Fires could be extinguished using beams of electricity

Fires could be extinguished using beams of electricity: "It's certainly an established fact that electricity can cause fires, but today a group of Harvard scientists presented their research on the use of electricity for fighting fires. In a presentation at the 241st National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society, Dr. Ludovico Cademartiri told of how they used a unique device to shoot beams of electricity at an open flame over one foot tall. Almost immediately, he said, the flame was extinguished."

Biomarker research could lead to finger-prick cancer test

Biomarker research could lead to finger-prick cancer test: "A new interdisciplinary breakthrough could see cancer being diagnosed through a quick finger-prick test. After five years of research, the team of biologists, clinical oncologists, pathologists and information scientists from ETH Zurich, University Hospital Zurich and the Cantonal Hospital of St. Gallen have determined a biomarker for prostate cancer – a particular pattern of proteins in the blood that indicate the presence of cancerous disease."

Scientists unveil 'world's first practical artificial leaf'

Scientists unveil 'world's first practical artificial leaf': "Leaves – the kind that grow on trees – create energy from sunlight and water through the process of photosynthesis. For over a decade, scientists have been kicking around the idea of creating an 'artificial leaf.' Such a device would use sunlight to split water into hydrogen and oxygen, which could then be stored in a fuel cell and used to create electricity."

Video: A tribute to Space Shuttle Discovery

Video: A tribute to Space Shuttle Discovery: "The final touchdown of space shuttle Discovery at Kennedy Space Center in Florida earlier this month marked the end of a remarkable career for the oldest of the surviving NASA shuttles."

Body Art - Hand Animals | Optical Illusions

Body Art - Hand Animals | Optical Illusions: "These have to be some of the best examples of hand art I’ve ever seen. Great fun to look at for the kids and a real example of how to disguise your hand as an elephant, eagle or tiger. Click the main post for the full set of pictures."

Volvo fits its EV’s with bio-ethanol powered heater

Volvo fits its EV’s with bio-ethanol powered heater: "It's no secret that ambient temperature can have a significant impact on the performance of battery electric vehicles and temperature differences can therefore have a major impact in the range of said EVs."

Video road test: The Zero S electric supermotard

Video road test: The Zero S electric supermotard: "The latest in our series of video road tests is America's leading electric motorcycle: the Zero S, from California's Zero Motorcycles. Seventy-five miles per hour and 60 miles between charges are the big numbers here – but how does that translate to real life use?"

Laptop concept would roll up like a yoga mat

Laptop concept would roll up like a yoga mat: "Notebooks and tablets already offer pretty convenient computing on-the-go solutions, but Germany's Orkin Design proposes rolling up both devices into one ultra-portable package."

Toshiba’s 14-inch USB-powered Mobile Monitor released

Toshiba’s 14-inch USB-powered Mobile Monitor released: "Walk into any graphic or game design studio, trading center or media authoring/editing business and you'll more than likely see some sort of multi-display workstation setup. I too have found that expanding display real estate over more than one screen can be very useful, but when thinking about such things for my notebook, I'm kind of limited to integrated screen-and-a-half or full dual-screen options."

Bikemaker-carmaker collaboration produces the S-Works + McLaren Venge

Bikemaker-carmaker collaboration produces the S-Works + McLaren Venge: "Given that legendary Italian bicycle-maker Colnago has collaborated with Ferrari on limited-edition bikes in the past, it perhaps shouldn't come as a surprise that another bicycle company might also see the technological (and marketing) value of hooking up with a maker of racing and luxury automobiles."

Motorized rehabilitation shoes put elderly on shaky ground to improve balance

Motorized rehabilitation shoes put elderly on shaky ground to improve balance: "Although it might seem counter-intuitive, making it more difficult for older people to walk will actually improve their mobility. Walking on unpredictable and uneven surfaces can improve balance and help reduce risk of falling."

Man-made 'clouds' to shade 2022 World Cup in Qatar?

Man-made 'clouds' to shade 2022 World Cup in Qatar?: "With the World Cup always held in the European off-season in June and July, the awarding of the 2022 World Cup to Qatar offers the prospect of players and spectators sweating through the hottest part of the year."

Battery-powered surgical lamp designed for developing nations

Battery-powered surgical lamp designed for developing nations: "While those of us living in First World countries may take an easily-accessible source of continuously-flowing electricity for granted, such is not the case in developing nations. Many communities have little or no electrical infrastructure, and experience frequent power outages."

Nanocomposite material gets stronger when stressed

Nanocomposite material gets stronger when stressed: "If someone does a lot of arm curls at the gym, the typical result is that the bones and muscles in their arms will get stronger. Recently, researchers at Houston's Rice University inadvertently created a nanocomposite that behaves in the same way. Although the material doesn't respond to static stress, repeated mechanical stress will cause it to become stiffer."

Eurotech launches Zypad WL1500 wearable computer

Eurotech launches Zypad WL1500 wearable computer: "Around the time I was hoping to swap my Olivetti typewriter for one of those new-fangled Apple Macintosh things, Seiko also created the UC-2000 wrist computer. The images of the device docked onto a QWERTY keyboard strapped to someone's arm still raise a smile even now."

Festo creates SmartBird flying robotic seagull

Festo creates SmartBird flying robotic seagull: "Festo has added to its robotic menagerie with the creation of a robotic seagull that weighs just 450 g (15.87 oz) and boasts a wingspan of 1.96 m (6.4 ft). Dubbed the SmartBird, the ultralight flying robot was inspired by the herring gull and can take off, fly and land autonomously, without the help of any additional drive systems."

Jabra pulls a triple with new in-car speakerphone

Jabra pulls a triple with new in-car speakerphone: "Jabra says that its new FREEWAY in-car speakerphone is the first to offer virtual surround sound through a three speaker configuration that provides quality audio when making and taking calls or listening to music."

First Orion spacecraft begins testing

First Orion spacecraft begins testing: "The first Orion crew module has begun testing at Lockheed Martin's Space Operations Simulation Center (SOSC) in Denver, Colorado. This 41,000 square foot research facility will test the ability of NASA's next-gen multipurpose exploration spacecraft to safely fly astronauts through the severe environments of deep space. Orion will be phased in as the sun sets on the Space Shuttle Program with the first orbital flight test planned for 2013 and first crewed mission by 2016."

