Bookmarks (1089)

A new wheeled robot is able to climb metal structures in a very clever and unique way – it uses an extendible tape-measure limb. Descendants of the bot may one day find use inspecting or even repairing things like towers, bridges, power stations and ships.Continue ReadingCategory: Robotics, TechnologyTags: UCLA, Climbing, Magnetic

John Lennon's 1964 Framus 5/024 Hootenanny famously played on the title track of The Beatles' 1965 album Help! – and believed lost for more than 50 years – is heading to auction next month, where it's expected to break records.Continue ReadingCategory: Music, TechnologyTags: Auction, Julien's Auctions, The Beatles, Guitar, Acoustics, Collecting

High-profile studio the Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) has revealed plans for an ambitious new timber college building that will combine cutting-edge engineered wood with traditional Japanese joinery techniques to create a striking-looking and sustainable place of learning.Continue ReadingCategory: Architecture, LifestyleTags: Building and Construction, Timber, cross-laminated timber, Bjarke Ingels Group

Back in 2022, the strange-looking prototype igus:bike rolled into the spotlight boasting an angular frame, funky wheels and even bearings made using recycled plastic. Now the newly-named RCYL bike is riding into production.Continue ReadingCategory: Bicycles, TransportTags: Mobility, Rugged, Plastics, Plastic waste, sustainable design

Much has been made of the global rise in antibiotic resistance and its impact on the delivery of effective treatment, with good reason. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that the misuse and overuse of antimicrobials, an umbrella term for medications that kill bacteria, parasites, viruses and fungi, is the main driver in the development of drug-resistant pathogens.Continue ReadingCategory: Medical, ScienceTags: Antibiotic, Antibiotic-resistant bacteria,...

Around 29 million people in the US take a daily dose of aspirin as a preventative measure for cardiovascular disease. And while an age-related increased risk of bleeding has seen it fall out of favor with medical authorities, it's now shaping up as something that might be even more beneficial in triggering the immune system to help take down certain cancers.Continue ReadingCategory: Medical, ScienceTags:...

Chinese auto manufacturer Dongfeng has shoveled some heavy marketing into its M-Hero 917, the big, brawny, quad-motor luxury SUV it launched domestically last year and recently introduced in Switzerland.Continue ReadingCategory: Automotive, TransportTags: SUV, Side-by-side, Off-road

AI trained on simple heart rate data can predict an episode of the most common heart rhythm disorder, atrial fibrillation, 30 minutes in advance, new research has shown. With plans for it to be incorporated into a smartphone so it can analyze data from a smartwatch, the model would act as an early warning system.Continue ReadingCategory: Medical, ScienceTags: Heart, Heart Rate Monitor, Deep Learning,...

Damaged nerve fibers (axons) in the peripheral nervous system can regenerate themselves, but complete functional recovery often doesn’t occur. That’s because the Schwann cells responsible for regeneration stop providing support after about three months. If the restoration of nerve function, called reinnervation, hasn’t happened in that time, the axonal injury often results in lifelong incomplete recovery and can lead to nerve or neuropathic pain.Continue...

An F-16 fighter plane running on artificial intelligence has engaged in the first-ever aerial dogfight exercise with a human-piloted counterpart. This is the first footage of the September mock fight, conducted as part of DARPA's Air Combat Evolution (ACE) program.Continue ReadingCategory: Military, TechnologyTags: Lockheed Martin, Artificial Intelligence, DARPA, Aircraft, US Air Force

Specially tagged "sentinel plants" could soon provide an early warning of crop problems such as insect damage or bacterial infection. These plants would utilize two "glowing" sensors that react to stress-related compounds in the leaves.Continue ReadingCategory: ScienceTags: MIT, Plants, Crops, Agriculture

Canada's Minimaliste previously impressed us with its Noyer and Noyer XL models, which offer luxurious small living in all weather, including extremes of hot and cold. The firm has now iterated on the Noyer line once again with a new and improved – and even larger – tiny house that offers lots of storage space and a roomy apartment-like layout.Continue ReadingCategory: Tiny Houses, LifestyleTags:...

