Gibbs unveils two new "Amphitrucks"

Gibbs unveils two new "Amphitrucks": The folks at Detroit's Gibbs Technologies are no strangers to aquatic vehicles. In the past several years, they have brought us the zippy Aquada sports car, the Quadski ATV/personal watercraft hybrid, and the four-wheel-drive Humdinga SUV concept. Yesterday, they announced the addition of another two vehicles to their fleet - the Phibian and Humdinga II high-speed Amphitrucks.

Further evidence that Mars once had oceans emerges

Further evidence that Mars once had oceans emerges: The European Space Agency (ESA) has provided more evidence that suggests the surface of Mars was once home to an ocean. Featuring ground-penetrating radar capabilities, the MARSIS (Mars Advanced Radar for Subsurface and Ionosphere Sounding) radar aboard the ESA's Mars Express spacecraft has detected sediments like that seen on an ocean floor.

Grow bikes get bigger as your child does

Grow bikes get bigger as your child does: Ahh kids. They grow up so fast - much to the consternation of parents faced with continually having to buy larger shoes and clothes. As much as any kid loves their first bike, they quickly outgrow these as well.

NASA aircraft inspires what could be the world's first zero-gravity roller coaster

NASA aircraft inspires what could be the world's first zero-gravity roller coaster: "It appears that BRC Imagination Arts, a Southern California design firm, has a zero gravity roller coaster proposal that's waiting for a US$50 million investment. According to PopSci, BRC's proposed theme-park ride is inspired by NASA's astronaut training aircraft the KC-135 (aka "Vomit Comet") and would give riders the sensation of floating within a stable chamber."

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Cold plasma used to kill bacteria on raw chicken

Cold plasma used to kill bacteria on raw chicken: "Judging by the number of folks who fall prey to food-borne illness each year, food safety is serious business, especially when you consider that pathogens such as Campylobacter and Salmonella contaminate over 70 percent of the raw chicken meat tested."

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Retinal Prosthesis posts encouraging results in clinical trial

Retinal Prosthesis posts encouraging results in clinical trial: "After receiving European market approval for its Argus II Retinal Prosthesis in 2011, Second Sight has published interim results of an international clinical trial showing encouraging results in blind patients suffering severe retinitis pigmentosa (RP) - a group of genetic degenerative eye conditions that leads to incurable blindness."

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Pureflame lets you hang a fireplace on your wall

Pureflame lets you hang a fireplace on your wall: "At this time of year, many of us living in the upper reaches of the Northern Hemisphere start wishing that we had a fireplace in our home. Unfortunately, installing a fireplace and chimney in a house that doesn't already have them is quite an involved and expensive process. Here's a solution in the form of a functioning fireplace that you simply hang on the wall like a picture - it's made by a company called Pureflame."

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What the schools of the future could look like

What the schools of the future could look like: "Here at Gizmag we are always keeping an eye on innovative solutions for schooling and education. We've covered the solar powered mobile computer classroom project and the AIRchitecture flying classrooms of the future, but now we're excited about these proposals from architects all over the world, who recently submitted their ideas for what schools of the future could look like."

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Dramatic "Safety Sphere" concept provides all-round protection for motorcyclists

Dramatic "Safety Sphere" concept provides all-round protection for motorcyclists: "Airbags for motorcyclists, whether built into the vehicle (a la Honda) or the rider's apparel (like the D-Air, Spidi and Hit-Air), are not a new idea. But Canadian inventor Rejean Neron's Safety Sphere concept has to be the most, well, all-encompassing of those we've seen."

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ULTIMATE XBOX DESTRUCTION - YouTube

ULTIMATE XBOX DESTRUCTION - YouTube: ""

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Metabolic “breathalyzer” could diagnose disease from our breath

Metabolic “breathalyzer” could diagnose disease from our breath: "Scientists - and dogs - have known for some time that our breath can reveal much more about us than our estimated blood alcohol content. Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison believe that "breathalyzer"

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Cook-Air delivers 1,100 degrees of meat-searing, wood-smoking grill top

Cook-Air delivers 1,100 degrees of meat-searing, wood-smoking grill top: "The Cook-Air gains its power from a combination of a wood fire and a five-speed electric ventilator that literally fans the flames. Cata Marketing, Inc., the company that sells the grill, says that it only takes a small piece of wood to start a roaring grill fire. While grilling is a matter of personal preference that will be debated until the end of time, wood fire is often considered the most flavorful type of grilling thanks to the rich, smoky taste that it imparts on your food."

