Roaming vending machine snack bots invade a California college campus
PepsiCo's fleet of autonomous Hello Goodness delivery snackbots just rolled out at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California. The roaming vending machines let students order their snacks using a mobile app, and will then deliver them directly to their hands.
This Porsche 718 uses components made from hemp to save weight
The Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport race car uses components made from hemp and other natural fibers to reduce weight. The car's doors and rear wing spoiler are made from the unorthodox material. Derived from the 718 Cayman sports car, the Clubsport starts at around $150,000.
Chinese lunar rover sends back first-ever image from the far side of the moon
A Chinese lunar rover has reportedly made history by landing on the far side of the moon and transmitting back the first images to Earth. According to China's National Space Administration, the rover landed in the Moon’s South Pole-Aitken Basin crater late Thursday evening, Beijing time.
Biologists fix ‘glitch’ in photosynthesis, boost crop yield by 40 percent
Researchers from the University of Illinois and U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service have used genetic modification to make certain crops 40 percent more efficient. This is done by fixing a photosynthetic glitch that limits the potential yield of many crops.
Are Bitcoins the new Beanie Babies, or is there hope in 2019?
Bitcoin skyrocketed in value from less than a penny in 2010 to nearly $20,000 in late 2017. Then it spent 2018 in a freefall crash. So, what happened? Is it dead? Can Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies survive in 2019? Government backing may be the key to their resurgence.
With new autonomous train, Australia is now home to the world’s largest robot
Iron ore mining company Rio Tinto has officially launched its fully automated, heavy-haul, long- distance rail network: A series of mine-to-port trains that can run completely free from human intervention. Here's why it decided to replace human drivers with automated ones.
Breadbot is an autonomous bakery in a box, coming to a grocery near you
Wilkinson Baking Company is set to unveil the Breadbot at CES 2019. The robotic bread-maker creates up to 10 loaves of bread per hour from scratch and is destined for groceries and specialty shops. The Breadbot isn't just about artisanal bread, however, the transparent machine promises theater.
CES 2019: Tech trends to watch for at the consumer electronics show
With more than 4,400 exhibiting companies and more than 2.7 million square feet of exhibition hall, CES is overwhelming. Here's what to expect from the upcoming show, from AI and self-driving cars to 5G networks and foldable phones and 8K televisions.
12 cool houseboats that will set your imagination adrift
Land-bound houses are so dull; who wants to stay shackled to the ground? Houseboats offer a life on the wild waves, and they come in some pretty stunning designs. From artificial lakes in eastern Germany to the riverside of Portland, Oregon, here are 12 cool houseboats that will amaze you.
After conquering the Sahara, the U.K.’s self-driving rover is ready for Mars
The U.K. Space Agency has completed tests of new self-driving software, which will allow future Mars exploration rovers to autonomously explore their environment. The tests were carried out in the Sahara desert, the closest thing Earth has to the harsh Martian landscape.
IBM’s new A.I. warns diabetes patients of dangerous blood sugar levels
IBM has teamed up with medical device maker Medtronic to develop a mobile app that’s designed to work as an early warning sign for people with diabetes about the dangers of 'going low' on their blood sugar levels. Here's how it works, and why it could literally prove to be a life-saver.
CleanseBot is like a handheld Roomba vacuum that kills germs with UV light
CleanseBot is a smart cleaning and disinfecting robot that emits UV-C light to kill 99.9 percent of germs -- without needing any nasty chemicals to do so. Here's how you can get your hands on one as soon as humanly possible -- and why this is the gadget you need in 2019.
British Army tests autonomous glider drone for transporting supplies, soldiers
The British Army is currently testing out an unorthodox glider-based drone that could one day be used to resupply troops or deliver humanitarian aid in locations that would ordinarily be inaccessible. It could even be used for transporting wounded soldiers from the battlefield.
Patient receives 3D-printed rib implant in breakthrough procedure
A patient in Bulgaria recently received one of the first 3D-printed rib transplants as part of a potentially lifesaving operation. It demonstrated a new approach to create artificial ribs, using a process that's both cheaper and materially superior to alternative methods.
Rain ruined the NYPD’s first chance to use security drones at a major event
The NYPD had been hoping to use its camera-equipped quadcopters as part of its security operation at Times Square on New Year's Eve, but rain and wind forced it to cancel the plan. The NYPD unveiled its crime-fighting drones in December 2018, and plans to use them for a range of operations.
These are the 10 most important tech news stories of 2018
From Facebook scandals to unprecedented space travel, 2018 has been a year of important, turbulent, exciting, worrying, and delightful tech news. In light of that, we count the 10 tech stories that will be influencing the future and impacting the way we use and think about technology.
