Review: Kogan Agora 8-inch Tablet

Review: Kogan Agora 8-inch Tablet: "Like its 10-inch stablemate, the Agora 8-inch Tablet is powered by a 1 GHz Cortex A8 processor, 512 MB of RAM and comes running Android version 2.3 (Gingerbread) with access to the Android Market."

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Successful Progress spacecraft launch is good news for the ISS

Successful Progress spacecraft launch is good news for the ISS: "The future of the International Space Station (ISS) became more secure on Sunday, October 30, 2011 when the Russian space agency, Rosocosmos carried out a successful launch of an unmanned Progress spacecraft."

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The 300kW Varley evR450 electric sportscar

The 300kW Varley evR450 electric sportscar: "Another high-performance electric sportscar broke cover last week from an unlikely source. To be built by a 125 year-old Australian company specializing in aerospace, defense and electric vehicles, the less-than-US$215,000 gull-winged Varley evR450 was on display at the Third Annual Australian Electric Vehicle Conference."

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FIA Formula E Championship for EVs looking likely for 2013

FIA Formula E Championship for EVs looking likely for 2013: "The FIA, governing body of internal-combustion-engined motorsport, appears to have finally recognized the bleeding obvious (that electric vehicles will become mainstream) and is planning a high profile electric racing championship series beginning in 2013 - FIA Formula E Championship. "

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mental_floss Blog » I Am Unreasonably Excited About This Thermostat

mental_floss Blog » I Am Unreasonably Excited About This Thermostat: "I Am Unreasonably Excited About This Thermostat
by Chris Higgins - October 26, 2011 - 12:30 PM I consider myself a computer geek — I’m comfortable with that. But today I’m having a new feeling: apparently I’m a thermostat geek. Yesterday I came across the Nest “Learning Thermostat,” which has been making the rounds of nerd blogs. Basically, this is a computer-driven thermostat with some fancy features: wifi, various sensors, a HAL-like Big Red Eye, and even remote control (via wifi/web)."

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Company Makes Custom Stuffed Toys Out of Children's Drawings | Geekosystem

Company Makes Custom Stuffed Toys Out of Children's Drawings | Geekosystem: "Child’s Own Studio does something pretty neat: If you supply the studio with a drawing a child made, the studio will produce a stuffed toy using the child’s drawing as the blueprint. Are you an overprotective parent who will stop at nothing to make sure your child is both safe from possibly iffy design choices, but also one who makes sure their child gets exactly what they want at all times always? Child’s Own Studio actually prefers you, stating that the more directions provided, the better"

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MIT researchers create super efficient 'origami' solar panels | MNN - Mother Nature Network

MIT researchers create super efficient 'origami' solar panels | MNN - Mother Nature Network: "Solar panels nowadays are flat, but folding them like origami could dramatically boost the amount of power they produce."

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Jet coming in St. Maarten Maho Beach SXM - YouTube

Jet coming in St. Maarten Maho Beach SXM - YouTube: ""

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cruise ship almost tips over - YouTube

cruise ship almost tips over - YouTube: ""

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Worlds biggest wave ever surfed - YouTube

Worlds biggest wave ever surfed - YouTube: ""

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BYD's all-electric e6 hits the market - 87 mph and a range of 190 miles

BYD's all-electric e6 hits the market - 87 mph and a range of 190 miles: "One of the stars of the Chinese automotive industry is Shenzen-based BYD, which although only sixth largest of the Chinese manufacturers, had the country's top selling individual vehicle last year in the form of the BYD F3 (a Toyota Corolla E120 clone)."

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White laser light found to be just as easy on the eyes as LEDs

White laser light found to be just as easy on the eyes as LEDs: "With incandescent light bulbs in the process of being phased out around the world, LEDs are one of the most promising technologies for taking over our day-to-day lighting needs - they use less energy, provide more light, contain less toxic substances, and are tougher than incandescents."

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Crossbow Snow Launcher goes one up in 'cold war' arms race

Crossbow Snow Launcher goes one up in 'cold war' arms race: "With winter fast approaching in the northern hemisphere and snowbound hostilities due to recommence in neighborhoods across the globe it might be worth updating your arsenal with this Crossbow Snow Launcher from The Sharper Image. With the ability to shoot snowballs distances of up to 60 feet (18 m) the device is sure to give you the upper hand in any Hoth-like conflict without the risk of tearing a rotator cuff."

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Research unveils extensive U.S. geothermal resources

Research unveils extensive U.S. geothermal resources: "As a green energy source, geothermal heat is tough to beat, but until recently, it was believed to be economically feasible only in areas with shallow tectonic (volcanic) activity. Now, with a generous grant from Google.org, the search engine giant's philanthropic arm, two scientists from Southern Methodist University (SMU) have pooled together the results from more than 35,000 data sites to paint a very different, almost rosy, energy picture for the United States and, indeed, the world."

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Fuso unveils ‘Super Great’ heavy-duty hybrid truck concept

Fuso unveils ‘Super Great’ heavy-duty hybrid truck concept: "With the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show just a month away, commercial vehicle manufacturer Mitsubishi Fuso has provided a preview of its new heavy-duty hybrid truck concept that will be on display. With the recognizably Japanese moniker of the "Super Great HEV" (Hybrid Electric Vehicle),"

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The 10 Best Digital Cameras | PCMag.com

The 10 Best Digital Cameras | PCMag.com: "The problem with buying a digital camera is not only that there are hundreds of models for sale at any given point in time, but you also need to figure out which type of camera is right for you. The good news is that we review lots of cameras—and these 10 are among the best we've tested."

