - including the Biceps model with the strange-looking front suspension system that's claimed to enhance safety and the "tailor-made" version, where buyers can combine favored aspects of any of the other available designs. "

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Brando's iLaunch Thunder is an iPhone-powered rocket launcher

Brando's iLaunch Thunder is an iPhone-powered rocket launcher: "All those missile shooting games on your iPhone not realistic enough for you? Brando's iLaunch Thunder is a missile launcher that pairs with your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch over Bluetooth, and allows you to shoot missiles at unsuspecting victims up to 25 feet away."

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Does my EV's butt look big in this? Rinspeed's range-extending "Dock+Go" concept

Does my EV's butt look big in this? Rinspeed's range-extending "Dock+Go" concept: "Rinspeed is renowned for producing exotic concept vehicles for the Geneva Motor Show each year - the aquatic sQuba and shape-shifting iChange being two prime examples. "

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Zapata's outrageous, US$6,600 Flyboard - Aquaman meets Iron Man

Zapata's outrageous, US$6,600 Flyboard - Aquaman meets Iron Man: "We don't think Franky Zapata knows what's about to hit him. The French jet ski champion has just put together an absolutely insane leisure product, released a short video about it - and then took off on honeymoon, where presumably he's having about the least romantic getaway of his life as his phone and email inbox go absolutely bananas."

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Wednesday, December 7, 2011

DARTZ plans to build an electric bulletproof roadster

DARTZ plans to build an electric bulletproof roadster: "Estonian armored vehicle maker Dartz has partnered with the Gray Design studio for the second time to give its recently-launched fuel-driven Mojo two-seater roadster an electric make-over. The lightly armored open-top electric low-rider will use the same Russian monocoque armoring system used for bigger vehicles like the Combat T-98."

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Roboden electrical cable stretches like human skin

Roboden electrical cable stretches like human skin: "Researchers from Japanese company Asahi Kasei Fibers have developed what is claimed to be the world's first elastic electric cable. Inspired by the extensibility of human skin, the Roboden cable has been initially designed as a wiring solution for humanoid robots and wearable electronics. "

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World's largest submillimeter camera set to probe outer space

World's largest submillimeter camera set to probe outer space: "Although it might sound like an oxymoron, the newly unveiled SCUBA-2 camera housed at the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope (JCMT) on Mauna Kea, Hawaii, is the world's largest submillimeter camera. Submillimeter refers not to the physical size of the new camera itself, but to the submillimeter waveband between the far-infrared and microwave wavebands that the telescope observes."

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Future Fabrics: High-tech materials attempt to beat mother nature at her own game

Future Fabrics: High-tech materials attempt to beat mother nature at her own game: "Outdoor sports equipment has evolved thoroughly over the years, from simple designs crafted out of everyday materials like wood and twine to advanced, highly specialized gear composed of space-age materials like carbon and Kevlar. This evolution has empowered generation upon generation of elite athletes to push their sports to more difficult terrain, more distant locations and more awe-inspiring feats. The better the gear, the better the sport."

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Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Review: Fourth generation (2011) Kindle

Review: Fourth generation (2011) Kindle: "It may not have been the first e-Reader on the market sporting E ink's electronic paper display - Sony's LIBRIé claimed those bragging rights when it debuted in Japan in April 2004 - but since its launch in November 2007, Amazon's Kindle has risen to dominate the e-Reader market. In that time, it has also gone through a number of updates, including the Kindle 2, the Kindle DX, Kindle 3 and most recently, the Kindle Touch and the first Kindle without an E Ink display, the Kindle Fire."

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Duck mating is an arms race

Duck mating is an arms race: "A duck pond may seem like the ideal place to spend a peaceful spring afternoon, but during mating season it can look like the scene of a gang attack. Though ducks as a species are famously monogamous, unattached drakes can be extremely aggressive."

