Researchers halve machines' fuel consumption, by turning them into hybrids

Researchers halve machines' fuel consumption, by turning them into hybrids: Many hybrid cars feature regenerative braking - they harness the energy generated when they brake, and store it in the battery for later use. This helps maximize the amount of time that the car can run on one charge.

Detecting and controlling seizures with brain implants

Detecting and controlling seizures with brain implants: In the future, people who are prone to seizures may get an array of electrodes implanted in their brains. These electrodes would be capable of detecting the onset of a seizure, and then releasing medication to prevent it from happening. While it might sound far-fetched, scientists at the University of Pittsburgh have already demonstrated the technology on lab rats.

Microsoft previews “touch-optimized” Windows 8 operating system

Microsoft previews “touch-optimized” Windows 8 operating system: With Apple bringing a few user interface elements found in its iOS mobile operating system to its upcoming OS X Lion desktop operating system, Microsoft is taking a similar tack for its Windows 8 OS.

The go anywhere Aqua hybrid hovercraft concept

The go anywhere Aqua hybrid hovercraft concept: This futuristic, zero emissions hovercraft concept won't be gracing our wilderness zones any time soon but it definitely merits a mention. Dubbed the "Aqua Volkswagen," the concept was created by Zhang Yuhan, a 21 year old graduate in Industrial Design at Xihua University, China.

Ford produces the smallest motor in its history - three cylinder 1.0-Liter EcoBoost

Ford produces the smallest motor in its history - three cylinder 1.0-Liter EcoBoost: It's a sign of the times that Ford is gearing up to launch the smallest capacity engine, with less cylinders than any it has previously produced. The new 1.0-liter EcoBoost will be launched globally in all small Ford cars, and in addition to recognized technologies employed by Ford in its EcoBoost engines,

Google to acquire Motorola Mobility for US$12.5 billion

Google to acquire Motorola Mobility for US$12.5 billion: Google has announced today that it is going to purchase Motorola Mobility for a price of US$40 per share, which adds up to a total amount of US$12.5 billion. Taking Google's patent wars into account, Motorola's portfolio of 17,000 patents could have been an important factor behind the deal. According to a blog post by Google's CEO Larry Page, Motorola will be run as a separate business, while Android will remain an open platform.

New aquarium designed to put jellyfish on your desk

New aquarium designed to put jellyfish on your desk: Jellyfish are definitely fascinating creatures, that are almost hypnotizing to watch ... you could say, they're the lava lamps of the animal kingdom. Unfortunately for aquarists, however, they also can't be kept in a regular aquarium, as they'll get sucked into the water filtration intakes.

OPINION: Distracted driving - the insanity of public roads

OPINION: Distracted driving - the insanity of public roads: The distracted driving epidemic seems to know no bounds. With global road deaths set to exceed 1.5 million human beings in 2011, almost every country in the world continues to accept the mayhem on the roads as the cost of doing business.

Schluckspecht EV travels a world record 1,000 miles+ on a single charge

Schluckspecht EV travels a world record 1,000 miles+ on a single charge: The "Schluckspecht E" electric vehicle built by a team at the University of Applied Sciences in Offenberg, Germany has broken the world record for the longest distance traveled on a single charge.

New fixed brake caliper saves 1.5 kilos per wheel

New fixed brake caliper saves 1.5 kilos per wheel: Continental is best known for its tires, but its latest product could help to significantly improve the handling of the family sedan when it is shown for the first time at Frankfurt Motor Show next month. It's a new fixed-type brake caliper for passenger cars, and in comparison to the fist-caliper brakes widely used at present, the new design saves around 1.5 kg per wheel - a large lump of unsprung weight that makes the suspension's job much harder than it need be.

Cool stuff to do with your Kindle

Cool stuff to do with your Kindle: "Reading books from Amazon is what most people use the Kindle for, what many people don’t know is all the other really cool things that you can use your Kindle for."