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Nest Learning Thermostat learns user habits and programs itself

Nest Learning Thermostat learns user habits and programs itself: "While programmable thermostats are nothing uncommon these days, many users adjust the temperature manually utilizing the thermostat's basic feature only. On the other hand, it's certainly difficult to develop an appropriate program corresponding to the volatility of daily life. Designed by a team led by ex-Apple engineer Tony Fadell, the Nest Learning Thermostat offers a new take on automatic temperature adjustment."

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World's longest swimming pool concept wins the Holcim Gold Award

World's longest swimming pool concept wins the Holcim Gold Award: "The 3rd International Holcim Awards for sustainable construction projects from across Europe were recently announced at a ceremony in Milan, with the German architectural firm realities:united taking first prize for its Flussbad proposal. Led by architect Tim Edler, Flussbad would transform a stretch of the River Spree in Berlin into a 745 meter (almost 0.5 mile) -long "swimming pool."

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Nokia's first Windows-based phones: the Lumia 800 and Lumia 710

Nokia's first Windows-based phones: the Lumia 800 and Lumia 710: "Nokia World is the company's annual event, where new devices, software solutions and the company's objectives are unveiled. Held October 26-27 in London, this year's event is particularly significant, due to the release of the first Nokia Windows-based smartphones, expected since Nokia inked a deal with Microsoft in a somewhat surprising move this February."

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WikiSensor app turns an iPhone into a peripheral-free radiation detector

WikiSensor app turns an iPhone into a peripheral-free radiation detector: "Earlier this month, we reported on the Scosche RDTX-Pro that connects via a dock connector to turn an iPhone or iPod touch into a radiation detector. That device is set to go on sale in Japan from next month but if you're not in Japan or just don't want to shell out extra cash on any peripheral hardware, then the WikiSensor app might be worth a look - it won't be as accurate, but the only extra bit of kit you'll need is some opaque black tape."

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Boeing 787 Dreamliner makes first passenger flight

Boeing 787 Dreamliner makes first passenger flight: "The 787 Dreamliner has entered commercial service. The mid-size airliner's first passenger-carrying outing took place earlier today when Boeing's launch customer All Nippon Airways flew 240 passengers on a four and a half hour charter flight from Tokyo to Hong Kong. Two hour-long "domestic excursion flights" out of Tokyo are planned for October 28 and 29 before regular domestic flights commence on November 1."

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Japanese Defense Ministry shows world's first spherical flying machine

Japanese Defense Ministry shows world's first spherical flying machine: "Star Wars fans (like me) will get a vague sense of deja vu when they see this flying sphere in action. Weighing in at about 12 ounces (350 g), the 16-inch (42 mm) diameter flying ball can launch and return vertically, maintain a stationary hover and zip along at up to 37 mph (60 km/h)."

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Northern Ontario's lake monster, the Ugly One, found dead

Northern Ontario's lake monster, the Ugly One, found dead: "Two nurses out for a walk alongside a lake in Northern Ontario at the beginning of May found a creature that is being called 'the Ugly One.'"

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KickSat would launch members' nanosatellites into space for a few hundred bucks

KickSat would launch members' nanosatellites into space for a few hundred bucks: "Pssst, do you wanna buy a satellite? No, really - do you? Well, Zac Manchester would like to sell you one. Not only that, but he claims that the thing could be built and launched into orbit for just a few hundred dollars. For that price, however, you're not going to be getting a big satellite. Manchester's Sprite spacecraft are actually about the size of a couple of postage stamps, but they have tiny versions of all the basic equipment that the big ones have."

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True3D Head Up Display keeps drivers focused on the road

True3D Head Up Display keeps drivers focused on the road: "If you've ever been found yourself hopeless lost at the end of a mountain logging road at 2 a.m. on a moonless night with the fuel gauge flashing "empty", you'll agree that satellite navigation is a pretty good idea. For drivers who routinely travel to new destinations in unfamiliar places or simply lack even a basic sense of direction, they are a godsend. Unfortunately, they can also be very difficult to use."

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Rotundus GroundBot spherical surveillance robot broadcasts live in 3D

Rotundus GroundBot spherical surveillance robot broadcasts live in 3D: "Remote-controlled unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) have proven exceptionally useful in military applications, but according to Swedish company Rotundus, they can be equally well applied to civil security. Rolling through mud, sand, snow, or even floating in the water, the Rotundus GroundBot spherically-shaped robot is equipped with a pair of cameras, providing its remote operator with a live video feed in 3D."

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Solar Ship: The hybrid airship with a low-carbon twist

Solar Ship: The hybrid airship with a low-carbon twist: "In recent times there's been a resurgence of interest in airships for military and commercial uses as evidenced by Lockheed Martin's High Altitude Long Endurance-Demonstrator (HALE-D) and Hybrid Air Vehicles heavy-lift variant of Northrop Grumman's Long-Endurance Multi-Intelligence Vehicle (LEMV). Like HAV's design, this concept from Canadian company Solar Ship is a hybrid airship that relies on aerodynamics to help provide lift, and like the HALE-D, it would have its top surface area covered in solar cells to provide energy and minimize its carbon footprint."

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Tokyo world premiere for Mazda TAKERI concept

Tokyo world premiere for Mazda TAKERI concept: "Mazda will roll-out a new midsize sedan concept at the 42nd Tokyo Motor Show next month. The company will showcase its first regenerative braking system as part of the world premiere of the Mazda TAKERI, which is also equipped with a SKYACTIV-D diesel engine and an i-stop idling stop system."