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Ant-repelling cobweb chemical could lead to new pesticides

Ant-repelling cobweb chemical could lead to new pesticides: "Ants. What a pest. Once you get them in your house it can be a real mission to get rid of them. But it seems the Golden orb web spider has developed a way to keep its home clear of the little buggers."

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Monday, December 5, 2011

Arm mega-pump with 21's for biceps - YouTube

Arm mega-pump with 21's for biceps - YouTube:

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Robotville: the androids are coming

Robotville: the androids are coming: "There's an infestation of robots at London's Science Museum this weekend. Robotville has set up camp in a darkened room on the second floor, where visitors to the museum can drop by to say hello to their mechanized counterparts. "

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Sony creates holodeck using Playstation Move and Eyetoy

Sony creates holodeck using Playstation Move and Eyetoy: "When Sony wanted to highlight the immersiveness of movies available on the Playstation Store, they turned to UK-based agencies Studio Output and Marshmallow Laser Feast to create a series of shorts around the theme "great films fill rooms."

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Top Brewer serves up coffee on tap

Top Brewer serves up coffee on tap: "Wouldn't it be cool if, along with your flying car and your robot butler, you had a tap in your kitchen that dispensed hot beverages? You'd just shuffle into the kitchen in the morning, and grab a cappuccino in the same way that you'd usually get a glass of water from the tap in the sink - that said, it probably wouldn't be a good idea to put your mouth right up to the coffee tap. Anyhow, such a thing does indeed now exist, and it's called the Top Brewer."

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Digital face-swapping heading for low-budget film-making

Digital face-swapping heading for low-budget film-making: "If you've seen the film The Social Network, then you might have wondered about the identical Winklevoss twins - were a real-life pair of twins cast for the roles, or was it a bit of Hollywood magic?"

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Bridgestone's airless tires are designed to never go flat

Bridgestone's airless tires are designed to never go flat: "This week at the Tokyo Auto Show in Japan, Bridgestone showed off its latest development - puncture-less air-free tires. The tires are still in the concept phase, but have been successfully tested on single-person vehicles in Japan traditionally used for elderly people."

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Friday, December 2, 2011

Soft-bodied robot owes its moves to starfish and squid

Soft-bodied robot owes its moves to starfish and squid: "More and more, it's looking like many of the robots in the not-too-distant future won't be hard, humanoid C-3PO-like affairs, but will instead be squishy, soft-bodied devices. Not only would such robots be better able to withstand mechanical shock, vibration and compression, but they would also be able to do things like squeezing through small spaces "

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Traxxas XO-1 RC car reaches 100 mph in 4.9 seconds

Traxxas XO-1 RC car reaches 100 mph in 4.9 seconds: "The Traxxas XO-1 is an all-wheel-drive electric car with a claimed top speed of over 100 mph (161 km/h). Not impressed? Oh yeah, it's also only 27 inches (68.6 cm) long, and weighs 10.3 pounds (4.67 kg) with batteries. The one-seventh scale radio-controlled model is billed as "the world's fastest ready-to-race radio-controlled supercar." This thing clearly isn't designed for use on the living room floor ... or on neighborhood roads."

'via Blog this'

TAKERI concept points to future direction of Mazda's passenger cars

TAKERI concept points to future direction of Mazda's passenger cars: "Mazda's theme at this year's Tokyo Motor Show was "Environmental Technology, Pushing the Boundaries of the Emotion of Motion," and the TAKERI concept making its world debut at the show integrates a number of environmentally friendly technologies that fall under the company's SKYACTIV banner."

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Tetra-Shed: An office pod for your backyard (and more)

Tetra-Shed: An office pod for your backyard (and more): "Now here's an exciting piece of design. At first glance the Tetra-Shed, designed by architect David Ajasa-Adekunle, looks like the ideal hypermodern outdoor studio for the hipster home-worker."

