New CERN experiments probe puzzling questions about antimatter
In a new series of antimatter experiments, CERN researchers aim to unravel one of the many unknowns of antimatter — whether it falls in response to gravity at the same rate as ordinary matter, or if it instead behaves peculiarly. The researchers have developed two experiments called ALPHA-g and GBAR.
The best A.I. movies of all time
There are some great tech documentaries out there, but sometimes you just need a good feature film. But which one to choose for the discerning A.I. fan? Combing through the cinematic archives, we've selected our picks for the A.I.-themed movies you have to see before you go.
Driverless cars can only take you so far. This is how smarter cities are being built
At the annual Smart Mobility Summit, companies and municipalities came together to share new technologies for building smarter cities. They also share insight on the successes and challenges. Here are the highlights from the 2018 meeting.
GM is getting into ebikes, and it wants you to help name them
General Motors has just unveiled its first-ever electric bikes as part of its efforts to broaden its business and pivot to an all-electric future. To find the best name for the two new ebikes, the automaker has launched a $10,000 public contest. Tip: It's probably not worth suggesting "Bikey McBikeface."
20 things you’ll never have to buy again if you own a 3D printer
The internet is filled with millions of designs for ready-to-print objects. Here, we rounded up a few of our favorites. Enjoy!
Replaced by robots: 10 jobs that could be hit hard by the A.I. revolution
There’s no doubt that A.I. and other tech is going to change the face of employment as we know it. According to one famous study, 47 percent of currently existing jobs in America are at high risk of potential automation in the coming decades. Here are 10 jobs at particular risk.
To make more room for livestock, the Dutch will moove cows to a floating farm
A Dutch company is developing a floating dairy farm, which they hope to use as a proof-of-concept for future agricultural systems. The farm will use automated cleaning and milking robots, while recycling waste into fertilizer. Later, they hope to include crops and other livestock.
Muji and Sensible 4 collaborate on ‘friendly’ autonomous shuttle bus design
Design brand Muji and autonomous driving company Sensible 4 have combined forces to design the world's first autonomous shuttle bus for all weather conditions. The Gacha shuttle will be unveiled in Finland and is designed to look friendly and welcoming and can operate even in fog, snow, or heavy rain.
Autonomous drones perform search and rescue without the need for GPS
Researchers at MIT have developed an autonomous drone that can explore densely forested areas and produce collaborative maps without the need for GPS. The drones could be used to find lost hikers who cannot be seen by helicopters or traditional drones because they fly above the forest canopy.
Scientists confirm supermassive black hole at the center of our galaxy
New data from the Very Large Telescope confirms what scientists have believed for some time now: that there is an enormous supermassive black hole called Sagittarius A* at the center of our galaxy. Scientists observed flares of hot gases coming from the edge of the black hole, confirming predictions.
Starman and his Tesla Roadster continue lonely journey out beyond Mars
Elon Musk's SpaceX company has confirmed that its space-faring Tesla Roadster and its driver Starman have passed beyond Mars and will soon reach their point furthest from the Sun. In a few days, the car will swing around and head back towards the Sun and will eventually pass closest to Earth in 2020.
First images of the Bennu asteroid sent by NASA’s OSIRIS-REx Spacecraft
The first images of the Bennu asteroid have been shared by NASA, which has collected them from its OSIRIS-REx Spacecraft. The mission aims to touch down on the surface of the asteroid and collect a sample to be brought back to Earth, where it will be studied to learn about the origin of the solar system.
‘LarvalBot’ underwater drone will reseed coral reefs damaged by climate change
Scientists from Queensland University of Technology have announced that they will repurpose autonomous underwater drones to rebuild areas of coral reefs that have been damaged by rising sea temperatures. The drones will deliver coral larvae to damaged reefs to encourage them to take root and grow.
Sun sets on NASA’s Dawn spacecraft after 11 years of studying asteroid belt
After 11 years spent studying two large objects in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, the dwarf planet Ceres and the giant asteroid Vesta, NASA's Dawn mission has drawn to a close. The craft has run out of fuel and will no longer be able to charge its solar cells or communicate with Earth.
Kepler telescope shuts down, but endows all its data to the public
NASA's Kepler telescope has been decommissioned after nine years of hunting for planets outside of our solar system. The mission was only expected to last 3.5 years but ended up successfully transmitting data for much longer. Now all of that data is made publicly available for scientists to learn from.
Breakthrough in paralysis treatment restores walking ability in record time
Three paraplegics who sustained serious spinal injuries years earlier have regained the ability to walk again, courtesy of electrical stimulation of their spinal cords using a wireless implant. Researchers plan to make the treatment widely available in hospitals and clinics.
NASA dreams of fueling up its rockets at a gas station on Mars by 2038
The idea of robots mining for dirt on Mars, which could then be transformed into water, oxygen or rocket fuel, sounds like something from a sci-fi movie. In fact, it’s an idea that NASA scientists are working toward right now. And they've got the robot digger to prove it.
