DARPA’s next robotics competition is an obstacle course in an abandoned mine
Kicking off this week, the DARPA Subterranean Challenge will put 11 robotics teams through their paces in a simulated disaster scenario in a defunct mine system in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The ultimate goal is to create robot rescuers able to navigate effectively underground.
Europe’s free land could house enough wind turbines to power the world
Think wind turbines aren't a realistic means of powering the world? An international team of researchers have worked out that there is, in fact, sufficient available land in Europe to house the millions of wind turbines necessary to do the job. All the way through 2050, too.
Domino’s swerves around traffic by expanding its ebike pizza delivery service
Your Domino’s pizza could now be delivered to you via ebike, according to an announcement from the pizza company. Through a partnership with Rad Power Bikes, Domino’s is hoping to solve the problems of traffic congestion and the difficulty of finding parking for those delivering pizza in a car.
NASA wants your help developing autonomous robots to explore other worlds
NASA is asking for your help to create the autonomous robots which could one day explore the moon, Mars, and beyond. It has launched the second phase of its Space Robotics Challenge, searching for bright ideas from the public to develop robots to assist future astronauts on long-duration missions.
The best deepfakes on the web: Baby Elon, Ryan Reynolds Wonka, and beyond
Deepfakes, the A.I.-aided face-swapping technology that threatens the future of truth as we know it, are everywhere. But while some of the potential applications are pretty darn unnerving, some of them are just plain fun as well. Here's a selection of the very best we've seen.
The future has arrived. Want proof? Check out these amazing robotic exoskeletons
From Aliens’ Power Loader to the Combat Jackets from Edge of Tomorrow, science fiction is full of amazing assistive robot exosuits that can be worn by humans to increase their capabilities. But real life is fast catching up with sci-fi. Here are some of the most exciting real examples.
Dead planets give off ghostly radio waves which we should be able to detect
Dead planets orbiting dead stars can give off ghostly radio wave emissions that can be detected from Earth, allowing us to track planets even after their stars have run out of fuel. Astronomers have proposed we could tune into radio waves given off by cores of exoplanets which orbit around white dwarfs.
The sun shakes the solar system with interplanetary shocks
The sun shakes the solar system by sending out dramatic interplanetary shocks, and NASA has observed these shocks for the first time, using its Magnetospheric Multiscale mission. MMS consists of four spacecraft which have been in orbit around Earth since 2015, moving through our planet's magnetosphere.
Virtual universe machine models galaxies to learn about dark matter
Researchers are discovering new facts about our universe by creating a virtual universe machine that models the way galaxies develop over time. A team from the University of Arizona created a computer simulation of 12 million different galaxies, stretching back 400 million years after the Big Bang.
Telescope array discovers a trove of ancient, massive galaxies
Huge, billion-year-old galaxies have been hiding in plain sight, according to a new study. Astronomers discovered 39 ancient, massive galaxies by combining data from different telescopes around the world. They were hard to find because the light they give off is very faint, and they are obscured by dust.
Icy snowball planets may not be as inhospitable to life as previously thought
Astronomers have long assumed that, in order to be habitable, an exoplanet should be a rocky planet within the habitable zone (the distance at which water can exist on a planet's surface as a liquid). But a new study suggests that even icy planets could be theoretically capable of supporting life.
Why tech companies are ill-equipped to combat the internet’s deepfake problem
How do you solve a problem like deepfakes? It’s a question that everyone from tech companies to politicians are having to ask with the rise of A.I. manipulated video and images. Here's why it's such a major challenge -- and whether or not there's any way of answering it.
Space radiation can damage mice’s brains and cause anxiety, study shows
Out in the depths of space, far from the protection of Earth's atmosphere, radiation lurks. Space radiation causes sickness and increases the lifetime risk of cancer in astronauts, and now scientists have shown that exposure to radiation can cause damage to the brains of mice and affect their behavior.
Curiosity rover celebrates its 7th birthday by investigating a clay mystery
The Mars rover Curiosity just celebrated its seventh birthday, having been exploring Mars since it landed in 2012. And it's busy as ever, recently drilling its 22nd hole in the Martian rock. Curiosity is now halfway along its path through a region called the "clay-bearing unit."
Beautiful emission nebula is 100 light-years wide and shaped like a seagull
The stunning Seagull Nebula is so named because its shape suggests a bird with wings spreading out across space. The nebula is massive, spanning 100 light-years across, and was recently shown off in an image that was captured by the European Southern Observatory's VLT Survey Telescope.
Hubble images Jupiter, our Solar System’s most beautiful planet
Arguably our Solar System's most beautiful planet, Jupiter, has been imaged in stunning detail by the Hubble Space Telescope. The image shows more intense colors than previous images of the planet, showing off the dramatic cloud formations which move in bands, giving the planet its striped appearance.
Engineers test Mars 2020 rover’s vision, find it is 20/20
NASA's Mars 2020 rover has been been given an unusual eye exam to test the cameras it will use to see and navigate around the Martian surface. There are a large number of cameras on board the rover for different purposes, including two Navcams, four Hazcams, the SuperCam, and two Mastcam-Z cameras.
