Who controls the tech inside us? Budding biohackers are shaping ‘cyborg law’
We live in a society of cyborgs. This newfound technological power and vulnerability may need a whole new set of laws and regulations aimed at protecting individuals (their data and enhancements) in a society of heightened surveillance and digitization.
PG&E applies to build Tesla’s largest battery farm yet in Silicon Valley
Pacific Gas & Electric applied to the California Public Utilities Commission for four new energy storage projects, including the largest Tesla Powerpack battery farm in the world. The other projects are third-party owned. PG&E would own the Powerpack storage facility with a potential 1.1 GWh energy capacity.
SpaceX delivers CIMON, along with berries and ice cream, at ISS
CIMON is the world's first flying, autonomous astronaut assistant featuring A.I., and it's heading to the International Space Station. Dubbed "the flying brain," CIMON will work with astronauts on a number of experiments as part of broader research to find out if such A.I. technology could benefit future missions.
Did a drone help a notorious French gangster escape from prison?
A gang that helped one of France's most notorious gangsters escape from prison over the weekend may have used a hobby drone for reconnaissance missions in the months leading up to the jailbreak. The audacious escape involved an armed gang, gas canisters, and a power tool, and was over in just "a few minutes."
Amazon has an idea to stop its delivery drones from being hijacked
If Amazon's drone delivery service ever gets off the ground, it may have an occasional problem with thieves trying to steal items from the flying machines as they make their way to customers. With this in mind, the company has been exploring ideas for how to stop it from happening.
To promote ‘Border Break,’ Sega is building the world’s largest mecha
Guinness is about to get a new world record, and it's not one that you'll see every day. Video game company Sega teamed up with the plastic model creators Kotobukiya in order to construct what will be the world's largest plastic mecha model in history in advance of the Border Break release.
Tear it up on Mars in ‘Red Rover,’ the driving sim built on NASA data
During the festive holiday season in 2016, Alan Chan spent his week’s vacation time off work exploring Mars. In virtual reality, at least. And thanks to his hard work, now you can too. Here's how one intrepid developer turned space images into our most immersive look at the Red Planet yet.
Clever mobile ‘airbag’ could save your phone when (not if) you drop it
If you have a habit of dropping your phone and your case fails to save it, then take a look at this clever design from an engineering student in Germany. The device incorporates four prongs that pop out when it detects the phone is falling, preventing any part of the handset from coming into contact with the ground.
These are the largest Bitcoin mining farms in the world
With all the cryptocurrency hubbub in the world these days, it's not surprise that some giants in the money making market have appeared. Whether they assist others with mining, or do it themselves, here's some of the largest farms and pools in the world.
A huge meteorite just splashed into the ocean, and scientists want to find it
A two-ton rock from the depths of space just plunged into the Pacific Ocean, and researchers want to find it. Fortunately, an oceanic research vessel is nearby, and it’s ready to deploy its high-tech to aid in the search. The Nautilus contains sophisticated sensors and two remote-controlled submarines that can scour the seafloor for fragments.
Japan’s latest attempts at a private aerospace industry goes down in flames
Japan's latest attempts to build a private aerospace industry have hit another snag. Interstellar Technologies latest attempts to launch a rocket into space have gone down in flames.
The Tanita ES-100 will sniff your pits so that you don’t have to
Recognition of a problem is the first step to solving it, and now, there's a new handheld device that will sniff your armpits and other odor-producing regions to let you know exactly how stinky you really are. This new device comes from a company called Tanita, and is called the ES-100. It's only in Japan.
A look into Bitcoin’s troubled year
Last year, Bitcoin seemed nearly unstoppable, but things have changed and not for the better. The currency recently dropped to less than $6,000 which is a far cry from the lofty heights of last year or even earlier this year.
Float off the grid with this solar-powered tiny home houseboat
Full-time residence could be challenging, but Daigno's Le Koroc houseboat is ready for off-grid fishing trips and short-term escapes. The 3-float pontoon boat is light enough to tow to lost lakes and rambling rivers where it can operate as self-contained living and relaxing quarters with minimal environmental impact.
Throw some shade at your office space with voice-controlled, self-tinting glass
Sage Electrochromics unveiled a prototype of its dynamic glass called SageGlass back in 2015, and in the three years since, has further developed its revolutionary product to allow users to control the dynamic tinting of the glass. Its latest innovation comes in the form of Amazon Echo compatibility.
Japanese space probe to begin exploring asteroid Ryugu
After more than three years and hundreds of millions of miles, the Japanese space probe Hayabusa 2 has arrived at its destination. Scientists plan to drop several landers onto the tiny asteroid, and even blast a hole in it. The probe will then retrieve samples of Ryugu and return them to Earth in 2020.
Police used facial recognition software to identify the Capital Gazette shooter
After capturing the Capital Gazette shooting suspect, authorities had trouble figuring out his identity. To determine who he was, Maryland police had to employ some very sophisticated tactics.
