Sitting in traffic? Send a text message to the guy in front of you.
The New York International Auto Show kicks off this Friday and there will be a torrent of technology, but it isn’t focused on mpg or “skid pad” performance. The new models are all about apps and Facebook friends.
Continue reading… “Bump Network – service sends messages to license plates”
Nine medical societies are challenging the widely held perception that more health care is better.
The old checklist for doctors: order that test, write that prescription. The new checklist for doctors: first ask yourself if the patient really needs it.
Continue reading… “Doctors groups call for end to 45 common medical procedures and tests”
‘Baloney Mass Index’ can give false readings.
According to a new study, the obesity problem in the U.S is far worse than previously thought. Researchers found 39 per cent of Americans currently classed as slightly overweight using the Body Mass Index calculator are actually obese.
Continue reading… “Body Mass Index understates the true obesity crisis: Study”
Solar cells thinner than a thread of spider silk.
On Wednesday, researchers from Austria and Japan unveiled solar cells thinner than a thread of spider silk that are flexible enough to be wrapped around a single human hair.
Continue reading… “Scientists develop solar cells thinner than spider silk”
Robotic hands uses artificial tendons.
While the quest for robotic grippers with a light, yet firm touch has led to innovative approaches, such as the universal jamming gripper, it’s still hard to go past the four fingers and opposable thumb form factor honed by millions of years of evolution. While the technology is available to create a robotic hand that is both powerful and delicate, cramming it inside a compact arm is still difficult. But European researchers have done just that by using a novel string actuator to act as an artificial tendon.
Continue reading… “Robotic hand uses artificial tendons consisting of strings”
Bendable e-reader.
One big disadvantage to e-readers is that they’re made of breakable glass and sensitive electronics that can get damaged when dropped. Books, by contrast, are pretty durable.
Continue reading… “XGA – bendable e-reader goes into production”
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2fV7BGl9M4[/youtube]
Terrafugia, makers of Transition — the world’s first flying car — has released video of a production-type prototype flying over Plattsburgh, N.Y. today. (Video)
Continue reading… “World’s first flying car goes for test flight”
Eating fast food will not only make you likely to put on weight but may give you the blues as well.
Eating junk food has a negative effect on mental health, making those who consume it regularly feel depressed, new research has revealed.
If you’re a hard worker , it makes you slack off.
If you think that drinking coffee will give you that extra kick to keep you going , think again, for a new study says that the “stimulant” effect of coffee only works on lazy people.
Continue reading… “Coffee’s ‘stimulant’ effect only works on lazy people”
You might already be familiar with Google’s self-driving car project. They have spent years working on a tough engineering problem—how to create a hardware and software system capable of gathering and interpreting massive amounts of real-time data and acting on that knowledge swiftly and surely enough to navigate innumerable varieties of crowded thoroughfares without ever once (among other human frailties) exploding in a fit of road rage at the guy who just cut hard left across your lane without even bothering to flash his blinker.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOOoFEKiK8A[/youtube]
These one-wheeled, self-balancing personal transport solutions, the fat wheeled eniCycle, the stylish and graceful U3 from Honda or the slightly scary prospect of the UnoMoto, have all shared more in common. They’ve all had somewhere for the user to sit. Inventist’s Solowheel is a little different – you ride this electric unicycle standing upright, like a Segway or skateboard. It has a useful carry handle and fold-away foot platforms, is gyro-stabilized and the Li-ion batteries offer a range of about 12 miles between charges. (Pics)
Continue reading… “Solowheel – self-balancing electric unicycle”
Researchers have generated isobutanol from CO2 using a genetically engineered microorganism with solar electricity the sole energy input.
Electric vehicles have come a long way in the past decade, but they still have many disadvantages when compared to internal combustion engine-driven vehicles. The lithium-ion batteries that power electric vehicles have a much lower energy storage density when compared to liquid fuel, they take longer to “refuel,” and they lack the supporting infrastructure that has built up around conventional vehicles over the past century. Now researchers at the UCLA Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science have developed a process that could allow liquid fuel to be produced using solar generated electricity.
Continue reading… “Creating liquid fuel with electricity”
By delving into the futuring techniques of Futurist Thomas Frey, you’ll embark on an enlightening journey.
Learn More about this exciting program.