Massachusetts becomes the latest state to enact a ban on e-cigarettes
Massachusetts is the fourth state to ban vaping amid an outbreak of vaping-related illnesses. Governor Charlie Baker announced a four-month ban on the sale of all vaping products in the state. Baker called the recent diseases and deaths related to vaping a “public health emergency.”
The interstellar comet passing through our solar system gets an official name
The interstellar comet that was discovered passing through our solar system on August 30 has been officially named 2I/Borisov by the International Astronomical Union. The comet, formerly known as C/2019 Q4 (Borisov), was discovered by amateur Ukrainian astronomer, Gennady Borisov, near the Gemini constellation.
Boston Dynamics’ Spot is a cool robot. But is that enough for success?
When Boston Dynamics first showed off its Spot robot in 2009, the world hadn’t seen anything like it. Years later, it's finally ready to go to work for customers. But the robotics market of 2019 is a crowded place. Can Boston Dynamics triumph in a world where it's no longer a novelty?
Facebook acquires a startup that has built a mind-reading wristband
Facebook has acquired CTRL-Labs, a New York-based startup that lets users control computers using decoded neural activity and the wave of a hand. Because, you know, who wants to bother using their mouse and keyboard to 'like' posts or comment on someone’s holiday photos?
Boston Dynamics shows off Atlas robot doing parkour in new video
In a new video, the Boston Dynamics' humanoid robot, known as Atlas, shows off in an impressive a gymnastic routine, complete with somersaults, handstands, jumps, and turns. The company also released an additional video the Spot robot’s launch, showing off how it can benefit companies or organizations.
NASA taps Lockheed Martin to build Orion spacecraft for decade-long moon mission
NASA awarded Lockheed Martin the Orion Production and Operations Contract, which tasks the company to design and prepare six to 12 Orion spacecraft to go to the moon. The contract lasts until September 30, 2030 and includes the production of Orion spacecraft as part of NASA’s Artemis missions.
How drilling into million-year-old Antarctic ice could help fight climate change
Australian scientists will use an ultra-advanced drill to dig three kilometers (1.86 miles) deep into Antarctica's ice, with the goal of learning more about the Earth's past and where our climate could be going in the future. The project will begin in 2021 and last about four years.
Federal criminal probe into Juul could be the beginning of the end for vaping
Federal authorities have begun a criminal investigation into e-cigarette giant Juul Labs. It's the latest in a string of bad news that could drastically change the vaping industry, including bans on products, other investigations, and illnesses and fatalities linked to e-cigarettes.
Google’s Sycamore quantum computer has achieved ‘quantum supremacy’
Google says that it has managed to achieve “quantum supremacy, ” a major milestone when it comes to the development of quantum computers. The company's Sycamore supercomputer was able to complete a calculation that could only be done on a quantum processor.
No soil? No problem. H2Grow can cultivate crops practically anywhere
Through tailor-made hydroponic systems, H2Grow aims to solve hunger in arid regions and help vulnerable communities become more self-reliant by securing food resources. H2Grow, a project from the United Nations World Food Programme, is helping crops flourish in unexpected places.
Faster super-resolution microscope can see virus particles moving through a cell
Super-resolution microscopes can look at resolutions of a millionth of a millimeter, but they work slowly due to the volume of image data they need to record. Now, researchers have developed a way to speed up the process by creating a method which can record data at this microscopic scale in real-time.
Researchers develop flexible brain-machine interface for controlling wheelchairs
Brain-machine interfaces could potentially allow people with physical disabilities to control a wheelchair. But, current BMI systems require the use of a large, bulky system. Now, researchers have found a way to miniaturize the technology and make it more discreet and usable in everyday situations.
Smartphone battery capacity could be increased using nanochain material
If you're frustrated by the fact electronic gadgets get more sophisticated but your smartphone battery still can't last a full day, then research from Purdue University could offer some relief. Chemists have developed a new method for designing lithium-ion batteries which could make them last longer.
Two new images show Mars’ icy poles and pockmarked surface
The European Space Agency has captured a stunning image of Mars from top to bottom with its Mars Express craft which is currently in orbit around the planet. The slice shows Mars from its north to its south pole, with frozen ice caps on top and bottom and a boundary of rock formations between them.
Model based on fusion energy research explains why sunspots peak every 11 years
Of all the mysteries about our sun, one of the most perplexing is the cycle of sunspots. These dark patches on the sun's surface appear for a few weeks at a time before fading and increase in frequency to a peak every 11 years. A new study aims to explain this cycle by modeling the movement of plasma.
Forget fingerprints. These headphones can scan your ear canal for identification
Move over Face ID! The future of biometric security systems will use earbuds to map your inner ear. It sounds crazy, but the State University of New York at Buffalo's new EarEcho technology could actually turn out to be pretty darn useful. Here's why this wacky new biometric tech is exciting.
