Northrop Grumman tests new laser weapon

Northrop Grumman tests new laser weapon: "Practical laser weapons came another step closer to reality recently as defense contractor Northrop Grumman tested the latest version of its Firestrike solid-state lasers. On May 1st, the company announced that it had completed trials at its Redondo Beach laboratory of a more powerful and rugged generation of its slab lasers, that combine with improved sensor capacities to create a general laser component that can provide the military with a wide range of greatly enhanced defensive and offensive laser capabilities."

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NASA’s Dawn spacecraft unlocks secrets of giant asteroid

NASA’s Dawn spacecraft unlocks secrets of giant asteroid: "After becoming the first probe to enter orbit around an object in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter in July 2011, NASA’s Dawn spacecraft has spent the last 10 months orbiting said object - the giant asteroid Vesta. During that period it has captured more than 20,000 images of Vesta and a multitude of data from different wavelengths of radiation. What it reveals is an asteroid that in many ways shares more in common with a small planet or Earth’s moon than it does with another asteroid."

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Earth from Space: A 121 Megapixel Peek at Our Planet [Video] - How-To Geek

Earth from Space: A 121 Megapixel Peek at Our Planet [Video] - How-To Geek: "This beautiful video was created using 121 megapixel images of the Earth’s surface–to date, the highest resolution images available."

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60,000 Dominoes Come Crashing Down [Video] - How-To Geek

60,000 Dominoes Come Crashing Down [Video] - How-To Geek: "If you love watching a good Domino construction come crashing down but you just don’t have the time for a long video, you can watch 60,000 come crashing down in seconds here"

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Keychain alternatives for the fingernail-less

Keychain alternatives for the fingernail-less: "The keyring is a true nemesis for those of us with short nails - such a simple contraption capable of bringing such deep frustration and resentment. Two innovative redesigns improve upon the traditional keyring, making keys easy to organize for all. The Freekey lets you pop it open with a push and the Carabiner Key gets rid of it completely."

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Nike Pro TurboSpeed is a golf ball-inspired track uniform with dimples

Nike Pro TurboSpeed is a golf ball-inspired track uniform with dimples: "The Nike Pro TurboSpeed is, as the name vividly suggests, a track uniform that is designed to give professional athletes an advantage over their rivals. Through the clever use of aerodynamic techniques more commonly found on golf balls, the company has found a way to shave milliseconds off a sprinter's time. Or at least that's the bold claim Nike is making."

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NASA Observatory records 20 million-mph winds off stellar-mass black hole

NASA Observatory records 20 million-mph winds off stellar-mass black hole: "NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory has recorded ultra-fast 20 million mph (32 million km/h) winds roaring from a gas disk around the stellar-mass black hole IGR J17091-3624. The wind speeds are a record, a factor of ten greater than any previously recorded, for a black hole of this kind. It is hoped the surprise discovery will shed new light on the behavior of stellar-mass black holes."

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U.S. Army develops “Kevlar underpants” to protect soldiers' nether regions

U.S. Army develops “Kevlar underpants” to protect soldiers' nether regions: "When it comes to the many "life-changing" injuries that can result from an IED blast, the loss of a limb is probably the first one that springs to mind. But injuries to the pelvic region that leave soldiers with the inability to have children can obviously be just as devastating. That's why the U.S. Army has developed a Pelvic Protection System - dubbed "Kevlar boxers" or "combat underpants" by some soldiers - to protect dismounted soldiers patrolling Afghanistan roads."

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NHK balloon camera aims to make bird's-eye shots easy

NHK balloon camera aims to make bird's-eye shots easy: "For those who dream of one day shooting aerial footage without the bulky cranes and cables to hold everything aloft, Japan's NHK may have just the thing: a tethered, balloon-mounted, four-axis gyro-stabilized camera rig that weighs in at about 2 kg (4.4 lb), can soar up to 300 m (984 ft) and takes its commands from the re-purposed remote control for a toy helicopter."

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Japanese company plans to have space elevator "up" and running by 2050

Japanese company plans to have space elevator "up" and running by 2050: "A Japanese company is looking to take elevators to new heights. The Daily Yomiuri reports that Tokyo-based construction company Obayashi Corp. hopes to have a space elevator operational by 2050, carrying passengers and cargo in a vehicle that travels along a ribbon made of carbon nanotubes extending a quarter of the way to the moon."

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Opel Mokka SUV integrates bike rack into the bumper

Opel Mokka SUV integrates bike rack into the bumper: "In a world where every automaker has or wants to have at least one crossover or SUV, sometimes they have to do something a little extra to set their model apart from the pack. Bentley's EXP 9 F does it with its signature interior; Lamborghini's Urus concept does it with its supercar styling and hot red paint; and Opel does it with an innovative accessory - a bike carrier that's integrated into the bumper. Opel claims it's the only car maker to offer a fully integrated bicycle carrier that is always on board."

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Portable fuel cell uses butane to charge gadgets

Portable fuel cell uses butane to charge gadgets: "In a deal announced this week, American high-end retailer Brookstone will become the first seller of a portable fuel cell made by MIT spin-off company Lilliputian Systems Inc (LSI). Described as a “plug-less charger,” it will allow users to recharge their electronic devices’ batteries wherever they are – as long as they’ve stocked up on butane."

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