Category: sports

For much of sports history, a bad call from a referee was final. Fans could boo, players could protest, but the game continued. The advent of instant replay a few decades ago allowed coaches to challenge calls, adding fairness but also slowing down the game. Now, professional sports are on the brink of a new technological revolution: automated referee systems, designed to make accurate calls every time while speeding up the game.

These systems, currently being tested in minor leagues and preseason games, are not meant to replace human officials entirely. Umpires and referees will still be needed for more nuanced calls like checked swings in baseball, charging in basketball, and pass interference in football. However, leagues believe that automation could make games both more equitable and efficient.

Stadium experts Populous and architects Oualalou + Choi have teamed up to design an extraordinary new stadium in the form of a massive tent. Named the Grand Stade Hassan II, this architectural marvel will be situated near Casablanca, Morocco, and is set to become the largest soccer stadium in the world.

The stadium is being developed for Morocco’s role in co-hosting the 2030 FIFA World Cup alongside Portugal and Spain. Drawing inspiration from a traditional Moroccan gathering known as a Moussem, the design echoes the Bedouin-inspired stadium in Qatar, creating a cultural and historical connection.

In 2015, French aeronautical engineer Nicolas Muron found inspiration during a visit to his grandparents in the French Alps, where snowmobiles dominated winter transportation. Disturbed by the noise and pollution caused by these conventional snow vehicles, Muron envisioned a better solution – an e-bike designed for snow. Thus, the MoonBike was born.

Weighing only 163 lbs, the MoonBike is a lightweight alternative to traditional snowmobiles, clocking in at less than one-third of their weight. With dimensions of 88 inches in length, 28 inches in width, and a ten-inch track, the electric snow bike boasts a 3 kW (4 hp) motor generating 170 Nm (125 ft-lbs) of torque. This power allows the MoonBike to effortlessly navigate steep mountain slopes, providing a sustainable and quieter experience in contrast to traditional snowmobiles.