BMW teams with Sixt for world’s first “premium” car sharing service

BMW teams with Sixt for world’s first “premium” car sharing service: "With much of the traffic clogging city roads made up of vehicles that carry a single occupant to work, sit idle for the day (usually attracting inflated parking fees) and then return home, driving in urban areas is a headache that just keeps getting worse."

earTones earphones feature Microban antimicrobial protection

earTones earphones feature Microban antimicrobial protection: "While the sound quality of over-the-ear headphones is generally much better than a set of earbuds, the convenience of using earbuds while on the go can't be denied. Many earbuds are fairly similar feature-wise, so the deciding factors for most people will usually be sound quality and price."

Home-built solar electric scooter fits in a suitcase

Home-built solar electric scooter fits in a suitcase: "Three years ago, Terry Hope was working as an engineer on a Canadian schooner. He wanted to take along an electric scooter, but was told by the captain that he couldn't bring aboard anything that couldn't fit in a suitcase. His response, naturally, was to set about designing an electric scooter that could fit inside a suitcase."

Scientists use bacteria to create fuel from sunlight and CO2

Scientists use bacteria to create fuel from sunlight and CO2: "Researchers from the University of Minnesota have announced a breakthrough in the quest to create a viable fuel alternative using greenhouse gases. The process uses two types of bacteria to create hydrocarbons from sunlight and carbon dioxide. Those hydrocarbons can in turn be made into fuel, which the scientists are calling 'renewable petroleum.'"

StemCAPtain - not a bike lock, but a bike CLOCK

StemCAPtain - not a bike lock, but a bike CLOCK: "Consider your bicycle's handlebar stem cap for a moment. It's right there in front of you as you ride, yet it tells you nothing. Colorado mountain bikers Graeson Lewis and Mike Hogan obviously thought that just wasn't good enough, and decided to put the humble stem cap to work."

Sifteo Cubes take interactive gameplay to a new level

Sifteo Cubes take interactive gameplay to a new level: "Earlier this month we featured some novel building blocks that help teach robotics to kids, and grew from a project at Carnegie Mellon University. Now it's MIT's turn, with the Sifteo Cubes – 1.5-inch gaming blocks sporting full color screens that respond to motion, and interact with the player and each other as they are moved around. Games and apps can be bought online and wirelessly transferred onto the cubes via an internet-connected computer or laptop."

Galaxy Tab takes thinnest tablet crown - twice

Galaxy Tab takes thinnest tablet crown - twice: "Samsung has unveiled not one, but two new tablet additions to its Android mobile product line at Florida's CTIA Wireless 2011."

F-22 Raptor hits Mach 1.5 on camelina-based biofuel

F-22 Raptor hits Mach 1.5 on camelina-based biofuel: "The U.S. Air Force's goal of acquiring 50 percent of its domestic aviation fuel via alternative fuel blends derived from domestic sources by 2016 got a boost on Friday March 18, when an F-22 Raptor was successfully flown at speeds of up to Mach 1.5 on a 50/50 fuel blend of conventional petroleum-based JP-8 (Jet Propellant 8) and biofuel derived from an inedible plant called camelina."

BlackBerry PlayBook tablet gets price and release date

BlackBerry PlayBook tablet gets price and release date: "RIM has announced that consumers can place orders through Best Buy for its PlayBook 7-inch tablet from today. Weighing less than a pound (425g) and measuring up at just 0.4-inch (10mm) thick, the Wi-Fi enabled device will come in three storage flavors, and is expected to be in stores in the U.S. on April 19."

Gateway outs new AMD Fusion powered notebooks

Gateway outs new AMD Fusion powered notebooks: "Gateway has announced three new additions to its NV notebook family, each taking advantage of the latest AMD platform. The new models all feature a stylish satin black case, a 15.6-inch, 1366 x 768 resolution LED-backlit display, Radeon graphics and run on Windows 7 Home Premium."

BlackBerry PlayBook tablet gets price and release date

BlackBerry PlayBook tablet gets price and release date: "RIM says that the BlackBerry PlayBook is the world's first professional-grade tablet, delivering 'industry-leading' performance which includes multitasking capabilities, support for Adobe Flash 10.1, high definition multimedia, and out-of-the-box enterprise support."

Gemlike 3D microscope lens developed

Gemlike 3D microscope lens developed: "Engineers from Ohio State University have developed what they say is the world's first microscope lens capable of obtaining three-dimensional images. While 3D microscopy has already been achieved, it has previously required the use of multiple lenses, or of a single camera that moves around the object being imaged."

Artega SE joins growing list of all-electric sportscars

Artega SE joins growing list of all-electric sportscars: "It's nice to see that mass-market daily drivers aren't the only vehicles going electric. Improvements in battery and materials technologies have opened the door for high performance electric vehicles like the Tesla Roadster, Li-ion Motor's Inizio, Mercedes Benz's all electric SLS AMG E-Cell Gullwing and Audi's e-tron series, just to name a few."

Sprint announces HTC EVO 3D smartphone and EVO View 4G tablet

Sprint announces HTC EVO 3D smartphone and EVO View 4G tablet: "The recent 3D home entertainment revolution – and I use the term loosely – may be centered on big screen TVs but 3D is also increasingly finding its way into mobile devices. Nintendo will be first out of the gates this week when its much-anticipated 3DS is released, while the world's first 3D smartphone, the LG Optimus 3D, is rumored to be getting a June release."

