Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Atacama desert, the driest place on Earth

Atacama desert, the driest place on Earth: "The Atacama desert while not as well known as the Sahara or the Kalahari, but it has the distinction of being the driest place on earth. As you can see from the picture to the right, it doesn't even look like the Earth, it looks more like another planet."

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3D-printed pistol survives test firing

3D-printed pistol survives test firing: "The potential for 3D-printed guns has (unsurprisingly) generated a great deal of controversy, and the Liberator is no exception. Named after the WWII single shot pistol, this 3D-printed .380 caliber pistol is made almost entirely of plastic and looks more like a nozzle for a water hose than a gun. The weapon has survived multiple firings with very little damage, inspiring enough confidence that designer Cody Wilson has now tested the gun by hand."

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Staples becomes first major US retailer to sell 3D printers

Staples becomes first major US retailer to sell 3D printers: "Despite the growing popularity of 3D printers, being limited to purchase through specialist stores and online shops means they still occupy a niche market of hobbyists and professional designers. You can't just waltz into your local office supply store and pick one up along with a pack of manila folders and paperclips. But soon, you'll be able to do just that. Office supply chain Staples will become the first major US retailer to offer 3D printers on its shelves, starting with the Cube from 3D Systems."

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Rod Millen aims at new Pikes Peak EV record in updated TMG EV P002

Rod Millen aims at new Pikes Peak EV record in updated TMG EV P002: "With his surname already linked with the overall Pikes Peak International Hill Climb record thanks to son Rhys, Rod Millen is focusing his attention on piloting an electric vehicle up the mountain. During his debut in the electric division, he'll look to break the EV record in an updated version of the vehicle that set it: the EV P002 from Toyota Motorsport GmbH (TMG)."

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Terrafugia Previews Plug-in Hybrid Flying Car, TF-X | News & Opinion | PCMag.com

Terrafugia Previews Plug-in Hybrid Flying Car, TF-X | News & Opinion | PCMag.com: "Terrafugia this week unveiled plans for a plug-in hybrid version of its flying car, or "street-legal airplane.""

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Waverider makes hypersonic history

Waverider makes hypersonic history: "t was fourth time lucky for Boeing’s X-51A Waverider, as it blasted into the history books on Monday. The fourth test of the hypersonic drone achieved the longest scramjet-powered hypersonic flight yet, hitting a top speed of Mach 5.1 (which is 2,924 knots, 3,366 mph and 5,417 km/h using SI standard conversion). Dropped from a B-52H bomber out of Edwards Air Force Base in California, the unmanned craft flew at top speed for three and a half minutes before it made a controlled dive into the Pacific Ocean after six minutes of flight."

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Porsche's next-gen 911 Turbo S makes 0-60 mph in 2.9 seconds

Porsche's next-gen 911 Turbo S makes 0-60 mph in 2.9 seconds: "As Porsche celebrates 50 years of its iconic 911, it’s only fitting that the fastest and most advanced models of the line-up should get a makeover. The next-gen 911 Turbo and Turbo S have received several technical revisions to enhance handling and make the fast even faster, with the S model leaping from 0-60 mph in 2.9 seconds. This hi-tech generation is similar to its ancestors in name only."

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Would you wear a shirt for 100 days without washing it?

Would you wear a shirt for 100 days without washing it?: "A good wool shirt is awesome, but would you wear one for 100 days straight without washing it? Wool & Prince claims that you can do exactly that with its buttondown shirts, which it handed out to 15 “wear testers” who wore them while engaging in such activities as backpacking in the Andes and dancing in "Tropical" NYC clubs. According to the makers, the shirts not only proved durable, but still looked – and smelled – fresh after over three months of straight wear."

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The body’s “Fountain of Youth” could lie in the brain

The body’s “Fountain of Youth” could lie in the brain: "nstead of traipsing through Florida in search of the Fountain of Youth, Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León might have been better off turning his search inwards. "

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