Robot hand wins rock, paper, scissors every time

Robot hand wins rock, paper, scissors every time: "A robot hand developed by the University of Tokyo's Ishikawa Oku Lab is reportedly so adept at the game rock, paper, scissors that it is unbeatable against a human opponent."

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Le Jamais Contente - the first purpose-built land speed record car

Le Jamais Contente - the first purpose-built land speed record car: "Despite the rise of the EV in the last decade, there were many more electric vehicle manufacturers in the world 100 years ago than there are today. Hundreds of manufacturers competed in the fledgling and still disorganized automotive marketplace, which was dominated initially by the electric vehicle."

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U.S. Army weapon shoots lightning bolts down laser beams

U.S. Army weapon shoots lightning bolts down laser beams: "Thought that title might get your attention, but shooting lightning bolts down laser beams is just what a device being developed at the Picatinny Arsenal military research facility in New Jersey is designed to do. Known as a Laser-Induced Plasma Channel, or LIPC, the device would fry targets that conduct electricity better that the air or ground that surrounds them by steering lightning bolts down a plasma pathway created by laser beams."

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Data transmission speed of 2.56 Tb/s achieved by twisting beams of light

Data transmission speed of 2.56 Tb/s achieved by twisting beams of light: "Thankfully, data transmission speeds have come a long way since the days of dial-up when users would have plenty of time to twiddle their thumbs as they waited for an image or MP3 to make its way to their hard drive. These days, broadband cable currently supports speeds of around 30 megabits per second, which is a hell of an improvement. Now researchers have outdone that by a factor of around 85,000 by using twisted beams of light to transmit data at up to 2.56 terabits per second"

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How Microwave Ovens Work [Video] - How-To Geek

How Microwave Ovens Work [Video] - How-To Geek: "In this informative how-it-works video, we’re treated to a peek inside the common microwave and the science behind the magnetron that powers it."

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David Coulthard clinches "farthest golf shot caught in a moving car" world record

David Coulthard clinches "farthest golf shot caught in a moving car" world record: "We’re not sure how hotly contested this particular world record is, but at the very least it does provide a nice bit of video to start the working week – particularly for those who spent the weekend hacking around the golf course chasing that elusive hole in one. Former Formula 1 driver David Coulthard has claimed the record for the “farthest golf shot to be caught in a moving car, ever.”"

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The Science of Brain Freezes [Video] - How-To Geek

The Science of Brain Freezes [Video] - How-To Geek:

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Video: 10 Lesser-known Natural Wonders of the World

Video: 10 Lesser-known Natural Wonders of the World: "The beauty of most of these lesser-known wonders is that there are generally less tourists obstructing your view. You may not be able to name some of these magnificent sites from their photograph alone."

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Element Smokless BBQ brings the joys of grilling inside

Element Smokless BBQ brings the joys of grilling inside: "For many people, grilling is an activity that's limited to the warmer months, when clear weather makes preparing dinner outside both practical and enjoyable. Once the weather turns, the rain cover comes out and grilling is over. The Element Indoor Smokeless BBQ brings grilling inside, where people can enjoy it year round."

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Futuristic SeaOrbiter vessel set for October construction

Futuristic SeaOrbiter vessel set for October construction: "What once seemed science fiction may be becoming a reality. The futuristic SeaOrbiter ocean explorer, a concept conceived by French architect Jacques Rougerie, has been trying to reach fruition for the past twelve years. However recent developments suggest that the vessel is set to start construction this October, with possible completion in 2013."

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Tornado Tracks Highlights 61 Years of Tornado Activity [Wallpaper] - How-To Geek

Tornado Tracks Highlights 61 Years of Tornado Activity [Wallpaper] - How-To Geek: "This eye catching image maps 61 years worth of storm data over the continental United States. It’s neat way to see the frequency and intensity of tornadoes and is available in wallpaper-friendly resolutions."