Tremvelope evolves and changes as you play

Tremvelope evolves and changes as you play: "My first encounter with the tremolo guitar effect was on the breathtaking sixties rock anthem I Had Too Much To Dream by the Electric Prunes. Most people will be familiar with the effect from Gimme Shelter by The Rolling Stones, or Green Day's Boulevard of Broken Dreams for the more youthful among us. This rapid wobble to the groove has now been given a futuristic update with the release of the Tremvelope from Pigtronix"

Simple One bicycle folds to become a shopping cart

Simple One bicycle folds to become a shopping cart: "Of the various cycling goodies that were on display last week at the 2011 International Taipei Bicycle Show, one that stood out for its ingenuity was the Amxma Simple One folding bike. Made by Taiwan's Long Antelope Enterprise Company, the Simple One is for the most part just like any other folding bicycle – what makes it special is the fact that when it's folded up, it can be wheeled into your local grocery store and used as a shopping cart."

Clapton auction raises $2.15 million at Bonhams

Clapton auction raises $2.15 million at Bonhams: "Everything that went under the hammer at the recent sale of guitars and amps at Bonhams in aid of Eric Clapton's Crossroads Centre was sold, bringing in three times the amount expected. For the first time, the legendary musician offered amps and cabinets from his own collection, including a 1966 Fender Super Reverb."

New battery technology may allow for complete recharging within minutes

New battery technology may allow for complete recharging within minutes: "Of all the criticisms of electric vehicles, probably the most commonly-heard is that their batteries take too long to recharge – after all, limited range wouldn't be such a big deal if the cars could be juiced up while out and about, in just a few minutes."

Prioritizing system measures stress in emergency services callers' voices

Prioritizing system measures stress in emergency services callers' voices: "Chances are that if you're calling 9-1-1 (or 9-9-9, or whatever it is where you are), you're not likely to tell the operator that your case isn't all that urgent, and that it can wait."

Porsche taking orders for the plug-in-hybrid 918 Spyder

Porsche taking orders for the plug-in-hybrid 918 Spyder: "First shown as a concept at the Geneva Motor Show 2010, Porsche's highly innovative and deliciously proportioned Hybrid 918 Spyder is now available for order. Powered by a 500 hp V8 assisted by two electric motors, no more than 918 units of the new two-seater supercar will be made with production slated to begin in September 2013. The asking price: US$845,000."

All new Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental completes maiden flight

All new Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental completes maiden flight: "The aircraft with one of the world's most recognizable silhouettes turned 40 a couple of years ago. That's getting long in the tooth even in an industry whose products use the grandpa's axe principle like no other – as in, it's had six new heads and four new handles, but grandpa still loves that axe."

iTwin promises easy remote file access

iTwin promises easy remote file access: "A lot of us have one 'mothership' desktop computer, along with a laptop or notebook that we take on the road. Many of us also use one computer at work, and another at home. Inevitably, there are occasions where we're using one computer, but wishing we could access a file on the other."

Tascam's new handheld audio recorder features adjustable microphones

Tascam's new handheld audio recorder features adjustable microphones: "Handheld portable recorders with XY microphone configurations are great for tight stereo imaging but if you want to capture a wider ambient sound then an AB configuration would probably be better."

Burglar Blaster alarm greets intruders with pepper spray

Burglar Blaster alarm greets intruders with pepper spray: "This is one home security alarm you won't want to trigger by mistake! Burglar Blaster mounts on a wall inside the home, and once armed, uses an infrared beam to detect when an intruder has entered the house. It then emits a cloud of pepper spray, that will severely inconvenience anyone within 2,000 square feet (186 square meters)."

NAVI project turns Kinect into a set of eyes for the visually impaired

NAVI project turns Kinect into a set of eyes for the visually impaired: "While we've looked at a couple of efforts to upgrade the humble white cane's capabilities, such as the ultrasonic Ultracane and the laser scanning cane, the decidedly low tech white cane is still one of the most commonly used tools to help the visually impaired get around without bumping into things."

Ark Angel LSV: Sauter's latest green megayacht gets speed injection

Ark Angel LSV: Sauter's latest green megayacht gets speed injection: "Like its Super Nova and Ocean Empire LSV stablemates, the 78 meter (256 ft) Ark Angel LSV (Life Support Vessel) from Sauter Carbon Offset Design harnesses energy from a variety of renewable sources to achieve up to 100 percent reduction in fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. When using its four 400 kW Daimler Bluetec Turbo Compound DD16 diesel engines, Sauter says that the green megayacht is capable of sailing at 28 knots while still reducing fuel consumption and emissions by 50 percent."

Amplify your iPod earbuds with Tembo Trunks

Amplify your iPod earbuds with Tembo Trunks: "An essential part of my travel kit is my digital music player. I also carry a small set of speakers in case I want to share some tunes with those I meet along the way, but I'm forever having to worry about batteries and, despite their size, it's all extra weight to have to lug around."

Quillit 3 in 1 Stylus Pen – the 'write' option for touchscreens and paper

Quillit 3 in 1 Stylus Pen – the 'write' option for touchscreens and paper: "While fingers are by far and away the most popular form of input device for touchscreens these days, using a stylus offers an accuracy that stubby fingers like mine just can't match."

Library of Congress launches Music Consortium Treasures website

Library of Congress launches Music Consortium Treasures website: "Students of music history, historians and music lovers alike can't help but be moved by the sight of an original manuscript by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Now, thanks to a Library of Congress partnership with five other institutions, folks can get up close and personal with some of the world's most valued music manuscripts from the comfort of their own living rooms."

Western Digital announces 6TB My Book Studio Edition II

Western Digital announces 6TB My Book Studio Edition II: "Western Digital has announced the immediate availability of a new 6TB Mac-formatted storage solution. Created with digital artists, graphic designers, photographers, legal and medical workers in mind, the dual-drive My Book Studio Edition II system is fully compatible with Apple Time Machine, supports RAID configurations, and benefits from four connectivity options."

Electric sleds compete in the 12th annual Clean Snowmobile Challenge

Electric sleds compete in the 12th annual Clean Snowmobile Challenge: "Clarkson University (New York) was the overall winner in the 2011 Clean Snowmobile Challenge, a collegiate design competition put on by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) and hosted by Michigan Technological University. This year's competition was billed as 'the greenest yet,' with a record number of electric snowmobiles participating."

'Pruned' microchips are leaner and meaner

'Pruned' microchips are leaner and meaner: "If you had to use a commuting bicycle in a race, you would probably set about removing the kickstand, fenders, racks and lights to make the thing as fast and efficient as possible."

