Porsche 918 Spyder plug-in hybrid drive debuts in Frankfurt

Porsche 918 Spyder plug-in hybrid drive debuts in Frankfurt: "Porsche has debuted the long-awaited production model of its 918 Spyder at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show (IAA). Billed as the "genetic blueprint for the Porsche sports car of the future," the plug-in hybrid super sports car is designed to strike a balance between performance and efficiency, boasting acceleration of 0 to 100 km/h (0 to 62 mph) in 2.8 seconds and a top speed of 211 mph despite miserly fuel consumption estimated at 3 liters per 100 km (0.8 gallons per 62 miles)."

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The Next Space Shuttle: Hybrid Engines Make Runway-To-Orbit Missions A Reality | Popular Science

The Next Space Shuttle: Hybrid Engines Make Runway-To-Orbit Missions A Reality | Popular Science: "A disembodied jet engine, attached to a hulking air vent, sits in an outdoor test facility at the Culham Science Center in Oxfordshire, England. When the engine screams to life, columns of steam billow from the vent, giving the impression of an industrial smokestack. Engineer Alan Bond sees something more futuristic. “We’re looking at a revolution in transportation,” he says. For Bond, the engine represents the beginning of the world’s first fully reusable spaceship, a new kind of craft that promises to do what no space-faring vehicle ever has: offer reliable, affordable, and regular round-trip access to low Earth orbit."

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McLaren's P1 gets tested under the broiler in southern US states

McLaren's P1 gets tested under the broiler in southern US states: "McLaren’s P1 has already proven itself in Arctic exercises, but more recently it was the job of California, Nevada and Arizona to gang up on the supercar as part of an extreme heat testing scenario. The P1, which McLaren is set to begin delivering in a few weeks, appears to have remained undaunted as temperatures hit record highs of 116ºF (52ºC) during test runs in its new, undisguised finish."

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Scramspace scramjet arrives in Norway for test flight

Scramspace scramjet arrives in Norway for test flight: "A revolutionary jet engine capable of operating at eight times the speed of sound has arrived in Norway. Designed and built in Brisbane, Australia by the University of Queensland (UQ), the Scramspace is a hypersonic scramjet that will be fired by rocket in the Arctic Circle, where it will very briefly fly fast enough to travel from London to Australia in two hours. It’s part of a project to develop hypersonic technology that may one day be used to put payloads into orbit at a much lower cost than is possible today."

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Castrol Rocket prepares for motorcycle land speed record bid

Castrol Rocket prepares for motorcycle land speed record bid: "All of the two-wheeled machines that have held the motorcycle land speed record over the past few decades have one thing in common – they don't look like motorcycles. The latest speedster to step up to the plate is no exception. The Castrol Rocket is a 1,000-hp jet without wings that's been undergoing testing at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah in preparation for a shot at the title of world's fastest motorcycle."

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The Yacht-inspired Caravisio camper concept

The Yacht-inspired Caravisio camper concept: "Citing declining caravan numbers in Europe, German manufacturer Knaus Tabbert decided to rethink camper design, creating what it calls "the caravan of the future." The Caravisio design study draws its inspiration from the water as well as the future, pulling some yacht-like elements onto the streets."

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Aeroscraft begins flight testing following FAA certification

Aeroscraft begins flight testing following FAA certification: "After a 70-year absence, it appears that a new rigid frame airship will soon be taking to the skies over California. Aeros Corporation, a company based near San Diego, has received experimental airworthiness certification from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to begin flight testing the Aeroscraft airship, and it appears that the company has wasted no time getting started"

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SpaceShipTwo sets new altitude, speed record

SpaceShipTwo sets new altitude, speed record: "Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo (SS2) broke its own speed and altitude records on Thursday as it successfully completed its second rocket-powered, supersonic flight. At 8:00 AM PDT, SS2 took off slung beneath the WhiteKnightTwo (WK2) carrier aircraft from Virgin Galactic’s Mojave Air and Space Port in Mojave, California. According to the company, the tourism spacecraft went through its full technical mission profile in a single flight for the first time, including the deployment of its “feathering” re-entry mechanism at high altitude."

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The Goods: September 2013's Hottest Gadgets | Popular Science

The Goods: September 2013's Hottest Gadgets | Popular Science: "Even a perfectly crafted paper airplane will fly only so far for so long. With the PowerUp conversion kit—an electric motor and combination propeller-rudder—a paper plane can soar for up to 10 minutes. Users control the craft by tilting a Bluetooth-connected iPhone. $50"

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The Goods: September 2013's Hottest Gadgets | Popular Science

The Goods: September 2013's Hottest Gadgets | Popular Science: "The Satechi bottle top converts any water bottle into a humidifier. Powered via USB, the 2.5-ounce device contains a transducer that vibrates at an ultrasonic frequency to turn water into vapor. $30"

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JetBlue scores FAA approval for Fly-Fi, may launch satellite WiFi next month

JetBlue scores FAA approval for Fly-Fi, may launch satellite WiFi next month: "JetBlue's next-generation WiFi service, powered by ViaSat's super-speedy Ka-band satellite, is officially on track to launch this October. The FAA just issued a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) for the airline's Airbus A320, enabling a fleet-wide installation that's set to begin immediately. In a statement, Chief Commercial Officer Robin Hayes said that several aircraft will be wired by the end of this year, with many A320s scheduled to come online throughout 2014. The rollout will then continue with JetBlue's smaller Embraer 190, currently used on select regional routes."

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Pocket : Hubble telescope spots 'cosmic caterpillar' that's six TRILLION miles long, formed by harsh winds from some of our hottest stars

Pocket : Hubble telescope spots 'cosmic caterpillar' that's six TRILLION miles long, formed by harsh winds from some of our hottest stars: "The protostar is located 4,500 light-years away in the constellation Cygnus
It is currently collecting material from an envelope of gas surrounding it
The gas, however, is also being eroded by surrounding stellar radiation"

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