To curb teen vaping, schools across the U.S. welcome A.I. into their bathrooms
There’s a problem with both vaping and bullying at schools. A company called Soter Technologies has developed a smart bathroom sensor that's able to detect both. It's currently being used in upwards of 500 schools across the United States and Canada. Here's how it works.
To be or not to be 280 characters: All of Shakespeare’s works in a single tweet
It might sound like a Dan Brown tech thriller plot point, but it's not. A computer science undergraduate really has managed to hide the complete works of one of the world’s greatest writers in a single tiny image that was shared in a Twitter message. Here's how he carried it out.
Bright idea: this motorcycle jacket has built-in lights that sync with your bike
Motorbike leathers are there to protect riders from injury, but they can make bikers difficult to see in the dark. A new Kickstarter campaign hopes to help change that -- thanks to a stylish leather jacket that features some smart LED lighting technology. Here's what it does.
Caltech’s tiny new gyroscope is smaller than a single grain of rice
Researchers at the California Institute of Technology have found a way to significantly shrink optical gyroscopes 500 times smaller than the current state-of-the-art models. The results are smaller than a single grain of rice, and could be used in everything from gaming to satellites.
The Looking Glass brings us closer than ever to Star Wars-like holograms
We're inching closer to recreating the iconic, holographic scene in Star Wars of Princess Leia calling out to Obi-Wan Kenobi for help. A company in Brooklyn, New York, has created a holographic display that lets you see sharp, high-contrast 3D content. It's called the Looking Glass.
This new smart speaker lets you take Alexa into the shower
They say some of your greatest ideas or thoughts come to you in the shower. Now, you can stay connected easily while you're there. Tell Alexa to set reminders, save an idea, play music and more; all while remaining in your normal morning routine.
Autonomous package-delivery robots are ready to steal your mailman’s job
Starship Technologies is launching a robot package-delivery service in the U.S. and U.K. For a monthly subscription fee, customers will be able to get packages delivered at a time and place of their convenience. You can even use a mobile app to check up on your delivery!
10 years of Bitcoin: How a geeky cryptocurrency changed the world
From its birth 10 years ago, Bitcoin has grown from fledgling cryptocurrency proof-of-concept into a real world cash alternative that's taken seriously by everyone from technologists to governments. How did it get to that point? Check out our handy potted history to find out.
If we want to slow down climate change, we should change how we mine Bitcoin
Bitcoin mining isn't good for climate change. According to a new study coming out of the University of Hawaii Manoa, provided that Bitcoin continues its current trajectory it could produce enough emissions to raise global temperatures by 2 degrees Celsius as soon as 2033.
Like Google for CCTV, software could help cops scour surveillance video quickly
Surveillance footage is great, but finding the person you're looking for isn't so easy if you have to comb through hundreds of hours of video. To help, researchers from India have developed a search engine that lets people hunt for individuals in CCTV footage using written descriptions.
Smell like Skynet: IBM creates an A.I. that will design the perfect perfume
IBM's research division has teamed up with master fragrance maker Symrise to create an artificial intelligence that's capable of developing new perfumes, courtesy of IBM’s impressive machine learning technology. Here's how it works, and what makes it so potentially versatile.
Rushing out the door just got faster — CrunchCup lets you eat cereal on the go
Eating cereal on the go isn't easy. Bowls and spoons don't travel well, especially if you're a big fan of milk with your cereal of choice—and who isn't? There's a Kickstarter that could solve all of your problems. CrunchCup makes it possible to take your cereal with you without any mess.
In Norway, a robot will soon be delivering people’s mail
Think traditional mail is outdated? Think again. In Norway, residents will soon have their letters and packages delivered to them by a robot -- thanks to a deal between Posten-Norge, the Norwegian postal service, and automation company Buddy Mobility. Here's what they can expect.
Wishplay’s virtual Halloween delivers a treat to terminally ill children
Being stuck in a hospital can be a miserable experience even if it's just for a few days. If it's longer term, or involves palliative, end-of-life care, it can be very tough. But a new Canadian non-profit called Wishplay hopes to change all that by offering patients free, customized VR experiences.
Computers will soon outsmart us. Does that make an A.I. rebellion inevitable?
At this point, the question isn’t so much “if” AI will ever surpass humans in terms of thinking abilities, it’s “when.” What happens when we reach that point? Charles J. Simon attempts to answer that question in his upcoming book
Cloudy with a chance of drones: Power loss causing some DJI quadcopters to fall
DJI is scrambling to solve a problem with its Matrice 200 drone after reports that a "small number" of the quadcopters had fallen from the sky following sudden power loss. The company said its "thoroughly reviewing each case," and so far no injuries have been reported.
DJI adds a bunch of extras to Mavic 2 for a new search-and-rescue drone
DJI has added extra kit to its compact Mavic 2 drone to create a new flying machine that's ideal for search-and-rescue missions, as well as industrial inspections. The Mavic 2 Enterprise offers spotlights, speakers, a powerful camera, and a self-heating battery, together with enhanced security and safety software.