Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Ford shows off Mustang Cobra Jet Concept with twin turbos

Ford shows off Mustang Cobra Jet Concept with twin turbos: "Ford has shown off a new version of its Mustang Cobra Jet concept at the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show this year. Since 2008, the Jet has been the most accomplished production-based drag racer, and Ford is making some pretty serious changes that it hopes will keep it on top. The Cobra Jet concept that Ford is displaying features a twin-turbocharged 5.0-liter V-8. This is a big change for the drag racer, which has always featured a large supercharged engine."

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iRock: The power-generating rocking chair for iDevices

iRock: The power-generating rocking chair for iDevices: "We’ve seen plenty of iPhone and iPad chargers that harness power from eco-friendly sources such as wind and solar (or both), but Zurich-based Micasa Lab has turned to a different, relatively (but not completely) untapped energy source to keep the juice flowing in iOS devices – the rocking chair. But the iRock Rocking Chair doesn’t just use the power generated via rocking back and forth to charge iOS devices, it also powers speakers built into the chair’s backrest."

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Oakley launches goggles with GPS, Bluetooth, text messaging, jump analytics, and more

Oakley launches goggles with GPS, Bluetooth, text messaging, jump analytics, and more: "Oakley has just rolled out what might be the goggles to rule all goggles. The technology-packed AirWave snow goggles have GPS, jump analytics, caller-id, text messaging, Bluetooth, and music controls, all available from a heads-up display."

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Can the new Dart give Dodge a sexy Italian accent? CNET On Cars, Episode 5 | CNET on Cars - CNET

Can the new Dart give Dodge a sexy Italian accent? CNET On Cars, Episode 5 | CNET on Cars - CNET: "Seldom have I received so much e-mail asking me to check out a new car than I have for the new Dodge Dart. So here it is, in this episode, a very promising car with one big flaw in the configuration the company sent us. Stay on it, Dodge, you're that close to having a winner here."

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50-state bucket list » Ventura County Star

50-state bucket list » Ventura County Star: "But for those who take the quest seriously, merely crossing the border or changing planes at an airport doesn't necessarily give you the right to say you've been there."

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Monday, October 29, 2012

SpaceX Dragon returns from first commercial mission

SpaceX Dragon returns from first commercial mission: "History’s first commercial space mission ended today as SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft returned to Earth. The 21-day flight to the International Space Station (ISS) ended when the unmanned cargo ship splashed down in the Pacific Ocean at 12:22 p.m. PDT. The mission, designated CRS-1, is the first of twelve SpaceX is sending to the ISS as part of NASA’s plan to replace the retired Space Shuttle with privately built and operated spacecraft that will one day carry both cargo and crew."

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NASA heli-capsule could let astronauts land anywhere

NASA heli-capsule could let astronauts land anywhere: "Space exploration once captured the world's imagination. In the 1960s and 1970s, children dreamed of satellites, lunar rovers, and walking on the moon. Today – decades after Sputnik, Neil Armstrong, and the Apollo missions – many children may not even know what a space capsule is."

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Google announces new Nexus tablets, smartphone | Internet & Media - CNET News

Google announces new Nexus tablets, smartphone | Internet & Media - CNET News: "The Nexus 7 now comes in new Wi-Fi models that are 16GB (for $199) and 32GB (for $249). Google also is making a version available with an HSPA+ cellular connection -- $32GB for $299. It's on sale Nov. 13."

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Sunday, October 28, 2012

Our Weather Satellites Are Dying - Slashdot

Our Weather Satellites Are Dying - Slashdot: ""The NY Times reports that some experts say it is almost certain that the U.S. will soon face a year or more without crucial weather satellites that provide invaluable data for predicting storm tracks"

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tuxedo mask - 99 Life Hacks to make your life easier!

tuxedo mask - 99 Life Hacks to make your life easier!:

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Friday, October 26, 2012

CHAMP missile test flight knocks out electronic devices with a burst of energy

CHAMP missile test flight knocks out electronic devices with a burst of energy: "This week, science fiction became science fact as a Boeing CHAMP missile knocked out a building full of electronics in the Utah desert at Hill Air Force Base. There was no explosion and no flying shrapnel. There was only the sound of the missile’s engine as it flew overhead and the sputtering of sophisticated computers crashing as they were hit by a beam of high-energy microwaves."

