Neutrons have a set of unique properties that
make them better suited than light, electrons, or x-rays for looking at
the physics and chemistry going on inside an object. Scientists working
out of MIT's Nuclear Reactor Laboratory have now invented and built a
high-resolution neutron microscope, a feat that required developing new
approaches to neutron optics. Read More
LulzBot TAZ 2 3D printer cuts the computer cord
October 20, 2013
Aleph Objects, Inc., maker of the TAZ 3D printer
through its LulzBot brand, has released the latest addition to its line
of Libre Hardware printers. While bearing a strong resemblance to its
predecessor that Gizmag reviewed
earlier this month, the TAZ 2 boasts some improvements designed to
solidify the printer’s structure and give it standalone functionality.
Read More
Swarming robot cleaner concept wins Design Lab 2013
October 20, 2013
Fancy coming home to find a swarm of flying mini
robots doing your cleaning? That's the futuristic picture of domestic
bliss envisioned by young Colombian designer Adrian Perez Zapata, whose
Mab concept has trumped over 1,700 entries from 60 countries to win this
year's Electrolux Design Lab competition. Here's a look at Mab and the other seven finalists for 2013. Read More
Windows 8 wasn't the greatest success for
Microsoft, but the much anticipated update, Windows 8.1, is now
available either electronically or through traditional physical discs in
retail outlets. Here's a look at how to get your Windows 8 system ready
and the process of upgrading to Windows 8.1 through the electronic
update now available in the Windows Store. Read More
When IBM’s Watson supercomputer took on two human champions of the television quiz show Jeopardy
and won, it was hailed as a breakthrough in machine intelligence. Now
in an effort to expand the practical applications for the "world’s
smartest computer," IBM Research and has taken the wraps off two new
projects aimed at the medical community. Read More
As cameras all around them have gained built-in
wireless capabilities, Nikon DSLRs have begun to feel strangely dated
with their need for an additional Wi-Fi adapter to keep up with their
wireless sharing and remote shooting counterparts. But with the freshly
announced D5300, Nikon has finally revealed its first DSLR with built-in
Wi-Fi and GPS. Read More
Panasonic outs tiny Lumix GM1 interchangeable lens camera
By Simon Crisp
October 19, 2013
Over the past couple of years we've seen camera
manufacturers trying to strike the right balance between image quality
and camera size, by fitting ever larger sensors
in ever smaller cameras. The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM1 is a mirrorless
interchangeable lens camera which continues this trend, by somehow
squeezing a Micro Four Thirds sensor into a body which is smaller than
many compact cameras. Read More
ESA's prototype ExoMars rover completes testing in Chile
By David Szondy
October 18, 2013
ESA’s Sample Acquisition Field Experiment with a Rover
(SAFER) has completed six “Martian days” of tests roaming Chile’s
Atacama Desert. Nicknamed "Bridget," the prototype of the space agency’s
ExoMars rover is part of a program to gain experience in building and
operating planetary rovers in anticipation of the 2018 ESA Mars mission.
Read More
What to expect from Apple's iPad 5 and iPad mini 2 event
October 18, 2013
It's been about a year since Apple revealed new iPads.
That can only mean one thing. This Tuesday, Tim Cook, Phil Schiller and
friends will take the stage to reveal the latest versions of the
company's market-leading tablet. But what exactly will we see? And what
other surprises might be in store? Join Gizmag, as we break down the
rumors leading up to Tuesday's Apple event. Read More
Are you sure that the
chicken you just bought has been kept cool from the time it left the
plant to the moment you stuck it in your shopping cart? Well, you could
be if it had one of Thinfilm Electronics' Smart Sensor Labels on the
packaging. Read More
Infinity Seat may look minimal, but it's said to be comfy
By Ben Coxworth
October 21, 2013
Of all the complaints that cyclists have about
cycling, butt pain/numbness has got to be the biggest. While it's become
very common to see bike saddles with a cut-out section in the middle,
that's more for relieving pressure specifically on the crotch area (you
know what I'm talking about). California chiropractor and triathlete
Vincent Marcel, however, has extended that cut-out to include almost the
entire inside of the saddle. The result, his Infinity Seat, is said to
be very easy on the bum indeed. Read More
Are you sure that the
chicken you just bought has been kept cool from the time it left the
plant to the moment you stuck it in your shopping cart? Well, you could
be if it had one of Thinfilm Electronics' Smart Sensor Labels on the
packaging. Read More
Of all the things that we regularly dispose of,
you would think that shoes would be one of the most difficult to
recycle. Not only are well-used shoes kind of ... gross, but
they're also made of a variety of different materials, all of which are
joined together. Nonetheless, scientists at Loughborough University in
the UK announced last week that they have created and trialled "the
world’s first comprehensive system for separating and recovering useful
materials from old footwear." Read More
Toyota details its Automated Highway Driving Assist system
By C.C. Weiss
October 21, 2013
The race to the car that drives itself continues
to heat up. Automakers around the world are eager to tease their latest
autonomous capabilities. Most recently, we've seen a self-parking system
from Volvo and a glimpse at Nissan's plans.
