Watch India’s historic Chandrayaan-2 mission land a spacecraft on the moon
India is hoping to become the fourth nation make it to the moon when it attempts to land its Chandrayaan-2 robotic spacecraft on Friday afternoon -- and you can watch the historic event live. If successful, the mission will operate on the moon's surface for about a year.
Sphero’s new mini robot kits hone your STEM and soccer skills
Kick and pass your way down the field with Sphero's new soccer-themed mini robot. Then pull out the company's new mini activity kit which is chock full of miniature obstacle building blocks that'll challenge your coding skills.
First-ever image of a black hole wins scientists a $3-million prize
The team of scientists who worked to capture the first-ever image of a black hole 55 million light years from Earth is to receive a $3 million prize for its efforts. The image was unveiled in April 2019 after decades of work to build a powerful virtual telescope spanning eight countries.
A.I. researchers create a facial-recognition system for chimps
Facial recognition technology is pretty great ... for humans. Researchers from the U.K.’s University of Oxford and Japan's Kyoto University are opening that up with a new facial recognition system designed for chimpanzees. Here's why it could actually turn out to be useful.
Facebook will spend $10 million and offer a cash prize to detect deepfakes
Facebook will offer a cash prize to the person or group that can build a next-generation way to detect deepfakes -- and it's even creating its own original deepfakes for participants to work with as part of the new Deepfake Detection Challenge. The deepfakes will feature paid actors, so no user data will part of the program.
Startup has created technology for turning greenhouse gas emissions into soap
A Canadian startup called CleanO2 has come up with a smart way to transform greenhouse gas emissions into cleaning products like hand soap. Here's the technology they've developed, and why its creator thinks that it could pave the way for other clean-tech companies to follow.
Digital Trends Live: YouTube gets fined, paying with your hand at Whole Foods
On this episode of Digital Trends Live, we dig into the biggest trending stories in tech, including a $170 million dollar fine for YouTube child privacy violations, Facebook to stop using facial recognition by default on your photos, paying at Whole Foods with just your hand, and much more.
The Aalto Explorer drone lets people explore under the sea using VR
If you've ever wanted to experience life beneath the waves without getting your feet wet, now's your chance. A project called the Aalto Explorer will let members of the public get a first-person view from an underwater drone using VR. At IFA 2019, Digital Trends spoke with team member Annie Tran about the project.
DJI raises drone prices by 15% because of Trump’s trade war tariffs
China-based drone maker DJI is passing on the cost of President Donald Trump’s latest round of tariffs on imported Chinese goods to American buyers. Following the new 15% tariff increase, DJI has made several alterations to its online catalog and ratcheted up prices of a handful of its drones.
Michigan is the first state in the U.S. to ban flavored ecigarettes
Michigan is the first state to ban flavored ecigarettes, amid rising health concerns for vaping and underage use. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer ordered the ban in response to increased vaping in youth. The prohibition will apply to flavored vape products both online and in stores.
Rice University’s new reactor can transform greenhouse gas into liquid fuel
A team of scientists from Rice University has developed a breakthrough electrocatalysis reactor that’s able to recycle carbon dioxide (CO2) into liquid fuel in the form of purified concentrations of formic acid. Here's why that could prove to be an important development.
NASA teams with European counterparts to stop asteroids from hitting Earth
Asteroid researchers and spacecraft engineers from around the world are meeting in Italy next week to discuss plans for an ambitious space mission that aims to test technology designed to change the orbit of a large asteroid. If successful, it could form the basis of a system to protect Earth from such a threat.
Amazon might let you pay at Whole Foods using only your hand
Amazon is reportedly testing biometric scanning technology that would allow shoppers at Whole Foods to pay for their items with a wave of their hand at the checkout. The system is currently undergoing testing and could be rolled out to the first stores in the early part of next year.
Terrifying new Chinese app Zao lets anyone make a deepfake
Deepfakes have finally gone mainstream with the Chinese app Zao, which spiked on the iOS App Store over the weekend. The app uses facial recognition to replace celebrities’ faces with yours, but it's raising concerns about how your face is being used and who has access to deepfake technology.
Experts think America should consider giving A.I. control of the nuclear button
In news to file under “W” for “What could possibly go wrong,” two U.S. deterrence experts have penned an argument suggesting that it might be time to hand control of the launch button for America’s nuclear weapons over to artificial intelligence. Here's why they believe that.
Astronomers think microbes could be changing Venus’ atmosphere
Venus may be our neighbor in the solar system, but there's still a lot we don't know about the planet, particularly about the clouds that float in its atmosphere. Now, a new study suggests the weather on the planet could be affected by microorganisms similar to those which live in our atmosphere.
Researchers use brain-machine interface to create a sixth sense in rats
A University of Pennsylvania study used a brain-machine interface to create a sixth sense for navigation in rats. Digital Trends spoke with senior author Dr. Tim Lucas about how the technology works and how it could be developed in the future to restore sensory experiences to people suffering from paralysis.
