Solar Ivy captures the sun's energy whilst creating a pleasing visual aesthetic

Solar Ivy captures the sun's energy whilst creating a pleasing visual aesthetic: "Solar Ivy was inspired by traditional mansions, where ivy decorates the exterior walls and reflects the organic essence of nature. Created in collaboration with Brooklyn-based parent company SMIT, Solar Ivy is a series of solar cells printed with conductive ink that resemble ivy leaves."

Gemasolar Concentrated Solar Power achieves key milestone - 24 hours of uninterrupted supply

Gemasolar Concentrated Solar Power achieves key milestone - 24 hours of uninterrupted supply: "The Gemasolar Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) plant near Seville, Spain, has achieved a full 24 hours of solar power production one month after starting commercial operation. The 19.9 MW plant uses a huge array of mirrors to heat a molten salt storage system in the central tower which is then used to run steam turbines, resulting in the ability to continue energy production after the sun goes down."

Kinect-based system developed that recognizes what you're doing

Kinect-based system developed that recognizes what you're doing: "When and if we ever do get our personal robot assistants, it would be nice to think that we could 'be ourselves' in front of them, doing things such as scratching our butts or checking our deodorant - because they're just robots, right? They're not going to know what we're doing."

Airbus and DLR testing fuel cell technology to cut aircraft pollution and noise emissions

Airbus and DLR testing fuel cell technology to cut aircraft pollution and noise emissions: "The goals of the Advisory Council for Aeronautics Research in Europe (ACARE) to reduce CO2 emissions by 50 percent, NOx emissions by 80 percent and noise cut by 50 percent by 2020 has seen aircraft manufacturers and airlines looking at alternative fuels such as biofuel."

Scavenging ambient electromagnetic energy to power small electronic devices

Scavenging ambient electromagnetic energy to power small electronic devices: "As you sit there reading this story you're surrounded by electromagnetic energy transmitted from sources such as radio and television transmitters, mobile phone networks and satellite communications systems. Researchers from the Georgia Institute of Technology have created a device that is able to scavenge this ambient energy so it can be used to power small electronic devices such as networks of wireless sensors, microprocessors and communications chips."

Toshiba Qosmio F750 glasses-free 3D laptop to arrive in August

Toshiba Qosmio F750 glasses-free 3D laptop to arrive in August: "Toshiba has unveiled its first glasses-free 3D laptop - the Toshiba Qosmio F750-10Q. Powered by Intel Core i7 CPU, the laptop features a lenticular glasses-free 3D display, a full HD 15.6-inch screen and eye-tracking technology based on a HD web camera that maintains the 3D effect while the user moves. Both 2D and 3D content can be displayed simultaneously and the Qosmio F750 comes with a built-in Blu-ray XL drive capable of burning 128GB disks."

'The Muncher' turns organic waste into compost in less than an hour

'The Muncher' turns organic waste into compost in less than an hour: "A number of cities around the world now sort their municipal trash, diverting organic matter into giant anaerobic composters that turn it into nutrient-rich soil. Such systems can be very expensive, however, and have a large physical footprint. The composting process can take as little as 14 days, or as long as one year."

Tiny, lens-free camera developed for scientific use

Tiny, lens-free camera developed for scientific use: "It fits on the head of a pin, has no lens or moving parts, can be made for just a few cents, and yet it can take a photo of the Mona Lisa in which she's actually sort of recognizable ... it's called the Planar Fourier Capture Array (PFCA), and it's a tiny camera developed at New York's Cornell University. Although you might choose not to use it for photographing your child's birthday party, it could come in quite handy in the fields of science and technology."

Permanent spray-on antibacterial coating created

Permanent spray-on antibacterial coating created: "A University of Georgia chemist has invented something that should be a boon to both hospital staff and athletes ... a permanent spray-on antibacterial polymer coating. It can be applied to natural and synthetic materials - just once - and even after repeated washings, will continue to kill a wide range of bacteria, yeasts and molds. In health care settings, it could be used on textiles such as lab coats, scrub suits, uniforms, gowns, gloves and linens, to protect patients from infections. It could also be used on athletic wear, along with shoes, socks, undergarments, and just about anything else that tends to get germy."

EYE 21 system lets the blind 'see' by assigning sounds to shapes

EYE 21 system lets the blind 'see' by assigning sounds to shapes: "Engineers from the Research Center for Graphic Technologies at Spain's Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV) have created an experimental system, that allows the blind to be aware of their surroundings through the use of sound."

Facebook gets Skype-powered video calling

Facebook gets Skype-powered video calling: "As expected, Facebook has announced Skype-powered video calling for its users, who now number more than 750 million according to the company. The new feature was unveiled by Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Skype CEO Tony Bates at a news conference at Facebook HQ on Wednesday where Facebook engineer Philip Su provided a walkthrough of the application."

iCruiser battery pack juices up mobile devices

iCruiser battery pack juices up mobile devices: "Smartphones, tablets and media players have helped to make our mobile existence so much more tolerable - but they all suffer from varying degrees of the same problem."

Electrical implants could be used to treat depression

Electrical implants could be used to treat depression: "The World Health Organization has projected that by 2020, major depression will be the second-most significant cause for disability in the world, after heart disease. Along with psychotherapy, the disorder is usually treated using antidepressant drugs. There is often a frustrating trial-and-error period involved in finding the right drug for the right person, however, while side effects can include obesity, sexual dysfunction, and fatigue ... to name a few."