Tiny iron oxide particles promise big benefits for display technology

Tiny iron oxide particles promise big benefits for display technology: "Chemists at the University of California, Riverside, are developing a future display technology using nanoscale-sized iron oxide rods that shine when exposed to an external magnetic field."

New Russell Hobbs washing machine cleans up in world record time

New Russell Hobbs washing machine cleans up in world record time: "Doing the laundry probably isn't high on anyone's list of fun things to do, so anything that speeds up the chore, while also cutting down on the amount of water and energy used, is going to be welcome. A new washing machine from Russell Hobbs looks to accomplish all these goals with its 'super rapid wash' cycle rinsing and spinning a load of lightly soiled clothes in a world record time of just 12 minutes as opposed to an average 90-minute wash cycle."

MESSENGER becomes first spacecraft to orbit Mercury

MESSENGER becomes first spacecraft to orbit Mercury: "NASA has reported that its MESSENGER spacecraft is now in orbit around the planet Mercury – the first ever mission to achieve this feat. More than 40 years on from the first moon landing in the age of the Mars rovers and space tourism, it's easy to overlook just what a remarkable a feat this is."

'First-ever' permanent anti-fog coating developed

'First-ever' permanent anti-fog coating developed: "Tired of your glasses fogging up on cold days, or of having to spit in your dive mask before putting it on? Those hassles may become a thing of the past, as researchers from Quebec City's Université Laval have developed what they claim is the world's first permanent anti-fog coating. Just one application is said to work indefinitely on eyeglasses, windshields, camera lenses, or any other transparent glass or plastic surface."

Researchers demonstrate self-repairing chip

Researchers demonstrate self-repairing chip: "As chips continue to get smaller, the technological possibilities just get larger. One of the trade-offs of miniaturization, however, is that smaller things are also often more fragile and less dependable."

U.S. Army trials tactical smartphones

U.S. Army trials tactical smartphones: "U.S. paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division recently took part in a field exercise at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, in which they experimented with a tool not normally used by the armed forces – a smartphone. And no, they weren't playing Farmville."

The jukebox gets a 21st Century overhaul

The jukebox gets a 21st Century overhaul: "Perhaps I'm of a certain age, but when someone says the word 'Jukebox' I immediately think of a Wurlitzer 1015 bubbler, although I've only ever seen one actually working."

PepsiCo develops first PET plastic bottle made completely from plant-based material

PepsiCo develops first PET plastic bottle made completely from plant-based material: "Mountain Dew's green bottles could become even 'greener' with an announcement from PepsiCo claiming it has developed the world's first polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic bottle made entirely from plant-based, fully renewable resources including switch grass, pine bark and corn husks."

Motorola Xoom Wi-Fi gets a US release date

Motorola Xoom Wi-Fi gets a US release date: "As promised at this year's CES, Motorola has announced that the Wi-Fi version of its Xoom Android tablet will be available this month. The 10.1-inch device is the first tablet to benefit from all the widgets, multi-tasking, browsing, notifications and customization capabilities of Android 3.0 (Honeycomb), and is powered by a 1GHz dual-core processor supported by a gigabyte of RAM."

CryoEnergy System uses liquid air to store energy

CryoEnergy System uses liquid air to store energy: "Balancing demand for energy with timely production is a juggling act that is particularly relevant to renewable sources such as wind and solar. Because the wind isn't always blowing and the sun isn't always shining, the energy produced by these systems needs to be stored efficiently so it can be used when it's needed."

Individual Gunshot Detectors to help give U.S. soldiers a bead on enemy fire

Individual Gunshot Detectors to help give U.S. soldiers a bead on enemy fire: "In the heat of battle I imagine things can get pretty hectic and pinpointing just where the shooting is coming from, as quickly as possible, could mean the difference between life and death. To give its soldiers an edge in this regard the U.S. Army will begin providing its forces in Afghanistan with the first of 13,000 gunshot detection systems later this month."

'The Pearl' dome house - passive solar design with a touch of high-tech

'The Pearl' dome house - passive solar design with a touch of high-tech: "Like its stablemate the Domespace house, David Fanchon's eco-friendly design is aimed at maximizing passive solar energy – though unlike the Domespace there's no rotating option."

New microscope captures 3D movies of living cells

New microscope captures 3D movies of living cells: "In some cases, looking at a living cell under a microscope can cause it damage or worse, can kill it. Now, a new kind of microscope has been invented by researchers from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute that is able to non-invasively take a three dimensional look inside living cells with stunning results."

Solar Soldier system to take the weight off infantry soldiers

Solar Soldier system to take the weight off infantry soldiers: "If you've ever removed the battery from a laptop, then you will know that it constitutes quite a large percentage of the total weight of the computer."

New material designed for hydrogen storage

New material designed for hydrogen storage: "Scientists from the U.S. Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have created a composite material that they claim can store hydrogen densely and safely, yet that also allows it to be easily accessed for creating electricity. Some materials that are currently used for hydrogen storage have a relatively small capacity, and need to be superheated or supercooled in order to work at peak efficiency. The new material, however, is said not to have either of these limitations."

H2O Power radio runs on water from the shower

H2O Power radio runs on water from the shower: "For all the people out there who like listening to the radio while they're in the shower, various companies offer waterproof battery-operated 'shower radios.' There's nothing particularly wrong with these radios, but ... why change or recharge the batteries if you don't have to? No, we're not suggesting running a power cord into the shower. Instead, you might be interested in getting an H2O Power water-powered radio."

Japan earthquake may have shortened length of days and shifted Earth’s axis

Japan earthquake may have shortened length of days and shifted Earth’s axis: "Using a complex model to perform a theoretical calculation based on a U.S. Geological Survey, Richard Gross of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) has determined that by changing the distribution of the Earth's mass, the earthquake that devastated Japan last Friday should have sped up the Earth's rotation, resulting in a day that is about 1.8 microseconds (1.8 millionths of a second) shorter."