German high-end bike maker Propain has added a "short-travel ripper for home trails and trail parks" to its eMTB range. The Sresh CF sports a Shimano mid-drive motor offering 600 watts of peak power, a lightweight blended carbon/fabric frame and a SRAM 12-speed drivetrain.Continue ReadingCategory: Bicycles, TransportTags: ebikes, Pedal-assisted, Mountain Bikes, Off-road

Last week, we discussed AI's incredible evolution in terms of its performance against humans. Almost across the board, AI has surpassed humans in a range of performance-based tasks, necessitating the development of new, more challenging benchmarks. Arguably, that degree of development could be classed as a 'good.' This follow-up article discusses the not-so-good that has resulted from AI's rapid evolution.Continue ReadingCategory: TechnologyTags: Artificial Intelligence,...

A newly described species of marine reptile could be the largest to ever swim the world’s oceans. The “giant fish lizard” lived more than 200 million years ago, and may give the blue whale a run for its money, size-wise.Continue ReadingCategory: Biology, ScienceTags: Dinosaurs, Fossils, Reptile, Marine, Marine Biology, World's Largest

British YouTuber James Bruton has plenty of experience with self-balancing technology and omnidirectional wheels, having already built a self-balancing bicycle using a sideways-mounted omni-wheel, as well as a heap of self-stabilizing robot projects.Continue ReadingCategory: Motorcycles, TransportTags: Omni-Directional, Motorcycle, YouTube, Inventors

BYD is the world’s largest EV producer. It produced 20% of the 10 million EVs sold globally last year, from Tesla (13%), Volkswagen (9%) and General Motors (6%) – those are all very rough figures for simplification purposes. For stats – go here.Continue ReadingCategory: Automotive, TransportTags: BYD, Supercar, Electric Vehicles, China

Construction is the world’s largest industry, employing seven percent of the planet's working-age adults, contributing 13 percent of the world’s GDP and completing floor space equivalent to the city of Paris every seven days.Continue ReadingCategory: Good Thinking, Lifestyle

Taking his "cue" from an old Tom and Jerry cartoon, YouTube content creator Alex Apollonov from the 'I Did A Thing' channel has created an explosive billiards stick. Then he played his friend in a game. What could go wrong?Continue ReadingCategory: LifestyleTags: Inventors, YouTube, Games, Oddball

Nestled amid the picturesque hills of Jutland, Denmark, the Heatherhill Beach House stands as a testament to the seamless integration of traditional Danish aesthetics with contemporary design elements. Conceived by Norm Architects, this holiday home boasts a green roof and calming central interior design concept, offering a serene coastal retreat.Continue ReadingCategory: Architecture, LifestyleTags: Green Roofs, Home, sustainable design

Multirotor drones may one day be able recharge their batteries while out and about, instead of having to return to a charging station. They could do so via onboard ultra-thin solar cells, which have already been successfully tested on a small quadcopter.Continue ReadingCategory: Drones, TechnologyTags: Johannes Kepler University Linz, Solar Cell, Charging

Microsoft Research Asia has revealed an AI model that can generate frighteningly realistic deepfake videos from a single still image and an audio track. How will we be able to trust what we see and hear online from here on in?Continue ReadingCategory: TechnologyTags: Microsoft, Artificial Intelligence, Video, Audio, Photo, Deepfakes

Following the launch of its first e-note last year, PocketBook has now added a color E Ink model. The 10.3-inch Eo is built around Kaleido 3 technology, and sports a built-in camera, octa-core processing and dual speakers.Continue ReadingCategory: Mobile Technology, TechnologyTags: E-Ink, Tablet, E-reader

The overall winners of the 2024 Sony World Photography Awards have been revealed. This year's selection of images showcases a sublime mixture of unspoiled landscapes, amazing animals, and extraordinary people going about their lives.Continue ReadingCategory: Photography, TechnologyTags: Sony World Photography Awards, Competition, Awards, Photographers

Australia's robotic submarine program is a year ahead of schedule as the government takes delivery of the first Ghost Shark Extra-Large Autonomous Undersea Vehicle (XL-AUV) prototype, with three more to follow next year.Continue ReadingCategory: Military, TechnologyTags: Submarine, Royal Australian Navy, Australia, Autonomous Vehicles, Robotics