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GoPro releases sharper-pictured, easier-to-use HD HERO2 actioncam

GoPro releases sharper-pictured, easier-to-use HD HERO2 actioncam: "If you've been holding off on getting a GoPro HD HERO actioncam ... well, you were right to wait. Today, the California-based company announced the release of its HD HERO2 camera, which is claimed to be "2X as Powerful in Every Way." More specifically, it has an 11-megapixel image sensor (as opposed to the regular camera's 5 mp), along with a new processor that is said to be twice as fast, and a redesigned lens that GoPro claims is both twice as sharp and capable of a complete 170-degree field of view even in widescreen 1080p mode."

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Lazer Stunt Chasers pursue a spot of light across your floor

Lazer Stunt Chasers pursue a spot of light across your floor: "If you have both a laser pointer and either a cat or a dog in your home, you probably know how much fun it can be to watch your critter chasing after the laser light point on the floor. If you don't have any pets, however, now there's something else that will chase a laser for you - a toy car."

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BAE Systems to provide new helmet display for F-35 pilots

BAE Systems to provide new helmet display for F-35 pilots: "When it enters service, the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter will lay claim to the title of the most advanced warplane in the world. Its pilots will have the most advanced helmets as well ... and there's more to it than protecting the pilot's head against knocks."

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Tel Aviv University's astounding "quantum levitation" demonstration

Tel Aviv University's astounding "quantum levitation" demonstration: "Maglev trains have been in development since before Luke Skywalker drove his first Land Speeder but, like personal rocket packs, the idea of levitating transport is taking a while to catch on."

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OCZ releases world's first terabyte 2.5-inch SSD

OCZ releases world's first terabyte 2.5-inch SSD: "If you're like me, you're waiting for storage capacities to increase and prices to decrease before ditching the traditional platter-based hard drive and jumping on the SSD (solid-state drive) train to take advantage of lower power consumption and faster boot up and access times."

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AeroShot delivers aerosol caffeine hit without the calories or coffee breath

AeroShot delivers aerosol caffeine hit without the calories or coffee breath: "Science fiction movies would have us believe that, in the future, pills (or possibly green wafers) will meet all our nutritional needs, but Harvard professor David Edwards sees things a little differently. Having already introduced the Le Whif chocolate inhaler, Edwards has now turned his attention to the world's most widely consumed psychoactive drug - caffeine. "

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Manned version of X-37 space plane in the works?

Manned version of X-37 space plane in the works?: "When the Space Shuttle Atlantis touched down for the final time on July 21, 2011, it looked as if the notion of a manned spacecraft capable of going into orbit and then landing like a conventional airplane had been abandoned. "

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Researchers create car that can be steered by thought | MNN - Mother Nature Network

Researchers create car that can be steered by thought | MNN - Mother Nature Network: "The case for outlawing the practice of talking on cell phones while driving got a boost from the latest breakthrough from the innovation labs of Freie Universität Berlin. "

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Amazing Video: Robotic Swarms That'll Infest Your Home Entertainment Center | Fast Company

Amazing Video: Robotic Swarms That'll Infest Your Home Entertainment Center | Fast Company: "Rather than a single screen, she envisions a swarm of autonomous blocks that occasionally join up to form a TV--but which can also disperse to highlight other information, such as what your schedule looks like, or even where your keys are. I can't wait for the future!!!"

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MAKE | $25 USB Stick PC

MAKE | $25 USB Stick PC: "Frustrated with a curriculum change away from traditional CS courses in public schools, game developer David Braben built an ultra-low cost single board computer on a USB stick to facilitate a return to programming and learning how computers actually work."

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Toyota and Peugeot announce plans for hybrid race cars

Toyota and Peugeot announce plans for hybrid race cars: "Toyota is going sports car racing, and it intends to enter the hotly-contested LMP1 class from next year with a car powered by a petrol hybrid power-train. Though rumors have predicted a Toyota LMP1 car even before the company closed its calamitous F1 effort at the end of 2009, Toyota's presence appears certain to invigorate Le Mans racing which has been a battle of the diesel cars of Peugeot and Audi for the last few years."

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Haptic shoe could replace the white cane

Haptic shoe could replace the white cane: "Within just the past few years, scientists have developed an impressive number of experimental systems designed to help the blind navigate city streets. These have included devices that mount on the wrist, are incorporated into glasses, are worn as a vest, and that augment a traditional white cane."

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GM developing vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure communications systems

GM developing vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure communications systems: "Basic car safety systems designed to save lives in the event of an accident like seatbelts and airbags are being supplemented in modern vehicles by increasingly sophisticated preventative technologies such as ABS and lane departure warning systems."

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DeLorean to be resurrected with US$100,000 EV

DeLorean to be resurrected with US$100,000 EV: "If you fell in love with the De Lorean in the Back to the Future movie series, the good news is that in 2013, you'll be able to buy a real one again. It won't have a flux capacitor, won't time-travel and it'll still be a thirty year-old design, albeit styled by Giugiaro himself, and structurally redesigned by Colin Chapman of Lotus fame after De Lorean himself screwed up the first design."

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Volvo V60 diesel plug-in hybrid to launch next year

Volvo V60 diesel plug-in hybrid to launch next year: "At its unveiling at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show earlier this year, Volvo said its V60 plug-in hybrid was "virtually production-ready." This was an accurate statement as it turns out, with the Swedish automaker announcing that from next year it will begin selling what is likely to be the world's first diesel plug-in hybrid production car. The V60 plug-in hybrid has a range of up to 50 km (31 miles) when driven purely by the electric motor, with the car's total operating range extending up to 1,200 km (745.6 miles) when combined with the ICE."