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Bridgestone tests Russian dandelion as raw material for tire rubber

Bridgestone tests Russian dandelion as raw material for tire rubber: "Taraxacum officinale, or dandelion, the herb used for tea and salads, is an excellent liver tonic and diuretic. But there’s another variety of dandelion known as Russian dandelion, aka Taraxacum kok-saghyz, which Bridgestone Americas is researching as raw material to make high-quality rubber for car tires. After preliminary tests, the company said it will continue to assess the material at its technical laboratories in Akron and Tokyo in coming months, and will follow that with larger-scale testing in 2014."

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iPhone-enabled Kick photography light reproduces light in any color

iPhone-enabled Kick photography light reproduces light in any color: "Lighting is possibly the single most important aspect of good photography and filmmaking, yet it's frequently overlooked and considered the reserve of professionals. This is a shame, because you don't need a professional lighting setup to see a marked improvement in your shots. The Kick is a budget full-spectrum lighting studio which can fit in your pocket and is controlled by your iPhone."

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"DIY streetview" emulates Google's panoramic vistas

"DIY streetview" emulates Google's panoramic vistas: "Google Street View, which offers street-level imagery of towns and cities around the world, is one of those innovations that we now take for granted, but we really shouldn't. It's easy to forget how innovative the effort is, and what a large-scale mission Google has undertaken in attempting to map the whole world. The technology exists for us all to create our own 360-degree panoramic vistas of the places around us, and DIY streetview is a kit containing everything one needs to get started."

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World record 80.74 mph downhill skateboard run

World record 80.74 mph downhill skateboard run: "Traveling at 80.74 mph (129.94 km/h) on four wheels won’t usually grab you a Guinness world record, but when that feat is achieved on a vehicle that relies on only leg power and gravity, it’s another story. That’s just what 28-year old Mischo Erban has done in a record-breaking downhill skateboard run at Les Éboulements in Quebec, Canada, this week."

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Hanging grow box heads for commercial availability

Hanging grow box heads for commercial availability: "It may be renowned worldwide as the city of romance and revered for its beautiful architecture and art but with over 20,000 inhabitants per square kilometer, Paris is also a very crowded place to live."

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Czech engineers set to build six-prop Flying Bike

Czech engineers set to build six-prop Flying Bike: "From the Jetsons to Back To The Future, hopping onto or into a personal flying vehicle has been on the engineering "To Do" list for a good many years. We've seen a number of noteworthy attempts at defying gravity and taking to the skies here at Gizmag (many of which are featured in this roundup from 2010) and now another possible addition to that growing collection has landed on our desk."

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Pininfarina showcases personalized, on-demand rail system

Pininfarina showcases personalized, on-demand rail system: "Italian design house Pininfarina is traveling across Europe to London to exhibit some of its iconic designs and concepts. Pininfarina is best known for car designs that have found their way to automakers like Ferrari and Alfa Romeo, but the exhibition will focus on designs from Pininfarina Extra, the arm of the firm that handles everything from product design and packaging to nautical design and special transport"

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Sharp launches world’s biggest LED TV

Sharp launches world’s biggest LED TV: "It might not be as big as the 152-inch plasma TV Panasonic has been parading around, but Sharp is claiming the title of the world’s biggest LED TV with the launch of the 90-inch AQUOS LC-90LE745U. Measuring nearly four feet (1.2 m) tall and six feet (1.8 m) across, you’ll need a fair chunk of free space to place this monster. Unfortunately, with a retail price of US$10,999.99, you’ll also need some pretty deep pockets."

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World's tallest building to be built in only 90 days

World's tallest building to be built in only 90 days: "Chinese construction company Broad Group has announced ambitious plans to construct the world's tallest skyscraper in an implausibly swift 90 days. If the target is met, the 838-meter (2,750-ft) "Sky City One" will take only a twentieth of the time that the Burj Khalifa, the world's current tallest building, took to construct, and will stand 10 meters (33 feet) taller still upon completion. The secret to the rapid construction is prefabrication. Approximately 95 percent of the building will have been put together in modular form before work even commences on site."

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Voyager 1 closes in on interstellar space

Voyager 1 closes in on interstellar space: "Based on the latest data received from Voyager 1, scientists say the venerable spacecraft is now on the very edge of our solar system. The data, which traveled some 17.8 billion kilometers (11 billion miles) on its 16-hour-38 minute journey to NASA’s Deep Space Network on Earth, reveals a marked increase in the intensity of charged particles from beyond our solar system, indicating that Voyager 1 is soon to become the first man-made object to leave our little slice of the universe."

