Science fiction writer Isaac Asimov introduced the ‘Three Laws of Robotics’ in his 1942 short story, Runaround. The laws, paraphrased, are as follows. First Law: A robot may not harm a human or, through inaction, allow a human to be harmed. Second Law: A robot must obey the order … | Continue reading
Bill Gates has thrown his weight – and his money – behind a Californian startup that believes it can make a rich, fatty spread akin to butter, using just carbon dioxide and hydrogen. And 'butter' is just the start, with milk, ice-cream, cheese, meat and tropical oils also in deve … | Continue reading
Europe's newest heavy-lift rocket roared into space today as the Ariane 6 booster lifted off from the Kourou Spaceport in French Guiana at 4:00 pm GFT (19:00 GMT). Designated VA262, the inaugural flight carried a variety of payloads into orbit. Continue Reading Category: Space, S … | Continue reading
Most mid-size three-row vehicles offer a choice between seven passengers or seven passengers’ stuff. But not simultaneously. I have a family of five. When we go somewhere, we bring a lot of stuff: folding chairs, musical instruments, snacks, sunscreen, extra shoes – all of the ac … | Continue reading
Chicago-based nonprofit World Bicycle Relief (WBR) doesn't distribute just any type of bicycle – it distributes bicycles meant to navigate the unimproved roads and rough terrain of developing nations, empowering populations to access healthcare, education and economic opportuniti … | Continue reading
Artificial-turf sports and playground fields may be more durable and require less maintenance than those covered in natural grass, but they also get very hot during warm weather. Scientists have devised a natural method of cooling them – and the cities they're in – using rainwate … | Continue reading
The Shop: Roland Sands Design Continue Reading Category: Motorcycles, Transport Tags: Indian Motorcycles, Custom Bikes, Roland Sands Designs, Motorcycle | Continue reading
The ratio of guide dogs to blind people in China is roughly one service pooch for every 40,000 people. Researchers are currently developing a six-legged, AI-enhanced robodog to close the gap and safely guide users to their destinations. Continue Reading Category: Robotics, Techno … | Continue reading
Portuguese woodworking specialist MadeiGuincho has followed up its impressive Terra m1 with another striking tiny house in the same vein. The Terra m2_Tiny House on Wheels features an unusual interior layout spread over three levels that maximizes available space, and is topped b … | Continue reading
Whether you're working outdoors or just taking a leisurely stroll, keeping your cool on a hot and sticky summer day can be a struggle. But a new Kickstarter campaign may have just the thing for a quick but lasting cooldown. Continue Reading Category: Wearables, Technology Tags: C … | Continue reading
The microbiome’s central role in regulating the gut-brain axis and impacting health has gained prominence in the past decade. Prior research has linked the composition of gut bacteria to brain-related conditions like depression, PTSD and Alzheimer’s disease, and multiple sclerosi … | Continue reading
CMAX Systems' building-in-a-box seems almost too good to be true. It offers a solid-floored, robust, habitable structure, 19 ft long by 7.4 ft wide (5.8 x 2.25 m) with a ceiling height of 7.2 ft (2.2 m), so only a handful of pro basketball players would brush their heads on the c … | Continue reading
A recent ITER workshop bringing together almost 50 CEOs and senior scientists from private fusion startups suggests that combining the technologies from magnetic and laser fusion experiments could accelerate the development of practical fusion power. Continue Reading Category: En … | Continue reading
For the first time, scientists have successfully created a type of mouse with a 100% functional human immune system and human-like gut microbiome. This 'humanized' mouse takes the guesswork out of medical research and has the potential to revolutionize how we test new drugs and u … | Continue reading
An amphibian has lived up to its name, swapping out its usual green coloring for bright blue, in the first-ever record of a magnificent tree frog with this appearance. It's stunned scientists, who know they're unlikely to see this again. Continue Reading Category: Biology, Scienc … | Continue reading
Shoes with motorized wheels could revolutionize the manner in which gamers walk through VR worlds. Currently being developed by UK/US startup Freeaim, the clever kicks are essentially little wearable treadmills. Continue Reading Category: Virtual Reality, Technology Tags: Gaming, … | Continue reading