Last week, Toyota became the latest automaker to show its hand,
providing a look at its Automated Highway Driving Assist, a feature that
should be available within the next two or three years. Read More
Nissan shows its latest ZEOD RC electric race car prototype in Japan
By C.C. Weiss
October 21, 2013
"From zero to ZEOD in 33 weeks" – that's how long
it took Nissan to develop the newest version of its Zero Emissions on
Demand race car. Following the debut of the initial prototype show car at June's 24 Hours of Le Mans, Nissan has revealed the latest evolution in Japan, reiterating its intentions of racing it at next year's Le Mans event. Read More
A new research robot was unveiled today by
Unbounded Robotics that has a good chance of infiltrating robotics labs
around the world. Unbounded Robotics' founding members hail from Willow
Garage, where they helped to develop the PR2 (a robot famous for
performing everyday tasks like folding laundry). The problem with the
PR2 was its hefty price tag; at US$400,000, it was simply out of reach
of most university labs. Unbounded Robotics' UBR-1 is essentially a PR2
"lite", and at $35,000 it won't break the bank. Read More
Starpath spray-on coating lights up the road
October 21, 2013
UK company Pro-Teq has developed a new
water-resistant, spray-on coating that absorbs UV light during the day
and releases it at night, adapting to the lighting conditions in its
surroundings. The technology is being given a test run at the Christ's
Pieces park in Cambridge, and could prove a cost effective alternative
to conventional street lighting. Read More
Sony details α7 Series full-frame mirrorless cameras
By Paul Ridden
October 21, 2013
Mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras offer
consumers DSLR-like performance in a much less bulky package, but
prothusiasts looking for something bigger than an APS-C
sensor may still have to lug around a larger and heavier camera. The
playing field is changing though. Panasonic has managed to squeeze a
Micro Four Thirds sensor into a body that's smaller than many compact
cameras for its new GM1,
and now Sony's upped the ante even further. The Alpha 7 and 7R are
claimed to be the world's first 35 mm full-frame mirrorless cameras.
Read More
I've traveled all the way to Poland specifically
to check out one of the world's most unique hotels. Half luxury
accommodation, half art installation, Blow Up Hall 5050 is the singular
vision of Poland's richest woman. As soon as you step into the lobby,
you become part of a giant digital artwork that sets the tone for a
strange and wonderful luxury experience. Your door key is an iPhone,
there's no room numbers, cameras and screens constantly capture, chop up
and spit out your image as you walk through disorienting hallways, and
no two rooms are the same. It's quite an experience ... if you can get
past the square toilets. Read More
3D-printed titanium horseshoes could win by a nose
By David Szondy
October 20, 2013
Australia's Commonwealth Scientific and
Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) has created a set of bespoke
titanium horseshoes for a Melbourne race horse using additive 3D
printing. According to CSIRO, this is a first for horse racing and
demonstrates the potential for the technology. Read More
A team of researchers at Imperial College London
has found that attaching an array of cylindrical aluminum studs on top
of a solar cell can dramatically improve the amount of light trapped
inside its absorbing layer, leading to electrical current gains as high
as 22 percent. Read More
At its Ideas Summit in New York, Google has
announced that it is working on developing a browser extension that will
act as an easy-to-use way to bypass country-specific Internet
censorship and make connections safer and more private. Read More
Review: The QuNeo 3D Multi-Touch Pad Controller
October 22, 2013
Musicians are spoilt for choice when it comes to
MIDI controllers, but the QuNeo 3D Multi-Touch Pad Controller from Keith
McMillen offers a new take on a familiar form, boasting a mix of
pressure-sensitive touch sliders, velocity-sensitive pads, and 251
programmable LED lights – all in a package that's the same size as an
iPad. Gizmag puts it through its paces. Read More
ESA announced on Monday that its Gravity field
and steady-state Ocean Circulation Explorer (GOCE) has ended its
extended mission to map the Earth’s gravitational field. Orbiting the
Earth at an altitude of 224 km (139 mi), the unmanned probe, known as
the “Ferrari of space” because of its streamlined shape, has run out of
fuel for the ion engine that kept it in orbit and is expected to reenter
the Earth’s atmosphere within two weeks. Read More
Panasonic and Tokyo Gas have continued joint development of their "Ene-Farm" home fuel cell unit,
which became the world's first commercialized fuel cell system targeted
at household heating and electricity generation when it went on sale in
Japan in May 2009. The latest model is aimed at use in condominiums and
features a number of modifications to ensure the units meet the more
stringent installation standards placed on those buildings. Read More
One of the quieter debuts at last month's
Frankfurt Motor Show was also one of the more interesting. The InEco
electric car, developed at the Dresden University of Technology's
Institute of Lightweight Engineering and Polymer Technology, combines an
innovative mix of materials to keep its weight down to under a ton and
allow it to get the most out of its small electric powertrain. Read More
UK customer becomes first to take delivery of McLaren P1
By David Szondy
October 21, 2013
We've been following the McLaren P1’s journey from concept through extreme testing
to production. Now the car maker has released the performance specs of
the hybrid-engine supercar along with the announcement that a UK-based
customer has become the first to take delivery of a P1 that rolled off
the production line at the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking, England
at the end of September. Read More
Current hair transplantation techniques
essentially rob Peter to pay Paul, redistributing hair, usually from the
back of the head, to the balding area. However, according to Angela M.