EvoMouse turns your digits digital

EvoMouse turns your digits digital

With the plethora of mouse alternatives available or in development you'd be forgiven for thinking the humble computer mouse was some kind of torturous device inflicted upon computer users. But despite challengers such as the trackball, theWOW-PEN Joy, the ErgoSlider Plus, the Orbita Mouse and the AirMouse – just to name a few – the mouse has maintained its dominance while remaining largely unchanged since its unveiling in 1968.

Banana peels can be used to purify water

Banana peels can be used to purify water

The skin of a banana has been used to great comic effects in numerous slapstick routines for many years. It's also good for the skin and is a traditional cure for warts. You can polish shoes and silver with it. You can make wine with it and it's even been known to find itself being dried, wrapped in paper and smoked. Now, research published in the journal of the American Chemical Society claims that mashed up peel can remove heavy metals from river water.

Map provides near-real-time updates on Japan aftershocks

Map provides near-real-time updates on Japan aftershocks

Almost incomprehensible as the devastation from last Friday's earthquake and tsunami in Japan has been, scientists warn that more aftershocks are on their way. In order to get all the information on current seismic activity in one place, researchers at Texas Tech University's Center for Geospatial Technologies have developed an online, publicly-accessible world map that displays data on disturbances worldwide, almost as soon as they have occurred.

Fling - a joystick for your iPad

Fling - a joystick for your iPad

Although it's pretty impressive how the screen content of an iPad can be manipulated entirely by touchscreen, one need look no farther than the popularity of Bluetooth keypads to see that sometimes users want separate physical controls.

Stealth introduces rugged All-in-One panel PCs

Stealth introduces rugged All-in-One panel PCs

Stealth Computer has taken some of its rugged industrial PC know-how and developed an all-in-one solution for interactive kiosks, outdoor computing, or marine, aviation, security and industrial environments.

Researchers develop first molecular piston capable of self-assembly

Researchers develop first molecular piston capable of self-assembly

Just like a regular-sized device requires a regular-sized motor to operate, a nanodevice likewise requires a molecular-scale motor. In some cases, that motor takes the form of a piston, and building a piston that's just a few nanometers long ... well, it's pretty hard. It can and has been done, but it's an extremely fiddly process.

Human muscle tissue could be grown from sea creatures' whiskers

Human muscle tissue could be grown from sea creatures' whiskers: "Academics from the University of Manchester have developed a process of creating working human muscle tissue from sea squirts. The research holds promise for the engineering of muscles, ligaments and nerves from cellulose which is usually found in plants and is the main component of paper and plant based textiles such as cotton and linen."

U-2 reconnaissance aircraft to aid Japan in earthquake and tsunami relief efforts

U-2 reconnaissance aircraft to aid Japan in earthquake and tsunami relief efforts: "As Japan, and indeed the world, struggles to comprehend the devastation resulting from the 8.9 magnitude earthquake and tsunami that struck on March 11, countries around the world have rushed to offer support in a number of ways."

Wearable scanner opens new pathways in the study of brain function

Wearable scanner opens new pathways in the study of brain function: "Scientists from the US Department of Energy's (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory have developed a new miniature, wearable Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scanner which enables the simultaneous study of brain function and behavior in animals. PET scans are much like Computed Tomography (CT) scans and have helped uncover the molecular underpinnings of conditions like drug addiction, brain diseases such as dementia and they have been used in the medical imaging of cancers."

New form of computer memory uses 100 times less power

New form of computer memory uses 100 times less power: "Researchers from the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department of the University of Illinois have developed a new low-power digital memory which uses much less power and is faster than other solutions currently available."

Deliver-E Trike quietly takes on uneven ground

Deliver-E Trike quietly takes on uneven ground: "When those of us who live in urban areas picture letter carriers – or posties, or mailmen/women – we usually think of them as people who deliver the mail by foot. The fact is, however, letter carriers in much of the world use small motorcycles to make their deliveries."

BMW's 2011 bicycle range includes M division designed Carbon Racer

BMW's 2011 bicycle range includes M division designed Carbon Racer

While it might be better known for vehicles of the motorized variety, for over 60 years BMW has also been manufacturing a range of high-end bicycles. The company's new 2011 range provides something for everyone – or at least everyone with a well stocked wallet – with a Cruise Bike, Touring Bike and a couple of mountain bikes.

Ford’s electric Comuta Concept – 43 years after its debut

Ford’s electric Comuta Concept – 43 years after its debut

It's extraordinary what pops up in the in-box each week. Those with a keen eye for fashion will note that the picture is from the sixties – the Ford Comuta was a concept presented at the Geneva Motor Show in 1967. It was all-electric, had a top speed of 40 mph and a range of 40 miles, and that was 40 years ago.

Yikebike's ingenious range extender

Yikebike's ingenious range extender

The Yikebike is a miniature, electric penny farthing made of carbon fiber and now it's on sale, it is quickly gathering a cult early-adopter following thanks to its weight of 10.8 kilograms, that it folds so small it can fit in a backpack, and that it will run at 25km/h (15 mph). Until now, it has ticked all the boxes except one – its limited range of just 10 kilometers. Now it has released an extender battery pack so you can add additional 10 kilometer increments to the range of your YikeBike.

P-8A Poseidon production aircraft reaches final assembly

P-8A Poseidon production aircraft reaches final assembly

Final assembly of the first U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon production aircraft is underway. The Boeing 737-800 derivative which will replace the P-3 Orion as an anti-submarine and long-range surveillance aircraft has been undergoing airborne testing since 2009 and delivery of the production aircraft is set to begin in 2012.