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Thursday, December 1, 2011

Yamaha shows lightweight retro 125cc motorcycle that gets 220 mpg

Yamaha shows lightweight retro 125cc motorcycle that gets 220 mpg: "Yamaha's press conference at the Tokyo Motor Show today was a genuine sign of the times. Four brand new world premiers were shown. The largest internal combustion engine amongst them was a 250cc model with fat tires designed to go anywhere - the SUV of motorcycles was the claim."

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World's largest Tesla coils being built to unlock the secrets of natural lightning

World's largest Tesla coils being built to unlock the secrets of natural lightning: "Calling all Tesla fans! Electrical engineer Greg Leyh and his team at the Lightning on Demand organization (LOD) in California are raising the funds necessary to build the world's largest twin Tesla coils (ten stories high, about 120 ft/37 m) that will be capable of generating electric arcs more than 200 feet (60 m) long."

'via Blog this'

Microscopic worm could hold clues to Mars colonization

Microscopic worm could hold clues to Mars colonization: "Microscopic worm Caenorhabditis elegans may hold clues to the human colonization of space, according to scientists at The University of Nottingham. Research published by the university today indicates that C. elegans can reach maturity from egghood and successfully reproduce in space, just as it does on Earth."

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Genetic genocide: Genetically altered mosquito warriors could wipe out humanity's biggest killer

Genetic genocide: Genetically altered mosquito warriors could wipe out humanity's biggest killer: "War, plague, famine, heart disease, cigarettes, road trauma: six very effective killers of human beings. But they're all amateurs when their records are compared to the number one mass murderer of all time. "

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Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Zoleco is a home-built 151 mpg concept car

Zoleco is a home-built 151 mpg concept car: "Canadian Zoltan Bod is a self-proclaimed "car and performance nut" who has built his very own, very efficient, 151 mpg (1.56 L/100 km) concept car. Dubbed Zoleco (which merges part of Bod's name with the word "eco"), it is designed with ergonomic considerations and seats up to four passengers comfortably."

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Origami stroller folds up with the push of a button

Origami stroller folds up with the push of a button: "Appropriately enough called the Origami, the new baby product from 4moms is billed as "the world's first power-folding stroller." This means that it will fold itself down into a compact car-trunkable bundle, at the press of a button -"

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Siri hack lets your iPhone control your car

Siri hack lets your iPhone control your car: "What if you could ask your iPhone to start your car?

Developer Brandon Fiquett has gotten his phone to do just that - hacking Siri on the iPhone 4S to work along with his Viper SmartStart module to not only start his car, but also to arm and disarm the car's alarm, lock and unlock doors, and even pop the vehicle's trunk."

'via Blog this'

Honda's sporty EV-STER concept unveiled

Honda's sporty EV-STER concept unveiled: "More from the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show, where Honda today unveiled the two-seater EV-STER, which it describes as the "next-generation electric small sports concept". Honda says that its lightweight frame made of "carbon materials" grants a range of approximately 160 km (99 miles) while simultaneously improving performance. "

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Researchers create bone-like material using 3D printer

Researchers create bone-like material using 3D printer: "Over the past decade, 3D printing technology has made the transition from huge expensive units used by industry to produce prototype components to small desktop units like the DIY MakerBot Thing-O-Matic that are within the reach of home users. "

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The 137mph Energica electric superbike

The 137mph Energica electric superbike: "Italian electric race-bike outfit CRP Racing has announced its first road-going superbike, the Energica. With 100 kW of power and top of the line chassis and suspension, all clothed in modern Italian style bodywork, the Energica is capable of speeds up to 220 km/h (137 mph) and range of 150 km (93 miles) on a single charge, due in part to a power train efficiency close to 95 percent"

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Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Spanish engineer crafts "world's smallest" V-12 engine

Spanish engineer crafts "world's smallest" V-12 engine: "Anyone who appreciates the precision art of engine design ought to get a kick out of this offering from a Spanish engineer named Patelo. Starting with hunks of aluminum, bronze and stainless steel, he spent over 1200 hours designing, milling, turning and drilling what he claims is "probably" the world's smallest V12 engine. "

'via Blog this'

Aprilia pimps the world's fastest scooter to remain at the forefront of the super-commuter class

Aprilia pimps the world's fastest scooter to remain at the forefront of the super-commuter class: "Aprilia is Europe's most successful racing motorcycle manufacturer, with two superbike world championship titles, nine off-road world championships and 38 world titles in Grand Prix motorcycle racing. So, it is entirely appropriate that as the "racing" marque of the Piaggio stable, which is one of the world's largest producers of scooters, Aprilia should produce the world's fastest scooter."