How Moots uses 3D printing to build titanium bikes that last a lifetime
Founded in 1981, Moots has made a name for itself building titanium bikes that last a lifetime. It now uses 3D printing in its design and production, pushing its exotic cycles further into the future. We spent some time with Moots to find out how a new titanium bike goes from concept to the road.
Tomorrow’s jobs: 7 future roles that will exist in the age of automation
Forget Skynet gaining sentience, the real fear a lot of folks have about artificial intelligence and robots is what it means for all of our jobs. The good news: While robots will certainly eliminate certain jobs, new roles will be created as well. Here are seven great examples.
On your mark. Get set. Blow: The race to build a breathalyzer for weed
With the growing legalization of marijuana, a number of research labs and startups are working to develop a breakthrough breathalyzer that can objectively determine whether or not a person is high. Here's why such a tool is required -- and when we can expect it to arrive.
Parrot’s Anafi drone now includes an FPV headset for more thrilling flights
French drone firm Parrot has added a smartphone-powered FPV headset to its Anafi drone package to offer pilots a more thrilling flight experience. The Anafi drone launched last year and offers 4K video, 21-megapixel stills, a top speed of 34 mph, a range of more than two miles, and 26 minutes of flight time.
MIT’s snake robot is designed to crawl through blood vessels in the brain
What’s creepier than a snake robot? Answer: A snake robot that’s designed to crawl through the blood vessels in your brain. That’s exactly what researchers at MIT are working to develop. But, don’t worry, it’s here to help. Here's why it could one day help save someone's life.
Pulse technology uses electricity to defrost frozen windows in just one second
Hate scraping your frozen car windows in winter? Researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Kyushu University have developed a new way of removing ice and frost from surfaces with less than 1% of the energy and 0.01% of the time required for other defrosting methods.
CIMON the flying brain is back on Earth after 14 months in space
A robotic assistant called CIMON recently returned to Earth after spending 14 months on the ISS. The floating robot uses artificial intelligence to interact with astronauts, helping them with tasks and generally behaving like a regular crew member. A more advanced version is now being developed.
Underwater drone now includes a zoom lens and better image stabilization
Fancy exploring the world beneath the waves without getting wet? A year on from its original launch, Youcan Robot's underwater drone now includes a zoom lens and improved image stabilization. The setup lets you control the camera-equipped device from up to 500 meters away, with a real-time feed sent to your smartphone.
Paris tests a noise radar to shut up loud motorcycles and cars
Residents of a suburb in Paris, France have had enough of motorcyclists revving their engines for fun and are planning to install a "noise radar" to bring an end to the practice. The box of tricks can measure noise levels, record the precise position of an offending vehicle, and even issue fines.
Upcoming mission to Jupiter images the planet’s moons from here on Earth
An upcoming mission to Jupiter's moons from the European Space Agency, called the Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer, or JUICE, hasn't even left Earth yet but has already imaged its target of the Jupiter system. The image shows Jupiter surrounded by some of its moons: Europa, Ganymede, Io, and Callisto.
Massive neutron stars smash together, forging gold in an explosive kilonova
The Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory detects gravitational waves by looking at the collisions of black holes and other cosmic bodies, such as the first observed merger between two neutron stars in 2017. Now, a team of astronomers has observed what happens during these epic impacts.
European Space Agency’s ExoMars rover is constructed and ready to explore
NASA's Mars 2020 mission isn't the only the rover headed to the red planet -- the ESA also has the ExoMars project. Recently, construction was completed on the ExoMars rover and soon it will be ready for launch next year. The aim is to discover more about the history of water on the planet.
Jupiter’s recently discovered moons have been named by the public
Last year, researchers from the Carnegie Institution for Science announced they had discovered 12 new moons in orbit around Jupiter. In order to name these newly-discovered bodies Carnegie Science turned to the public for suggestions, and now it has announced the new names for five of the moons.
International Space Station communications get an upgrade, doubling data rate
Components of the Space Network have been upgraded to double the rate at which data can be sent from the ISS back to Earth, allowing faster transfer of scientific information. The new 600 megabits per second (Mbps) connection will help with human spaceflight missions as well as scientific research.
China’s Chang’e 4 lander finds gel-like substance on the far side of the moon
China's Chang'e 4 mission is currently exploring the lesser-known far side of the moon, which faces away from Earth. Previously it found minerals which may have come from deep beneath the lunar surface, and now it has found something even stranger: An oddly-colored gel-like substance of unknown origin.
Is Pluto a planet? NASA administrator and Brian May reignite the debate
In 2006 the International Astronomical Union caused consternation when it declared that Pluto was no longer a planet. Now, NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstein and Queen guitarist and astrophysicist Brian Many have reignited the debate over Pluto's status by coming out in favor of it being a planet.
Celebrate Spitzer’s 16th birthday with these 16 beautiful space images
The Spitzer Telescope launched 16 years ago, in August 2003. To celebrate its sweet sixteen, NASA has shared 16 of the most beautiful space images captured by this infrared telescope. Here you can see nebulas, galaxies, clusters, and more, captured in infrared light which shows glowing dust features.