The 10 most expensive drones that you (a civilian) can buy
Take a look at the most expensive drones around, from hoverbike drones to advanced surveillance machines.
Underground volcanoes could explain possible liquid water on Mars
Last year, scientists made the discovery that there could be liquid water on Mars beneath the polar ice cap. Now, a different team of researchers has argued that for there to be liquid water, there must be an underground source of heat -- and they believe that underground volcanoes could be responsible.
NASA’s MAVEN orbiter has a new job as a communication relay for Mars 2020
NASA's Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN) mission has been orbiting Mars and collecting readings from the planet's atmosphere for four years. But now the MAVEN orbiter is taking on a new job as a data relay satellite for the Mars 2020 mission that launches next year.
China’s mind-controlled cyborg rats are proof we live in a cyberpunk dystopia
Neuroscience researchers from Zhejiang University have created a method that allows humans to control the movements of rats. They used an EEG cap on a human to detect instructions for movements and sent this information directly into the brain of the rat via microelectrodes.
A.I.-powered website creates freakishly lifelike faces of people who don’t exist
No, this isn't a missing person. It's a face generated by a new artificial intelligence on the website ThisPersonDoesNotExist.com. Just in case you needed a reminder of how freakishly good A.I. is becoming at generating realistic images of people. Here's how the A.I. works.
13 crazy gadgets that could be ingenious or insane
We take a look at 13 eye-catching inventions and ask whether they're brilliant or bonkers. Do we need a sleep robot, smart belt, laundry folding machine, or bionic bird? Decide for yourself as we explain what each of these crazy gadgets is designed to do and what they'll cost you if you decide they're a genius idea.
Photosynthesizing artificial leaf may be the air-cleaning tool we’ve dreamed of
Engineers from the University of Illinois at Chicago have invented an artificial leaf which promises to be up to 10 times more efficient than the real thing when it comes to carrying out photosynthesis. The results could both clean up our air and provide a cost-effective type of fuel.
Yuneec Mantis Q review
Yuneec’s high-end drones are arguably the ones to beat in terms of flight control, design, and their photographic capabilities. But the company has struggled to make a low-end drone that makes sense, and the Mantis Q is no exception. It’s missing functionality that should be included in a drone at its price point.
Exploding vape pen battery starts fire on SkyWest flight
A vape pen battery caused a fire in an overhead bin on a SkyWest Airlines flight in New York City on Wednesday. Fortunately the plane was still on the ground and no one was injured. It's the latest in a string of incidents where faulty lithium-ion batteries have caused gadgets to catch fire.
Airbus will stop making the world’s biggest passenger plane
Airbus announced this week that it will stop building the world's biggest passenger plane in 2021. The maker of the double-decker A380 said a changing market and lack of orders gave it little choice but to end production. The plane went into service in 2007 and currently flies with around 16 airlines.
Words are so 2018. The Peeqo robot speaks exclusively in GIFs and video clips
Move over, Amazon Echo and Google Home! Peeqo is a cute robot that will answer your spoken word questions by displaying a specially selected short video or GIF. Because, you know, it’s 2019 and nobody feels comfortable talking to one another the old-fashioned way anymore.
NASA’s ‘Refabricator’ lets astronauts recycle 3D-printed tools to make new ones
The International Space Station just received a fancy new gadget in the form of a Refabricator, an integrated recycler and 3D printer. It is designed to turn recyclable plastics into 3D printable material that can be used on long-haul space missions. Here's how it works.
With CabinSense, cars will soon know who’s riding in them and respond accordingly
What if your car could know who is sitting in every seat and customize the entertainment and safety options accordingly? That’s what Israel-based company Eyesight Technologies promises with its newly announced CabinSense in-car Occupancy Monitoring System. Here's how it works.
After a record-setting 15 years, NASA ends Opportunity rover’s tour of Mars
NASA has officially called it quits on its record-setting Mars rover Opportunity, eight months after last hearing from the lander. The space agency had been attempting to make contact with the rover since communications went dark following an intense dust storm in 2018.
Groundbreaking new technique can turn plastic waste into energy-dense fuel
The world has a waste plastic problem. Chemists from Purdue University have a potentially game changing solution: They want to turn it into a high-quality gasoline or diesel-like fuel. Here's the process they've developed to make that ambitious dream a possible reality.
Caltech’s bird-inspired robot uses thrusters to help stay on its feet
Researchers have developed a new bird-inspired robot that uses thrusters on its torso to help it stay on its feet. The resulting movement is somewhere between hovering and walking. Here's why Leonardo could solve a challenge that has been facing robot designers for years.
After Kepler kicks the bucket, NASA releases its final image
The final images from the Kepler Space Telescope have arrived. After nearly a decade of operation, NASA’s groundbreaking telescope ran out of fuel last year and was placed into permanent sleep mode on October 30. But days earlier, it captured one last image — a full view of the sky.
