Secrets of the Sky Tree: Quake-proofing the world's second tallest structure

Secrets of the Sky Tree: Quake-proofing the world's second tallest structure: "Leap day 2012 saw the completion of the world's second tallest structure, the Tokyo Sky Tree television transmitter and observation tower. At 2,080 feet (634 m) the tower stands nearly twice as Japan's previous tallest frame, the 1,091-ft (333-m) Tokyo Tower transmitter. It's an audacious technological feat when one considers this is at the heart of an earthquake zone."

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Wrist "piano" puts music at your fingertips

Wrist "piano" puts music at your fingertips: "We've all drummed our fingers when impatient or bored, but the arrival of a wrist-mounted finger "piano" from Japan could change all that in a snap. It looks more like an EKG for your hand than a musical instrument but comes with a full octave of range - one note for each finger and three on the wrist unit."

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Robot becomes a leader among fish

Robot becomes a leader among fish: "A couple of years ago, a team of scientists from the University of Leeds succeeded in getting live stickleback fish to follow a computer-controlled "Robofish" as it was moved through their aquarium. Part of the reason for the experiment was to learn about fish behavior, "

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RUSSIAN BASEBALL! - YouTube

RUSSIAN BASEBALL! - YouTube: ""

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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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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.

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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