In-orbit gas station
NASA is considering a proposal to put fuel depots in space while looking to accelerate plans to send astronauts to distant destinations.
TapSense: New touchscreen technology recognizes different parts of the finger
TapSense is an experimental touchscreen system, that is able to tell the difference between different parts of the user’s finger.
Devices with small touchscreens, such as smartphones, certainly have their attractions, but they also have one drawback – there isn’t much room on their little screens for touch-sensitive features. Users will sometimes have to go into sub-menus, or make do with jabbing their fingers at tiny controls. Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University’s Human-Computer Interaction Institute, however, are working on an alternative. Their prototype TapSense system can differentiate between screen taps from different parts of the finger, and will perform different tasks accordingly. (Pics and video)
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Too much time off is stressful: study
Stressed? Maybe you’ve been spending too much time on holiday.
Between family commitments and the pressures of work, few of us feel we get enough ‘me’ time.
A solar charger that rewards you for staying off the grid
A solar charger with benefits.
Besides a reduced monthly power bill, there’s a certain smug satisfaction to recharging your gear with solar energy. It’s almost like you want everyone to know how eco conscious you’re being, and with the Changer solar charging system, you’ll actually be rewarded for bragging about it…
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New synthetic bacteria can detect air pollution & color-code your poop
Synthetic Biology Could Change the World.
Daisy Ginsberg is an artist and designer currently exploring the frontiers of possibility in the emergent field of synthetic biology. She just gave what was by far one of my favorite talks at this year’s Poptech conference; she discussed the potential boons and pitfalls that products of synthetic biology may yield in coming years. To showcase the nascent field’s unpredictable future, she pointed to E. Chromi, a bacteria that she and a handful of Cambridge students genetically programmed to secrete colorful pigments when it comes into contact with designated toxins.
Think bacteria that could change color to expose contaminants in groundwater, air pollution in cloud cover — perhaps most strikingly, it can even change the color of your poop if it comes into contact with toxins in your digestive system. This great video details the genesis of the bacteria…
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Scientists develop the most relaxing tune
A continuous rhythm of 60 BPM causes the brainwaves and heart rate to synchronise with the rhythm.
Sound therapists and stress specialists worked with the band Marconi Union to develop “Weightless”, the most relaxing song ever…
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Live to the age of 100 by following 7 simple steps
90% of people could live to the age of 90 and even reach 100 by following these simple steps.
According to a leading heart doctor, many people could live to the age of 100 by following seven simple steps.
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Men are funnier than women, but only a little: study
Men are only slightly funnier than women.
It’s not a joke. Men are really funnier than women – but, only to other men, says a study.
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Lunar scientists’ plan for sustainable and affordable Moon base
Settlement on the Moon
It’s been a dream for a long time to have a human settlement on the Moon, but in this age of budget cuts and indecisive plans for NASA’s future, a Moon base may seem too costly and beyond our reach. But a noted lunar scientist, Dr. Paul Spudis from the Lunar and Planetary Institute and a colleague, Tony Lavoie from the Marshall Space Flight Center, have come up with a plan for building a lunar settlement that is not only affordable but sustainable. It creates a Moon base along with a type of ‘transcontinental railroad’ in space which opens up cislunar space – the area between Earth and the Moon – for development.
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Only One Week Left to Exhibit!
[vimeo]http://vimeo.com/30221121[/vimeo]
Deadline for Exhibiting at the DaVinci Inventor Showcase is Friday, Oct 28th
The DaVinci Inventor Showcase is one of the nation’s premier events focused on creating a link between inventors and world marketplace. By allowing inventors to take center stage and tell the world about their product, they hope to create an unparalleled experience for everyone involved.
The DaVinci Institute often get asked the question about how many of the inventor for the DaVinci Inventor Showcase have become successful. The short answer is – “lots of them.” We don’t know the details on everyone, but we thought we’d share a few stories about some of them:
Should we let foreigners buy homes for Visas?
The stimulus didn’t work. The bank bailouts didn’t work. Homeowner assistance and refinancing didn’t work. So could the key to solving the US housing crisis be letting foreigners buy real estate for visas?
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How much radiation are you exposed to on a plane?
Radiation is all around you on an airplange.
Since the Fukushima nuclear disaster, you’ve probably heard me and other people talk about the radiation exposure we experience in everyday life. All humans, throughout history, have been exposed to background radiation produced constantly by the natural environment. Then there’s added exposures from modern sources: X-rays and medical scans, living near power plants (both coal and nuclear, and the coal is actually worse), and flying in airplanes…
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