German manufacturer Schwalbe has revealed what it says will become the industry standard in bicycle tire valve systems. Known as Clik Valve, the setup is claimed to be much easier to use than existing systems, and to boost air flow by up to 50%. Continue Reading Category: Bicycle … | Continue reading
Brompton went electric back in 2017, and has since launched a number of tasty folding ebikes. But even its lightest is heavier than the Flit M2, and is a good deal pricier too. First announced in 2022, the Brompton killer is now up for pre-order. Continue Reading Category: Bicycl … | Continue reading
The Cosmic One is a prefabricated micro house that comes in multiple configurations and can serve as an accessory dwelling unit (ADU), a tiny house, or even a full-time family home. It can optionally run off-the-grid and features a compact interior that doesn't skimp on home comf … | Continue reading
The National Association for Stock Car Racing and Swiss multinational ABB have partnered to "push the boundaries of electrification" in the sport and beyond. The first fruit was revealed at the Chicago Street Race – a 1,000-kW EV prototype racer. Continue Reading Category: Automo … | Continue reading
While you're more likely to win the lottery, or be bitten by another person, than become a tasty snack for a great white, shark attacks live rent-free in the human psyche, alongside quicksand, nuclear war and aliens. However, reports of shark attacks have been on the rise for dec … | Continue reading
The World Health Organization's (WHO) cancer research agency has delivered a damning report on powdered mineral talc, calling it "probably" cancer-causing to humans, mainly because of powders being unknowingly contaminated with asbestos. Continue Reading Category: Medical, Scienc … | Continue reading
Writing comedy is hard. Humor is often subjective, so what you find funny, others may not. And comedy writers need to remember to include critical ingredients: timing, delivery, originality, and avoiding cliché. They are constantly walking the line between funny and unfunny. Cont … | Continue reading
In the world of solar cell technology, perovskite materials are poised to take on the current reigning champion silicon, but their stability is holding them back. Now, scientists in China have developed a new type of hybrid perovskite that boasts a very good efficiency over a lon … | Continue reading
Europe will be back in the heavy lift rocket business on July 9, 2024 when the Ariane 6 lifts off on its maiden flight carrying almost a dozen satellites and experiments. The launch window at Kourou, French Guiana opens at 2:00 pm EDT. Here's how to watch. Continue Reading Catego … | Continue reading
Only last week, we reported on one of the few negative stories about semaglutide, a member of the class of drugs known as glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1s or GLP-1RAs) that are used to treat diabetes and/or weight loss. Continue Reading Category: Health & Wellbei … | Continue reading
Swedish camera manufacturer Hasselblad has revealed the winners of its latest photography competition. The selection showcases 18 superb shots that highlight the extraordinary beauty that can be found in every day life, from humble houses to train journeys, and even small insects … | Continue reading
German camper van manufacturer Hobby took Volkswagen camper van life to new levels of comfort and style when it debuted the Maxia Van in 2022. This year, it's introduced a new floor plan that invites the entire family (and maybe a few campground neighbors) to enjoy the breezy onb … | Continue reading
With AI advancements landing at lightning speed, it can feel like we're all stuck on a dizzying ride that we can't pause to take a breather. So, on days like this, it's worth remembering that, much like humans, there are some hilarious underachievers. Continue Reading Category: T … | Continue reading
Fat-tire ebikes pretty much always make for smile-packed off-road fun, but is one motor enough to power the ride? Oddly named maker Lankeleisi clearly doesn't think so, as evidenced in the X3000 Max adventure folder with dual 1-kW motors. Continue Reading Category: Bicycles, Tran … | Continue reading
The Disney-esque hues on bluespotted ribbontail rays come from a unique arrangement of nanostructures, say researchers. The findings, along with those gleaned from studying blue sharks, could help lead to new chemical-free color techniques. Continue Reading Category: Biology, Sci … | Continue reading
Wi-Fi security usually means keeping virtual intruders off your network, but a new system claims to be able to use Wi-Fi networks to detect physical intruders. Gamgee’s Wi-Fi Home Alarm System can learn to recognize people and pets who belong there and alert you to strangers – or … | Continue reading