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Windowfarms let you garden – appropriately enough – in your windows

Windowfarms let you garden – appropriately enough – in your windows: "Whereas the majority of vertical farming concepts and projects featured in Gizmag over the years have either been huge dedicated structures or add-ons to existing buildings, the Windowfarms system downsizes and personalizes veggie growing by placing an indoor farm in the window."

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Flying robots to build a 6-meter tower

Flying robots to build a 6-meter tower: "The FRAC Centre in Orléans, France will for the first time host an exhibition to be built entirely by flying robots. Titled "Flight Assembled Architecture," the six meter-high tower will be made up of 1,500 prefabricated polystyrene foam modules."

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Monday, November 28, 2011

New intuitive release binding system separates riders from their board

New intuitive release binding system separates riders from their board: "Andy Keel, the man behind the Motorcrossboard, has developed a new binding system to minimize the risk of injury for not only riders of his company's vehicles, which he describes as essentially stand-on light motorcycles, but for participants in a range of boardsports."

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Toyota's new GT 86 for those whose driving is a passion, not a necessity

Toyota's new GT 86 for those whose driving is a passion, not a necessity: "Toyota will be officially showing its GT 86 sports car in Tokyo, after several years of concept cars and redesigns and extensive collaboration with Subaru, which will sell an almost identical car."

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The first lab-grown hamburger will cost $345,000

The first lab-grown hamburger will cost $345,000: "How much would you pay for a hamburger? How about US$345,000? No, it's not wrapped in edible gold leaf and held together with a skewer made out of a diamond stick pin that you get to keep. It's an ordinary burger that doesn't include the bun, lettuce, pickles or onions. It isn't even super-sized. This may seem like price gouging on a monumental scale, but it's actually the cost price for this particular burger. "

'via Blog this'

The Emulator - transparent touchscreen mixing desk puts DJs center stage

The Emulator - transparent touchscreen mixing desk puts DJs center stage: "While traditional mixing desks can bury DJs behind bulky equipment in a dimly lit corner of the club, this transparent, 46-inch multi-touch system from software development company Smithson Martin puts the person spinning the discs - or in this case the touch display - front and center."

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Autonomo - fully autonomous vehicle designed for the year 2030

Autonomo - fully autonomous vehicle designed for the year 2030: "Charles Rattray's vision of what the automotive industry will be capable of by the year 2030 is far more feasible that it may seem at first glance. Autonomo, his fully autonomous vehicle concept, certainly looks the part, but should not be dismissed as just another flashy concept car."

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Saturday, November 26, 2011

Jay Leno’s 3D Printer Makes Old Car Parts - NextEngine 3D scanner and Dimension 3D printer - Popular Mechanics

Jay Leno’s 3D Printer Makes Old Car Parts - NextEngine 3D scanner and Dimension 3D printer - Popular Mechanics: "Jay Leno has a lot of old cars with a lot of obsolete parts. When he needs to replace these parts, he skips the error-prone machinist and goes to his rapid prototyping 3D printer. Simply scan, print and repeat."

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The War Against Counterfeit Money | MintLife Blog | Personal Finance News & Advice

The War Against Counterfeit Money | MintLife Blog | Personal Finance News & Advice:

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Cornell Chronicle: Universal robotic gripper

Cornell Chronicle: Universal robotic gripper: "The human hand is an amazing machine that can pick up, move and place objects easily, but for a robot, this "gripping" mechanism is a vexing challenge. Opting for simple elegance, researchers from Cornell, the University of Chicago and iRobot Corp."