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Drops on Drops on Drops - YouTube

Drops on Drops on Drops - YouTube: ""

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Thursday, October 25, 2012

iPad mini vs. Kindle Fire HD

iPad mini vs. Kindle Fire HD: "During 2011's holiday season, Amazon ruled the low end of the tablet market. Its first Kindle Fire struck just the right chords with pricing, simplicity, and brand familiarity. In 2012, though, the low-end of the tablet market is set to be a brawl. Amazon has two new Kindle Fires, Google has the terrific Nexus 7, and Barnes & Noble is trying to hang in there with the Nook HD."

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2014 Corvette's 6.2L V-8 LT1 engine to have 450+ horsepower

2014 Corvette's 6.2L V-8 LT1 engine to have 450+ horsepower: "The 2014 Chevrolet Corvette is scheduled to hit the market late next year, and Chevy has given us a preview of its brand new engine. The automaker has said that its goal with the 2014 Corvette is to raise the bar in terms of performance engines."

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X-51a test results released

X-51a test results released: "The United States Air Force (USAF) has released the results of last August’s third test of the X-51a Waverider, which resulted in the crash of the unmanned scramjet demonstrator. At a press teleconference featuring the Program Manager for Air Force Research Laboratory, Charles Brink, it was confirmed that a malfunctioning fin was the cause of the crash. However, engineers are confident of correcting the fault in time for the fourth test flight scheduled for (Northern Hemisphere) late spring or early summer of next year."

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Stunning Lexus LF-LC Blue sports car concept

Stunning Lexus LF-LC Blue sports car concept: "One of the stars of the Australian International Motor Show this week is this piece of automotive sculpture called the Lexus LF-LC Blue. We covered an earlier Red version of this uniquely styled concept vehicle back in January when it was shown for the first time at the Detroit show. I quote Lexus public relations:"

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Friday, October 19, 2012

Earth-sized planet with a molten surface discovered orbiting Alpha Centauri B

Earth-sized planet with a molten surface discovered orbiting Alpha Centauri B: "European astronomers working from the European Southern Observatory (ESO) in Chile have discovered a planet slightly more massive than Earth, orbiting a star in the Alpha Centauri triple star system – the nearest stellar system to our planet."

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Credit Card Numbers Are Not Random: How To Read & Understand Them Yourself

Credit Card Numbers Are Not Random: How To Read & Understand Them Yourself: "You may have heard before that credit card numbers follow a certain pattern and structure so that they can be validated before a transaction is accepted. However, it’s one thing to know that the structure is there and another thing entirely to understand how credit card numbers work."

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Thursday, October 18, 2012

Video: Chestcam Footage of Felix Baumgartner's Record-breaking Free Fall - OutdoorHub.com

Video: Chestcam Footage of Felix Baumgartner's Record-breaking Free Fall - OutdoorHub.com: "The brave daredevil Felix Baumgartner set the record he had hoped for when he jumped out of the stratosphere back to earth on October 14. During his approximately nine minutes of free fall  Baumgartner reached estimated* speeds of 833.9 mph (1,343 km/h) at one point in that time. He hit Mach 1.24, or in other words, he successfully broke the speed of sound. But the record-breaking speed did not come without problems."

