Dell has announced that its popular netbook, the
Mini 10, has been given a fresh new look and some performance
enhancement options. Most of the features outlined when we first covered the release
of the Dell Mini 10 earlier this year will remain, but now some of the
promised optional features have been officially announced. Highlights
include improved battery life, a smudge resistant palm rest, internal TV
tuner, increased disk space and the choice to go HD. Read More
If one rotor is good, four must be better. That’s
the general idea behind the CyberQuad, a small unmanned aerial vehicle
(UAV) from Cyber Technology. The CyberQuad is an electric,
remote-controlled reconnaissance platform that features four ducted
rotors to provide lift and maneuverability, allowing the remote-control
UAV to be used in urban and enclosed environments. The four rotors give
the CyberQuad the payload capacity and stability of a helicopter-type
UAV, while the ducted design avoids the dangers associated with exposed
propellers. Read More
The golden ratio describes a rectangle with a
length roughly one and a half times its width. Also known as the golden
section, golden mean and divine proportion, among other names, it has
intrigued mathematicians and artists alike for centuries. The Egyptians
supposedly used it to guide the construction the Pyramids, the
architecture of ancient Athens is thought to have been based on it, and
many artists have fashioned their works around it. This includes
Leonardo da Vinci, who used it in the Mona Lisa and the Vitruvian Man.
Now a Duke University scientist believes he has figured out the secret
behind the golden ratio’s popularity – and it’s all down to evolution.
Read More
Mobile MaxPure solar filters bring pure water to refugees
By Jeff Salton
December 22, 2009
Recently we reported on Marines and their deployment of GREENS solar-power
for technological devices on the battlefield. World Water and Solar
Technologies (WWST) has also placed solar-powered water purification
units throughout the world including war-torn Darfur, Sudan. Working
with the Humanitarian International Services Group (HISG), two
high-volume Mobile Max Pure (MMP) water filters have been installed that
use the sun for their power. Placed in a carefully selected location
where it could do the most good, each unit can generate up to 3.5kW of
solar electric power and provide 30,000 gallons of clean drinking water
for the many thousands of displaced civilians. Read More
If you have a love for quirky gadgets you might
appreciate this toaster concept from designer Othmar Mühlebach. The
‘Printing Your Toast’ design looks like a mini desktop printer – and
just like paper, a stack of sliced bread goes into the feeder at the
top. Once it has printed…I mean…toasted - it falls onto a plate at the
bottom. Read More
Silica nanoparticles make wool even more wonderful
By Darren Quick
December 22, 2009
Already regarded as a “wonder fabric” for its
lightness, softness, warmth even when wet, and other qualities,
scientists from China say they have been able to improve on the natural
properties of wool. They say their discovery could give wool a “brain,”
placing it among other “smart” fabrics that shake off wrinkles,
shrinkage and “breathe” to release perspiration. Read More
It may be a great form of exercise, but running
is a high impact pursuit that places great strain on muscles and
tendons. The stress it places on the body forces many runners to hang up
their shoes and seek alternative, lower impact forms of exercise.
Looking to take the pain out of running, a Swiss engineer set about
creating a shoe that enabled the runner to land as soft as if running on
sand, and to push off as if running in track shoes. The result is the
the On Running Shoe – a shoe that incorporates a unique rubber ring into
the sole design to provide a soft landing, while offering firmness and
stability on push off. Read More
Oblo didactic puzzle: good fun or just an exercise in frustration?
By Jude Garvey
December 22, 2009
Why are we humans so obsessed with games
and puzzles? Oh that’s right – they’re fun, often challenging and can
entertain you for hours. Here’s an interesting puzzle concept that might
entertain the youngsters - the Oblo didactic puzzle. It’s an intriguing
three-dimensional puzzle that requires the user to find exactly the
right extracting position in order to move to the next level. Will it be
fun or just frustrating? Read More
Weapons manufacturer FN Herstal has created a
"Black Box" that detects, discriminates, counts shots, measures burst
rates and burst lengths, records firing sequences and detects stoppages
due to failures to cycle. Designed to fit any weapon type, the molded FN
Black Box improves maintenance processes and can deliver critical
information to mission commanders including, when coupled to a GPS, ID
and location data. Read More
Scientists from Sandia National Laboratories have
developed tiny, glitter-sized photovoltaic cells that are ten times
thinner than conventional solar cells and could one day be used in a
variety of applications – from satellites and remote-sensing, to tents
and perhaps even clothing. Yep, these cells could turn the average Joe
into a walking solar-battery charger. Read More
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