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Friday, November 25, 2011

U.S. deploys the Switchblade Kamikaze Drone

U.S. deploys the Switchblade Kamikaze Drone: "U.S.Forces in Iraq and Afghanistan are beginning initial deployment of the Switchblade unmanned aerial system (UAS). A product of AeroVironment, the aircraft is light enough to be man-packable, simple enough to be deployed in minutes and can fly off over the horizon sending back video. It can loiter and watch silently (it's electric) and is so small that it is very difficult to detect at night, even at close range."

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Living-in-nature pod can be transported to the mountain peak of your choice

Living-in-nature pod can be transported to the mountain peak of your choice: "his stunning alpine modular lodge is the creation of Italian design firm LEAPfactory. Dubbed LEAP (living ecological alpine pod) the modules are built entirely off-site, ready to be transported by helicopter to the summit of choice. Breaking away from traditional alpine structures, the pod is fitted with high-tech features and "at the end of its life cycle [it] can be lifted away by helicopter without leaving any permanent trace of its presence in the natural environment" says LEAPfactory."

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Analogue computer chip mimics brain's neural function

Analogue computer chip mimics brain's neural function: "The human brain contains approximately 100 billion neurons, and each one of those communicates with many others by releasing neurotransmitters. Those neurotransmitters cross a gap - properly known as a synapse - between the sending (presynaptic) and receiving (postsynaptic) neurons."

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New nanoparticle electrode could bolster large-scale storage of renewable energy

New nanoparticle electrode could bolster large-scale storage of renewable energy: "There's no doubt that sources of renewable energy such as wind and solar are critical to a clean energy future, but just as important is a way to store the energy generated for use when the sun isn't shining and the wind isn't blowing. "

'via Blog this'

Mazda announces world first capacitor-based regenerative braking system

Mazda announces world first capacitor-based regenerative braking system: "While Toyota took out the Tokachi 24-Hour Race in 2007 with a Supra HV-R hybrid race car featuring a quick-charging supercapacitor-based regenerative braking system, battery storage has so far been the norm for these systems in production vehicles."

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The Iguana 29 - the upmarket amphibian 10-seat tender vessel

The Iguana 29 - the upmarket amphibian 10-seat tender vessel: "The Iguana 29 is a new take on amphibious vehicles, using retractable caterpillar tracks to deliver surefooted drive across extreme terrain at up to 8 km/h (5 mph) while on water it is quick to plane and has 35 knot speed."

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Thursday, November 24, 2011

EnviroTech's Lightning electric hot rod breaks cover

EnviroTech's Lightning electric hot rod breaks cover: "While modifying cars for fast acceleration over a short distance is said to date back to the 1930s, many will associate the rise of the American hot rod with the James Dean era of the 1950s"

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Klingons take note - nanotubes could allow spaceships to disappear

Klingons take note - nanotubes could allow spaceships to disappear: "Although Klingon-style disappearing spaceships may not be in our neighborhood any time soon, the technology that could allow a spaceship to vanish from sight may be here now. Scientists from the University of Michigan have successfully made a three-dimensional etched silicon image of a tank appear as a featureless black void, that completely blended in with the backdrop surrounding it. The secret: good ol' carbon nanotubes."

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Harvesting energy from insects in quest to create tiny cyborg first responders

Harvesting energy from insects in quest to create tiny cyborg first responders: "Insects have served as the inspiration for a number of Micro Air Vehicles (MAVs) that could be deployed to monitor hazardous situations without putting humans in harm's way. Now researchers at the University of Michigan College of Engineering are proposing using actual live insects enhanced with electronic sensors to achieve the same result."