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Wednesday, October 17, 2012

GIBBS Quadski to launch in U.S. next month

GIBBS Quadski to launch in U.S. next month: "After existing only in prototype form since at least 2006, the GIBBS Quadski is finally about to become a commercially-available product. The amphibious vehicle can be driven like a regular 4WD quad while on land, but it draws in its wheels and becomes a Jet Ski-like contraption upon entering the water – all within five seconds. At a press conference yesterday in Detroit, GIBBS founder Alan Gibbs and chairman Neil Jenkins announced that the Quadski will be available in select U.S. markets starting next month ... priced at about US$40,000."

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Monday, October 15, 2012

Felix Baumgartner breaks record for high-altitude skydiving

Felix Baumgartner breaks record for high-altitude skydiving: ""Sometimes you have to go up really high to understand how small you are" – Felix Baumgartner, standing outside his capsule at an altitude of 24 miles (39 km) on October 14, 2012."

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Video: Felix Baumgartner’s Supersonic Record-breaking Jump from the Edge of Space - OutdoorHub.com

Video: Felix Baumgartner’s Supersonic Record-breaking Jump from the Edge of Space - OutdoorHub.com: "ustria’s Felix Baumgartner earned his place in the history books on Sunday after overcoming concerns with the power for his visor heater that impaired his vision and nearly jeopardized the mission"

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Friday, October 12, 2012

U.S. Navy evaluating a second railgun prototype

U.S. Navy evaluating a second railgun prototype: "Back in February, the Office of Naval Research (ONR) test-fired a prototype electromagnetic railgun that had been built by BAE Systems for the U.S. Navy. BAE isn’t the only game in town, however – this Tuesday, ONR announced that it is now evaluating a second railgun prototype, made by San Diego-based General Atomics."

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Thursday, October 11, 2012

Art and science combine to turn gold chloride into nuggets

Art and science combine to turn gold chloride into nuggets: "For centuries, the world's great thinkers were consumed by the search for the mythical Philosopher's Stone. Franciscan friar Roger Bacon is said to have penned a formula for its creation in the 13th century, legend would have us believe that German friar Albertus Magnus actually found a substance capable of transmuting base metals into gold or silver, and English scientist and mathematician Isaac Newton was a known devotee of the magnum opus. "

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Lauren Nelson: 5 Tips for Creating the Ultimate Gallery Wall

Lauren Nelson: 5 Tips for Creating the Ultimate Gallery Wall: "When it comes to updating a space, the gallery wall can be the perfect solution when it's done right! From entryways to dining rooms, an eclectic display of frames can be incorporated in just about any room. Here are five tips to help you create the ultimate gallery wall."

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Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Human Generator – new e-bike trades the chain for an alternator

Human Generator – new e-bike trades the chain for an alternator: "A bicycle born out of auto industry technology, the Mando Footloose makes claim of using the world's first chainless series hybrid technology for an e-bike. Like other pedal-assisted electric bikes, the bike combines manual and electric power. Unlike other pedelecs, it eliminates the chain and transforms the cyclist's motion directly into electricity."

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Tuesday, October 9, 2012

New 3M projector streams Roku content

New 3M projector streams Roku content: "The world seems to be moving away from projectors. Almost all of the tech-savvy consumer's content is downloaded digitally and streamed to TVs, tablets and smartphones. The projector is kind of lost in the shuffle of all of this. Enter 3M's Streaming Projector, which merges the massive display sizes that only a projector can produce, with the streaming content for which Roku is known."

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Delta Six gun controller fulfills your FPS fantasies

Delta Six gun controller fulfills your FPS fantasies: "The humble controller has never been the best choice for first-person shooters. Those who have mastered the keyboard and mouse combo can pulverize even the best console gamers thanks to the added accuracy and speed of movement that control method provides."

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Segula Technologies' hybrid composite Hagora concept

Segula Technologies' hybrid composite Hagora concept: "Segula Technologies may not exactly be a household automotive name, but if designs like the Hagora are any indication, it could be in the future. Designed to protect and serve the environment, the new concept car combines an innovative hybrid powertrain, composite construction, 1 + 2 layout and sporty crossover styling."