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Stanford system could allow EVs to recharge from the road, while moving

Stanford system could allow EVs to recharge from the road, while moving: "The greatest obstacle standing in the way of electric-vehicle adoption - besides crafty, deceitful right wingers - is limited range. Electric vehicles can only travel 100 miles (161 km) on their best day."

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Child creates molecule that could be used for energy storage or explosives

Child creates molecule that could be used for energy storage or explosives: "I don't know about other people, but when I was a child, I was inventing things such as a musical instrument made out of a folded piece of cardboard and some rubber bands. Ten year-old Clara Lazen, however, has done something a little more noteworthy."

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Humpback whales inspire better helicopter rotor blades

Humpback whales inspire better helicopter rotor blades: "Oh, those humpback whales and their weird fins. First, they inspired more efficient wind turbines. Next, their unique qualities were copied by undersea turbines used to harness tidal flow energy. Now, they've led to rotor blades that allow helicopters to be more maneuverable. It all comes down to bumps along their leading edge, known as tubercles."

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Buhel Speakgoggle lets you talk through your nose bones

Buhel Speakgoggle lets you talk through your nose bones: "Traditionally just big, goofy optics designed to protect your eyes from cold, snow and bright light, ski goggles have taken all kinds of new roles over the past few winters. Some goggles track your speed and vertical and some capture video. The Buhel Speakgoggle provides a seamless, vibration-based communications mechanism to keep you in touch with your crew."

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South Korea opens a Kinect-powered theme park

South Korea opens a Kinect-powered theme park: "New media entertainment company, d'strict, is pushing the concept of virtual reality to a new level with the "Live Park 4D World Tour," a new theme park that recently opened in South Korea. The park is comprised of 65 different attractions over a 10,000 sq. foot (929 sq m) space, which houses several large interactive displays as well as some installation art pieces."

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Universal Earphones detect left and right ear placement

Universal Earphones detect left and right ear placement: "The L and R labels on your headphones serve a purpose, and it isn't just about fit. The audio source - whether it's a receiver, PC or MP3 player - sends left- and right-channel sounds to the appropriate earbud."

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SpaceX Dragon's ultimate mission is Mars colonization

SpaceX Dragon's ultimate mission is Mars colonization: "The private spaceflight company SpaceX declared that 2012 would be the "Year of the Dragon" - a play on the current cycle of the Chinese calendar and the upcoming tests of SpaceX's Dragon space capsule. "

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How-To: Motors

How-To: Motors: Some of our favorite hobbyist electronics utilize motors to mobilize, making them fun and awesome! Including a motor in your project could be challenging, especially if you have never worked with them before.

West Coast Chill lays claim to title of "World's First Self-Chilling Beverage"

West Coast Chill lays claim to title of "World's First Self-Chilling Beverage": Miller Beer may have announced its plans to do so several years ago, but now someone else is actually going through with it ... releasing a beverage in a self-chilling can, that is.

1600 hp monster diesel firing up at Rétromobile 2012

1600 hp monster diesel firing up at Rétromobile 2012: Hey, you like really big engines? Well, here's one that's not going to fit under the hood of your F-150. This 30-ton (27-tonne) Type 9 V.O.S. engine is one of just three built by the French company Duvant in 1962.

Zeal iON goggles boast built-in HD camera

Zeal iON goggles boast built-in HD camera: Action cams have become a ubiquitous part of ski resorts everywhere. They're great for catching your best on-slope moments and sharing them with the world, but they can be a little bit bulky and awkward to use with gloves. The Zeal iON goggles solve this problem by integrating the HD camera right into the goggle frame.

F-35A makes first night flight

F-35A makes first night flight: Despite criticism in the U.S. regarding escalating costs, which has seen the Pentagon's bill for a planned 2,443 F-35s going from US$233 billion to $385 billion, Lockheed Martin is pressing ahead with tests of the world's only fifth generation jet fighter. It's been over six years since the first F-35 took to the air for the first time and one and a half years since the F-35B short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) variant broke the sound barrier for the first time.

Mitsubishi develops ultra-high-speed elevator technology

Mitsubishi develops ultra-high-speed elevator technology: Due to the number of stairs that needed to be climbed to reach the top, buildings of over six storys were a rarity until the 19th century when the development of passenger elevators - along with advances in building materials and techniques - enabled the construction of taller and taller buildings.