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Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Bean Bag Sled protects your posterior on bumpy rides

Bean Bag Sled protects your posterior on bumpy rides: "Winter is starting to rear its ugly head in the Northern Hemisphere, and that means it's time to get out and enjoy the snow with your trusty sled. As many of us already know, however, a fun day of sledding can lead to a bruised and battered body the day after. The solution - surround your posterior with the Bean Bag Sled."

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The Car Interior Preheater could make winter a little more tolerable

The Car Interior Preheater could make winter a little more tolerable: "Of the various "joys" of winter, one of the biggest has got to be getting into a frozen-solid automobile, then sitting and shivering as you wait for the inside of the windshield to defrost."

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The Spartan Ducati V-twin track car

The Spartan Ducati V-twin track car: "We see many small one-off cars with high-performance motorcycle engines, but there has never been one quite like the Spartan. The Spartan uses Ducati's 1198 cc V-twin in a light race chassis. The engine that won this year's World Superbike title sits just behind the driver's left ear ... it appears to be the perfect four-wheeled execution of the Ducati ethos."

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Review: The Kitara digital guitar synthesizer

Review: The Kitara digital guitar synthesizer: "Way back in January 2010, a short demo video of a new digital instrument prototype was posted on YouTube by its creator Michael Zarimis, and went viral. From the millions of views, a list of prospective buyers was drawn up and the Misa Digital Guitar soon began its journey towards commercial availability."

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Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Rearview mirror kit adds Bluetooth, GPS, multimedia playback and touchscreen gaming

Rearview mirror kit adds Bluetooth, GPS, multimedia playback and touchscreen gaming: "We've already seen rearview mirrors from the likes of Ford, Toyota and Mazda that display the vision from rear-mounted cameras, along with a GPS-enabled rearview mirror that includes a 4-inch touchscreen and Bluetooth. Now Hong Kong-based gadget wholesalers Chinavasion has started selling a kit that replaces any standard rearview mirror with a GPS and Bluetooth 2.1 enabled unit featuring a 4.3-inch touchscreen for multimedia playback and even playing touchscreen games (seriously), while DVR capabilities let you record what goes on inside and outside the car."

'via Blog this'

Autonomous Wave Gliders begin their Pacific crossing

Autonomous Wave Gliders begin their Pacific crossing: "It may sound like the premise for the latest Pixar movie, but it's actually happening - four small autonomous aquatic robots have embarked on a 60,000-kilometer (37,000-mile) journey across the Pacific ocean. The Wave Gliders, built by California-based Liquid Robotics, left San Francisco last Thursday. All four will travel together to Hawaii, at which point they will split into two pairs - one of those pairs will proceed to Australia, with the other heading for Japan. Called PacX (for "Pacific Crossing"), the project will constitute the longest voyage ever completed by an unmanned ocean vessel."

'via Blog this'

VESTAS Sailrocket 2 sets its sights on world speed sailing record

VESTAS Sailrocket 2 sets its sights on world speed sailing record: "If floating along in a boat propelled only by the gentle push of an ocean breeze is your idea of relaxing, then you might want to steer clear of the aptly named VESTAS Sailrocket 2. Designed and built from the ground up with a focus on speed, the boat and the VSR2 team have headed to Walvis Bay in Namibia with the aim of breaking the outright world speed sailing record for the short distance 500 meters (1,640 ft) of 55.65 knots (64 mph/103 km/h) set in October 2010 by American kite-surfer, Rob Douglas."

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Monday, November 21, 2011

USAF takes delivery of the GBU-57A/B Penetrator - now there's nowhere to hide

USAF takes delivery of the GBU-57A/B Penetrator - now there's nowhere to hide: "Military technology has created some fearsome weapons, such as the 5,000 lb GBU-28 Deep Throat bunker buster, 15,000 lb BLU-82 Daisycutter, 15,650 lb Russian ATBIP (Aviation Thermobaric Bomb of Increased Power), 22,000 lb Grand Slam earthquake bomb, and the 22,600 lb GBU-43 MOAB (Massive Ordnance Air Blast), but if you were hiding under 50 meters of hardened concrete, none of them were going to bother you."

