Friday, March 2, 2012

Bertone Nuccio concept car to reinterpret iconic HF Zero

Bertone Nuccio concept car to reinterpret iconic HF Zero: "Italian auto design house Bertone will introduce a new concept car at the Geneva Motor Show. Named Nuccio after Nuccio Bertone, the long-time chief of the company who passed away in 1997, the car will not only honor Nuccio, but it will also pay homage to Bertone's design heritage in recognition of its 100th anniversary. "

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World's tallest building proposed for Azerbaijan

World's tallest building proposed for Azerbaijan: "The Burj Khalifa, which has held the title of world's tallest building with a height of 2,717 ft (828 m) since its completion in 2010, may have its crown stolen by a new building proposed for an artificial archipelago under construction on the shores of the Caspian Sea southwest of the Azerbaijan capital, Bakou. The proposed Azerbaijan Tower would reach 3,445 ft (1,050 m) into the sky, making it even taller than Saudi Arabia's proposed Kingdom Tower by 164 ft (50 m)."

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Programmer nails real-time rendering of ultra-realistic human skin

Programmer nails real-time rendering of ultra-realistic human skin: "Graphics researcher Jorge Jimenez has cracked the problem of rendering what he calls "ultra realistic skin" in real-time with consumer-level computer and graphics hardware. It's a breakthrough made possible by the process of separable subsurface scattering (SSS) which quickly renders the translucent properties of skin and its effect on light in two post-processing passes."

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Tuesday, February 28, 2012

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.

Saturday, February 25, 2012

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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Wednesday, February 22, 2012

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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