Researchers use bacteria to produce potential gasoline replacement directly from cellulose

Researchers use bacteria to produce potential gasoline replacement directly from cellulose

With the situation in Libya causing a spike in fuel prices worldwide there's some good biofuel-related news out of the U.S. Department of Energy's BioEnergy Science Center (BESC) that could help to reduce many countries' dependence on oil imports

Disposable endoscopic camera is the size of a grain of salt

Disposable endoscopic camera is the size of a grain of salt: "Tiny video cameras mounted on the end of long thin fiber optic cables, commonly known as endoscopes, have proven invaluable to doctors and researchers wishing to peer inside the human body. Endoscopes can be rather pricey, however, and like anything else that gets put inside peoples' bodies, need to be sanitized after each use."

x-Ar exoskeleton takes the weight off your arm

x-Ar exoskeleton takes the weight off your arm: "If you've seen Avatar or Aliens, then you've seen futuristic versions of exoskeletons – mechanical systems that human users wear over their bodies, to augment their own physical abilities. While exoskeletons are already available and in use today, they're sometimes a bit more machine than what is needed."

x-Ar exoskeleton takes the weight off your arm

x-Ar exoskeleton takes the weight off your arm: "If you've seen Avatar or Aliens, then you've seen futuristic versions of exoskeletons – mechanical systems that human users wear over their bodies, to augment their own physical abilities. While exoskeletons are already available and in use today, they're sometimes a bit more machine than what is needed."

New model explains mystery of missing sunspots

New model explains mystery of missing sunspots: "Direct observation of sunspots has, more or less, been going on continuously since they were first observed in the seventeenth century. So, you can imagine the puzzled expressions on the faces of astronomers the world over when the phenomena all-but disappeared from view for a couple of years recently."

Like a Swiss Army Knife you can ride: The Voltitude folding electric bike

Like a Swiss Army Knife you can ride: The Voltitude folding electric bike: "Last January, we said that the Robrady-designed db0 was one of the best folding electric bikes we'd seen. The Swiss entry into the market has turned its back on this traditional bicycle-with-motor design in favor of a folding pedal-electric assist scooter. Users are said to be able to fold or unfold the Voltitude bike in about one second, and with one hand, thanks to its unique EasyFold system."

Nanotech to boost solid state hydrogen storage

Nanotech to boost solid state hydrogen storage

ydrogen has great potential as a clean fuel source for powering our cars andairplanes, but it also poses some big hurdles – namely production, distribution infrastructure and storage. Storing hydrogen in gas or liquid form onboard a vehicle raises difficulties in terms of volume and pressurization – a hydrogen gas tank for a car would need to be around four times larger than current petroleum tanks.

Stretchable electronics get the heart back on track

Stretchable electronics get the heart back on track

When a patient has an arrhythmia (an irregular heartbeat), cardiologists will often treat the disorder by inserting two tube-like catheters into the patient's heart. The first catheter is used for mapping out the heart tissue, identifying the location of cells that are causing the arrhythmia.

Warner Bros. becomes first studio to offer movie rentals through Facebook

Warner Bros. becomes first studio to offer movie rentals through Facebook

Warner Bros. is hoping to leverage the popularity of social networking juggernautFacebook by becoming the first Hollywood studio to offer movies directly through the site. Facebook users will be able to purchase and rent titles from the Warner Bros. catalog using Facebook Credits and play, pause and resume the movies through their Facebook account for up to 48 hours from the time of purchase.

Pathfinder subs would crawl along the ocean floor

Pathfinder subs would crawl along the ocean floor

The Transatlantic Seafloor Research Challenge is not a real competition, but that hasn't stopped British designer Philip Pauley from envisioning it, and the watercraft that would take part in it. If it were to exist, the challenge would require underwater vehicles to cross from the UK to the US using whatever route their team members thought was the quickest, but they would have to stay in physical contact with the sea floor for as much of the distance as possible.

Philips Cinema 21:9 Gold Series LED TV to appeal to a ‘wider’ audience

Philips Cinema 21:9 Gold Series LED TV to appeal to a ‘wider’ audience

Anyone who thought making the switch from their old 4:3 analogue TV to a 16:9 widescreen digital model would mean the end of unsightly black bars at the top and bottom of the picture will likely have discovered otherwise – particularly if they also picked up a Blu-ray player along with the new TV.

Nintendo 3DS will stream movies from Netflix

Nintendo 3DS will stream movies from Netflix: "With the Nintendo 3DS release date fast approaching (March 27 in the United States), Nintendo's keynote address at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco was an opportunity to showcase more of what we can expect from the new handheld."

Self-healing elastic polymers developed with the help of a tree

Self-healing elastic polymers developed with the help of a tree: "When the caoutchouc tree is damaged, liquid latex containing capsules of the protein hevein escapes from inside of it. Those capsules rupture, releasing the hevein, which links the latex particles together and ultimately closes up the wound. The whole bursting/sealing-microcapsules thing is obviously a pretty good idea, as it has been put to use in human technology such as self-healing concrete, electronics, paint and aircraft epoxy resin."

Getting robots to move like people for better interaction

Getting robots to move like people for better interaction: "As robots get smarter and more capable and make their way from manufacturing assembly lines to a much wider variety of applications, we will be interacting with them in more and more situations. Currently, robots tend to move with jerky, stop/start motions, which can make it difficult for humans, who are accustomed to the fluid and dynamic movements of other humans, to easily recognize what the robots are doing. In an attempt to create robots that can better interact with humans, researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology are getting robots to move in a much more human-like way."

FiiK electric skateboard - wireless control, ABS braking system, ton of attitude

FiiK electric skateboard - wireless control, ABS braking system, ton of attitude: "Sometimes you come across a product that makes you sit back and go 'FiiK'. In the past we have covered electric skateboards, off road skateboards, even all terrain boards, but a combination of fun, technology, design and street cred has always been elusive."

Bandage with integrated sensors to monitor the healing of injured knees

Bandage with integrated sensors to monitor the healing of injured knees: "Knee injuries are one of the most common injuries that can befall sportspeople or those that simply enjoy an active lifestyle. Such injuries can lay up patients for weeks while they wait for the joints to regain their full function."

Molecule that can erase or restore long-term memories – in rats

Molecule that can erase or restore long-term memories – in rats: "If you're struggling to remember the names of classmates from high school, or just can't forget that time you made a complete ass of yourself in front of your high school crush, then a single molecule known as PKMzeta could be to blame – and increasing or decreasing its activity in the brain could either help you remember those names that seem on the tip of your tongue or drive that embarrassing memory from your head."

