Prepare for liftoff! Here are all the moon missions happening in the next decade
Fifty years after the Apollo 11 mission first put astronauts on the moon, the next 10 years is looking poised to be the most significant period in lunar history in decades. What do we have to look forward to? Here, we outline what the next decade looks like as the Space Race heats up once again.
Digital Trends Live: Google Stadia update, 2020 Corvette, SpaceX Crew Dragon
On this episode of Digital Trends Live, hosts Greg Nibler and Drew Prindle discuss the biggest trending stories in tech, including more information on Google Stadia, the new 2020 Corvette, SpaceX tests the Crew Dragon capsule, a new Digital Trends series on the Apollo 11 mission to the moon, and more.
How pioneering pilot Jackie Cochran helped and hurt the Women in Space Program
Before Valentina Tereshkova became the first woman in space, Jackie Cochran funded the Women in Space Program. The pioneering pilot, who became the first woman to break the sound barrier and played a major role in efforts during World War II, never realized her dream of venturing into space.
A.I. cameras could help stomp out wildfires before they become disastrous
This summer marks one year since California’s deadliest and most destructive wildfire season ever. Could cutting-edge technology help avoid future incidents? The folks behind Bee2FireDetection certainly believe that it can. They’ve developed technology aimed at helping spot fires earlier.
Watch SpaceX’s parachute tests for its soon-to-be-manned Crew Dragon capsule
SpaceX is developing its Crew Dragon capsule to ferry astronauts to the International Space Station, but there have been some challenges along the way, such as in April when a capsule exploded during testing due to a leaky valve. Now, a new video shows the parachute systems for the capsules being tested.
Life after launch: Inside the massive effort to preserve NASA’s space artifacts
The Apollo 11 mission put a man on the moon, but NASA didn’t necessarily preserve every step of the process. Researchers are trying to rescue the history on Earth and on the moon.
Dark side of the moon: Why lunar landing conspiracies flourish online
Half a century after humans first walked on the moon, there are still people who doubt it happened. Although the internet has connected people around the world to each other and the collective knowledge of humanity, conspiracy theories are not just persisting but thriving on social media.
Elon Musk says SpaceX’s Starship can land on the moon by 2021
SpaceX boss Elon Musk says he believes its Starship spacecraft can land on the moon by 2021, adding that he hopes his company can help to build a "permanently occupied lunar base" there. However, the comments came a few days before a prototype Starship rocket suffered a fiery mishap during a ground test this week.
Trippy VR demo reads your brain waves to create sleep-inducing visuals
Struggle to get to sleep at night? Researchers in the Exertion Games Lab at Australia’s RMIT University have been experimenting with ways to combine a person’s brain activity with virtual reality headsets to create a kind of VR lullaby machine. Here's how it works -- and what's next.
Ride in style with the Xiaomi Mi electric scooter for $97 less post-Prime Day
Scooters started out as a plaything for kids. They weren’t necessarily something an adult would use. But now scooters are larger and have become a common and efficient means to go around the city, like the Xiaomi Mi electric scooter. It's available on Amazon as a post-Prime Day deal for $97 less. Just shell out $399.
Implant restores sight in blind patients by beaming images directly to the brain
Engineers have developed a new neural implant which could help completely blind people by bypassing non-functioning optical nerves and inputting images directly into their brain. It has already resulted in partial sight being restored to six participants in an experimental study.
Canadian medical project demonstrates the health care potential of smart homes
A medical project involving smart homes demonstrates the technology's potential in treating mental illness and providing patients with a level of independence previously thought impossible. Devices such as automated pill dispensers, blood pressure meters, and more allow doctors to monitor patients from afar.
IBM’s Wimbledon-watching A.I. is poised to revolutionize sports broadcasts
IBM has developed a smart artificial intelligence with an appreciation for what makes a great tennis match. On display at the recent Wimbledon, it was used to create highlights packages. Here's how IBM developed it -- and why tools like it are the future of sport broadcasting.
6 questions we have about Elon Musk’s Neuralink brain interface technology
Elon Musk's Neuralink sounds like an exciting leap forward for human-computer relations, but brain implants raise the specter of Black Mirror-esque privacy invasions and horror. We’ve got a few questions about how this would work – and if it’s even a good idea.
Digital Trends Live: Emoji Day, Apollo 11 broadcast, drone flamethrowers
On this episode of Digital Trends Live, we discuss the biggest trending stories in tech, including the celebration of Emoji Day, Google Maps' bike share information, the Nintendo Switch extends battery life, an Apollo 11 “real-time” broadcast, and a functional flamethrower attachment for your drone.
SpaceX’s Starhopper rocket bursts into flames during tests
SpaceX ran into trouble Tuesday evening when a small fire erupted from the engine of a prototype rocket it was testing at the company’s facility in Boca Chica, Texas. It's not clear if the fire caused any damage to the rocket itself
With object tracking, the lightweight DJI Ronin-SC is still heavy on features
Designed for mirrorless cameras, the DJI Ronin-SC packs several features from the Ronin-S -- and then some -- into a lighter, one-handed gimbal. Despite the smaller size, the DJI Ronin-S adds new object tracking, expanded remote control, and new position locks for easier balancing.