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See the Army’s New Suicide Drone in Action | Video | TheBlaze.com

See the Army’s New Suicide Drone in Action | Video | TheBlaze.com: "The U.S. military’ newest drone is a twenty-first century take on the kamikaze that can both surveil and eliminate America’s foes in a suicide attack— and it all fits in a backpack."

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Pavegen tiles harvest energy from footsteps

Pavegen tiles harvest energy from footsteps: "Can you imagine the power of 50,000 steps a day? Well, Laurence Kembell-Cook, the director of Pavegen Systems imagined it and created Pavegen tiles - a low carbon solution that aims to bring kinetic energy harvesting to the streets. Not surprisingly, the tile is receiving a great deal of attention as a solution for power-hungry cities with a lot of walking traffic."

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MIT-developed radar sees through concrete walls up to eight inches thick

MIT-developed radar sees through concrete walls up to eight inches thick: "MIT researchers have developed radar technology that provides real-time video of what is happening behind solid concrete walls measuring four to eight inches (10-20 cm) thick. Just like any other radar, the device emits radio waves that bounce off objects and then analyzes the return signal, but to give it its X-ray spec capabilities, the newly developed radar technology disregards the 99.9975 percent of the signal that returns to the radar after bouncing off the wall and amplifies the remaining 0.0025 percent of the signal that makes it through."

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Logic gates created from DNA and bacteria could form basis of biological computers

Logic gates created from DNA and bacteria could form basis of biological computers: "DNA is often referred to as the building block of life. Now scientists from Imperial College London have demonstrated that DNA (and bacteria) can be used to create the fundamental building blocks of a computer - logic gates. Using DNA and harmless gut bacteria, the scientists have built what they claim are the most advanced biological logic gates ever created by scientists."

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Fisker Automotive's Karma sedan PHEV finally on sale

Fisker Automotive's Karma sedan PHEV finally on sale: "Having unveiled the Fisker Karma at NAIAS 2008, Fisker Automotive had originally intended to begin sales of the Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) in late 2009, but funding setbacks saw the car's launch date delayed several times. "

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Why all HDMI cables are the same | Crave - CNET

Why all HDMI cables are the same | Crave - CNET: "There's lots of money in cables. Your money.
Dozens of reputable and disreputable companies market HDMI cables, and many outright lie to consumers about the "advantages" of their product."

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OmniTouch turns any surface into a touchscreen interface

OmniTouch turns any surface into a touchscreen interface: "Had Shakespeare been born several centuries later, he might have said "All the world's an interface," especially if he'd had a chance to play with the recently-developed, wearable OmniTouch system. "

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Another Brough Superior joins the top 10 most valuable motorcycles at auction

Another Brough Superior joins the top 10 most valuable motorcycles at auction: "Another Brough Superior motorcycle has moved into the top 10 most valuable motorcycles sold at auction when the 1929 SS100 commonly known as 'Moby Dick' sold for GBP 210,500 (US$333,210)."

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Current-steering nanomaterial could lead to self-rewiring electronics

Current-steering nanomaterial could lead to self-rewiring electronics: "By now, we're all fairly used to electronic devices such as smartphones, which can act as a mobile phone, computer, camera and navigation unit all at once. These devices, while multi-functional, still use different hard-wired electrical circuits for their different functions."

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Team Tokai wins 2011 World Solar Challenge

Team Tokai wins 2011 World Solar Challenge: "Team Tokai has just reached the finish line in Adelaide, Australia, to become the winner of the 2011 World Solar Challenge. The victory makes it back-to-back wins for the Japanese team which took out the previous event in 2009."

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"Gloria" will allow internet astronomers to access worldwide robotic telescope network

"Gloria" will allow internet astronomers to access worldwide robotic telescope network: "Amateur astronomers wanting to observe celestial bodies soon won't be limited to just their own personal telescopes, or visits to the local public observatory. Starting next year, the first in a worldwide network of robotic telescopes will be going online, which users from any location on the planet will be able to operate for free via the internet."

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Bosco Verticale: the world's first vertical forest

Bosco Verticale: the world's first vertical forest: "Italian architecture firm Stefano Boeri Architetti hopes to merge vegetation and urban architecture, with its Bosco Verticale (Vertical Forest) project. The Milan-based firm has designed a model that could see the "reforestation and naturalization" of metropolitan cities, by growing forests sky-ways."

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App turns smartphone into a medical monitor

App turns smartphone into a medical monitor: "Users of the Pulse Phone app may be justifiably impressed at the way in which it lets them measure their heart rate, simply by placing their finger over their iPhone's camera lens. Well, a biomedical engineer at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) in Massachusetts has taken that concept several steps farther."

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Marchi Mobile's eleMMent RV - a luxury mansion on wheels

Marchi Mobile's eleMMent RV - a luxury mansion on wheels: "Partially based on a 2001 design by Luigi Colani, this mobile luxury villa resting on a DAF XF 105 track chassis features deliberately radical elements such as the highly conspicuous oval windscreen that make the it stand out at first sight."

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Initiative challenges young minds to design Space Station science experiment

Initiative challenges young minds to design Space Station science experiment: "YouTube and Lenovo have joined forces to launch a global initiative that challenges youngsters to design a science experiment which can be performed in space. Two winning entries chosen by a panel of scientists, astronauts and educators - "

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Computer modeling suggests Tyrannosaurus rex was much bigger than previously thought

Computer modeling suggests Tyrannosaurus rex was much bigger than previously thought: Tyrannosaurus rex, that coolest of all the dinosaurs, may have been even bigger and scarier than originally thought. That's the conclusion that was recently reached by a team of scientists, who used computer modeling technology to estimate the average body mass of the carnivorous dinosaurs.

