Bookmarks (1012)

California's Clone Robotics has just posted a video of its full-body Protoclone humanoid robot, and well … it's a wee bit creepy. The prototype's less disturbing Clone descendants, however, could one day be vacuuming our carpets.Continue ReadingCategory: Robotics, TechnologyTags: Android, Humanoid

Measuring just 6.6 m (21.7 ft) long, this tiny house offers a well-designed and open interior layout that sleeps two, plus guests, in comfort. It could also be a good fit for budding explorers as it can be outfitted with full off-the-grid functionality.Continue ReadingCategory: Tiny Houses, LifestyleTags: Building and Construction, Tiny Footprint, Micro-House, House, Home

If you're thinking of getting an injection for back pain, you might want to think again. A panel of experts has examined the practice, found serious issues with its use – including financial gain – and issued strong recommendations to avoid it.Continue ReadingCategory: Chronic Pain, Illnesses and conditions, Body & MindTags: Chronic pain, Back Pain, Spinal, Pain, Nerves

Microsoft says it's made a major breakthrough in quantum computing capabilities with the Majorana 1, its first quantum chip, and the first of its kind to be powered by what are called topological qubits.Continue ReadingCategory: Quantum Computing, ScienceTags: Microsoft, Fermions, Qubit, Quantum

Asteroid 2024 YR4 has grabbed headlines lately, after NASA calculated a 1-in-32 chance of an impact in 2032 – the highest chance ever for an asteroid of hazardous size. Thankfully, new observations have now halved that probability.Continue ReadingCategory: Space, ScienceTags: Astronomy, Asteroid, Asteroid Redirect Mission, NASA, ESA

Canada is set to begin work on a high-speed inter-city rail network – the largest infrastructure project in the country's history. Spanning 621 miles (1,000 km), its lines will help commuters travel between Toronto and Montréal – the two biggest cities in Canada – within three hours, or half the time it would usually take. The trains will go from Toronto to Quebec City,...

People who sit on the low or high side of normal vitamin B12 levels are still at risk of cognitive impairment, according to a new study. The researchers behind the study say we need to rethink the ‘healthy’ range for the vitamin that plays a key role in brain and nerve health.Continue ReadingCategory: Alzheimer's & Dementia, Brain Health, Body & MindTags: Cognitive functioning, Brain,...

"A space that can turn into a trailer, instead of a trailer that can turn into a space." It may sound like a negligible difference upon first read, but the Touchdown trailer from Expandable proves that it's actually a significant one. The new towable living space serves as a panoramic designer mobile home that drops to ground level with a retractable chassis and grows...

When you're backcountry camping, you'll likely be carrying a tent while using a trekking pole. The Trek-Tent combines both of those things in one device, which can reportedly be converted into a tent in just one minute.Continue ReadingCategory: Outdoors, LifestyleTags: Tent, Trekking, Pole, Camping, Kickstarter, Transformable

In 2020 an incredible video went viral. It featured a former ballet dancer named Marta Cinta González Saldaña, suffering from severe Alzheimer’s disease in her senior years. In the video, Saldaña listens to a piece of music from Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake and suddenly flashes awake beginning to move to a dance routine she presumably rehearsed over and over in her younger days.Continue ReadingCategory: Alzheimer's...

Aspartame has long been marketed as a guilt-free alternative to sugar in popular food products, ranging from zero-calorie Diet Coke to sugar-free Jell-O. It's also had a pretty bad rap, and the artificial sweetener has now been linked to an increased risk of heart attacks and stroke in mice. But not everyone's convinced this is as bad as it sounds for humans.Continue ReadingCategory: Wellness...