Christiano from Columbia University Medical Center, about 90 percent of
women with hair loss are not strong candidates for hair transplantation
surgery because of insufficient donor hair. A new technique developed by
Dr Christiano and colleagues that generates new human hair growth from a
patient's own cells could make transplantation feasible for such women,
as well as men in the early stages of baldness. Read More
The Microsoft Surface
has been, by just about any measure, a commercial flop. When your
company writes off US$900 million in unsold stock, well, that writing is
on the wall. But that doesn't mean the first-generation Surface and
Surface Pro haven't made some customers very happy. If you're part of
that, ahem, "elite" group, or think you might be sometime soon,
do you spring for the Surface 2 or the Surface Pro 2? Join Gizmag, as
we compare Microsoft's second round of hybrid tablets. Read More
Since it launched in 2011, the Robot House at the
Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc) has challenged
students to create material forms of digital models by orchestrating
complex robotic movements in space. But aided by the 3D printer they are
breaking even newer ground. Students have begun concocting their own
materials, which they can then fit with sensors to follow changes in the
material as it is manipulated and, they hope, produce an appropriate
response. Read More
Combine the convenience of a wireless electric
vehicle charging station with the safety and inconspicuousness of a
manhole cover. This is the vision of HEVO (Hybrid & Electric Vehicle
Optimization), and it’s made the company a semifinalist for the SAFE
Emerging Innovation Award. Noting the problems typically associated with
EV charging, such as vandalism, faulty connectors, and the
inconvenience of plugging in and paying, HEVO set out to make charging a
car, or a fleet of cars, as simple as parking. Read More
A new 3D-printed robot called Poppy is helping a
team of French researchers study bipedal walking and human-robot
interaction. They were able to design, fabricate, and assemble a
relatively large robot for around €8,000 (US$11,000) including servo
motors and electronics. That's about a third the cost of commercial
robots in the same size category like the RQ-TITAN, and is still cheaper than smaller humanoids like the Aldebaran Robotics NAO. And best of all, they plan to make their design open source. Read More
If you've ever fantasized about cruising the city streets on a motorcycle not unlike Batman's Batpod,
this may be your chance to turn that fantasy into a reality. Reno,
Nevada-based welder/machinist "Jeff T" recently took the frame of a 2002
Harley Davidson V-Rod, and built his own electric
interpretation of the Batpod around it. He's now got it up for auction
on eBay ... although you'll have to get him to send some of the parts
for its flamethrower and cannons separately. Read More
As expected, Apple unveiled a new iPad Mini with
an improved display upgraded to "retina" status, and a complement of new
colored covers and cases for both the smaller slate and the new iPad
Air. Read More
It seems like just yesterday that Steve Jobs
stood on the stage and revealed the iPad to an uncertain but eager
audience. More than three and a half years later, the iPad is a
household name all the world over, with a popularity that rivals the
iPhone. Today Apple revealed the fifth iteration of the full-sized iPad,
and it's the first to carry a major physical redesign ... and a new
name. Read More
Apple's OS X Mavericks for Macs available as a free upgrade
By Eric Mack
October 22, 2013
Apple's latest version of its Mac OS officially
became available today for download as an app. Even better news for Mac
fans – it's a single-step process available for free, even if you're
still on that old 2007 iMac. Read More
Before there were iPads, there were Macs. That's
true historically, and it's also true at today's Apple event in San
Francisco. Before unveiling its new iPad and iPad mini, Apple ran
through some updates to its traditional PC line, including new 4th gen.