It sounds ridiculous, but these beaver bots are designed for disaster zones
Engineers will often look to the natural world to find solutions to problems. That is what a team at the University at Buffalo, New York recently did when it created a beaver-inspired robot which, believe it or not, could turn out to be a lifesaver in a disaster zone.
Scientists can 3D print human heart tissue now. The future is here
One day, 3D bioprinting will be used for printing out entire new organs to replace our old, knackered ones. This week, Chicago-based biotech startup Biolife4D announced a milestone on the road to this goal: Its ability to bioprint human cardiac tissue. Here's why that's important.
Watch this robot tiptoe over stepping stones with human-like grace and agility
Walking across irregularly spaced stepping stones is something even a small kid can manage. It turns out that it's pretty difficult for robots, though -- until now at least. Here's how researchers from the University of California, Berkeley, and Carnegie Mellon cracked it.
Asimo, Honda’s amazing biped, heads to robot retirement home
Honda is retiring its multitalented Asimo robot. But it's not all bad news as many of its talents will be incorporated into other technology produced by the Japanese company, such as mobility aids and autonomous vehicles. Asimo made its first appearance in 2000 but it was in development for 14 years before that.
The future of surveillance: Watch this A.I. security camera spot a shoplifter
Want to stop shoplifting taking place? A.I. Guardman is a smart Japanese security camera which uses a pose detection system that's able to identify suspicious behavior. In the event that this kind of behavior is spotted, it sends an alert to the store owner’s smartphone.
Oxford researchers think we’re probably alone in the universe — here’s why
You don't have to be an X-Files fan to have wondered whether or not humankind is alone in the universe? While the universe is a big place, a new paper published by researchers at Oxford University suggests that there's a good chance that we are indeed. So much for meeting E.T.!
Fishy surveillance system could keep tabs on ocean animals
Researchers are developing a unique system that can autonomously monitor schools of fish using sight and sound. Symbiosis is a system that uses optical and acoustic technologies to detect and identify entire schools, and could offer a noninvasive means of protecting environmental interests.
This Minion-looking robot will nag you to improve your posture as you work
It turns out that even owning a standing desk is no guarantee that you're standing in a healthy way. Called Giiro, this Alexa-connected robot and smart mat will nag you about your posture as you work. Here's how you can get your hands on one -- for your own benefit, of course.
Kids help Volvo and Lego design the construction vehicles of the future
Volvo CE and Lego Technic collaborate with children in designing futuristic construction equipment models. Now in the third year, the focus groups with children have resulted in patents for revolutionary concepts that may influence autonomous electric-powered vehicles on both construction sites and city streets.
This algorithm identifies the key ingredients to winning a debate
A team of researchers at Northeastern University have taken on the task of predicting debate “winners” by deconstructing their arguments, hoping to encourage more meaningful conversations. They’re concern isn’t with fancy rhetoric or theatrics but with sound reasoning and strong arguments.
NASA (again) delays launch of the world’s most powerful telescope
NASA has once again delayed the launch of the James Webb Space Telescope -- the largest and most expensive space telescope in history. The new target launch is March 2021, and the cost of the project has ballooned to $9.6 billion.
Scientists may soon be able to treat autism with CRISPR gene editing
Researchers have shown how CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing can be used to edit out some of the genetic traits commonly associated with autism. While it’s so far been demonstrated only on mice, it raises the possibility of revolutionizing autism treatment for millions of people around the world.
Space-age toothbrush promises to clean your gnashers in 30 seconds flat
What kind of a person has four minutes a day to dedicate to brushing their teeth? Certainly no-one we know. That's why we're excited about Chiiz, a so-called sonic tooth cleaner which promises to shine your gnashers up real nice in just 30 seconds. Here's how to get your hands on it.
Facebook gives up on building its own internet drone
After four years of work, Facebook is ending efforts to build its own internet drone. But the Aquila project to bring internet connectivity to remote parts of the planet will continue, with Facebook instead collaborating with aerospace companies to build drones with the relevant technology.
Pepper the robot is now working at a bank in New York City
Pepper the friendly robot has been given a variety of customer-facing roles in its three-year existence, admittedly with varying degrees of success. Now HSBC is hiring it to perform tasks at its main branch in Manhattan, New York City. The bank says it's aim is to give customers a glimpse of "the branch of the future."
Future pain-free microneedles could be inspired by mosquitos
If you receive a painless injection courtesy of a new microneedle in the near future, you may owe a debt of gratitude to the mosquito. The reason? Because everyone’s least favorite insect is the inspiration behind new work carried out by researchers at Ohio State University.
Spit-checking mouthguard can tell if athletes are tired or mentally drained
Working with flexible hybrid electronics group NextFlex and UC San Diego, Xerox’s legendary PARC development lab has created a smart mouthguard which can detect early signs of dehydration, exhaustion and mental engagement levels, based on nothing more than a sample of your saliva.