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A Beginner’s Guide To Digital Music Setup And Playing

A Beginner’s Guide To Digital Music Setup And Playing: "If you’re a music lover with boxes and shelves of music CDs, or if you have managed to burn or download digital music to your Mac or PC, this beginner’s guide to digital music setup and playing is written specifically for you"

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Video: Pumpkin Carving with a Colt .45

Video: Pumpkin Carving with a Colt .45: "The art of pumpkin carving with a firearm has become an annual tradition for YouTube firearms personality Hickok45. His popular channel is watched by thousands and the pumpkin carving episodes are yearly favorites. Every fall, Hickok45 features a different firearm and examines how it performs when tasked with creating eyes, nose and a mouth for a porch jack-o-lantern."

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Saturday, October 6, 2012

Lockitron turns your smartphone into a house key

Lockitron turns your smartphone into a house key: "Lockitron is an awesome new piece of technology designed to let you unlock your house using your smartphone. Technology like this has been around for a little while with the UniKey, but what makes Lockitron so interesting is that it installs on existing locks in a user's home. This means the installation process take less than a minute."

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NASA building world's largest solid-fuel rocket

NASA building world's largest solid-fuel rocket: "When NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) enters service in 2017, it will replace the historic Saturn V as the largest, most powerful space launch vehicle ever flown. "

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Dux Helm bike helmet integrates sunglasses

Dux Helm bike helmet integrates sunglasses: "Dux Helm is a Vancouver-based start-up that hit the scene earlier this year. Its first product is a little something it calls the "world's first bike helmet with retractable lens." While we know better than to accept those types of proclamations without reservation, we can say with confidence that the average bike helmet offers little more in the way of sun protection than a tiny, ineffective brim – if that. It certainly doesn't have a pair of sunglasses."

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Boeing testing truck-mounted high energy laser

Boeing testing truck-mounted high energy laser: "With the solid-state high-energy lasers already being tested on the sea and in the air, Boeing is continuing development of a truck-mounted system. The system is similar in concept to Boeing’s Laser Avenger that is intended for combating unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), but boasts a more powerful laser for countering a wider variety of threats, including rockets, artillery, mortars, as well as UAVs."

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NASA building world's largest solid-fuel rocket

NASA building world's largest solid-fuel rocket: "When NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) enters service in 2017, it will replace the historic Saturn V as the largest, most powerful space launch vehicle ever flown. To lift its initial 70-metric ton (77 ton) payload into orbit, the SLS will rely on additional boost from a pair of the largest solid rocket motors ever to be built for flight. The first of these boosters is being assembled for NASA in Brigham City, Utah by ATK Space Systems using new manufacturing methods intended to make these behemoths safer and less expensive."

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Thursday, October 4, 2012

Cheese-powered dragster sets speed record for vehicle of its class

Cheese-powered dragster sets speed record for vehicle of its class: "A cheese-powered dragster designed by researchers at Utah State University (USU) set a new speed record for a vehicle of its type, reaching a shade over 65 mph (104 km/h) at the Utah Salt Flats Racing Association's 2012 World of Speed event in September. No prize Stilton was wasted in the pursuit of glory however, as the vehicle runs on yeast biodiesel derived from the industrial waste of cheese production."

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Update: BLOODHOUND rocket engine successfully test fired

Update: BLOODHOUND rocket engine successfully test fired: "A 1,000 mph (Mach 1.4, 1,600 km/h) car came a step closer to reality today when the BLOODHOUND SSC team successfully test fired the vehicle’s rocket motor system. Conducted in a hardened aircraft shelter originally designed to house Tornado fighters at Newquay Cornwall Airport, the hybrid rocket motor burned for ten seconds, generating 14,000 lbs (60 kN, 40,000 bhp) of thrust and a roar of 180 decibels."

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HotTug lets you soak in water while in the water

HotTug lets you soak in water while in the water: "Ah, to be gently motoring down the picturesque canals of Rotterdam ... in a hot tub. It’s not as crazy as it might sound – or perhaps it is. In any case, you can do it, thanks to the Dutch-built HotTug."

