Energy-efficient LEAPrus 3912 hotel isn't for the faint-hearted

Energy-efficient LEAPrus 3912 hotel isn't for the faint-hearted: "Italian architects LEAPfactory recently constructed a new energy-efficient hotel on the southern glacier of Mount Elbrus, in Russia's Caucasus mountain range. Generally considered the highest peak in Europe, Mount Elbrus has a summit of 5,642 m (18,510 ft). The hotel in question is located 3,912 m (12,834 ft) above sea level, hence its name: LEAPrus 3912."

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Carbyne: The new world's strongest material?

Carbyne: The new world's strongest material?: "Researchers at Rice University have used a computer simulation to calculate that carbyne, a monodimensional chain of carbon atoms, is twice as strong as carbon nanotubes and three times stiffer than diamond. If their findings are correct and the challenges posed by manufacturing it can be overcome, then carbyne could prove an incredibly useful material for a wide range of applications."

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Jessi Combs breaks 48-year old land speed record

Jessi Combs breaks 48-year old land speed record: "Back in 1965, Lee Breedlove set the women's land speed record on Utah’s Salt Lake Flats with an average speed of 308.51 mph (496.49 km/h) over four runs. That record stood for 48 years until this month, when Jessi Combs smashed it in her 52,000 hp North American Eagle Supersonic Speed Challenger with a speed of 392.954 mph (632.39 km/h)."

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We chatted with Siri, for real, and weren't frustrated with her answers (Q&A) | Apple - CNET News

We chatted with Siri, for real, and weren't frustrated with her answers (Q&A) | Apple - CNET News: "Susan Bennett has done voice-over for airlines, TV, and radio ads. But none of that compares to being the voice behind Siri, a product loved and hated by millions. CNET chatted with her about being Apple's personal iPhone assistant."

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Spin Chill turns beverages cold in 60 seconds

Spin Chill turns beverages cold in 60 seconds: "Since the earliest days of brewing beer and making wine, the search has been on for an easy, affordable method of chilling drinks quickly without diluting them in the process. Florida-based start-up Spin Chill claims to have a solution to this vexing problem with a portable device that (literally) turns beverages ice cold in 60 seconds."

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How Money Is Made - Making of the New Hundred Dollar Bill - Esquire

How Money Is Made - Making of the New Hundred Dollar Bill - Esquire: "Unless you're more of a player than we think you are, that new hundred-dollar bill coming this fall won't wind up in your pocket very often. But it may be America's most popular export, the most coveted bill in the world. And the story of the new hundred — still made by hand with ancient tools — is the story of American money itself. "

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New “Magic Number” inside Atoms Discovered: Scientific American

New “Magic Number” inside Atoms Discovered: Scientific American: "“Magic numbers” of protons and neutrons can make an atomic nucleus exceptionally stable—and a new one has just been added to the existing menagerie that helps sketch a fuller picture of the complicated inner workings of atoms."

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LG announces mass production of flexible OLED phone displays

LG announces mass production of flexible OLED phone displays: "LG today announced that it is to start mass producing flexible OLED display panels for smartphones. The company says that its technology uses plastic substrates rather than glass, and claims that a protective film on the back of the display makes it "unbreakable" as well as bendable."

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ARGO 8x8 XTI tackles the toughest lands (and waters) on Earth

ARGO 8x8 XTI tackles the toughest lands (and waters) on Earth: "Many vehicles claim to be "all terrain," but few of them can match the all-out, rove-over-anything capabilities of ARGO's line of 6x6s and 8x8s. The latest member of the amphibious family is the 8x8 XTI, a vehicle designed to reach the most remote worksites on Earth"

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Mayan calendar and why the world didn't end

Mayan calendar and why the world didn't end: "Will Dec. 21 2012 be the end of the world? We have made it, the end of the world didn't come on that day. There have been a lot of discussion on this topic. There were a lot of end of the world predictions and arguments saying that the world was going to end on Dec 21. What is the basis for these predictions?"

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Stand-alone earbud player puts the bite on music

Stand-alone earbud player puts the bite on music: "Want to listen to music in public but not be obvious about it? Until someone figures out how to make music play in your head, the next best thing might be Split. Developed by Greenwing Audio in Miami Beach. Florida, Split is a music player set in a pair of wireless, synchronized earbuds that are controlled by biting. Still under development, its the focus of a Kickstarter campaign running until October 31 to bring the player to market."

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World's first floating apartment build to commence in 2014

World's first floating apartment build to commence in 2014: "The Dutch are known for their ingenuity in taming it and using it to their advantage, but their systems for keeping water at bay are now being rethought by architect Koen Olthuis and his team at Waterstudio. While rising sea and river levels have inspired governments around the world to invest in better flood defenses, with the Citadel, Olthuis is embracing water-borne housing with particular vigor."

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