UMP45 INCENDIARY AMMO #ProRussian - YouTube

UMP45 INCENDIARY AMMO #ProRussian - YouTube

Purdue University students develop high performance electric motorbike

Purdue University students develop high performance electric motorbike: "It doesn't seem too long ago when we were reporting on breakthroughs in battery technology that would allow electric motorbikes like the Brammo Enertia to travel as much as 45 miles (72 km) on a single charge."

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SpaceX tries out its new SuperDraco rocket engine

SpaceX tries out its new SuperDraco rocket engine: "SpaceX, the California company that is developing the reusable Dragon spacecraft, recently test-fired its new SuperDraco engine. Presently, the Dragon capsule is equipped with less-advanced Draco engines, which are designed for maneuvering the spacecraft while in orbit and during reentry."

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Prefab Podhouse provides for a winter escape or backyard office

Prefab Podhouse provides for a winter escape or backyard office: "he Swiss design firm ROB GmbH (Robust Outdoor Brands), which created the portable kitchen unit Cuebe, has come up with a simple low-impact housing solution. Named the PODhouse, these prefabricated modules create a great sustainable micro home for the garden, a backyard office or even a secret holiday hideaway. "

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EcoSpeed will tell you where to go - efficiently

EcoSpeed will tell you where to go - efficiently: "By now, we should all know that how you drive has a huge influence on fuel economy, but knowing exactly how to drive in certain circumstances to maximize fuel economy isn't always easy."

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BOXX electric scooter looks sort of like a rideable suitcase

BOXX electric scooter looks sort of like a rideable suitcase: "If you've ever found yourself rolling your suitcase through the airport and wishing your luggage was self-propelled, Portland, Oregon-based BOXX has something they'd like to sell you."

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Solar car hits U.S. in round-the-world jaunt

Solar car hits U.S. in round-the-world jaunt: "Last October, the SolarWorld GT solar-powered car set out from Darwin, Australia on a drive around the world. It has since driven 3,001 kilometers (1,865 miles) across Australia, logged 1,947 km (1,210 miles) crossing New Zealand and been shipped across the Pacific Ocean."

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NASA studying solar-electric propulsion for “space tugboat”

NASA studying solar-electric propulsion for “space tugboat”: "Last year, NASA announced it was seeking proposals for mission concept studies of a high-power solar electric propulsion (SEP) system that could be used in a "space tugboat." Such a ship would be used ferry payloads in low Earth orbit (LEO) into higher energy orbits, including geosynchronous Earth orbit (GEO) and Lagrange "

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Anon ski goggles use magnetic lenses for easy swapping

Anon ski goggles use magnetic lenses for easy swapping: "The problem with the interchangeable lens systems commonly used in ski goggles is that they're tedious to work with. You have to slowly tear the frame from the original lens, line the grooves of the replacement lens up just right and then snap it back together section by section."

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Rheinmetall tests new Active Defense System under live fire

Rheinmetall tests new Active Defense System under live fire: "Defense supplier Rheinmetall AG's newly developed Active Defense System (AMAP-ADS) is designed to provide an unmatched level of protection to land vehicles through the use of sophisticated threat detection, identification and nullification technology that takes just milliseconds to react."

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Latest Cyber-shot cameras boast enhanced low-light shooting

Latest Cyber-shot cameras boast enhanced low-light shooting: "Sony has announced that two new point-and-shoots will be joining its Cyber-shot compact camera range in March. Both the WX70 and WX50 feature a 16.2 megapixel Exmor R CMOS sensor, enhanced sensitivity, 5x Optical Zoom and full HD video recording bolstered by improved image stabilization."

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Smart paint could slash costs of structural monitoring

Smart paint could slash costs of structural monitoring: "Current monitoring of large structures such as bridges, wind turbines and mines generally relies on time consuming visual inspections that use specialized instrumentation and equipment."

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SmartCap monitors workers' fatigue levels by reading their brain waves

SmartCap monitors workers' fatigue levels by reading their brain waves: "You don't need to be an expert in occupational safety to know that worker fatigue is one of the leading causes of workplace accidents - this particularly applies to people who operate heavy machinery or drive for a living."