NASA develops autonomous drill to search for life beneath the surface of Mars
One of the challenges of investigating Mars is how to collect samples from beneath the surface. Current projects like the Insight lander have a drill to place probes. But now NASA is trying a new approach: An autonomous drill which can go several feet deep and which can adapt to different environments.
NASA’s troubled next-generation rocket is finally assembled
NASA's Space Launch System should be the next generation of rocket, suitable for launching heavy payloads and traveling to deep space. But the project has been troubled, suffering from delays and ballooning costs. Progress is being made, however, and recently NASA shared an update on the rocket.
Was hellish hothouse Venus once a temperate planet covered in water?
It sounds outlandish, but according to new research, the scorching planet of Venus could once have been habitable. The average surface temperature on Venus today is 863°F, but a new study claims that millions of years ago, the planet could have been a temperate place with liquid water on its surface.
Why are people striking because of climate change? Here’s a summary
On September 20, tens of thousands of people all over the world protested in the global climate strike. The movement was started by children and young adults, worried about world leaders' lack of action. Here's what you need to know about climate change, including what to read, watch, and listen to.
This nail gun drone is either the future of construction or the future of war
Is a drone equipped with a firing nailgun an awesome idea or the epitome of why humanity can’t have nice things? Whatever the answer, researchers at the University of Michigan recently decided to build one. And we're kind of glad that they did -- so long as it sticks to roofing.
Walmart and Sam’s Club will stop selling e-cigarettes as vaping deaths rise
Walmart will no longer sell e-cigarettes, the company announced Friday amid a growing number of vaping-related deaths and illnesses. Eight people have died from a lung disease related to vaping so far, according to health officials, and hundreds more have suffered lung damage.
Baldness-banishing baseball cap will zap your head until your hair grows again
Researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison have developed a baldness-banishing baseball cap that zaps the wearer with very mild electric pulses, prompting their hair to grow back again. Here's how it works -- and your chances of getting one in the near future.
Here are the best tech gifts you can snag for $100 or less
Looking for a great gift for the techie in your life, but don't want to spend a fortune? A Benjamin goes further than you might think. We've scoured the world for the best tech gifts under $100, so whether you're looking for speakers or drones, you won't have to break the bank.
Google’s Wing delivery drones will soon ship packages for FedEx and Walgreens
Google-owned drone delivery company Wing will launch a pilot version of its service in Virginia next month, delivering packages for FedEx Express and Walgreens. The company will deliver health care products and other packages and will be one of the first drone delivery programs in the U.S.
This A.I.-powered app can spot skin cancer with 95 percent accuracy
SkinVision's skin cancer-detecting app lets users snap a quick photo of a potentially troubling spot and then uses artificial intelligence to determine its risk factor. But how well does it work? According to a recent study, it's more than 95% accurate in its assessments.
The FDA launches criminal probe into vaping-related illnesses and deaths
The FDA has started a criminal probe into vaping-related illnesses and deaths. The investigation is reportedly focusing on the supply chain of e-cigarette products. The number of confirmed cases of vaping-related illnesses has also increased significantly, from 380 to 530.
You can finally buy the Impossible Burger at grocery stores
You’ll soon be able to cook an Impossible Burger in your kitchen once the popular plant-based meat substitute reaches certain California grocery store shelves on Friday, September 20. Here's where to buy them in California and when they'll be available nationwide.
Keep anonymous online with deepfake tech that generates a whole new face for you
Think deepfakes are the worst thing to happen since the last terrible thing? Researchers from Norway have developed a new way to potentially use them for good. DeepPrivacy uses deepfake technology to create a new real-time face that could be used to keep your identity a secret online.
Elon Musk shares a new look at the SpaceX rocket he wants to send to Mars
Elon Musk tweeted out two new photos showing how work on SpaceX’s Starship rocket prototype is coming along. The commercial space company expects to fly the ship to the moon and help establish a colony on Mars. Musk hopes to launch the first prototype Starship in October.
FAA closes airspace around Area 51 ahead of alien raid event
To deal with any extraterrestrial-seeking attendees of the now-canceled Alienstock festival or the viral Storm Area 51 event, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced that airspace around Area 51 will be temporarily closed this weekend for "special security reasons."
Descript’s new podcast editor can deepfake your voice to dub over errors
Descript Podcast Studio launched Wednesday with a feature called “Overdub,” which allows you to replace recorded words and phrases with synthesized speech that blends in with the other audio. The feature is meant to fill in the blanks of any mistakes or awkward pauses during the recording of a podcast.
Disabling a single protein could make humans immune to the common cold
Researchers at Stanford University and University of California, San Francisco, have developed an experimental approach that could lead to a universal vaccine for the common cold. Here's what they have created, how it works, and -- most importantly -- what happens next.
The Navy says Tom DeLonge’s UFO videos are real. That doesn’t mean it’s aliens
The U.S. Navy has confirmed a collection of UFO videos, one of which was released by Blink-182 musician Tom DeLonge, are indeed authentic and do show off unidentified flying objects. Here's why they don't quite prove that there's alien life on Earth.