World's largest paper airplane flies over desert

World's largest paper airplane flies over desert: "At a length of 45 feet (13.7 meters), a wingspan of 24 feet (7.3 m), and a weight of 800 pounds (363 kg), Arturo’s Desert Eagle is claimed to be the largest paper airplane ever made. Its design was based on that of a much smaller paper airplane, created by 12 year-old Arturo Valdenegro of Tucson, Arizona. Valdenegro was the winner of a contest held by the Pima Air & Space Museum, in which children competed to see whose airplane could fly the farthest. A team of engineers proceeded to recreate his winning plane on a grand scale, and last week managed to fly it after releasing it from a helicopter over the Arizona desert."

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Laser-wielding satellite swarm to deflect asteroids

Laser-wielding satellite swarm to deflect asteroids: "A collision between Earth and an asteroid a few kilometers in diameter would release as much energy as the simultaneous detonation of several million nuclear bombs, and with the impact of an asteroid estimated at around 10 km (6.2 miles) in diameter believed to be responsible for wiping out the dinosaurs, numerous strategies have been devised to try and avoid such devastation"

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Giant plug for sealing off subway tunnels in a hurry

Giant plug for sealing off subway tunnels in a hurry: "What’s the best way to plug a giant hole? Why with a giant plug, of course. That’s the thinking of the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T), which has created just such a giant plug to contain flooding or dangerous gases in mass transit tunnels."

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Ferrari F12 Berlinetta - the fastest Ferrari yet built

Ferrari F12 Berlinetta - the fastest Ferrari yet built: "When Ferrari's new 740 bhp, 6262cc, 65° V12, F12berlinetta hits showrooms later this year, it will be the fastest naturally aspirated car to see series production, taking over from the McLaren F1."

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Experimental headlight system can see through rain and snow

Experimental headlight system can see through rain and snow: "Driving at night in falling rain or snow can be treacherous, but not just because the asphalt is slippery – visibility is also greatly reduced, as the driver’s view of the road ahead is obscured by brightly headlight-lit raindrops or snowflakes."

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Michigan installs talking urinal cakes to combat drunk driving

Michigan installs talking urinal cakes to combat drunk driving: "The United States celebrated its independence yesterday, and one state turned to a unique tactic for fighting the drunk driving that unfortunately goes hand in hand with major holidays. "

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University of South Carolina researchers convert T-shirt into energy storage medium

University of South Carolina researchers convert T-shirt into energy storage medium: "As manufacturers of smartphones and mobile devices strive to make their products increasingly portable, they repeatedly come up against the constraints of existing battery technology. However, Xiaodong Li, a professor at the University of South Carolina (USC) believes that we will soon be able to employ the clothes we wear to help overcome such challenges and to this end, Li has transformed T-shirt material into an energy storage medium which could one day be used to power portable devices."

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McLaren pulls the top down on new 12C Spider

McLaren pulls the top down on new 12C Spider: "McLaren has delivered a convertible sibling for its MP4-12C supercar. Aside from a unique retractable hard top (RHT) folding roof that can be operated at speeds of up to 30 km/h (19 mph), the new 12C Spider is pretty much identical to the 12C, with the same carbon “MonoCell” chassis and upgraded 616 bhp (625 PS) engine announced for the MP4-12C last month."

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Cardsharp 2 packs a razor in a credit card package

Cardsharp 2 packs a razor in a credit card package: "Several years ago, designer Iain Sinclair launched the Cardsharp, a razor-sharp stainless steel knife folded into a credit card-shaped package. The knife combined real-world function with sleek, aesthetic design. Late last year, Sinclair updated the knife into the Cardsharp 2."

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Eggasus: putting clean urban transport in an eggshell

Eggasus: putting clean urban transport in an eggshell: "Fans of personal, futuristic eco cars have something to "eggcited" about with the arrival of Eggasus, which is slated for northern hemisphere fall launch in the US. The designers are currently taking orders of the cute, no-emissions three-wheeler, which recently made the finalist list of the Sierra Nevada Innovation Challenge."

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How to Turn a Match into a Miniature Rocket [Video] - How-To Geek

How to Turn a Match into a Miniature Rocket [Video] - How-To Geek: "If you’re looking for a novel little stunt to impress your friends this Fourth of July, these tiny matchstick rockets are a cheap and easy trick to pull out of your sleeve.

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High-resolution radar can detect individual raindrops

High-resolution radar can detect individual raindrops: "A high-resolution Doppler radar has the ability to detect individual hydrometeors, such as atmospheric raindrops, over 0.5 mm in diameter research led by the Naval Research Laboratory has revealed. The discovery should further understanding of the structure and behavior of clouds, and could lead to more accurate forecasting of severe weather."

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