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Tesla's Model X: Finally, an electric car we all want | Cutting Edge - CNET News

Tesla's Model X: Finally, an electric car we all want | Cutting Edge - CNET News: "The company last night unveiled the Model X, a sleek-looking cross between a minivan and SUV with clever "falcon wing" doors and a new electric all-wheel drive system. People can start placing reservations tomorrow for the Model X, which is expected to be available late next year with prices in the $55,000 to $75,000 range before tax incentives and rebates."

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The Jumeirah at Etihad Towers Hotel in Abu Dhabi opens with classy restraint

The Jumeirah at Etihad Towers Hotel in Abu Dhabi opens with classy restraint: "There was a time when every day seemed to herald the opening of a new hotel in the United Arab Emirates, each one pushing the envelope of acceptable taste further and further in an orgy of cartoon rococo gold mouldings (real gold) and marble for miles."

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Urban Cultivator automatically grows greens indoors

Urban Cultivator automatically grows greens indoors: "There's no question that fresh herbs taste better than their dried counterparts, nor is there any denying that garden-fresh veggies are preferable to ones that have spent the past several days in a truck or on a supermarket shelf. People who are lucky enough to live in warmer climates can keep the fresh greens coming year-round, if they plant a garden."

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Moscow sees a world record for huge outdoor projection-mapped celebration

Moscow sees a world record for huge outdoor projection-mapped celebration: "So how do you show off the fact that you are Russia's largest private bank and at the same time curry a little favor with Moscow's ruling elite? You entertain 800,000 Muscovites with a world-record 25,500 square meter (275,000 sq. ft.) audio-visual projection show to celebrate Moscow City Day, of course."

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Graphene reveals yet another extraordinary property

Graphene reveals yet another extraordinary property: "Ever since University of Manchester scientists Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov first isolated flakes of graphene in 2004 using that most high-tech pieces of equipment - adhesive tape - the one-atom sheet of carbon has continued to astound researchers with its remarkable properties."

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Suitpack keeps cyclists' work clothes crease-free

Suitpack keeps cyclists' work clothes crease-free: "Leaving the car at home and biking to work certainly has its benefits - to the air we breathe, to the fitness of the rider and to the bank balance. For white collar workers though, this presents an attire problem - unsightly creases, mud splashes and a soaking from the elements don't do much for your business suit. "

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Next-generation Vehicle Protection Jammer protects against IEDs

Next-generation Vehicle Protection Jammer protects against IEDs: "Improvised Explosive Devices, or IEDs, are one of the largest sources of coalition casualties in Iraq. Many of these IEDs take the form of roadside bombs, which are hidden on or alongside a road, then detonated when a moving vehicle passes near them."

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Production of the EUR4000 fold-up pedal-electric Voltitude set to begin

Production of the EUR4000 fold-up pedal-electric Voltitude set to begin: "The Voltitude fold-up electric scooter has an ingenious EasyFold system. Once folded, a special button on the handlebar enables you to "walk" it alongside you indoors, so you never raise a sweat in reaching a power outlet, which will fully replenish the battery inside four hours. The 25 kph (15.5 mph) electric assist Voltitude begins volume production in July with an on-line price expected in the vicinity of EUR4000."

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All hands on deck: Wally's new Ace yacht promises plenty of room to move

All hands on deck: Wally's new Ace yacht promises plenty of room to move: "While it doesn't boast the same kind of square footage as the Wally Island or the WHY, Wally's new Ace displacement yacht will still provide plenty of room to stretch one's legs while cruising the ocean waves. With 1,378 square feet (128 m2) of outside deck space spread over two decks and a 441 square foot (41 m2) interior saloon area contributing to a total square footage of 3,035 (282 m2), Wally says the Ace has 30 percent more space than its nearest competitor of the same length."

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Perfectly secure cloud computing possible thanks to quantum physics

Perfectly secure cloud computing possible thanks to quantum physics: "As numerous companies continue their push to get us to entrust our data to the cloud, there are many still justifiably concerned about the security of cloud computing-based services."

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CHIP House powered by solar energy, controlled with Xbox Kinect

CHIP House powered by solar energy, controlled with Xbox Kinect: "The CHIP House - which stands for "Compact Hyper-Insulated Prototype" - was started with the goal of creating a net-zero energy home (i.e. one that requires no external energy source), and it looks like the designers exceeded that target. The house actually generates three times as much energy as it uses thanks to solar panels and a host of energy saving measures."