Software developed to match police sketches to mug shots

Software developed to match police sketches to mug shots: "We've seen it in numerous TV shows and movies – the witness to a crime looks through a book of mug shots, then works with a police sketch artist to come up with a likeness of the nasty person they saw."

HDR and HD video for under $200 with the Optio S1 digital compact

HDR and HD video for under $200 with the Optio S1 digital compact: "The new Optio S1 brings High Dynamic Range functionality to a Pentax compact snapper for the first time. The pocket camera also features a 14 megapixel CCD sensor, wide-angle optical zoom lens and high sensitivity"

Elfoid: creepy mini-robot meets smartphone

Elfoid: creepy mini-robot meets smartphone: "We can't say we weren't warned. Last August, Japan's Eager Co. Ltd. announced that it was planning to begin sales of the Telenoid R1 telepresence robot in October."

The most remarkable Mercedes Benz F1 display

The most remarkable Mercedes Benz F1 display: "One of the most remarkable things we've seen in a long time is this deconstructed 2010 F1 car on display at Mercedes-Benz World in Surrey, UK. The Mercedes GP Petronas F1 comprises 3200 components and every one of them is hung in the display. The display itself was arranged by Dutch artist Paul Veroude and definitely fits into the 'how can you do that?"

The world's first hybrid automobile goes on show again - 111 years later

The world's first hybrid automobile goes on show again - 111 years later: "We're a little non-plussed on Porsche's announcement of a reconstructed Semper Vivus, which it is claiming was presented at the Paris Show of 1900."

The 1100 bhp Koenigsegg Agera R – with the world’s fastest roof box

The 1100 bhp Koenigsegg Agera R – with the world’s fastest roof box: "Christian von Koenigsegg has once again created a hypercar of the highest order – the new Agera R features so much innovation that we're not going to even attempt to squeeze it all into the introductory paragraph."

Quadruped CHEETAH robot to outrun any human

Quadruped CHEETAH robot to outrun any human

It would be scary to be chased by a military robot. It would also be scary to be chased by a cheetah. So, imagine what it would be like to have a military robotic cheetah sprinting after you. Such a scenario could one day be possible, as robotics company Boston Dynamics recently announced that America's Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has awarded it a contract to design and build such a ... critter. The contract also includes the creation of an agile, bipedal humanoid robot.

The Iceman buildeth – using water from his heating system

The Iceman buildeth – using water from his heating system

Most of us living in the upper reaches of North America are getting pretty tired of winter by now, but for one Minnesota resident, the arrival of spring will mean the destruction of his incredible work of art. Software engineer Roger Hanson uses water from his home's geothermal heating system, along with a half-inch rebar framing system and a computer-controlled robotic sprayer, to create gigantic free-form ice sculptures in his backyard.

Sensor-packed SurfSens brings surfing into the computer age

Sensor-packed SurfSens brings surfing into the computer age

In an activity that for many of its participants is akin to a religion, the merging ofsurfing and technology might seem a bit like blasphemy. But while surfing is still about lifestyle for many of us, these days it's also a competitive sport offering huge amounts of prize money, so it's no surprise to see the emergence of boards packing more than just polyurethane within their fiberglass shells.

Olympus announces crushproof rugged compact

Olympus announces crushproof rugged compact

Adventurous and sporty types looking for a camera which can cope with extreme conditions may be interested to learn of a new rugged compact from Olympus. Not only is the 14 megapixel Tough TG-810 snapper waterproof, dustproof, shockproof and able to operate in sub-zero conditions ... but it's also crushproof.

Low-flying projectile: Saab's PhoeniX concept car

Low-flying projectile: Saab's PhoeniX concept car

Well, it may not be able to fly, but it is nonetheless a car with wings ... or in this case, winglets. Unveiled at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show, the Saab PhoeniX concept car pays homage to the automaker's roots in aviation with roof-mounted winglets designed to channel airflow from the sides of the car and across its rear deck, thereby reducing lift forces without increasing drag

Cubelets help make robotics a snap

Cubelets help make robotics a snap

Do you remember those colored building blocks you would use to learn words and numbers, or just construct mighty castles to keep your enemies outside? Well, they've now received a 21st Century update in the form of the Cubelets system. Currently made up of 20 colored blocks that snap together with the help of magnets, each one has a little computer inside which gives it different functionality to the others.

Morgan reinvents the cyclecar with 115bhp three-wheeler

Morgan reinvents the cyclecar with 115bhp three-wheeler

University of Manchester unveils world's most powerful optical microscope

University of Manchester unveils world's most powerful optical microscope

Android-based Saab IQon infotainment system ushers in the era of the online upgradable car

Android-based Saab IQon infotainment system ushers in the era of the online upgradable car

The Zero XU - electric commuter motorcycle with a removable battery pack

The Zero XU - electric commuter motorcycle with a removable battery pack

Secrets of spider silk unraveled

Secrets of spider silk unraveled

When you explore haunted houses or search for sacred artifacts in ancient temples, the cobwebs that you brush out of your way may seem fairly flimsy and inconsequential.

Making waves with the Manta amphibious three-wheeler concept

Making waves with the Manta amphibious three-wheeler concept

Yill is one wheely useful mobile office energy storage unit

Yill is one wheely useful mobile office energy storage unit

ROCCAT introduces Isku illuminated gaming keyboard at CeBIT

ROCCAT introduces Isku illuminated gaming keyboard at CeBIT

Lasers create custom medical devices, and make suturing easier

Lasers create custom medical devices, and make suturing easier

GPS-guided precision mortar rounds on way to Afghanistan

GPS-guided precision mortar rounds on way to Afghanistan

ITU tracks the decade that transformed the world

ITU tracks the decade that transformed the world

Love as pain relief

Love as pain relief

Lamborghini's radical new Aventador: the first car in its bracket to break the three-second barrier

Lamborghini's radical new Aventador: the first car in its bracket to break the three-second barrier

New, more effective optical fibers have semiconductive core

New, more effective optical fibers have semiconductive core

Pluripotent stem cells generated from horses

Pluripotent stem cells generated from horses

Prototype explosives-detection system utilizes live 'sniffer mice'

Prototype explosives-detection system utilizes live 'sniffer mice'

AQUASUN system puts floating solar panels on bodies of water

AQUASUN system puts floating solar panels on bodies of water

Despite all the breakthroughs in the world of robotics, we still seem to be some way off the kind of advanced robots that can autonomously carry out a variety of tasks in unstructured and cluttered environments. One of the key bottlenecks holding back the development of such next-generation robots is how robots perceive the data gathered from their various sensors. Willow Garage, the Californian robotics company behind the PR2 open platform robot, has teamed up with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to launch an international "perception challenge" with the goal of encouraging improvements to sensing and perception technologies for next-generation robots.