Stanford University’s Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence (HAI) has released the seventh annual issue of its comprehensive AI Index report, written by an interdisciplinary team of academic and industrial experts.Continue ReadingCategory: TechnologyTags: Artificial Intelligence, LLM (Large Language Model), GPT, Open AI, Stanford University

Founded in 2007, when "van life" wasn't even a term, let alone an acceptable lifestyle choice, Portland's Outside Van has thoroughly sharpened its skills building personalized mobile dwellings for everyone from forward-looking weight watchers to bike-pedaling gamers. Now it feels the time right to take what it's learned over those hundreds of builds and channel it into a more over-the-counter-style camper van series available...

A new octopus-sucker-inspired suction cup could make it much easier and more energy-efficient for robots to lift and release rough-surfaced objects. The secret lies in using water to mimic octopus mucus.Continue ReadingCategory: ScienceTags: University of Bristol, Biomimicry

Penguins are fast, fantastic swimmers, so why not make an underwater robot inspired by them? That's just what German underwater tech company EvoLogics has done, with its new-and-improved Quadroin AUV (autonomous underwater vehicle).Continue ReadingCategory: Robotics, TechnologyTags: Underwater, Autonomous, Biomimicry

A perfect storm is brewing for China's most densely populated areas due to rising sea levels and subsiding land that has been accelerated beyond normal fluctuations. Scientists have sounded the alarm that, without intervention, urban areas below sea level could triple in size by 2120, impacting up to 128 million people.Continue ReadingCategory: Environment, ScienceTags: Climate Crisis, China, Infrastructure, Sustainability

Logitech has introduced new software that gives users of its peripherals easy access to ChatGPT. After matching the feature to a keyboard key or mouse button, the user can quickly tap into the power of GPT via preset or custom recipes.Continue ReadingCategory: Computers, TechnologyTags: Logitech, Mouse, Keyboard, Artificial Intelligence, GPT

Officials have given the thumbs up for a new tallest skyscraper in the United States – and it's not headed for New York City or Chicago as you might expect, but to a tornado-prone area with a population of only around 700,000 people: Oklahoma City.Continue ReadingCategory: Architecture, LifestyleTags: Building and Construction, Residential towers, Skyscrapers

Tech company Beaverlab has launched a Kickstarter to raise funds for a smart super-telephoto camera called the Excope DT1 that can be had with a 400-mm zoom lens, and works with a smartphone to capture distant imagery.Continue ReadingCategory: Mobile Technology, TechnologyTags: Cameras, smartphones, Photography, Video, Lenses, Kickstarter

The Arsenale’s latest offering is the Plan B: a lighweight, ultra-long-range, 2WD, low-power, hybrid gas/electric bike for wet, slippery, snowy or sandy conditions. With two failed indiegogo campaigns behind it as the 2X2 Ultrabike, it has reemerged at The Arsenale, a high end boutique for unique transportation solutions in Dubai.Continue ReadingCategory: Motorcycles, TransportTags: Electric Motorcycles, Off-road, Utility vehicles

The four spikes on a new nanocrystal developed in Spain spin up under light and move through liquid, blasting any bacteria unfortunate to be in their path. The development could spell trouble for bacteria that resists traditional drug treatments.Continue ReadingCategory: Medical, ScienceTags: Antibacterial, Antibiotic-resistant bacteria, Bacteria, Nanotechnology, Disease, Micro-organisms

Over the first half of the 20th century the world saw growing rates of heart disease mortality. From the 1920s to the 1960s more and more people were dying from heart attacks. It was described as an epidemic of heart disease. But in the mid-1960s heart disease mortality suddenly plateaued.Continue ReadingCategory: Health & Wellbeing, LifestyleTags: Coronavirus (COVID-19), Influenza, Heart Disease, Heart attack, Epidemiology

Scientists have caught a once-in-a-billion-years evolutionary event in progress, as two lifeforms have merged into one organism that boasts abilities its peers would envy. Last time this happened, Earth got plants.Continue ReadingCategory: Biology, ScienceTags: Life, Evolution, Bacteria, Algae, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Hydrogen-fueled combustion engines have slowly emerged in the mobility world, designed to run everything from race cars to pleasure boats. The latest hydrogen ICE to rumble to life was born with a special mission at its core: claim an all-out land speed record or two for the emerging hydrogen-combustion space. A team of students at the University of Bath have successfully gotten their first...