Gastric bacterium protects against asthma and proves hygiene hypothesis

Gastric bacterium protects against asthma and proves hygiene hypothesis: "It's widely recognized that asthma rates have increased significantly since the 1960's and continue to rise. With increases in asthma and other allergic diseases centered on industrialized nations, a recent hypothesis suggested that the disappearance of specific microorganisms that populate the human body due to modern hygiene practices might be to blame."

New ultraviolet laser technology could increase storage capacity of optical disc media

New ultraviolet laser technology could increase storage capacity of optical disc media: "Although ultraviolet semiconductor diode lasers are widely used in data processing, information storage and biology, their applications have been limited by the lasers' size, cost and power."

Feature-packed VEA Sportive training watch tells time, amongst other things

Feature-packed VEA Sportive training watch tells time, amongst other things: "Since their invention, watches have been gaining more and more functions. The time of day has been joined by such things as the day, date, month, year, alarms, stopwatches, moonphase, calculator, and even mobile phone capabilities."

Glasses convert headache-inducing 3D movies into glorious 2D

Glasses convert headache-inducing 3D movies into glorious 2D: "Despite the current proliferation of 3D movies, cameras, televisions and mobile devices, there are those of us who still question whether 3D is here to stay, or if it's just a marketing gimmick that will eventually peter out. One thing's for sure: with current technology, the viewing of 3D movies gives some people headaches, or makes them feel dizzy. If you're one of those people, but you don't want to be left out when your friends go off to see My 3D Dinner With Andre, this might be just what you need - De-3D glasses."

Construction of first-of-class Mobile Landing Platform gets underway

Construction of first-of-class Mobile Landing Platform gets underway: "The U.S. Navy has announced that construction has begun on the first of a new class of ship known as the Mobile Landing Platform (MLP). The MLP is designed to serve as a transfer point between large ships and small landing craft and act as a floating base for amphibious operations to allow for equipment and cargo to be delivered from ship to shore when there are no friendly bases available."

Plastic2Oil process turns plastic waste into fuel

Plastic2Oil process turns plastic waste into fuel: "While a lot of people may be doing their part for the environment by sending their discarded plastic items off for recycling, the fact is that much of the plastic currently in use is non-recyclable. In a not particularly eco-friendly process, some of this plastic is burned to generate electricity, while much of it simply ends up in landfills. Canadian company JBI, however, has developed a process that uses those plastics as a feedstock, and turns them into fuel."

Kawasaki 2012 KX450F the first with launch control

Kawasaki 2012 KX450F the first with launch control: "The easiest place to pass everyone else on a motocross circuit is in the run to the first corner and should you grab the hole-shot, the race is yours to lose. All of which makes Kawasaki's latest addition to its 2012 KX450F a killer app for a race bike - it will be the ONLY bike on the grid in 2011/12 with 'Launch Control.'"

BMW set to pioneer intelligent active motorcycle suspension

BMW set to pioneer intelligent active motorcycle suspension: "The trouble with setting up the suspension on a motorcycle is that you're constantly compromising. If you want a nice firm ride that's suitable for hard cornering on fast, smooth roads, you're sacrificing comfort on the highway and optimal roadholding on a bumpy surface."

Adastra one-off luxury trimaran is in the works

Adastra one-off luxury trimaran is in the works: "Some readers may remember the incredible-looking biodiesel-powered Earthrace trimaran. Originally designed to circumnavigate the world, it ended up being donated to the Sea Shepherd Society, and was promptly rammed and sunk by a Japanese whaling ship. Well, while we may no longer have it to gawk at, a one-off watercraft that could almost be considered its gigantic, luxurious sibling is currently being constructed in China. Behold, the Adastra."

Virgin America and Google offer Chromebook 'test flights'

Virgin America and Google offer Chromebook 'test flights': "In an effort to educate the masses about its new portable computing platform, Google has struck a deal with Virgin America that will see Chromebooks trialled by passengers on selected flights in the U.S."

Realistic robotic helps dental students hone their skills

Realistic robotic helps dental students hone their skills: "Showa Hanako 2 is said to be a more user friendly and functional replacement to Showa Hanako 1, which was presented in March 2010. 'Love doll' maker Orient Industry is responsible for the silicone skin (this replaces the PVC skin of the previous model) and mouth lining, which increases the realistic feel and prevents water from getting into the machinery."

Seeds inspire new artificial anti-fouling surface

Seeds inspire new artificial anti-fouling surface: "With marine biofouling on ship hulls increasing drag, which results in an increase in fuel consumption and therefore cost and pollution, the search has been on for a way to prevent fouling that is better than the environmentally damaging, toxic marine paints currently used. Taking inspiration from floating seeds, scientists from the Biomimetics-Innovation-Centre (B-I-C) in Germany have developed a promising new anti-fouling surface that is toxin-free."

Toyota confirms 2012 U.S. launch for all-electric Scion iQ

Toyota confirms 2012 U.S. launch for all-electric Scion iQ: "At its annual U.S. national dealer meeting held in Las Vegas at the end of June, Toyota confirmed the launch dates for its Prius family are still on track despite complications arising following the disasters that hit Japan on March 11, saying production is expected to return to normal levels in Japan after July"

Antonov's 3-speed transmission for electric vehicles boosts efficiency by 15 percent

Antonov's 3-speed transmission for electric vehicles boosts efficiency by 15 percent: "Electric vehicles have been a reality for more than 100 years, but it's only in the last decade or so that the world has truly woken up to their potential as a viable, cleaner urban transport alternative to their combustion engined cousins. During this EV renaissance much of the focus has been on developing improved power sources like batteries and fuel cells in order to deliver the range and performance consumers have become accustomed to during the age of oil."