Throwable ball camera captures panoramic images

Throwable ball camera captures panoramic images: Taking pictures is about to get a lot more fun if computer engineer Jonas Pfeil and his colleagues have anything to say about it. A recent graduate from the Technical University of Berlin, Pfeil and his team designed and built a working prototype "ball" camera- a foam-studded sphere (about 8 inches in diameter) peppered with 36 tiny 2-megapixel cell phone cameras.

AshPoopie concept turns dog doo into ashes

AshPoopie concept turns dog doo into ashes: Most dog-walkers accept the necessity of cleaning up after their charges, but no one is claiming that it's a pleasurable experience. While we've seen eco-friendly dog waste disposal bags and systems that turn poop into plant fertilizer, we've yet to come across an approach that takes care of both collection and disposal quite like AshPoopie.

NASA charters suborbital research flights aboard Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo

NASA charters suborbital research flights aboard Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo: Although Virgin Galactic is generally known as a space tourism company, it sees research experiments as a future mission segment and significant business opportunity. To this end, the company has signed a contract with NASA to provide up to three charter flights on its SpaceShipTwo suborbital spaceplane.

Kawasaki's 2012 ZX-14R will be the most powerful production motorcycle ever

Kawasaki's 2012 ZX-14R will be the most powerful production motorcycle ever: Kawasaki has released details of its 2012 ZX-14R and the Japanese giant has once again gazumped the competition to retake top spot on the motorcycle horsepower ladder.

New device to generate electricity from human breathing

New device to generate electricity from human breathing: "One of the biggest hurdles facing the developers of biological implants is coming up with a power source to keep the implanted devices ticking"

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Low-impact Hobbit home only cost US$4,650 to build

Low-impact Hobbit home only cost US$4,650 to build: "Simon Dale, with the help of his father in-law, has single-handedly built this low impact Hobbit house in the woodlands of West Wales. The eco-house, which rose from a muddy hole in the ground and took three months to complete, came in at under US$5,000"

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FeTRAM memory could be faster than SRAM and more energy efficient than flash

FeTRAM memory could be faster than SRAM and more energy efficient than flash: "Researchers at Purdue University are developing a new type of computer memory that they claim could be faster than SRAM and use 99 percent less energy than flash memory."

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Hi-Tech Marine’s Oronero – the world's first convertible yacht tender

Hi-Tech Marine’s Oronero – the world's first convertible yacht tender: "Yacht tenders are generally open top boats that leave their passengers exposed to the elements, but Alex Pirard Yacht Design has created a more civilized option. Laying claim to the title of the the first yacht tender in the world to feature a convertible and completely automatized hard-top,"

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SeaTwirl puts a new spin on offshore wind turbines

SeaTwirl puts a new spin on offshore wind turbines: "One of the main drawbacks of wind turbines is the fact that for maximum efficiency, the power that they generate must be fed into the grid right as the wind is blowing and their blades are spinning."

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"Questionable Observer Detector" identifies people who keep popping up in crime scene footage

"Questionable Observer Detector" identifies people who keep popping up in crime scene footage: "Chances are, you've seen at least one or two TV shows in which the police examine news footage shot at several different crime scenes, and recognize the same person's face showing up repeatedly in the crowds of onlookers "

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Introducing "Glamping" (aka camping in style)

Introducing "Glamping" (aka camping in style): "Eco-tourism is a fast developing industry, as travelers become more conscious about what type of holiday they choose. "Glamping" (glamor + camping) has thus become a popular option for many the eco-tourist, incorporating eco-friendly domes or igloos, that take the camping experience to the next level of comfort. Here's a look at two eco-dome sites in Europe."

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Should iMessage be making telcos nervous?

Should iMessage be making telcos nervous?: "With around two trillion text messages sent in America alone every year, SMS text messaging is the most widely used data application in the world and the number two use of mobile phones - the first being to check the time."

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Nissan doubles power density with new Fuel Cell Stack

Nissan doubles power density with new Fuel Cell Stack: "One area of energy storage that appears to be moving towards viability quicker than battery technology at present is the hydrogen fuel cell. Nissan Motor yesterday revealed its next generation Fuel Cell Stack (2011 Model) for Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEV)"

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Romo the robot uses your smartphone as its brain

Romo the robot uses your smartphone as its brain: "When you think about it, smartphones are more than just fancy phones - they're actually tiny portable computers. Given that so many people now own these tiny computers, why should they have to pay to buy another computer that's built into an electronic device, when they could instead just use their existing smartphone as the "brain" of that device? "

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ISPs exaggerate the cost of data

ISPs exaggerate the cost of data: "For years, internet service providers have been raising the costs of broadband internet service due to what they call "increasing demand for service." Both fixed and mobile internet providers recently claimed that increasing demand is leading to "ballooning" costs, which made price increases necessary. They even went as far to say that companies such as the BBC should be helping to foot the bill."

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Scientists discover new form of superhard carbon

Scientists discover new form of superhard carbon: "Carbon is the fourth-most-abundant element in the universe and comes in a wide variety of forms, called allotropes, including graphite, graphene, and the hardest natural material known to man, diamonds."

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Dream Chaser space plane to fall from the skies next summer

Dream Chaser space plane to fall from the skies next summer: "The Dream Chaser, a reusable space plane currently under development by Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC), is to undergo high altitude drop tests in 2012 following a 25.6 million US dollar boost from NASA to top-off the 80 million US dollar contract awarded earlier this year."

