Category: Science & Technology News

Impact Lab > Science & Technology News
Great New Product, New Inventions, Science & Technology News, Solar Power

Solar Sinter – 3D printer uses the sun to create glass objects out of sand

3d printer

Sun-powered, sand-fed 3D printer.

Design student Markus Kayser wanted to test his sun-powered, sand-fed 3-D printer, but he knew the gray skies in London wouldn’t do. He decided to ship the 200-plus-pound contraption to Cairo, Egypt, flew there himself, and haggled with officials for two days to get it out of customs. A few small “tips” and 11 hours of driving later, he finally made it to the Sahara. But soon the mercury hit 104 degrees, his components nearly overheated, and he was forced to improvise.

 

Continue reading… “Solar Sinter – 3D printer uses the sun to create glass objects out of sand”

Analysis, Health & Fitness, Historical Perspectives, Science & Technology News

Humans are still evolving: study

wingman

Even though humans are still evolving, don’t expect any winged mutants.

On TV shows like “Heroes” and movies like “X-Men, ordinary people seem to evolve to have extraordinary capabilities. But people in real life don’t have genetic mutations that give rise to extraordinary capabilities such as telepathy or wings.  But human evolution is still happing according to scientists.  Proceedings of the National Academy of Science has published a new study that offers some if the best evidence so far.

 

Continue reading… “Humans are still evolving: study”

Analysis, Plant Life, Science & Technology News

10 best iPhone apps for gardening

planting-gardening-apps

Whether or not you’ve got a green thumb, these apps will help your garden grow.

Timing is everything as those who garden are well aware.  And a bountiful crop requires planning and organization.  For novice and advanced gardeners alike, there is always something that can be learned about getting the best from the earth. Following are 10 great gardening apps that serve that very purpose, and can help yield juicier tomatoes, more fragrant rosemary, and brighter hydrangeas.

 

Continue reading… “10 best iPhone apps for gardening”

Analysis, Business, Latest Trend, Money Talk, Science & Technology News

Top 7 highest paying Silicon Valley companies

twitter silicon valley

Average salary at Twitter is $120, 111.11

As you might expect, former Google Engineer Gareth Jones is a number whiz.  He created TechCompany Pay using “open sources of information on the internet”.   TechCompany Pay is a list of averages representing how well the biggest companies in Silicon Valley compensate their employees.

 

Continue reading… “Top 7 highest paying Silicon Valley companies”

Analysis, Business, Latest Trend, Report, Science & Technology News

Mobile phone carriers keep personal data for up to seven years

cellphone users

The document says AT&T keeps for five to seven years a record of who text messages whom.

The ACLU has obtained a document that shows for the first time how the four largest cellphone companies in the U.S. treat data about their subscribers’ calls, text messages, Web surfing and approximate locations.

 

Continue reading… “Mobile phone carriers keep personal data for up to seven years”

Analysis, Human Behavior, Science & Technology News

Everyone’s a little bit racist, but it may not be our fault: study

No-sexism-racism-homophobia

Researchers used a word association test to discover that most people have ‘built-in’ prejudices.

Scientists believe everyone’s a little bit racist – but they also believe it may not be your fault. Instead they are blaming TV, the internet and even the books that we read.

 

Continue reading… “Everyone’s a little bit racist, but it may not be our fault: study”

Great New Product, Science & Technology News

‘Noah’ capsule – Japan’s answer to the next tsunami

noahs ark 1

“Noah” capsule

When the tsunami alarm sounds and water quickly begins to rise you can escape in the “Noah” spherical earthquake and tsunami shelter. The 1.2 meter (4 feet) diameter tsunami survival capsules were designed by Japan’s Cosmo Power as floating emergency shelters capable of holding up to four adults.

 

Continue reading… “‘Noah’ capsule – Japan’s answer to the next tsunami”

Alternative Transportation, Crazy Stuff, Green Friendly, Photo Perspectives, Science & Technology News

Toilet Bike Neo – a poop-powered motorcycle

toilet cycle

Toilet Bike Neo

Japan’s top commode manufacturer, TOTO, has just unveiled a crazy poop-powered motorcycle topped with a toilet.  The motorcycle, dubbed the Toilet Bike Neo, will travel across Japan to promote the company’s “Green Challenge” of reducing emissions 50% over the next five years.  The vehicle runs on biogas that is produced by an on-bike toilet, communicates in Japanese using LED lights, plays music, and talks.  A poop and ride motorcycle!

 

Continue reading… “Toilet Bike Neo – a poop-powered motorcycle”

Alternative Transportation, Business, Internet, Latest Trend, Science & Technology News

In-flight Wi-Fi predicted to grow 600% by 2015

delta-plane

Delta will be the first airline to expand its Wi-Fi service to regional jets.

More airlines are beginning to offer Wi-Fi service and travelers are increasingly expected to take advantage of in-flight Wi-Fi connectivity in the coming years.  A new report from In-Stat News found that in-flight Wi-Fi revenue is expected to grow from about $225 million in 2011 to over $1.5 billion in 2015.

 

Continue reading… “In-flight Wi-Fi predicted to grow 600% by 2015”