Mobile tech company Oukitel made a splash at CES last month with what's claimed to be the first 33,000-mAh rugged smartphone with a built-in projector. Now the WP100 Titan adventure toolkit has launched on Kickstarter.Continue ReadingCategory: Mobile Technology, Consumer Tech, TechnologyTags: smartphones, Rugged, Light, Projectors, Kickstarter

Estrogens are best known as hormones that regulate sexual development in women, although men produce them as well. Now, a new study finds that a particular kind of estrogen might have an additional role to play in suppressing appetite.Continue ReadingCategory: Diet & Nutrition, Wellness & Healthy Living, Body & MindTags: estrogen, Diet, Hunger, Food, Hormone, Weight Loss

For years, Gerber has been fine-tuning base camp with various tools and kits. The Stakeout has served as its camping-specific multitool since 2022, adding a handy tent stake-puller to the usual knife/saw/bottle opener party. Now Gerber grows the Stakeout into a small family with the all-new Stakeout Spark. True to its name, this base-camp-to-backcountry handheld brings fire-starting capabilities and adds a new form factor...

France has upped the ante in the quest for fusion power by maintaining a plasma reaction for over 22 minutes – a new record. The milestone was reached on February 12 at the Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA) WEST Tokamak reactor.Continue ReadingCategory: Energy, TechnologyTags: France, Nuclear Fusion, Power, Nuclear

Australians will wait an average of 12 years before getting treatment for mental health or substance use disorders, according to a new study. While the findings are rather grim, the study did find that younger people are much more likely to seek help for their mental health when they need it.Continue ReadingCategory: Mental Health, Brain Health, Body & MindTags: University of Sydney, mental health,...

Hunting and wildlife observation is like the start of the classic recipe for rabbit stew – first catch your rabbit or, at least, find it. The new Thermal Master T2 Max thermal scope makes that job a bit easier with its high resolution system. Let's take a look.Continue ReadingCategory: Electronics, Consumer Tech, TechnologyTags: Thermal Imaging, Reviews, Camera

When you think of bamboo, you probably don't think of the world's longest bridge-and-tunnel sea crossing spanning 34 miles (55 km) and shuttling around 150,000 people a day between Hong Kong and Macau.Continue ReadingCategory: Architecture, LifestyleTags: China, Bridge, Underwater, Tunnel, Bamboo

If you're tired of using a boring ol' remote for controlling your devices, you might like the CenWatch. It's a smartwatch that scans the underside of your hand, allowing you to make multiple commands via simple midair hand gestures.Continue ReadingCategory: Wearables, Consumer Tech, TechnologyTags: Kickstarter, Gesture Control, Smartwatch, LIDAR

As everyone knows, scratching at chronically itchy skin only makes the problem worse. A new device is claimed to help stop dermatitis patients from doing so while they sleep, without waking them up in the process.Continue ReadingCategory: Medical Devices, Medical Innovations, Body & MindTags: Skin, Sleep, Artificial Intelligence, Wearable

Many ebikes sport a derailleur hanging out back to giver riders more flexibility than single-speeders. There are exceptions that combine gears with the motor, such as Pinion and Valeo. And now there's another, as Scotland's Intradrive system goes into pilot production.Continue ReadingCategory: Bicycles, TransportTags: ebikes, Pedal-assisted, Motor, Gears

After its unveiling at the EICMA 2024 expo last November, Aprilia's brought its twin-cylinder Tuono 457 naked streetfighter to the market. It's arrived first in India, where it's being manufactured alongside its faired twin, the RS 457.Continue ReadingCategory: Motorcycles, TransportTags: Aprilia, Naked bike

AeroVironment has just revealed its latest heavy-duty medium uncrewed aircraft system known as the Jump 20-X. With an impressive range of capabilities, the drone could easily become a cornerstone of sea-based combat and surveillance.Continue ReadingCategory: Military, TechnologyTags: drones, Combat, Naval Warfare, VTOL, UAV, AeroVironment

Tiny house builders are always looking to increase living space wherever possible. This neat model takes a novel approach to the issue by offering an unusual interior layout that's topped by a rooftop terrace with seating and a pergola.Continue ReadingCategory: Tiny Houses, LifestyleTags: Building and Construction, Tiny Footprint, House, Home, Micro-House

Technology can physically change our brains as it becomes an integral part of daily life – but every time we outsource a function, we risk letting our ability atrophy away. What happens when that ability is critical thinking itself?Continue ReadingCategory: AI & Humanoids, TechnologyTags: Microsoft, LLM (Large Language Model), Artificial Intelligence, Brain