'via Blog this'

OPERA confirms earlier claims of faster-than-light neutrinos

OPERA confirms earlier claims of faster-than-light neutrinos: "On September 23rd, researchers from the European OPERA project made the now-famous announcement that they had observed neutrinos traveling faster than the speed of light. "

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LEDO offers LED lighting in a bulb-like form

LEDO offers LED lighting in a bulb-like form: "LEDs last far longer than incandescent bulbs, are much more energy-efficient, and contain less toxic substances. Compact fluorescents give them a run for their money in some areas, although LEDs tend to have a warmer, "nicer" light. In the past few years, a number of companies have started marketing LED light fixtures that screw into traditional incandescent receptacles - these have included products from Geobulb, Switch, GE and Sharp."

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Versatile new material combines "best qualities" of glass and resin

Versatile new material combines "best qualities" of glass and resin: "Synthetic resins start out as viscous liquids that eventually solidify or "cure" into clear or translucent solids. These materials, which combine the desirable properties of strength, durability and light weight, are so useful that you can find them in thousands of applications, particularly aircraft, automobiles and electronic circuits. But for all that versatility, there's one thing that's remained elusive: once cured, resins can not be reshaped."

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First flight test of Advanced Hypersonic Weapon (AHW) concept

First flight test of Advanced Hypersonic Weapon (AHW) concept: "Following the two test flights of the unmanned Falcon Hypersonic Technology Vehicle (HTV-2) earlier this year, both of which ended prematurely with the vehicle making a "controlled descent" into the Pacific Ocean, the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command last week conducted the first test flight of the Advanced Hypersonic Weapon (AHW) concept."

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New tech allows lithium batteries to charge faster, and hold charge longer

New tech allows lithium batteries to charge faster, and hold charge longer: "For those of us using smart phones, an all-too-familiar problem is that of a dead battery. The computing power, as well as the multi-purpose abilities of modern-day phones is nothing short of amazing."

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Sunday, November 20, 2011

What's good about the new Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 droptop?

What's good about the new Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 droptop?: "As affordable convertibles go, the Chevrolet Camaro does pretty well, says Kelsey Mays of Cars.com, who gave the car a thorough going-over at the Los Angeles Auto Show last week. That's the good news. Next comes the bad news. Mays points out that the ZL1 convertible is:"

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Entire Computer Built Into USB Thumb Drive | Fox News

Entire Computer Built Into USB Thumb Drive | Fox News: "Norwegian company FXI Technologies showed off an amazing USB stick-sized portable computer prototype on Friday, Nov. 18. Code-named Cotton Candy because its 21 gram weight is the same as a bag of the confection, the tiny PC enables what its inventor calls "any-screen computing": the ability to turn any TV, laptop, phone, tablet, or set-top box into a dumb terminal for its Android-powered operating system."

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Amazon to Sell 4M Kindle Fires For Holiday Quarter: Munster - Desktops and Notebooks - News & Reviews - eWeek.com

Amazon to Sell 4M Kindle Fires For Holiday Quarter: Munster - Desktops and Notebooks - News & Reviews - eWeek.com: "Amazon could sell 4 million Kindle Fires this holiday season, said Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster, who originally said the e-commerce giant would only sell 2.5 million units."

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Friday, November 18, 2011

Newly developed metallic "micro-lattice" material is world's lightest

Newly developed metallic "micro-lattice" material is world's lightest: "Earlier this year we looked at a "multiwalled carbon nanotube (MCNT) aerogel" -also dubbed "frozen smoke" - that, with a density of 4 mg/cm3, became the world's lightest solid material. Now frozen smoke has been knocked off its perch by a new metallic material with a density of just 0.9 mg/cm3, making it around 100 times lighter than Styrofoam. Despite being 99.99 percent open volume, the new material boasts impressive strength and energy absorption, making it potentially useful for a range of applications."

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