San Francisco won the battle, but the war on facial-recognition has just begun
San Francisco has become the first city in America to ban facial recognition. Well, kind of. While the ruling only covers certain applications of facial recognition technology, it's nonetheless a very important decision to have been made. Here is why it matters so much.
Think your kid might have an ear infection? This app can confirm it
Researchers at the University of Washington have developed a new artificial intelligence-powered smartphone app that’s able to hear ear infections with high levels of accuracy. Here's how it works -- and, more importantly, when it will be available for download by users.
Get ready to waste your day with this creepily accurate text-generating A.I.
Do you remember the text-generating A.I. created by artificial intelligence research lab OpenA.I. that was supposedly too dangerous to release to the public? Well, someone just released a version of it. Check it out -- and get ready to waste your day making it generate text for you.
Volkswagen is launching a full range of EVs, but it doesn’t want to be Tesla
Volkswagen is preparing to release the 2020 ID.3, an electric, Golf-sized model developed for Europe. It sheds insight into the brand's future EVs, including ones built and sold in the United States. Digital Trends spoke to Volkswagen board member Jurgen Stackmann and learned what it means for the future of VW.
Soaring on air currents like birds could let drones fly for significantly longer
Birds are sometimes able to glide by catching rising air currents, known as thermals. Thanks to U.S. Navy research, this energy-saving technique could also be used by drones to allow them to remain airborne for longer. It could soon be available to regular customers, too.
Google’s Street View cars are helping build a giant map of global air pollution
For the past several years, a growing number of Google’s Street View cars have been doing more than just taking photos. They’ve also been measuring air quality. Here's how they've been doing it -- and what this could mean for solving the global problem of air pollution.
Japan’s latest bullet train begins trial runs that will see it reach 248 mph
Japan has begun testing its next-generation bullet train in trial runs that will see it reach speeds of 248 mph. It’s surely its coolest design to date, too, with the 22-meter-long nose on its front car guaranteed to turn heads.
Amazon’s new fulfillment center machines pack boxes up to 5x faster than humans
Amazon employs thousands of people in its fulfillment centers whose job is to pack customer orders. However, the retail giant is reportedly considering installing new machines capable of packing up to 700 boxes per hour. That is between four and five times the rate of a human packer.
How facial recognition is changing life as we know it – for better or worse
From the police to advertising startups, everyone is investing in state-of-the-art facial recognition technology. Why is this field growing so rapidly, and what does it mean for ordinary citizens? Digital Trends took a deep dive into some of the latest potential applications.
This is what 60 SpaceX internet satellites packed into a rocket look like
SpaceX is gearing up for the launch this week of its first batch of internet satellites as part of its ambitious Starlink project. SpaceX boss Elon Musk posted a photo over the weekend showing 60 of the small satellites packed into the nose cone of a Falcon 9 rocket, all ready to go.
Boeing shows off Starliner test ahead of launch this summer
Ahead of its planned debut launch in August, Boeing has shared a video of its Starliner capsule undergoing a recent parachute test in which it was dropped from a high-altitude balloon. Similar to SpaceX’s Crew Dragon, the Starliner should one day transport astronauts between Earth and the International Space Station.
Remember the summer of 1969? NASA wants to hear memories of the moon landing
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the moon landing. To celebrate this anniversary, NASA is launching an audio project called Apollo Stories which invites the public to submit their memories about where they were when the moon landing happened and what impact the moon landing had on them.
The earliest galaxies shone brightly in the young universe
Observations from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope have shown that the earliest galaxies in the universe were brighter than previously thought, shedding light onto the way that the universe evolved. The earliest galaxies were brighter than scientists expected in certain infrared wavelengths.
Gold on Earth could be result of neutron star collision 4.6 billion years ago
If you enjoy a bit of bling in your life, you could have a billion year old cosmic event to thank for it. Scientists believe that the collision of two neutron stars 4.6 billion years ago could have been the source of some of Earth's heaviest elements, including gold and platinum.
Tiny drone uses A.I. to learn from nature’s best pilot, the hummingbird
One of nature's most remarkable creations is the hummingbird, which flaps its wings up to 80 times per second and which can hover in place and fly in any direction. Now scientists have used machine learning algorithms to study the way these birds fly in order to replicate their abilities in drones.
Mars has its own water cycle, explaining why it lost its water over time
Billions of years ago, Mars used to have water on its surface. But over time, this water was lost. Now scientists have created a computer simulation which shows how water vapor moves through the Martian atmosphere, and which could explain why Mars lost its water over time while Earth did not.
Microalgae could be key to efficient life support system in space
Current life support systems used in space use chemical reactions to create water and oxygen and recycle carbon dioxide. But a new system could use algae to produce oxygen, water, and even food. Tiny plants called microalgae remove concentrated carbon dioxide and turn it into oxygen and plant matter.
This soft and flexible leech-inspired robot can climb walls
A robot called the Longitudinally Extensible Continuum-robot inspired by Hirudinea (LEeCH) can elongate and bend its body to climb walls, just like a leech. It is made from a shower hose with two suction cups attached and is part of a growing trend of soft robots which are flexible and adaptable.