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Radical railways: Top 10 transportation systems of the future

Radical railways: Top 10 transportation systems of the future: "Public transport systems offer many advantages over the personal alternatives when it comes to getting large numbers of people from A to B in style and safety - less congestion, less pollution and lower costs for starters."

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FlyNano achieves first test flight - Images

FlyNano achieves first test flight - Images: "Last April, we told you about the FlyNano – a single-occupant petrol/electric microlight amphibious aircraft being developed by a Finnish aeronautical firm of the same name"

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Secretive space plane back after 15-month mission | Times 247

Secretive space plane back after 15-month mission | Times 247: "The Air Force's unmanned, reusable space plane landed in the early morning of June 16 at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., a successful conclusion to a record-setting test-flight mission that began March 5 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla."

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Pizza-making vending machines on their way to the U.S.

Pizza-making vending machines on their way to the U.S.: "Remember how people reacted when McDonalds announced that it was going to start selling pizzas? Well, if buying pies from a chain best known for cheap hamburgers might have been difficult for some folks to get their heads around, they will likely find this even stranger – buying them from a vending machine. Nonetheless, that’s exactly what Dutch company A1 Concepts is hoping Americans will do, when its Let’s Pizza machines arrive in the U.S."

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Wearable device generates electricity from walking knee movements

Wearable device generates electricity from walking knee movements: "If you’ve ever worn a knee brace, then you may have noticed what a large change in angle your knee goes through with every step you take, and how quickly it does so. A team of scientists from the U.K.’s Cranfield University, University of Liverpool and University of Salford certainly noticed, and decided that all that movement should be put to use. The result is a wearable piezoelectric device that converts knee movement into electricity, which could in turn be used to power gadgets such as heart rate monitors, pedometers and accelerometers."

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X-47B unmanned aircraft completes first major phase of flight-testing

X-47B unmanned aircraft completes first major phase of flight-testing: "The Northrop Grumman-built X-47B has passed the latest checkpoint on its flight path towards becoming the first carrier-based, tailless, fighter-sized, unmanned aircraft in the U.S. Navy’s arsenal with the successful conclusion of the first major phase of flight testing at Edwards Air Force Base (EAFB) in California."

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Artificial spinal disc designed to treat chronic lower back pain

Artificial spinal disc designed to treat chronic lower back pain: "The soft, collagen-rich shock absorbers in our backs, known as intervertebral discs, both add to our height (a full quarter of the spinal column's total length) and cushion our vertebrae from contacting one another."

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Modular units by Coodo offer multiple combinations for small living

Modular units by Coodo offer multiple combinations for small living: "At Gizmag we have covered a range of modular housing prefabs, from the living-in-nature LEAP house, to the modern Loftcube and even the futuristic tree-hotel concept ... but it isn’t often that we come across a design that doesn’t leave you yearning for more space, an extra living zone or outdoor flexibility. However, Slovenian architectural studio Coodo may have come up with a solution that not only suits a variety of purposes but can house the entire family."

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Bosch enters the "robo-mower" market, with the Indego

Bosch enters the "robo-mower" market, with the Indego: "Well, the Auto-Mower, Robby Garden XP, Evolution, and Robomow now have another competitor to content with – last month, Bosch launched its Indego autonomous lawnmower. Like existing “robo-mowers,” this one handles the cutting of the grass without human intervention, while its owner presumably lies nearby in a hammock with an iced tea and says things like “Now this is the life!”. According to Bosch, however, it also has a few features that make it special."

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“Eco-Pak” expands on shipping container houses

“Eco-Pak” expands on shipping container houses: "Thanks to their size, strength and ease of transport, shipping containers have been embraced by architects who have turned them into everything from restaurants and off-grid homes, to school classrooms and modular, portable hotels."