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First flight of X-47B unmanned aircraft demonstrator in cruise mode

First flight of X-47B unmanned aircraft demonstrator in cruise mode: "Having completed its first flight earlier this year, the Northrop Grumman-built U.S. Navy X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System Demonstration (UCAS-D) aircraft achieved another milestone on September 30 with its first flight in cruise mode."

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Adobe sneak peeks amazing "de-blurring" plug-in for Photoshop

Adobe sneak peeks amazing "de-blurring" plug-in for Photoshop: "Adobe showed what it calls a "sneak peek" of some technology at last week's MAX conference, that may or may not make its way into a future version of Photoshop (we're pretty sure it will)."

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Home-built rocket climbs to 121,000 feet in 92 seconds

Home-built rocket climbs to 121,000 feet in 92 seconds: "Launched from Black Rock Desert in Nevada on September 30 in an attempt to win John Carmack's 100kft Micro Prize, Derek Deville's home-built Qu8k rocket reached an altitude of 121,000 feet (36.8 km) after 92 seconds flight ... and captured some excellent video footage along the way."

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RoChair offers a unique form of wheelchair propulsion

RoChair offers a unique form of wheelchair propulsion: "Imagine if the only way of propelling yourself on a bicycle was to reach down and turn one of the wheels with your hand. It would be pretty inefficient, yet that's essentially how a wheelchair works."

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Nissan developing 10-minute EV charger

Nissan developing 10-minute EV charger: "If there are two obstacles that are still keeping the general public from embracing electric cars, those would have to be the vehicles' limited driving range and long charging times."

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LG debuts Optimus LTE Smartphone

LG debuts Optimus LTE Smartphone: "Electronics giant LG has announced the Korean launch of what is claimed to be the highest resolution IPS (in-plane switching) display available on any smartphone."

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Graphene “Big Mac” brings next gen computer chips a step closer

Graphene “Big Mac” brings next gen computer chips a step closer: "Since its discovery in 2004, the two-dimensional layer of carbon atoms known as graphene has promised to revolutionize materials science, enabling flexible, transparent touch displays, lighter aircraft, cheaper batteries and faster, smaller electronic devices"

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World's cheapest tablet to launch in India

World's cheapest tablet to launch in India: "India has already churned out the world's cheapest car and is now launching what's billed as the world's cheapest 7-inch touchscreen tablet."

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Flying wing prototype takes wind-power to new heights

Flying wing prototype takes wind-power to new heights: "Wind can be an unpredictable and unstable source of power, and high in the sky where it is more stable, it's difficult to exploit. Airborne wind turbines could provide a solution to this problem, but although the idea has been around since the 19th century, it's never been exploited on a larger scale."

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First comet found with ocean-like water

First comet found with ocean-like water: "A recent discovery may add support to the theory that the water on Earth was brought by a rain of comets. Scientists have analyzed the comet Hartley 2, and discovered that ice found on it has the same composition as ocean water."

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World's oldest running car sells for US$4.6 million

World's oldest running car sells for US$4.6 million: "The historically-significant 1884 De Dion Bouton et Trepardoux Dos-a-Dos Steam Runabout which we wrote up a few weeks back has sold at auction for US$4.62 million. Apart from being the winner of the first automobile race in history, it's also the world's oldest running motor car, and now also the most valuable early motor car yet sold at auction."

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British ammo dump to become the Bilster Berg luxury drive resort

British ammo dump to become the Bilster Berg luxury drive resort: "A few days ago deep in the historic Teuteborg Forest of central Germany, the first stone was laid in the construction of an intriguing project. For twenty years prior to 1993, the 80 hectare (200 acre) site was a massive NATO ammunition depot, supplying the British Army of the Rhine during the Cold War."

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Tug-Preventing Dog Collar keeps dogs in line with an ultrasonic blast

Tug-Preventing Dog Collar keeps dogs in line with an ultrasonic blast: "If taking the dog for a walk sees you being dragged along with your pooch calling the shots and setting the pace then the Tug-Preventing Dog Trainer could be just what the doctor - or vet - ordered."

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Upgrades to extend B-52 Bomber's lifespan until 2044

Upgrades to extend B-52 Bomber's lifespan until 2044: "Mention the "B-52" to most people and they'll think of either an '80s pop group, a bad hair style, or an ancient bomber that's a relic of the Cold War."

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SWYP concept aims at reinventing the printer

SWYP concept aims at reinventing the printer: "With a view to promoting innovation in the desktop printers industry, Artefact design studio has unveiled its See What You Print (or SWYP) concept printer, operated via a touchscreen interface. SWYP aims to simplify and accelerate the task of printing by combining features of simple photo editing and immediate printing in one unit, which enables users to see exactly what the printed page will look like."

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KU:RIN sets speed record for compressed air cars

KU:RIN sets speed record for compressed air cars: "Although battery-powered cars may no longer be considered quirky and weird, automobiles propelled by compressed air are still perhaps thoughts of as a little ... fringy. The MDI Air Car looked promising, although development of the vehicle seems to have been at least temporarily suspended."

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Wrenches with embedded LEDs make light of dimly lit fixit jobs

Wrenches with embedded LEDs make light of dimly lit fixit jobs: "Homer Simpson's advice when his brother Herb shows him the baby translator he has invented is that Herb "should have just taken an existing product and put a clock in it or something." These days the "or something" could easily be a light or, more specifically, an LED as their tiny size, low cost and low power needs has seen them wedged inside a plethora of devices"

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Copper nanowires could mean cheaper touch screens, solar cells and foldable electronics

Copper nanowires could mean cheaper touch screens, solar cells and foldable electronics: "In June of last year we reported on the success by researchers at Duke University in developing a technique capable of producing copper nanowires at a scale that could make them a potential replacement for rare and expensive indium tin oxide (ITO) in touch screens and solar panels."

