Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Acros AG-E brings hydraulic shifting to mountain bikes

Acros AG-E brings hydraulic shifting to mountain bikes: "There was a time not all that long ago, when hydraulic brakes on mountain bikes were viewed as super-high-end equipment for the elite few. Now, virtually all bikes over the mid-range price point have them."

Geely McCar is a combined car and motorcycle

Geely McCar is a combined car and motorcycle: "One of the most imaginative concept cars we've ever seen turned up at Auto Shanghai this week and it didn't come from Japan, Germany, France or America – it was the result of two years work in China by Geely engineers and is the synthesis of over 60 IP-protected ideas. In essence, it's an ultra compact, two-door, four-seater with a built-in, folding three wheeled electric scooter in the rear."

Researchers overcome size hurdle in quest for invisibility cloak

Researchers overcome size hurdle in quest for invisibility cloak: "Efforts to create a working 'invisibility cloak' have generally involved the use of artificial materials with a negative refractive index known as metamaterials."

The Lito Sora - the biggest, baddest electric motorcycle in Montreal

The Lito Sora - the biggest, baddest electric motorcycle in Montreal: "Montreal's Lito has thrown its hat into the ring with a new electric motorcycle that makes some pretty outrageous claims."

Fiber-optic laser-based system brings rifle sights into the 21st century

Fiber-optic laser-based system brings rifle sights into the 21st century: "At long ranges, snipers must compensate not only for crosswinds and the fact that bullets travel in a curved trajectory, but also allow for even very small barrel disruptions that can cause a shooter to miss their intended target by a wide margin."

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Taking remote-sex to the next level (NSFW)

Taking remote-sex to the next level (NSFW): "Absence not only makes the heart grow fonder, it can also make for a pretty unfulfilling sex life. While technology has allowed lovers to bridge the tyranny of distance in terms of sight and sound, getting touchy feely is a different matter."

Two new Suzuki Kizashi Concepts - one frugal, one powerful

Two new Suzuki Kizashi Concepts - one frugal, one powerful: "Suzuki is having a bet each way in the performance vs fuel efficiency stakes with the unveiling of two new additions to its long-running line of Kizashi concepts at the New York International Auto Show. While the Kizashi EcoCharge hybrid concept combines a 2.0-liter petrol engine,15kW motor and a 115-volt air-cooled lithium-ion battery to optimize fuel efficiency, it's show floor stablemate the Kizashi Apex Concept is geared toward performance."

Bugatti displays new versions of the world’s fastest car and fastest convertible in Shanghai

Bugatti displays new versions of the world’s fastest car and fastest convertible in Shanghai: "There just aren't enough superlatives to adequately describe the exploits of Ettore Bugatti and the remarkable history of his marque, let alone its resurrection as a world-beating performance car manufacturer."

Road test: Mercedes-Benz B Class F-Cell

Road test: Mercedes-Benz B Class F-Cell: "What's it like to drive a hydrogen powered car? It depends on which one. In the case of BMW's Hydrogen 7, essentially a 760i with its 6.0 liter V12 tweaked to burn hydrogen instead of petrol, one might suspect it's pretty much like the donor vehicle. In the case of Mercedes-Benz's B Class-based F Cell, powered by electricity from a lithium-ion battery pack fed by an on-board fuel cell, you might think different."

Smart phones to drive new mobile sales to one in every four humans this year

Smart phones to drive new mobile sales to one in every four humans this year: "According to the latest DisplaySearch Quarterly Mobile Phone Shipment and Forecast Report, the mobile phone market reached 1.6 billion units in 2010, and will increase further to 1.8 billion units this year – there are less than seven billion humans on Mother Earth, so that's more than one new mobile phone for every man, woman and child. The growth is being driven by continuously growing emerging markets and the trend to upgrading to smart phones."

Monday, April 25, 2011

World's first intubation robot tested on human subjects

World's first intubation robot tested on human subjects: "Pretty much any time a patient is placed under a general anesthetic, a plastic endotracheal tube is inserted down their throat, in order to keep their airway open. The procedure is known as intubation, and has so far always been performed by hand. In this age of robotic surgery, however, it's perhaps not surprising to hear that surgeons at Montreal's McGill University Health Centre are now trying out a remote-control intubation system on human subjects."

Radio-controlled car runs on soda can rings

Radio-controlled car runs on soda can rings: "As anyone who has seen Back to the Future will remember, the movie ended with Doc Brown fueling the time-traveling DeLorean's 'Mr. Fusion' reactor with household waste."