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The US$9000 Jetovator flying water bike adds momentum to the "firehose" market

The US$9000 Jetovator flying water bike adds momentum to the "firehose" market: "New thought in any global arena doesn't take long to propagate these days. Given an idea, there are now many small, highly skilled commando-like development teams that can employ the latest materials and technologies and rapid manufacturing and prototyping techniques to build and test a series of prototypes within a short time and develop a complete product in months ... and this is such a tale, involving two such teams."

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OHEA Smart Bed makes itself

OHEA Smart Bed makes itself: "Unless you’re an obsessive “morning” person, making the bed first thing after waking ranks right up there with banging your knee on the night stand. Understanding that most people would just like to turn around and see the bed magically made, Spanish furniture company OHEA is offering a self-making “smart bed” that tidies the sheet and pillows the moment you stand up."

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Drop 2,000 Feet at 87 Miles Per Hour on Nepal's Extreme Zipline

Drop 2,000 Feet at 87 Miles Per Hour on Nepal's Extreme Zipline:

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Neutrinos do not exceed speed of light, according to latest experiment

Neutrinos do not exceed speed of light, according to latest experiment: "New results from CERN today would appear to confirm that last year’s findings by the OPERA experiment which appeared to suggest that neutrinos could travel faster than light were incorrect. A faulty element of the experiment’s fiber optic timing system has been cited by CERN as a likely cause for the error."

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Google's Trekker brings Street View to hiking trails

Google's Trekker brings Street View to hiking trails: "Over the last few years, Google's specially-designed cars, trikes, trolleys and snowmobiles have brought interactive Street View technology to the cities and jungles of the world – but why stop there? The search giant recently unveiled the Street View Trekker, a hi-tech backpack-contained system that will bring Street View to those places that can only be reached on foot."

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Disco ball-like side mirror for cars eliminates blind spots, without the fish-eye effect

Disco ball-like side mirror for cars eliminates blind spots, without the fish-eye effect: "While there are already various anti-blind-spot automobile mirrors on the market, these all tend to incorporate a very curved surface that drastically distorts the appearance of objects seen in them – given that drivers use their mirrors to avoid getting in accidents, it’s kind of important that those mirrors show the surrounding traffic as it really is. "

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Reaction system promises versatile, cost effective emergency housing

Reaction system promises versatile, cost effective emergency housing: "In a world where millions of people are forced from their houses every year because of natural disasters, there is an ongoing need for huge numbers of decent mid- to long-term temporary housing units that can be swiftly delivered to the affected area. The Reaction Housing System has been developed to make the wait as short as possible."

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Plastic Clamshell Packaging Voted Worse Design Ever - How-To Geek

Plastic Clamshell Packaging Voted Worse Design Ever - How-To Geek: "We’ve all been there: frustrated and trying free a new purchase from it’s plastic clamshell jail. You’re not alone, the packaging design has been voted the worst in history."

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Tiny Leaf House can accommodate a family of four – and it has wheels

Tiny Leaf House can accommodate a family of four – and it has wheels: "Leaf House is the creation of small home enthusiast Laird Herbert from Whitehorse, Canada, who was inspired by the idea of building his own home. After testing out several prototypes, Herbert has finally finished work on what he calls Version.2 ... and the result is a tiny portable home design that takes up a small amount of space, is big enough to live in comfortably, and reportedly accommodates a family of four."

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Silica nanoparticles used to make mosquito-repellant clothing

Silica nanoparticles used to make mosquito-repellant clothing: "For many of us, mosquitoes are an irritating pest that can ruin any number of outdoor activities. For many others, however, they are also spreaders of malaria – a disease which infected approximately 216 million people in 2010, according to an estimate by the World Health Organization. Repeatedly slathering on bug repellant is one way of dealing with the insects, although wearing clothing made from mosquito-repellant fabric sounds a lot more preferable."

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Tactus Technology display brings physical buttons to the touchscreen

Tactus Technology display brings physical buttons to the touchscreen: "California startup Tactus Technology recently caused plenty of "oohs" and "aahs" at SID Display Week 2012. The prototype touchscreen the company presented featured buttons that can rise out of the flat surface of the screen at the user's whim, disappearing completely once they are no longer needed."