Intel Core-powered MacBook Pros, as well as that redesigned Mac Pro that the company previewed back in June. Read More
Researchers at the non-profit Institute of
Photonic Sciences (ICFO) have created a new design for an organic solar
cell that retains good efficiency while being flexible, thin, and almost
completely transparent. Put together, these characteristics may make
the cells an ideal candidate for building-integrated photovoltaics. Read More
Nokia has unveiled the much-rumored Lumia 2520
tablet today. The device comes in a range of matte and glossy colors,
and offers about what you might expect from a tablet in the Lumia range.
The most prominent feature here is easily the cameras, which are more
akin to what you might find on a mid-range smart phone than your average
tablet. Read More
Back in January, the beautifully minimalist
Gittler Guitar made its public debut at the Winter NAMM show in Anaheim,
CA. Little more than a long rod topped by 31 rounded frets with
built-in electronics, the all-titanium guitar has now launched on
Kickstarter ahead of its first production run in December. Read More
Most of us break wind from time to
time; it's a natural function of a healthy body. It's a shame about the
smell though. A "flatulence-filtering" range of underpants called
Shreddies aims to combat this problem using technology found in chemical
warfare suits. Read More
RM Auctions, based in Blenheim,
Ontario, is placing a prominent slab of Formula One racing history on
the auction block with the sale of a Ferrari F310 B, chassis 179 that
was once driven by Michael Schumacher and Eddie Irvine. Read More
Keeping a jerry can of gasoline in
your car may help if you run out of fuel, but it's also highly dangerous
and is therefore illegal in most places. According to the Makers of
Magic Tank Emergency Fuel, their product is the safe – and legal –
alternative to packing a jug of gas. Read More
Google's qCraft brings quantum mechanics fun to Minecraft
By Heidi Hoopes
October 23, 2013
“Anyone who is not shocked by quantum theory has not understood it,” Niels Bohr famously wrote. However, Minecraft players can now be slightly closer to parsing the perplexities of quantum theory, thanks to qCraft,
a collaboration between Google and Dr. Spyridon Michalakis, a scholar
of quantum mechanics. What does this new mod bring to the game? Only
quantum teleportation, observer dependencies, and Schrödinger’s Cat, for
starters. Read More
Most of us break wind from time to
time; it's a natural function of a healthy body. It's a shame about the
smell though. A "flatulence-filtering" range of underpants called
Shreddies aims to combat this problem using technology found in chemical
warfare suits. Read More
Researchers at the Brookhaven National Laboratory
(BNL) have developed a generalized method of blending two different
types of nanoparticles into a single large-scale composite material
using synthetic DNA strands. The technique has great potential for
designing a vast range of new nanomaterials with precise electrical,
mechanical or magnetic properties. Read More
Even before it received type certificate
from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in September 2012, the
Gulfstream G650 was racking up the records, thanks in large part to its Mach 0.925 top speed.
The latest record it has claimed is for the fastest westbound,
around-the-world flight for a non-supersonic aircraft, which the G650
completed in 41 hours and seven minutes. Read More
If you've ever wondered where you left the laptop
or how your dog came home smelling like a frog pond, then a GPS
tracking device might seem like a good idea. The trick is to find one
small enough to be practical and doesn't need its batteries replaced
every day. The Retrievor RET-100 is a self-contained, solar-powered GPS
tracker no wider than a US quarter that is looking to find a way to
market via a crowdfunding campaign. Read More
Caterham opens the order books for its entry-level Seven 160
By C.C. Weiss
October 22, 2013
The latest generation of track-honed roadsters
offer quick, corner-hugging performance at a more affordable price
point. However, unless you're in a position to use a fast, furious,
roofless two-seater as a daily commuter, a niche track-weekend auto may
still be well out of your price range. Caterham is looking to change
this with its all-new, entry-level Seven 160 that went up for pre-order
this week. Read More
Last year, deciding between the iPad 4 and iPad
mini was a tough decision. But this year, choosing between the iPad
Air's sleeker design and the iPad mini's Retina Display is trickier than
ever. Let Gizmag try to help, as we break down the differences (and
increasing similarities) between Apple's iPad Air and iPad mini with Retina Display. Read More
Since 1995, XPrize
has been promoting science and technology by setting “Grand Challenges”
with cash incentive prizes. On Monday, the organization announced the
launch of three new competitions by 2020 as part of its XPrize Ocean
Initiative, which is aimed at improving the health and understanding of
the world’s oceans. Read More
Plug&Sun CPV system powers up remote Madagascan village
October 22, 2013
Fondation Énergies pour le Monde (Energy for the
World Foundation), an organization that promotes clean energy in
developing countries, has completed the installation of a concentrator
photovoltaic (CPV) system in Ambondro, southern Madagascar. The CPV
system was also combined with existing wind turbines in the village,
with project partner Sunidarity claiming it is the first decentralized
rural electrification operation of its kind in Madagascar. Read More
A couple of years ago at the Tokyo Motor Show, we came across an interesting prototype device known as the Whill.