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Goals for greener flight - NASA's big ideas for the future of flight (photos) - CNET News

Goals for greener flight - NASA's big ideas for the future of flight (photos) - CNET News: "NASA has some pretty lofty goals for the future of commercial aviation, and in working with some of the aircraft industry's biggest players this past year, the space agency is hoping to create partnerships that will lead to cleaner and greener ways to fly."

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Corning's mind-blowing concept of a glass future | Crave - CNET

Corning's mind-blowing concept of a glass future | Crave - CNET: ""A Day Made of Glass 2" is a montage of "how highly engineered glass, with companion technologies, will help shape our world," according to Corning. It is mind-blowing to imagine everyday objects suddenly having rich, interactive displays and multiple functionalities."

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Russian drilling team close to reaching Antarctic lake hidden for 14 million years | Geek.com

Russian drilling team close to reaching Antarctic lake hidden for 14 million years | Geek.com: "After more than twenty years of drilling, the Russian exploration team that has been working at Vostok station to reach the sub-glacial lake of the same name is on the precipice of success. They are just forty or so feet away from breaking through to a body of water that has not seen light for 14 million years, and in so doing, the team is poised to make history."

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HyperSolar harnesses sunlight to produce cleaner-than-clean hydrogen fuel

HyperSolar harnesses sunlight to produce cleaner-than-clean hydrogen fuel: "HyperSolar claims it is developing a zero carbon method of producing hydrogen gas from wastewater by harnessing solar energy. Hydrogen gas is a clean source of fuel in that, theoretically at least, the only waste product is water. But hydrogen gas does not occur naturally on Earth, and requires energy to create."

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Virtual Projection emulates laws of physics for screen sharing between devices

Virtual Projection emulates laws of physics for screen sharing between devices: "Researchers are investigating a means of virtually projecting images from handheld devices onto computer screens. Beyond simply being a means of screen sharing across devices, the research looks at traditional projection - physically shining a still or moving image onto a flat service - as a metaphor for multi-device interaction. In a video demo, researchers manipulate the "projected" image on the larger screen using iPhone accelerometer controls and gestures."

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Act of Valor - YouTube

Act of Valor - YouTube: ""

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Wear-resistant surfaces inspired by scorpions

Wear-resistant surfaces inspired by scorpions: As any graffiti-removal specialist will tell you, sand-blasting is definitely an effective method of removing substances that have bonded onto hard surfaces. Unfortunately, sand or other abrasive particles suspended in air or liquid also have a way of eroding not just spray paint

Insiders suggest XBox 720 will have six times the power, play Blu-Ray discs

Insiders suggest XBox 720 will have six times the power, play Blu-Ray discs: The rumor mill has been spinning about the next-generation XBox for some time, but Tuesday and Wednesday of this week saw first IGN, and then Kotaku, reveal what appears to be the first non-gaseous (if not concrete-solid) information from inside sources as to the machine's spec.

The DUBE takes an out-of-the-box approach to percussion

The DUBE takes an out-of-the-box approach to percussion: If you're getting weary of trying to wrap your head around things like smartphones that answer questions, self-driving cars or microscopic machines, perhaps this might be more to your liking ... a wooden box. Well OK, the DUBE isn't just a wooden box. It's actually a percussive musical instrument, that caught our eyes and ears last week at NAMM.

Version 2.0 of Focus Designs Self Balancing Unicycle now ready for primetime

Version 2.0 of Focus Designs Self Balancing Unicycle now ready for primetime: "Two things are certain in this crazy world - unicycles are cool and unicycles are seriously hard to ride. Well no longer. Now anybody can clown about on a unicycle and what's more, you don't even have to pedal."

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BMW gives X6 Sports Activity Coupé a refresh

BMW gives X6 Sports Activity Coupé a refresh: "BMW launched its X6 in 2008 dubbing it "the world's first ever Sports Activity Coupé." The SAC moniker was adopted because the vehicle combined the high ground clearance and all-wheel drive attributes of an SUV, with the body styling of a coupé."

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BMW's amazing new 381 bhp 740 Nm 45 mpg triple turbo diesel (and four cars that will get it)

BMW's amazing new 381 bhp 740 Nm 45 mpg triple turbo diesel (and four cars that will get it): "BMW M Performance is adding four new models to its product range, all powered by a new triple-turbocharger, piezo direct injection, three liter diesel motor that looks to be a contender for the engine of the year already - 280 kW, 740 Nm, instantaneous response, very economical, low emissions."

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