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New York's proposed subterranean garden

New York's proposed subterranean garden: "Three New York entrepreneurs have unveiled plans to turn a long abandoned underground train terminal into a lush and thriving garden."

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Quimera's 700 bhp AEGT (All Electric Grand Tourer)

Quimera's 700 bhp AEGT (All Electric Grand Tourer): "Quimera will show its long-awaited AEGT (All Electric GT) prototype at the Frankfurt Motor Show (IAA) this week. The AEGT runs three UQM electric motors developing a total 700 bhp and delivering a top speed currently limited to 300 km/h. "

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Sealander amphibious camping trailer gears up for production

Sealander amphibious camping trailer gears up for production: "Designed and built by a German-based industrial designer Daniel Straub, Sealander is a clever two-in-one vehicle that combines features of an electric power boat and a camping trailer."

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Lamborghini's most outrageous Gallardo yet

Lamborghini's most outrageous Gallardo yet: "The Lamborghini Gallardo LP 570-4 Super Trofeo Stradale is the most extreme V10 yet produced by Volkswagen's Italian supercar subsidiary. Only 150 of the four wheel drive 570 bhp carbon fiber projectiles, no doubt due to the extreme effort required to shave another 70 kilograms off the already anorexic Gallardo LP 560-4"

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Lexus claims Nordschleife production car lap record with LFA Nürburgring Edition

Lexus claims Nordschleife production car lap record with LFA Nürburgring Edition: "Toyota is continuing to make its mark at the Nürburgring Nordschleife circuit. Just over a week after its Toyota Motorsport GmbH division claimed the lap record for an electric vehicle at the circuit in the TMG EV PV001, its Lexus luxury vehicle division is claiming the even more illustrious lap record for a production car."

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Sixteen super-Earths among fifty new exoplanets discovered by HARPS

Sixteen super-Earths among fifty new exoplanets discovered by HARPS: "The European Southern Observatory (ESO) has announced its exoplanet-hunting HARPS (High Accuracy Radial velocity Planet Searcher) has discovered 50 new exoplanets, making it the largest amount of exoplanets that has been announced at the one time."

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Selk'Bag is a sleeping bag that you wear

Selk'Bag is a sleeping bag that you wear: "If you've done much camping, chances are that you've probably seen fellow campers sitting around the chilly campsite first thing in the morning, wearing their sleeping bag like it's a dressing gown."

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Can Redbox steal marketshare from Netflix with unlimited movie streaming?

Can Redbox steal marketshare from Netflix with unlimited movie streaming?: "Those of us in the U.S. already know how powerful the tiny red kiosks really are. Redbox and Netflix are directly responsible for the demise of offline movie rental giant Blockbuster. Will Redbox's new streaming plan now steal significant marketshare from Netflix?"

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Evolve recumbent trike folds up in seconds, fits in trunk of smart car

Evolve recumbent trike folds up in seconds, fits in trunk of smart car: "Relatively obscure though recumbent bicycles are, many people appreciate the ergonomic and aerodynamic advantages of the quirky two-wheelers."

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SpaceX to develop a fully and rapidly reusable launch system

SpaceX to develop a fully and rapidly reusable launch system: "SpaceX, the space transport company that made history by building the world's first private reusable spacecraft, is now embarking on a quest to build the holy grail of space engineering - a reusable launch rocket. Elon Musk, the company's CEO and Chief Technology Officer, announced recently at the National Press Club that computer simulations show their design to be technically feasible"

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Brain implant lets monkeys control virtual hand and feel virtual objects

Brain implant lets monkeys control virtual hand and feel virtual objects: "In a development that could have huge implications for quadriplegics, paraplegics and those with prosthetic limbs, researchers from Duke University and the Ecole Polytechnic Federale de Lausanne (EPFL) have developed technology that has allowed monkeys to control a virtual arm and touch and feel virtual objects using only their brain activity. "

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Gordon Murray designs an electric sportscar

Gordon Murray designs an electric sportscar: "In the world of automotive design, Gordon Murray has a resume like no other. Murray designed, built and raced his first car in 1964 as an 18 year old engineering student in South Africa."

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SpaceX Dragon to be first private spacecraft to dock at ISS

SpaceX Dragon to be first private spacecraft to dock at ISS: "Although we will never see another space shuttle docking at the International Space Station, that doesn't mean that there are no plans for other American spacecraft to be visiting the facility. In fact, one should be up there on or around December 9th. "

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787 Dreamliner completes flight testing

787 Dreamliner completes flight testing: "It's been bent, scraped along the runway, frozen to -42 degrees C, flown over 1700 flights and spent almost 5000 hours in the air - now the 787 Dreamliner has completed the final flight tests required for type certification."

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Star Trek ride to headline new theme park in Jordan

Star Trek ride to headline new theme park in Jordan: "Trekkies might soon find themselves donning Starfleet-issue jumpsuits and beaming off to the Middle East with news that funding has been secured for an entertainment resort in Aqaba, Jordan, where the main attraction will be a Star Trek themed adventure ride."