Looking sort of like a giant pair of headphones, it could be clamped
over the wheels of an existing manual wheelchair, temporarily providing
it with an electric drive system. Although that particular device was
never commercialized, its makers recently let us know that a product
based on the technology is now about to enter production – the Whill
Type-A motorized wheelchair. Read More
"Gold leaf" trees discovered in the Australian outback
By Darren Quick
October 23, 2013
Scientists from Australia's Commonwealth
Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation have discovered that
eucalyptus trees in the Australian outback are drawing up gold particles
from deep underground through their root system and depositing the
precious metal in their leaves and branches. Rather than being a new
source of "gold leaf," the discovery could provide a cheaper, more
environmentally friendly way to uncover valuable gold ore deposits. Read More
RM Auctions, based in Blenheim,
Ontario, is placing a prominent slab of Formula One racing history on
the auction block with the sale of a Ferrari F310 B, chassis 179 that
was once driven by Michael Schumacher and Eddie Irvine. Read More Auris skye adds Wi-Fi streaming to existing music docks
By Dave LeClair
October 23, 2013
Many of the latest music players are launching
with Wi-Fi for sharing music from a computer, iOS, or Android device.
Perhaps you have an older model, and you still want to be able to take
part in the wireless music listening fun. A new product called the Auris
skye aims to bring such an experience to existing docks with a 30-pin
connector. Read More
Uniqueco working on rugged 4x4 and MPV built from plastic
By C.C. Weiss
October 23, 2013
Imagine a full-blown, desert-tromping 4x4 built
with a plastic body – sounds kind of crazy to us. To German auto
consultant Uniqueco, it sounds like the future. The company has designed
two different models that use lightweight construction centered around
plastic shells. Read More
A team of researchers at the Vanderbilt
University in Nashville, Tennessee has designed a supercapacitor made
primarily of silicon that has shown much improved power density over its
commercially available alternatives. The advance could allow for
interesting integration of battery technology in everyday electronics,
from solar cells to smartphones. Read More
LADEE sets data transmission record from lunar orbit
By David Szondy
October 23, 2013
NASA’s Lunar Laser Communication Demonstration (LLCD)
experiment made history yesterday as it beamed data back to Earth from
lunar orbit at previously unheard of speed for a space mission.
Operating from the LADEE lunar orbiter, the LLCD used lasers to transmit
data to Earth at 622 megabits per second (Mbps) as a demonstration of a
technology that NASA hopes will one day not only keep up with the
communications demands of future missions, but also greatly enhance
their capabilities. Read More
Keeping a jerry can of gasoline in
your car may help if you run out of fuel, but it's also highly dangerous
and is therefore illegal in most places. According to the Makers of
Magic Tank Emergency Fuel, their product is the safe – and legal –
alternative to packing a jug of gas. Read More
If someone has difficulty hearing, they can use a
hearing aid to boost the level of sounds reaching their ear. If someone
has limited vision to the point that they're considered legally blind,
however, it's not like they can just use an electronic "seeing aid" ...
right? Actually, that's just what eSight is. Read More
The Japanese regional railway JR Kyushu has
become the first company in Japan to build a luxury sleeper cruise
train, spending close to 3 billion yen (US$29.9 million). The Seven
Stars cruise train comes equipped with the latest motion control
technology, 14 luxury guest rooms, two deluxe suites, three presidential
suites, a lounge car, dining car and bar. Read More
Janitors and other people who do large-scale
cleaning certainly don't have an easy job. Among other things, they have
to lug around heavy bottles of bleach or other cleansers, then risk the
harmful effects of those products when using them. Texas-based GenEon
Technologies, however, is now offering an alternative. The company's
Immerse-A-Clean wand can reportedly turn regular tap water into an
effective sanitizer, glass- and general-purpose cleaner, using nothing
other than electricity and a non-toxic catalyst. Read More
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