InSight’s solar panels get a spring cleaning from Martian winds
Winds on Mars caused the ultimate demise of the Opportunity rover, but they could also help extend the life of the InSight mission. The same winds that blow dust onto spacecrafts' solar panels can also blow that dust away, so scientists are now studying the way wind affects InSight's power generation.
Historic SpaceX Falcon 9 core to go on public display in Houston
Soon visitors to the Space Center Houston will be able to see one of SpaceX's Falcon 9 rockets that was used for NASA-commissioned missions. It was first launched on June 3, 2017, for a mission to resupply the ISS then was used again six months later for a second mission on December 15, 2017.
In China, a deep brain stimulation implant is being used to treat addiction
Researchers in China have implanted a Deep Brain Stimulation device into a person’s brain to treat their addiction to methamphetamine. The operation, which was carried out at Shanghai’s Ruijin Hospital, is among the first of its kind to have taken place for this purpose.
Jeff Bezos unveils Blue Moon lander in grand plan to return to lunar surface
Blue Origin owner Jeff Bezos on Thursday unveiled Blue Moon, a lander that he says will journey to the lunar surface by 2024. A larger version of the lander will be able to carry astronauts, deliver payloads, deploy rovers, and act as a launch platform for moon-orbiting satellites.
Digital Trends Live: Uber goes public, iPhone XR design leak, and robot butlers
On today’s Digital Trends Live, we discuss today’s trending tech topics, including: Uber goes public, $40 million in bitcoin stolen, the design for the iPhone XR leaks, Blue Origin updates, robot butlers, and using the human ear as a “USB hub” for hearable devices
Like a lens for audio, these metamaterial bricks bend, focus, and amplify sound
Want to beam an audio message to just one member of a crowd? Want an audience to get the same high-quality audio experience? An intriguing new metamaterials project from researchers in the U.K. could deliver exactly that. Here's how it all works -- and what happens next.
With Android built in, Pilot Era stitches 360 in 8K, no computer necessary
Developed by a software company, the Pilot Era can handle 8K 25 fps 360-degree stitches internally, without a computer. Stepping down to 4K brings the frame rate up to 60 fps and allows for live-streaming to Facebook and YouTube. After being teased during CES, the 360 camera is now funding on Indiegogo.
Chicago’s trash-eating river robot is a glimpse into the future of crowdsourcing
From controlling a trash-picking robot on the Chicago River to helping discover new planets, our hyper-connected world is giving the public a host of new tools to help solve some giant problems. Here's why it's so exciting -- and what this all means for the future as we know it.
Digital Trends Live: Google I/O wrap-up, Lyft and Uber strike, and more
On today’s Digital Trends Live, we talk Google I/O conference wrap up, the Lyft and Uber strike, Amazon opens a Go store in New York that will accept cash, Germany opens electric highway for delivery trucks, Japan’s successful rocket launch, 3D organs take a major step, and more.
Changing some code on YouTube could help lower its carbon footprint
The idea of saving the planet by changing a bit of code on YouTube sounds crazy. But it could actually make a surprising amount of difference to the quantities of CO2 pumped into the atmosphere -- and it wouldn’t even involve any change to the overall YouTube user experience.
Sustainability guidelines could help solve the growing problem of trash in space
Not content with trashing our own planet, it seems that humanity has a growing problem with space debris as well. A new set of Space Sustainability Rating guidelines, aimed at future satellite and rocket launches, hopes to help by cracking down on the very worst offenders going forward.
Forget ice — this cooler harnesses the power of the sun to chill your food
It sounds a bit crazy, but a new off-grid cooler called GoSun Chill uses the sun to keep your drinks and food cold. The hotter the day, the better. Here's how you can get your hands on one -- and how this impressive technology works. (Hint: It's to do with solar energy.)
Software upgrade could let smartwatches know exactly what our hands are doing
What if your smartwatch could recognize every movements made by your hands? Researchers from Carnegie Mellon University have figured out a way to capture fine-grained hand activity in smartwatch wearers. Here's why it could make smartwatches more powerful and contextually aware.
Niagara Falls’ iconic Maid of the Mist tourist boats to go electric
Niagara Falls' Maid of the Mist boats are powered by diesel, but not for much longer. From this fall, tourists will step aboard replacements billed as the first all-electric, zero-emissions passenger vessels to be built in the U.S. The experience promises to be greener and quieter, save for the roar of the falls.
After a delayed launch, SpaceX Dragon capsule arrives at the space station
Following its delayed launch last week, SpaceX's Dragon capsule docked successfully with the International Space Station on Monday. The spacecraft is delivering a range of supplies along with a slew of science experiments for the six crew members who are currently aboard the space station.
Digital Trends Live: Spotify vs. Apple, kamikaze drones, and more
On today’s Digital Trends Live, we discuss Spotify’s accusation that Apple monopolizes streaming music, Uber and Lyft drivers' strike, bounty hunters buying wireless location data, Volkswagen’s EV record attempt, QR codes during TV shows, kamikaze drones, a robotic farm sells produce, and more.