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IBM experimental chips emulate the human brain

IBM experimental chips emulate the human brain: "In April, the University of Southern California made the headlines when it announced that researchers there had created a functioning synthetic synapse circuit using carbon nanotubes. "

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Floating tsunami capsule is designed to save lives

Floating tsunami capsule is designed to save lives: "New Cosmopower, a small Japanese company, has created a floating capsule to be used in the event of earthquakes or tsunamis. Following the devastating loss of life during the Tohoku earthquake in March this year, the "Noah" capsule was designed to preserve life in the face of another major catastrophe - just like its biblical namesake"

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Student-built electric car sets world land speed record of 155.8 mph

Student-built electric car sets world land speed record of 155.8 mph: "Brigham Young University (BYU) students are celebrating after setting a new land speed record for an electric car in the "E1" (under 1,100 lbs/499 kg) class. The record of 155.8 mph (250.7 km/h) set by the "Electric Blue" streamliner at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah was averaged over the two required qualifying runs, one of which saw the car reach a speed of 175 mph (281.6 km/h)."

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Experimental sub-$50 I-slate tablet proceeding to full-scale production

Experimental sub-$50 I-slate tablet proceeding to full-scale production: "Last year, a unique new educational device was tested with a group of school children. The device was the I-slate, an ultra-low-cost tablet computer that is being developed by the Institute for Sustainable and Applied Infodynamics (ISAID), a joint venture of Houston's Rice University and Singapore's Nanyang Technological University."

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F-35B completes first vertical landing at sea

F-35B completes first vertical landing at sea: "The F-35B Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) has successfully made its first at-sea vertical landing. With Marine Corps test pilot Lt. Col. Fred Schenk at the controls, the short-take-off-vertical -landing (STOVL) variant of the F-35 touched-down on the deck of the USS Wasp on October 3 as part of an initial two week ship-trial period in which the aircraft's take-off and landing capabilities will be evaluated along with its ability to integrate with the ship's flight deck operations."

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New cloaking device is no mirage – but it's like one

New cloaking device is no mirage – but it's like one: "You have no doubt seen mirages on the distant surfaces of hot highways before, looking like pools of water shimmering on the asphalt."

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Toshiba's new child-friendly Satellite L735D laptop

Toshiba's new child-friendly Satellite L735D laptop: "It's only been a few short years since kids who wanted to mimic grown ups and tap away on a laptop had to resign themselves to a bulky imitation from the likes of V-Tech. Nowadays, youngsters are able to get their hands on something a little more convincing - whether it's a fully-fledged, ruggedized laptop or a child-friendly tablet. "

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LaCie LaPlug converts USB drive into a network storage device

LaCie LaPlug converts USB drive into a network storage device: "LaCie has unveiled a local network-based bridge unit called the LaPlug, that allows users to share any USB-powered storage drive over a local network. It also enables the sharing of private files outside the LAN through an external address, and the wireless streaming of files to UPnP/DLNA-certified products such as gaming consoles, LaCinema Classic HD, or any other compatible equipment."

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Waterproof fabric anntena could save people lost at sea

Waterproof fabric anntena could save people lost at sea: "A patch about the size of the leather name tab on a pair of jeans could save your life one day - should you be stranded at sea, that is. In a project overseen by the European Space Agency (ESA), researchers from Finnish company Patria and the Tampere University of Technology have created a flexible fabric antenna, that can be sewn into life vests"

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everest webcam

everest webcam:

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E-cyclist pedals over 1600km into record books

E-cyclist pedals over 1600km into record books: "The CEO of Australia's Hahn Environmental Services, the largest producer of biodiesel in Queensland, has smashed the distance set by Guinness for the Longest Distance Traveled by Electric Bicycle in One Week."

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Fire Scout UAV makes first biofuel-powered flight

Fire Scout UAV makes first biofuel-powered flight: "The US Navy has successfully flown its MQ-8B Fire Scout Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) on biofuel. The unmanned helicopter became the Navy's first UAV to use biofuel technology when it took-off on Friday over Webster Field in St. Inigoes, Maryland, running on a blend of JP-5 aviation fuel and plant-based camelina"

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New heat-harvesting material made in $40 microwave oven

New heat-harvesting material made in $40 microwave oven: "Virtually all electrical devices and industrial processes create heat as they operate, which is typically wasted. In the past several years, various thermoelectric technologies have been developed to address that situation, by converting such heat into electricity."

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Samsung Galaxy Xcover: waterproof touchscreen Android smartphone

Samsung Galaxy Xcover: waterproof touchscreen Android smartphone: "Samsung has announced its plans to update the Galaxy lineup with the Galaxy Xcover, one of the world's few rugged Android touchscreen smartphones. It's an IP67-certified dust- and waterproof 3.65-inch device running Android 2.3. It looks like the Motorola DEFY/DEFY+ and the upcoming Sony Ericsson Xperia Active rugged Android smartphones could be getting some "tough" competition."

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Gemini-Scout mine rescue robot to lead the way to trapped miners

Gemini-Scout mine rescue robot to lead the way to trapped miners: "The Chilean and Pike River Mine disasters in 2010 highlighted the dangers of sub-surface mining and the difficulties faced in extracting those trapped beneath the Earth."

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Graphene in space could hold clues to development of life on Earth

Graphene in space could hold clues to development of life on Earth: "Human beings may have only discovered how to create the one-atom-thick sheets of carbon atoms known as graphene in 2004 but it appears the universe could have been churning out the stuff since much earlier than that"

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1200 bhp 1200 kg Hennessy Venom GT makes a 267 mph 1888 kg Bugatti Veyron GT look obese

1200 bhp 1200 kg Hennessy Venom GT makes a 267 mph 1888 kg Bugatti Veyron GT look obese: "The US$950,000 Hennessey Venom GT has perhaps the most spectacular set of numbers of any supercar: 1200 horsepower shoehorned into a mid-engined chassis that weighs just twelve hundred kilos (2,685 lbs)."

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