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Health Petition: Bristol-Myers Squibb: Help save our dad | Change.org

Health Petition: Bristol-Myers Squibb: Help save our dad | Change.org:

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Saving America, what we need to do

Saving America, what we need to do: "Many things that were part of the founding of our country revolved around God. Many liberals now can’t stand to even say the word God, let alone acknowledge the God exists, even though many of them say they are Christians. What does this say about their definition of what a Christian is?"

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Boeing's Phantom Eye autonomous aircraft makes its first flight

Boeing's Phantom Eye autonomous aircraft makes its first flight: "After four years of development, Boeing’s liquid hydrogen-powered Phantom Eye unmanned autonomous aircraft made its first flight last Friday. It took place at Edwards Air Force Base in California, with the dual-propeller-driven aircraft lifting off of its launch cart at 6:22am PST."

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Gorilla Glass maker unveils ultra-thin and flexible Willow Glass

Gorilla Glass maker unveils ultra-thin and flexible Willow Glass: "Corning announced details of a major new glass design at the eighth annual Display Week in Boston, a trade event hosted by the Society for Information Display. Named Willow Glass, Corning’s new glass is manufactured in such a way that allows it to reach temperatures of up to 500°C (932ºF) while maintaining a thickness of just 100 microns – or about that of a sheet of paper."

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You can now buy an UZI for $25 ... but it's a pen

You can now buy an UZI for $25 ... but it's a pen: "Looking for something to jot down a few lines of poetry as you sip camomile tea from your Battle Mug? While a Bic might do the trick, it would perhaps be more appropriate to use the UZI Tactical Defender Pen."

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Orsos Island - the smallest personal floating island yet in a fast growing market

Orsos Island - the smallest personal floating island yet in a fast growing market: "The concept of a floating island has been with us throughout history, but sprang back into the limelight just four years ago when Wally Yachts came up with an island-themed megayacht named the Wally Island."

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FPSRussia Goes to Whitecastle - In a tank... - YouTube

FPSRussia Goes to Whitecastle - In a tank... - YouTube: ""

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Interesting facts about humans

Interesting facts about humans: "There are many things you do in life that you rarely think about because you do them often, so often that you don't even realize how often you do them."

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G-POD: Your futuristic garden lounge or portable office has landed

G-POD: Your futuristic garden lounge or portable office has landed: "While the G-POD may resemble a cabin from the London Eye’s giant Ferris wheel, the prefabricated pod does come with some backyard benefits. The futuristic looking pod is a portable unit that comes in four different options, designed to create a backyard lounge, dining room or office. Created by the British garden specialists, Ornate Garden in Birmingham, U.K., the G-POD series features rotating or fixed spheres that create a practical outdoor living addition."

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Otterbox announces Armor Series iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S cases

Otterbox announces Armor Series iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S cases: "Long-standing purveyor of rugged mobile device protection technology Otterbox has announced a new series of iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S cases to join its existing Defender, Reflex, Impact and Commuter protective shells."

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ACR CHOPPER GUNNER! - YouTube

ACR CHOPPER GUNNER! - YouTube: ""

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The Best OpenCourseWare Collections

The Best OpenCourseWare Collections: "Are you interested in taking an online class for free? Viewing videos, podcasts, or tutorials from top universities? Or, just browsing through no-cost learning material to see what catches your interest? "

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Record setting small-scale solid oxide fuel cell could power neighborhoods

Record setting small-scale solid oxide fuel cell could power neighborhoods: "A new, small-scale solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) system developed at the Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (DoE PNNL) could be used for household and neighborhood power generation."

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Record setting small-scale solid oxide fuel cell could power neighborhoods

Record setting small-scale solid oxide fuel cell could power neighborhoods: "A new, small-scale solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) system developed at the Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (DoE PNNL) could be used for household and neighborhood power generation."

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Aston Martin previews the next DBS with Project AM310 concept

Aston Martin previews the next DBS with Project AM310 concept: "During the festivities of this past weekend's Concorso d'Eleganza Ville d'Este in Lake Como, Italy, Aston Martin introduced a new concept called the Project AM310. Unlike the superlative BMW Zagato Coupe, the AM310 is expected to serve as more than a one-off concept - it's reportedly a preview of the replacement for the DBS."

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