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Warp drive looks more promising than ever in recent NASA studies

Warp drive looks more promising than ever in recent NASA studies: "The first steps towards interstellar travel have been taken, but the stars are very far away. Voyager 1 is about 17 light-hours distant from Earth and is traveling with a velocity of 0.006 percent of light speed, meaning it will take about 17,000 years to travel one light-year. Fortunately, the elusive "warp drive" now appears to be evolving past difficulties with new theoretical advances and a NASA test rig under development to measure artificially generated warping of space-time."

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West Virginia State Record Blue Catfish Caught

West Virginia State Record Blue Catfish Caught: "A state record blue catfish was caught recently from the Ohio River, according to Frank Jezioro, Director of the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources."

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Wednesday, October 3, 2012

What is the Highest Point on Earth?

What is the Highest Point on Earth?: "If you ask people what is the highest point on Earth, the answer from most would be Mount Everest. Depending on how you measure the highest point, Everest is not right if you measure from the center of the Earth, and not from sea level."

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Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4 gets start/stop system

Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4 gets start/stop system: "Lamborghini’s Aventador LP 700-4 is doing something that supercars aren't exactly famous for – it’s saving fuel. Not satisfied with a car that can do 0 to 100 km/h (0-62 mph) in 2.9 seconds and hit a top speed of 350 km/h (217 mph), Lamborghini has fitted the Aventador LP 700-4 with a fuel economy system that includes an automatic engine start/stop and a cylinder deactivation system."

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World's smallest supercharged four-stroke V8 engine now in production

World's smallest supercharged four-stroke V8 engine now in production: "Giant-scale model cars (and airplanes) powered by small gasoline engines have been popular with adult racers for quite a few years now. The largest scale models available through conventional RC hobby outlets are one-fifth or one-sixth scale, but the serious racers go quarter-scale. Now the smallest (quarter-scale) blown V8 gasoline engine in commercial production is being turned out by Conley Precision Engines to power."

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Tuesday, October 2, 2012

For The Scientific Spirit: 7 Websites For Science Questions & Answers

For The Scientific Spirit: 7 Websites For Science Questions & Answers: "The web is the Grand Oracle. It sees all and answers all. I wish we had the educational and self-learning edge it gives to today’s generation. In a snap, you can tap it to ask anything about the world we live in, and generally it is pretty accurate answering back. Perhaps, apart from the ‘question of life’ it can answer anything."

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Monday, October 1, 2012

Brutal Bentley Continental GT3 concept shown in Paris

Brutal Bentley Continental GT3 concept shown in Paris: "The beast you see here is a GT3 racing concept car that Bentley brought to the 2012 Paris Motor Show. Based on the recently launched Contental GT Speed the machine is part of an FIA-sanctioned development process to get Bentley back into competitive motorsport after a break of 10 years. With rear-wheel drive, stripped interior and some extensive aero the vehicle abandons luxury and refinement for some serious attitude."

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McLaren provides (some) P1 supercar details

McLaren provides (some) P1 supercar details: "The McLaren P1 has arrived ... almost. We've already had a glimpse of the company's brand-new halo supercar but as it's still at design study stage, specs have yet to be finalized – and McLaren isn't providing any official clues on a few things that folks are more than a little curious about. Still, we now have some more details (and more pictures to drool over) than we had before."

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Lamborghini unveils the Gallardo LP 560-4 and the LP 570-4 Edizione Tecnica

Lamborghini unveils the Gallardo LP 560-4 and the LP 570-4 Edizione Tecnica: "Lamborghini took its turn at the Paris Motor Show last week as it introduced two new “baby Lambos,” the Gallardo LP 560-4 and LP 570-4 Edizione Tecnica. Showing off refreshed stylings that should appeal to purists, the additions to the stables brings the Gallardo line up to six models."

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