Amazon and Postmates’ delivery robots heading to more sidewalks in the U.S.
More and more companies are developing autonomous wheel-based robots in an effort to expand their last-mile delivery operations. Amazon and Postmates are two such players aiming to get the most out of the technology, with both companies moving forward with trial deliveries using the machines.
Clever new language-learning app lets you practice speaking with an A.I. tutor
Many people would like to be able to speak another language. But being self-conscious about making mistakes and getting judged for it can put plenty of people off. That’s where an A.I.-powered voice recognition language app called Rype GO enters the picture. Here's how it works.
Meet Astro, the next-gen spacesuit designed for the moon, Mars, and beyond
The company responsible for designing the classic spacesuits for NASA’s Apollo program has just unveiled its next-generation prototype astronaut suit for future space missions to the moon and beyond. Here's what makes the new Astro spacesuit so cutting edge and exciting.
Watch NASA’s Orion spacecraft engines show off their awesome power
NASA is planning to send astronauts to the moon again in just a few years from now. But there's plenty of work ahead if it's to stick to its 2024 mission plan. This includes ensuring the Orion spacecraft's propulsion system does what it’s supposed to do in every conceivable scenario.
These smart batteries recharge in under 2 hours and outlast standard lithium-ion
Pale Blue lithium polymer (LiPo) smart batteries, currently in a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign, can be fully recharged in less than two hours more than 1,000 times with a unique USB charging method.
You can get your hands on the Drone Racing League’s latest aerial speedster
The Drone Racing League has unleashed its latest aerial speedster, the next-generation DRL Racer4. Capable of accelerating from 0 to 90 mph in less than a second, this may be the zippiest drone yet. Here's how can get your hands on a consumer version to put through its paces.
An ultrathin wood membrane can help filter the salt out of salt water
Looking for a sustainable way to filter the salt out of salt water to make it drinkable? Researchers at Princeton and other universities have found a groundbreaking way to carry out this process with the help of an ultrathin membrane of ordinary wood. Here's how it works.
Watch SpaceX catch a rocket nose cone in a giant net on a ship
Having pretty much perfected the art of rocket landings, SpaceX is now trying to work out how to catch a rocket fairing in a giant net on a ship in the ocean. On Tuesday, the private space company managed to achieve the feat for a second time, and posted a video of it online.
Biologists create an ‘eyeball on a chip’ that actually blinks
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Engineering and Applied Science have developed a human eye replica that’s actually capable of tearing up and blinking. Here's why they've created it -- and, no, it isn't because they're building a Terminator-style robot.
Don’t speak: This wearable lets you give voice commands without saying a word
Imagine if you had a smart A.I. assistant in your head, capable of silently feeding you external information whenever you required it, without you needing to say a single word? That's exactly what MIT postdoctoral researcher Arnav Kapur has developed. Here's how it works.
Rocket Lab wants to reuse its boosters by catching them with a helicopter
Small-satellite launcher Rocket Lab wants to follow in SpaceX's footsteps by creating a reusable rocket system. But whereas SpaceX brings its booster back in a controlled landing, Rocket Lab has an altogether different plan that involves a helicopter catching it in the sky.
SpaceX launches a twice-flown rocket to deploy one massive satellite
SpaceX successfully deployed a communications satellite for Israeli firm Spacecom on Tuesday. The successful mission marked the third outing for this particular Falcon 9 first-stage booster, and came three years after the loss of a $200 million Spacecom satellite in a Falcon 9 launchpad explosion.
Want a robotic tail? Well, Japanese scientists built one for you anyway
Ever wanted a robot tail? Developed by researchers at Keio University in Japan, this artificial biomimicry-inspired tail is designed to help improve the balance of wearers. Here's how it works -- and why its creators think it could one day be used as a serious work tool.
Watch live as SpaceX launches (but doesn’t land) a rocket tonight
SpaceX will launch the AMOS-17 satellite into orbit using its Falcon 9 rocket on Wednesday, and you can watch the event via livestream. The rocket carrying the satellite will take off at approximately 3:53 p.m. PT from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station's Space Launch Complex 40 in Florida.
Comcast rolls out ultra-cheap internet to millions of low-income Americans
Comcast has offered its Internet Essentials low-cost internet access program since 2012. However, Monday's announcement marks the single most significant expansion of the program yet: effective immediately, almost any low-income customer qualifies for low-cost service.
NEC’s passenger drone takes to the skies in somewhat cautious test flight
More and more companies are developing battery-powered vertical take-off and landing aircraft, with the latest effort shown off this week by Japanese tech firm NEC. The pilotless test flight, which took place inside a cage-like structure for safety purposes, saw the machine stay airborne for about 40 seconds.
SpaceX makes it easier for small satellite operators to reach space
SpaceX is ramping up its commercial efforts with a new program offering regularly scheduled, dedicated rideshare missions for small satellite operators. Until now, smaller operators had to join a mission for a larger company, but this can entail long waits, or disruption if the main company has to delay the launch.