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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