Own a drone? New rule means you have to change the way IDs are displayed
Registered drone owners will need to place their machine's ID number on the outside of their aircraft from February 23 in accordance with a new rule from the Federal Aviation Administration. Terror-related concerns mean the ID can no longer be placed inside the drone's battery compartment.
Ford’s ingenious bed for couples keeps mattress hogs in their own half
Drawing on its autonomous-car technology, Ford has come up with a smart bed that promises a better night's sleep for couples. Using sensors and a conveyor belt, Ford claims its high-tech bed can prevent so-called "space invaders" from straying onto the other half of the mattress during the night.
Forget police helicopters, California cops are using drones to spot suspects
In a joint venture involving California’s Chula Vista Police Department and drone cloud platform Cape, police drones were used to aid in the arrest of 20 suspects over the course of three months. Here's how the drones were used and what this means for their future in law enforcement.
Atomo’s ‘molecular coffee’ is brewed without needing to harvest coffee beans
Coffee beans, huh? Who needs ‘em? Apparently not the folks behind Seattle-based startup Atomo, who recently took to Kickstarter with their promise of a 'molecular coffee,' which offers the great taste of a cup of Joe, minus the need for a single coffee bean to be harvested.
This insect-sized drone can fly without any moving parts. How? Physics
Researchers from UC Berkeley have built one of the smallest flying robots ever made. Not only does the insect-scale robot boast no moving parts whatsoever, but its atmospheric ion thrusters allow it to move completely silently. Could it be coming soon to a sky near you?
Singapore uses its smart city tech to help citizens cut through the red tape
Like many governments, Singapore’s puts citizens through plenty of red tape. But as part of its smart-city initiatives, the government is using tech to help guide residents through “moments of life,” such as enrolling kids in schools, obtaining a driver’s license, or even dealing with bereavement.
The best drone photos
Drone technology has advanced exponentially over the last few years, and costs have dropped substantially. Most drones come equipped with high-end cameras, which are quickly changing photography as we know it. Here are some of the best drone photos from around the world.
Mars One Ventures’ promise of a one-way ticket to planet goes up in red dust
Mars One Ventures -- a Swiss company that once promised to establish a permanent human settlement on the Red Planet -- has filed for bankruptcy. It marks the end of a company that claimed it had big things in its future, but which ultimately fizzled under its grand expectations.
U.K. company sets a record for world’s largest 3D-printed rocket engine
U.K. startup Orbex has unveiled the world’s largest 3D-printed rocket engine. The rocket is up to 30 percent lighter and 20 percent more efficient than other similarly sized rockets. It can also better withstand high temperature and pressure. Here's how it will be used.
This oddball Japanese robot will fold your clothes and do your laundry
Hate doing your own laundry? A Japanese robotics startup, Mira Robotics, created a telepresence robot which lets you hire another person to remotely fold your clothes for you, via machine. Here's how it works and when you'll hopefully be able to give it a go for yourself.
Does a steam-powered spacecraft hold the key to exploring the solar system?
Steam power might be poised to make a comeback. Researchers at University of Central Florida have built an experimental spacecraft that runs on steam — and it’s not nearly as ridiculous as it might sound.
Wireless charging is convenient, but power over distance remains a challenge
We’ve gotten pretty used to Qi wireless charging for our smartphones, which works through contact on a pad, but what about the prospect of wireless charging over distance? We look at the current landscape, analyze the big players, and discuss what’s next for wireless charging near and far.
Virgin Galactic donates record-breaking SpaceShipTwo rocket to the Smithsonian
Private space company Virgin Galactic recently donated the record-breaking rocket motor of SpaceShipTwo — aka VSS Unity — to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. The rocket powered Unity to the edge of space at almost three times the speed of sound in a test mission on December 13, 2018.
InSight places a heat shield over its seismometer, is very proud of itself
NASA's InSight lander carefully placed its seismometer, called the Seismic Experiment for Interior Structure (SEIS), on the Martian surface at the end of last year. Now the lander has successfully lowered a shield over the seismometer to protect it from the harsh Martian environment.
Caltech sees supernovae, black holes ‘Ned Stark’ and ‘Jon Snow’ shredding stars
A new astronomical project, the Zwicky Transient Facility, is surveying the sky from Caltech's Palomar Observatory and has released its first set of results. It has observed more than one billion stars and has made a wealth of discoveries, from 50 small near-Earth asteroids to more than 1,100 supernovae.
Get a glimpse of the ocean floor with remarkable images of deep sea creatures
A team from the Schmidt Ocean Institute in Palo Alto, California, have shared remarkable images from their expeditions to the depths. The vessel Falkor traveled off the coast of Costa Rica to collect information about deep sea ecosystems which host specialized biological communities.
Curiosity says goodbye to the Vera Rubin Ridge with a 360 video
The Curiosity rover has been exploring the Vera Rubin Ridge on Mars for more than a year now, and it is time for the explorer to move on to new areas of the planet. But before it departs, Curiosity has captured a 360 video of its final drill site -- an area that scientists have nicknamed Rock Hall.