The US Navy is helping to eliminate the need for a human operator to counter drone swarm attacks. An effort led by the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) used AI to make laser weapons better able to target and destroy multiple drone attacks.Continue ReadingCategory: Military, TechnologyTags: Laser weapon, US Navy, Artificial Intelligence

Less than two months after a potential merger was floated, Honda and Nissan have called the potential partnership off, forcing Nissan, which has been experiencing difficulties, to explore alternate collaborations.Continue ReadingCategory: Automotive, TransportTags: Honda, Nissan, Mitsubishi, News

Dubai authorities have revealed an ambitious plan to build what they call the world's tallest resort. Named Therme Dubai, it will include an incredible new 100-meter (328-ft)-tall attraction that will incorporate waterfalls, swimming pools, and the world's largest indoor botanical gardens.Continue ReadingCategory: Architecture, LifestyleTags: Dubai, Resort, Building and Construction, Swimming

Indian Motorcycle launched the FTR 1200 back in 2019 as a road-legal version of the hugely successful Indian Scout FTR750 flat tracker that bagged eight consecutive AFT Grand National and Manufacturer championships. It has long been considered Indian’s coolest offering, but it's now been discontinued.Continue ReadingCategory: Motorcycles, TransportTags: Indian Motorcycles, V-Twin, Harley Davidson

High-profile studio the Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) has produced one of its most attractive designs in a while in the form of a new opera house planned for Kosovo. The eye-catching building will be draped in a curving roof informed by a local traditional skirt, which will also feature integrated solar panels.Continue ReadingCategory: Architecture, LifestyleTags: Building and Construction, Bjarke Ingels Group, Theater, sustainable design

Construction has reportedly begun on the first phase of the Line, Saudi Arabia's insanely ambitious plan to build a 170-km (105 mile)-long gleaming megacity in the desert. We also now know how many people will live there initially – and when they're moving in.Continue ReadingCategory: Architecture, LifestyleTags: Building and Construction, Neom, Saudi Arabia

Back in the very early days of home computers, onscreen imagery was a bit rubbish so text-based adventure games ruled the gaming roost. The Ink Console is aiming to rekindle this retro vibe by combining an e-reader with a gaming platform.Continue ReadingCategory: Mobile Technology, Consumer Tech, TechnologyTags: Handheld, Gaming, Portable Gaming, E-Ink, E-reader, Crowdfunding

The vast majority of everyday carry (EDC) products are designed for rugged outdoorsy types who like to traipse around in the wilderness after dark, work on DIY projects, and slice at everything in sight with little blades.Continue ReadingCategory: Outdoors, LifestyleTags: EDC, Books, Titanium, Kickstarter

BMW has been talking up its forthcoming Neue Klasse range of electric cars since 2023, and it's now revealed more info about the key component that will shape your driving experience in those vehicles: a powerful electronic control unit (ECU) built in-house, known as the Heart of Joy.Continue ReadingCategory: Automotive, TransportTags: BMW, Electric Vehicles

Using scented products indoors changes the chemistry of the air, producing as much air pollution as car exhaust does outside, according to a new study. Researchers say that breathing in these nanosized particles could have serious health implications.Continue ReadingCategory: Environment, ScienceTags: Air pollution, Nanoparticles, Terpenes, Purdue University

Most people have absolutely no idea how important having a properly fitting helmet is. Almost every two-wheel rider wears one that's too big because there hasn’t been a proper, standardized way of personalizing helmets to individual head shapes.Continue ReadingCategory: Motorcycles, TransportTags: Helmets, 3D Scanners, Helmet, Japan

Volvo's EX30 just got a glow-up that adventurous drivers will appreciate. The compact electric SUV's Cross Country variant gets a bunch of off-roady features, as well as a few styling updates to differentiate it from its city slicker sibling.Continue ReadingCategory: Automotive, TransportTags: Electric Vehicles, Volvo, Off-road, Rugged

Colorado startup Howl Campfires fired its best shot at a real problem upon its launch: the lack of any useful warmth coming from a portable propane fire. The difficulty was, it put so much coin and effort into the solution, it created a whole new problem: the ludicrous price of a portable propane fire capable of delivering useful warmth (that's this baby). With its...