Perception Challenge has next-generation robots in its sights

Perception Challenge has next-generation robots in its sights

Despite all the breakthroughs in the world of robotics, we still seem to be some way off the kind of advanced robots that can autonomously carry out a variety of tasks in unstructured and cluttered environments. One of the key bottlenecks holding back the development of such next-generation robots is how robots perceive the data gathered from their various sensors. Willow Garage, the Californian robotics company behind the PR2 open platform robot, has teamed up with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to launch an international "perception challenge" with the goal of encouraging improvements to sensing and perception technologies for next-generation robots.

New material combines the strength of steel and the moldability of plastic

New material combines the strength of steel and the moldability of plastic

Scientists at Yale University have done what materials scientists have been trying to do for decades – create a material that boasts the look, strength and durability of metal that can be molded into complex shapes as simply and cheaply as plastic.

HP breaks new battery life ground with EliteBook notebook

HP breaks new battery life ground with EliteBook notebook

Apple's new MacBook Pro line-up might be grabbing all the headlines with its new Thunderbolt port, but the claimed battery life pales into insignificance when compared to that offered by HP. When running on the company's new Ultra-Capacity Notebook battery, the HP EliteBook 8460p is said to be capable of running for up to 32 hours between charges.

Infinyte Marine hopes its electric i4 will be a quiet success

Infinyte Marine hopes its electric i4 will be a quiet success

For many people who own lakefront property, noisy combustion-engined motorboats that leave clouds of exhaust and oil slicks in their wakes have pretty much become a given. Hopefully, however, quiet and clean-running electric watercraft may soon take over a significant portion of the pleasure-boating market.

RoboMara 2011: Autonomous bot wins marathon by a nose

RoboMara 2011: Autonomous bot wins marathon by a nose: "The RoboMara or robot marathon has just come to a close in Osaka Japan, with a pair of bipedal bots battling it out in surprisingly close dash to the finish. After 422 laps of a 100-meter track, two robots found themselves only inches apart as coming out of the final turn."

MiTAC heads to CeBIT with new Android tablets

MiTAC heads to CeBIT with new Android tablets: "The flood of tablet computer releases seen at CES 2011 looks set to continue at this year's CeBIT trade show in Hannover, Germany with Taiwan's MiTAC first off the starting line with four new tablets heading for the show. Hoping to capitalize on the success of last year's award-winning Valinor media tablet, the company has announced a couple of media tablets, a rugged model and one featuring two GPS receivers."

The Magic W3: the mini-PC with phone capabilities that's not a smartphone

The Magic W3: the mini-PC with phone capabilities that's not a smartphone: "Recently, devices like LG's Tegra 2-powered Optimus 2X have blurred the lines between smartphone and mini-computer but they're still geared towards the former. The Magic W3's primary function is as a handheld computer that also happens to have telephone functionality."

Subaru Boxer Sports Car takes shape

Subaru Boxer Sports Car takes shape: "Subaru will be showcasing a 'BOXER Sports Car Architecture' Concept concept vehicle at the Geneva Motor Show next week and released a darkened image of the vehicle to the media earlier today. A bit of a play with Adobe Photoshop and … a great deal more about the shape of the forthcoming vehicle has been revealed."

Eye implant contains 'world's first' millimeter-scale computing system

Eye implant contains 'world's first' millimeter-scale computing system: "Researchers from the University of Michigan have created what they claim is the world's first millimeter-scale complete computing system, designed as an implantable eye pressure monitor for glaucoma patients. Incorporating a microprocessor, pressure sensor, memory, thin-film battery, solar cell and wireless radio with an antenna that can transmit data to an external reader device, the device is just over one cubic millimeter in size."

Silver-coated paper could be used for emergency water purification

Silver-coated paper could be used for emergency water purification: "Silver is well-known for its antibacterial qualities, which has led to the use of silver nanoparticles in devices such as an experimental water filtration system developed by Stanford University."

Shadow Ebike: the world’s first wireless electric bike

Shadow Ebike: the world’s first wireless electric bike: "Got a problem with the various gear and brake cables winding their way around your bike frame? If you're riding a standard pedal-powered bike, the answer is probably 'no.'"

Bag + seat = Walkin Bag

Bag + seat = Walkin Bag: "Holidaying to far-off destinations generally involves traveling to an airport at some unfortunate hour of an otherwise snooze-filled morning. After sorting out the check-in and passing through the increasingly invasive security checks, you're understandably tired and in desperate need of a sit-down. With the WalkinBag, finding an empty seat in an overcrowded departure lounge is one thing you don't need to worry about – this luggage includes its own seat."

New system offers more accurate blood pressure measurements

New system offers more accurate blood pressure measurements: "Traditionally, blood pressure is measured using the familiar inflatable cuff and stethoscope on the upper arm. While this method has sufficed for over a century, some people maintain that it is inaccurate – blood pressure in the arm is reportedly higher than at the heart, and not by a consistent, easily compensated-for amount."

'Super skin' powered by stretchable solar cells

'Super skin' powered by stretchable solar cells: "Last September we covered a story about a pressure-sensitive artificial skin developed at Stanford University that is so sensitive it can 'feel' the weight of a butterfly. As part of a goal to create what she calls 'super skin,' Stanford researcher Zhenan Bao is now giving the artificial skin the ability to detect chemical and biological molecules"