Mars’ disappearing methane proves a puzzle for scientists
A strange mystery is going down on Mars, as scientists detected traces of methane in the atmosphere of Mars years ago. But now the team collecting data from a satellite currently in orbit around Mars has reported that the orbiter has not found any evidence of methane on Mars.
Why are there no hot Neptunes? Atmospheric escape could be the culprit
For unknown reasons, there is an notable absence of planets the size of Neptune which lie close to their respective stars. New research suggests that this may be due to atmospheric escape: the loss of atmospheric gases like hydrogen into space because of the energy of nearby stars.
NYC police to use camera drones for security at Times Square NYE party
For the first time, New York City police will use drones to keep an eye on Times Square for the NYE party, which is expected to attract as many as two million attendees. The drones will be used in addition to traditional anti-terrorism tools like police airplanes and helicopters.
Ancient ‘fossil cloud’ could shed light on formation of the early universe
A fossilized cloud of gas that may be left over from the Big Bang has been discovered by researchers using data from the W. M. Keck Observatory. The distant cloud is one of only three known fossil clouds in the universe, and could provide valuable information about the formation of the earliest galaxies.
Researchers find a way to ‘see’ dark matter
Two astronomers have come up with a method to "see" dark matter by looking at the distribution of starlight in galaxy clusters. They used data from the Hubble telescope to look at a faint source of light called intracluster light, which is believed to be distributed in the same locations as dark matter.
Research into how plants respond to microgravity could help grow food in space
One challenge to making long-distance space travel viable is how to feed astronauts. A difficulty with growing plants during spaceflight is that they behave strangely in space, and we are not sure why. Now researchers have made a breakthrough in understanding this process.
No vein, no gain: Wax hand beats the latest vein-recognition systems
Forget Face ID, the next frontier of biometric security tech could involve reading your vein prints. Or could it? This week, a team of security researchers showcased how the latest vein-reading security systems can be fooled by a fake wax hand containing printed vein details.
An experimental drug could help fight memory loss in Alzheimer’s patients
An experimental drug that was developed to treat depression could also help battle the memory loss effects associated with Alzheimer’s disease, researchers from UCLA have discovered. In tests involving mice, the drug was shown to help improve memory. Here's how it works.
The world’s first jetpack racing league is poised to take off in 2019
Are you ready to enter the world of jetpack racing as a spectator sport? Jetpack Aviation recently tested the concept by carrying out some test flights in which two jetpack pilots flew within close proximity of one another. The next step is to put together a racing league.
We talked to Limbitless about giving gaming-themed prosthetic arms to kids
The nonprofit organization Limbitless creates free bionic arms for children to use like they would a traditional arm. Digital Trends talked to Limbitless about its arms and partnerships with game franchises like Halo and League of Legends, as well as its arm based on Iron Man's suit.
Scientists create a way to make more breathable 3D-printed tissues
Researchers at Pennsylvania State University have found a new way to 3D print lab-made tissues, such as bone and cartilage. Their new method allows them to fabricate porous tissues, in which micro-pores allow nutrients and oxygen to circulate, keeping the cells healthy.
The weird, worrying, and wonderful science that happened in 2018
2019 was full of big scientific news and breakthroughs, so we rounded up all of the best headlines for your perusal
Self-driving car tech will soon help to judge gymnastics competitions
The laser-bouncing tech used in self driving cars could soon help to judge athletic contests. That's thanks to Fujistu, which has developed a lidar-based system which can calculate the exact angle of joints and limbs in gymnastics routines to take the guesswork out of judging.
What is the Hyperloop? Here’s everything you need to know
The Hyperloop, Elon Musk's intriguing idea for a transportation system, could revolutionize mass transit as we know it. According to its proponents, the Hyperloop would be faster than most conventional forms of mass transit, and better for the environment. How does it work? Here's what you need to know.
Doomba uses your Roomba data to build new ‘Doom’ maps. You’re welcome
Enterprising game developer Rich Whitehouse recently decided to repurpose his Roomba vacuum's mapping data to create custom levels of the classic first-person shooter Doom. Because why the heck not? Here's his story, and how you can have a go at doing the same thing yourself.
Drone delivery testers reveal their main gripe about such a service
Anyone who's been within earshot of a drone won't be surprised to learn that people are concerned about the noise associated with drone delivery services. Alphabet's Wing project, which is testing a service in a community in Australia, says it's looking at ways to make its drone quieter.