Boom has been given permission to go supersonic by the US FAA. The first-ever Special Flight Authorization (SFA) to Exceed Mach means the company's XB-1 prototype will be allowed to break the sound barrier during its test flights.Continue ReadingCategory: Aircraft, TransportTags: Boom, Supersonic

The tracking of squid and other soft-bodied sea creatures may soon be a lot more doable, thanks to a new bioadhesive interface. It's claimed to be much gentler than current attachment methods, while still remaining up to the task.Continue ReadingCategory: ScienceTags: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, MIT, Tracking

The SkyNest combines a hammock, bug mesh net and rainfly in a single package that can be used all together or in its separate components. It's claimed to be roomier than other hammock tents, and easier to set up.Continue ReadingCategory: Outdoors, LifestyleTags: Kickstarter, Tree tent, Hammocks, Camping

Boston Dynamics has unveiled a stronger, more agile, fully electric version of its Atlas humanoid robot. The kinda creepy-looking thing is already slated to enter use on Hyundai's automotive production line.Continue ReadingCategory: Robotics, TechnologyTags: Boston Dynamics, Humanoid, Electric

Back in January, researchers showed off the kitchen skills of an open-source Aloha housekeeping robot. Now the Unleashed project gets to grips with knotting shoelaces, hanging shirts and even repairing other robots.Continue ReadingCategory: Robotics, TechnologyTags: Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, Robots, Stanford University, Google DeepMind, Autonomous

The production of the cement used in concrete is a major contributor to worldwide CO2 emissions and since we're reliant on the stuff for our infrastructure, this is a serious problem. However, Nendo showcases an example of a greener way to build with its Block-Wall House, which was part-built using a novel concrete that actually captures CO2 instead of emitting it.Continue ReadingCategory: Architecture, LifestyleTags:...

One of the more fascinating start-ups we’ve seen in a long time is Oruga and it's rather unique single-track all-terrain-vehicle. Indeed, you will NOT have seen one of these before. There are three wheels with massive balloon tires inside a proprietary monotrack system, a big battery and an electric motor with oodles of grunt. The Oruga is designed for non-expert ease-of-use in very rugged...

After almost 10 years of often-jaw-dropping achievements, Boston Dynamics has said farewell to Atlas, the world’s most dynamic – and groundbreaking – humanoid robot.Continue ReadingCategory: Robotics, TechnologyTags: Boston Dynamics, Humanoid, Robots

NASA has given the green light for the nuclear-powered Dragonfly rotorcraft to explore Saturn's largest moon, Titan. Approval for the 2028 interplanetary mission comes after years of delay due to COVID-19 and a series of cost overruns.Continue ReadingCategory: Space, ScienceTags: NASA, Saturn, Titan, Helicopter

Eating a fatty, sugary Western diet (read: junk food) during the crucial years of brain development impairs memory long-term, new research has found. Caused by a reduction in a neurotransmitter associated with Alzheimer’s disease, the memory impairment wasn’t reversed by switching to a healthy diet in early adulthood.Continue ReadingCategory: ScienceTags: Diet, Brain, Memory, University of Southern California

Graphene is a bit like the Novak Djokovic of materials – it’s so damn talented that each new achievement feels passé. But now, an exciting new upstart is challenging graphene’s title. Meet goldene, a two-dimensional sheet of gold that has its own strange properties.Continue ReadingCategory: Materials, ScienceTags: Gold, Graphene, new material, Linkoping University, Semiconductors

Good news for anyone looking to become one of the first to park an all-new GMC Sierra EV in their driveways. General Motors announced today that the Sierra EV Denali Edition 1 will push well past the previously announced 400-mile range, putting it in position to battle its brother, the Chevy Silverado EV, for all-out electric pickup range supremacy. Despite that, it will actually...