Do you need a Kindle

Do you need a Kindle: "There has been much talk in the news lately about e readers. If you don’t have one you have probably been thinking about if you need one.If you’re in this group and trying to decide which reader to get, the Kindle is the e reader that you want."

The Phantom v1610 camera shoots videos at 1,000,000 fps

The Phantom v1610 camera shoots videos at 1,000,000 fps: "Vision Research has revealed the latest addition to its line of digital high-speed cameras, in the form of the Phantom v1610. It shoots videos at an impressive speed of 16,000 fps, at a resolution of 1280 x 800."

Proposed 'fluid flow cloak' might greatly reduce ships' hydrodynamic drag

Proposed 'fluid flow cloak' might greatly reduce ships' hydrodynamic drag: "North Carolina's Duke University has been grabbing some headlines over the past few years, due to research carried out there involving the use of metamaterials for creating functioning invisibility cloaks."

Air Swimmers give a new meaning to 'flying fish'

Air Swimmers give a new meaning to 'flying fish': "Should someone tell you 'Last night, I saw a great white shark swimming through my living room,' don't assume that they're crazy. It could be that what they saw was an Air Swimmer."

M55 announces availability of (very expensive) Terminus hybrid bike

M55 announces availability of (very expensive) Terminus hybrid bike: "Late last year, we brought news of the development of a very exclusive hand-built, luxury human-electric bike from Hungary dubbed the Beast."

Skin-mounted electronics that can be applied and worn like a temporary tattoo

Skin-mounted electronics that can be applied and worn like a temporary tattoo: "Wearable electronics generally take the form of clothing embedded with electronics or miniature electronic devices that can be worn close to the body for purposes such as medical monitoring and communications."

Lotus Evora S joins Italian Carabinieri

Lotus Evora S joins Italian Carabinieri: "There have been a number of contenders for the title of world's coolest police car featured on gizmag over the years, among them a number of Lotus models. This time the British marque is venturing away from home soil and into the heart of sportscar land where it will join the Italian Carabinieri."

Genetically-engineered spider silk could be used in gene therapy

Genetically-engineered spider silk could be used in gene therapy: "Spider silk is pretty amazing stuff. Pound for pound, it has a tensile strength close to that of steel while being one-fifth as dense, it's tougher than Kevlar, and it can stretch to almost one-and-a-half times its length without breaking. As if that wasn't enough, it now appears that a genetically engineered version of the substance could be used for delivering genes into human cells."

Braincar records and replays its travels

Braincar records and replays its travels: "Have you ever questioned what it would be like if a car 'could experience with a kind of consciousness its own passage through spacetime'? Well, Rotterdam artist Olaf Mooij has. It drove him to create 'braincar,' which is ... well, it's a car with a brain on the back. By day, the car captures stills and videos of its travels down the roads"

China's other aircraft carrier is a hotel

China's other aircraft carrier is a hotel: "After the fall of the Soviet Union in the early 90's three of its most powerful aircraft carriers sat rotting in a Kiev dock. With disputes over ownership and no money or crew to maintain them, the ships were eventually stripped of their weapons systems and engines by the Ukraine and one was sold to a Hong Kong based company"

Night Rod Special - cream of the 2012 Harley-Davidsons

Night Rod Special - cream of the 2012 Harley-Davidsons: "Harley-Davidson is an American success story. The company has been manufacturing its iconic machines since 1903 but its values were forged by association with the post-war 'rebel' motorcycle clubs and paradoxically with the highway patrol police they were so often in conflict with."

Falcon Hypersonic Technology Vehicle-2 crashes on second test flight

Falcon Hypersonic Technology Vehicle-2 crashes on second test flight: "On Thursday, DARPA's unmanned Falcon Hypersonic Technology Vehicle-2 (HTV-2) was launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California aboard an Air Force Minotaur IV rocket, which inserted the aircraft into the desired trajectory."