Messenger RNA (mRNA) contains the instructions that direct a cell to make a specific protein using its built-in machinery. Many will be aware of mRNA because of its association with the COVID-19 vaccine. But mRNA has potential uses far beyond that, including as a gene-based treat … | Continue reading
The first-ever video of a blue whale nursing her calf has been released, along with other stunning videos of the species' intimate interactions, which were captured in 2022 by a snorkeler in the right place at the right time. It's also the first time scientists and the wider comm … | Continue reading
The sheer size of today's wind turbines is mind-boggling – they're among the biggest machines humanity has ever built, and the bigger they get, the more potential value you can get by adding a little extra length to the blades. Continue Reading Category: Energy, Science Tags: Win … | Continue reading
Based in Melbourne, Australia – but clearly also with a presence in China – Pegasus is now moving its head office and production facilities to Las Vegas. The company says it's been working on its flying car design since 2009. Indeed, the project looks well advanced, and the compa … | Continue reading
It’s estimated that, in the US, between 52% and 82% of people who menstruate use tampons. To avoid health risks, especially given the high potential for vaginal absorption, it’s imperative that any harmful chemicals present in tampons are identified. Continue Reading Category: He … | Continue reading
It’s an unfortunate irony that while many regions struggle to find enough water, there’s trillions of liters of the stuff floating around in the air everywhere. A new water harvester design from MIT can pull enough fresh water out of the air to meet the daily needs of several peo … | Continue reading
From a dragon-shaped aurora to the Milky Way framing the Isaac Newton Telescope in Spain, the 16th Astronomy Photographer of the Year competition has released its stunning shortlisted finalists ahead of winners being announced on September 12. Continue Reading Category: Photograp … | Continue reading
Gazing at the night sky and pointing out constellations is all well and good, but the arrival of smart digital telescopes has given stargazers the power to capture and share celestial majesty with relative ease. At under 3 lb, the Dwarf III is one of the most portable around. Con … | Continue reading
Cargo ebikes can be a great alternative to the family car when hauling groceries or doing the school run. But they can be a bit wobbly at slow speeds. Startup Tarran is aiming for improved stability with auto-deploying landing gear. Continue Reading Category: Bicycles, Transport … | Continue reading
Just a year ago, Fervo Energy successfully demonstrated the effectiveness of its horizontally oriented geothermal system. Now the company has landed a massive contract for providing its clean, virtually endless power to the California grid. Continue Reading Category: Energy, Scie … | Continue reading
JT Nesbitt has already created a string of iconic motorcycles at his own Bienville Studios and previously at Curtiss Motorcycles (nee Confederate), with his latest 12-only $200,000-a-pop Magnolia 4 aiming to reimagine the traditional American inline 4. Continue Reading Category: … | Continue reading
JT Nesbitt has already created a string of iconic motorcycles at his own Bienville Studios and previously at Curtiss Motorcycles (nee Confederate), with his latest 12-only $200,000-a-pop Magnolia 4 aiming to reimagine the traditional American inline 4. Continue Reading Category: … | Continue reading
Long before dinosaurs roamed the Earth, another giant predator claimed the top spot in its environment. Meet Gaiasia, a huge salamander-like creature that stalked the Permian swamps. Continue Reading Category: Biology, Science Tags: Fossils, Amphibious, Life, Africa, Evolution, T … | Continue reading
Sleep studies, or polysomnography (PSG), are an important diagnostic tool used to identify sleep disorders such as sleep apnea, chronic insomnia, and narcolepsy. But anyone who’s undergone a sleep study knows how ‘unnatural’ they are. I’ve had one, and, for me, being covered in d … | Continue reading
Scientists have developed the most precise and accurate atomic clock to date – if you ran it for twice the current age of the universe, it would only be off by one second. This could not only improve services like GPS, but help scientists probe how gravity warps the flow of time … | Continue reading
For the first time, scientists have discovered that hippos get significant airtime when they're at full-trot, able to lift their enormous bodies off the ground for around 15% of their stride. It's unique among mammals their size, with both elephants and rhinoceros staying grounde … | Continue reading