Genetically modified plants could help get to the root of climate change
Salk Institute researchers have been investigating ways to engineer plants so that they grow with more robust and deeper roots, capable of storing increased amounts of carbon underground for longer. This could reduce the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere. Here's what they have done.
It sounds like utter madness, but you can now buy a flamethrower drone
The TF-19 WASP Flamethrower Drone is a quadcopter attachment for commercially available drones which, according to its creators, 'allows users to ignite aerial and ground targets from miles away.' It's available to buy starting tomorrow. Now what could possibly go awry?
Elon Musk’s Neuralink wants to start operating on human brains next year
Elon Musk shed more light on his secretive Neuralink company on Tuesday, revealing new technology for brain surgery that would allow people with paralysis to use thoughts to control computing devices. But he said that Neuralink’s ultimate goal was to “achieve a sort of symbiosis with A.I.”
Digital Trends Live: Twitter’s redesign, Libra’s possible delay, Neuralink
On this episode of Digital Trends Live, host Greg Nibler and DT Content Manager Hanif Jackson discuss the biggest trending stories in tech, including a Twitter redesign, Facebook may delay Libra, Neuralink gets its first public event, growing food in space, and the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11.
See how a life-sized astronaut was built from LEGO bricks
In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the moon landing, LEGO has unveiled this life-sized model of an astronaut, constructed entirely from LEGO bricks. The model of the Apollo 11 lunar module pilot is based on the suit which Neil Armstrong wore when he made his historic small step onto the moon.
Photorealistic A.I. tool can fill in gaps in images, including faces
Chinese researchers at Sun Yat-sen University and Beijing’s Microsoft Research lab have developed a smart new artificial intelligence system which can accurately fill in blank areas in an image, whether that’s a missing face or the front of a building. Here's how it works.
MIT’s new drone can hover like a quadcopter, soar like a plane
Researchers at MIT have developed a new type of drone which can turn on a dime from hovering like an ordinary quadcopter to swooping and gliding like a fixed-wing airplane. In doing so, it could solve some of the biggest challenges which exist with modern drones. Here's how.
Space food: Humble chili pepper to become first fruit grown in space
The Española chili pepper could become the first fruiting plant to be grown and harvested in space as part of an experiment taking place soon on the International Space Station. If successful, it will expand the range of foods able to be used for future, more ambitious missions to planets such as Mars.
This compact drone gun can down a rogue quadcopter at 500 meters
The latest drone gun from DroneShield is its most compact yet and can be comfortably operated with one hand. The DroneGun MkIII can tackle rogue drones up to 500 meters away, using jamming technology to take control of the machine before landing it safely. Target customers include operators of airports and prisons.
SpaceX finally knows what caused its Crew Dragon capsule to explode
SpaceX and NASA say they finally know what caused its Crew Dragon capsule to explode during an April test of the spacecraft’s thruster system. It's now unlikely that the capsule will be used for crewed spaceflight before the end of the year.
Watch live: Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins reflect on the moon landing
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the famous Apollo 11 mission to the moon, which launched on July 16, 1969, NASA will hold a live broadcast featuring a retrospective on the historic mission and presentations by the astronauts involved. You can watch the event live on July 16 at 6:15 a.m. PT.
Like the real thing, this robot ant colony is more than the sum of its parts
Researchers from Switzerland's EPFL institute have built a robot ant colony, consisting of tiny 10-gram robots which are able to communicate with one another, assign roles among themselves, and work together to complete tasks. Here's why they could prove to be so useful.
Airport hotel builds a full-sized flight simulator into one of its guest rooms
Aviation fans flying out of Tokyo's Haneda Airport, there's a new hotel room designed just for you. It features a full-size Boeing 737-800 flight simulator, though you'll have to pay extra to use it. The Haneda Excel Hotel Tokyu opens the room this week, with flight lessons offered by a qualified flight instructor.
Save with Prime Day deals on DNA kits from Ancestry, 23andme, and Living DNA
While you might not expect it, Prime Day is actually a great time to order a DNA kit. Over the years, kits from various providers have been deeply discounted -- and this year's no exception. Prime Day 2019 features sales on kits from AncestryDNA, 23andMe, and Living DNA.
Flyboard Air soars over Paris during France’s national day celebrations
Franky Zapata, the inventor of the jet-powered Flyboard Air, showed off his machine during France's Bastille Day celebrations on Sunday. The impressive display was even given a nod of approval by French President Emmanuel Macron. The Flyboard Air can fly for 10 minutes at a time and reach speeds of up to 87 mph.
NASA thinks 3D-printing spacecraft parts in orbit will help Moon to Mars mission
NASA awarded a $73.7 million contract to Made in Space to demonstrate how a small spacecraft named Archinaut One will manufacture and assemble parts while in low-Earth orbit. NASA believes that the technology will change future space exploration, including its Moon to Mars initiative.
Stallone in Terminator 2? How one deepfake prankster is changing cinema history
Ever wanted to see The Shining with Jim Carrey instead of Jack Nicholson? How about Stallone in Terminator 2: Judgement Day? Thanks to the unnerving magic of deepfake AI technology, this kind of fantasy recasting is now possible -- as one creator ably demonstrates.