Researchers at Columbia University Irving Medical Center have identified the specific neurons in mice brains that tell them they've eaten enough. This fascinating discovery could play a big role in the future of weight loss treatments for humans.Continue ReadingCategory: Biology, ScienceTags: Hunger, Weight Loss, Obesity, Brain, neurons, Columbia University

A new study has discovered the reason why men tend to sustain more heart muscle damage following a heart attack than women: the hormone testosterone. The researchers have also discovered a potential fix in the form of an existing drug.Continue ReadingCategory: Wellness & Healthy Living, Body & MindTags: Heart attack, Testosterone, Inflammation, White blood cells, University of Gothenburg

Apple just took the wraps off the new Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 earbuds, designed for fitness enthusiasts who want more than just music out of their audio gear.Continue ReadingCategory: Wearables, Consumer Tech, TechnologyTags: Apple, Beats, Earphones, Fitness

While it's nice to have a powered means of exploring the wintertime wilderness, a lot of people despise big, noisy, exhaust-belching snowmobiles. Those folks might prefer a set of electrically-motorized skis, and that's just what the Vipera system consists of.Continue ReadingCategory: Outdoors, LifestyleTags: Skiing, Motorized, Winter

Using portable EEGs, researchers found that when groups of people watch the same health promotion videos, their brain activity syncs up, indicating that the message has gone beyond being seen and heard. This approach could lead to ‘neural’ focus groups and more effective health campaigns.Continue ReadingCategory: Learning & Memory, Brain Health, Body & MindTags: EEG, Brain activity, Public health, Market, University of Konstanz

When most people think of duckweed, they likely picture an unappealing green film growing across the surface of a stinky, stagnant slough. The protein-rich plant may soon be on your plate, however, as it's been approved for human consumption in Europe.Continue ReadingCategory: ScienceTags: Food, Sustainability, Agriculture, Crops, Plants, Wageningen University

Although many multitools pack a ton of features, some of those features often take the form of tiny, near-useless tools. The VAK6 keeps things simple and functional with a knife, flashlight and pulse ignitor, along with an optional hand-crank generator for recharging.Continue ReadingCategory: Outdoors, LifestyleTags: Multitools, Kickstarter, Knife, EDC, Flashlights, firestarter, Generator

Side-by-side utilities (aka UTVs) are fun and useful machines. Add on Can-Am Apache tank tracks for the snow, though, and they gain a whole new season of usefulness. I went to Utah to find out how.Continue ReadingCategory: Outdoors, LifestyleTags: Snow, utv, Snowsports, Can-Am, Reviews

The latest rolling delivery bot may not have arms to unload the goods, or articulating legs to tackle challenging obstacles, or even work in tandem with a robo-flyer. But the Robovan W5 does boast "autonomous capabilities and substantial cargo capacity."Continue ReadingCategory: TechnologyTags: Autonomous Vehicles, Delivery robots, Electric Vehicles

BenQ has added a new conference room projector to its lineup, with a LED light source that's bright enough for daytime use. The LH750 is designed specifically for ceiling mounts, and promises to deliver "outstanding color precision and saturation" at Full HD resolution.Continue ReadingCategory: TechnologyTags: BenQ, LED, HD, Projectors

Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have devised a biomarker test that can spot small amounts of clumping tau protein in the brain and cerebrospinal fluid, which lead to Alzheimer's disease.Continue ReadingCategory: Alzheimer's & Dementia, Brain Health, Body & MindTags: psychiatry, Brain, Alzheimer's disease, Dementia, University of Pittsburgh

Images snapped using an iPhone are already pretty good, but are they Leica good? The high-end camera maker launched a mobile app last year to bring its "legendary imagery directly to your iPhone." Now you can get more of a camera feel too, with the Lux Grip.Continue ReadingCategory: Mobile Technology, Consumer Tech, TechnologyTags: iPhone, Leica, Photography