Bigelow Aerospace plan to build bases on the moon.
One day, a rocket carrying more than a dozen privately built probes touches down on the moon. The robots burst from the vehicle in a race to beam back high-definition video and other data while roving the surface of Earth’s nearest natural satellite. The people of Earth watch a broadcast of the race as the rovers roam (or stall) in the lunar dust. (Videos)
Continue reading… “The future of moon exploration”
The DLS that consists of a carbon foam supporting an exfoliated graphite layer.
MIT has developed a new material structure that generates steam by soaking up the sun. The structure — a layer of graphite flakes and an underlying carbon foam — is a porous, insulating material structure that floats on water. When sunlight hits the structure’s surface, it creates a hotspot in the graphite, drawing water up through the material’s pores, where it evaporates as steam. The brighter the light, the more steam is generated.
Continue reading… “New spongelike material converts solar energy into steam”
3D printing could help mend broken bones.
One of the 3D printing health applications of 3D printing discussed the most is the manufacturing of bespoke scaffolds that could be used to mend broken bones. It’s promising, but it has been held back by the difficulties in printing materials that are strong, flexible and can encourage the regrowth of healthy bone in the same way as current methods, such as bone grafts.
Continue reading… “Researchers develop new process that raises prospects of 3D printed bone grafts”
The U.S. Air Force has deployed two of its most advanced long-distance surveillance drones to Japan.
Japan has been the world’s playground for design innovation for decades. But now it may become ground zero for the future of something far more hostile: military drones.
Continue reading… “The story behind Japan’s drone boom”
Internet of Things
The Internet of Things (IoT) is a hot new buzzword. Its purpose and definition are grossly misunderstood. When some people hear the term IoT they immediately associate it with a refrigerator reminding us to order milk or our Fitbit wearable device tweeting how we just ran 4 miles. Neither of those uses are very compelling to most of us which makes it hard to fathom how experts can predict that by 2020 there will be greater than a one trillion dollar market that vendors will be trying to claim a piece of.
Continue reading… “The future impact of the Internet of Things can’t be underestimated”
LED growing lights, delivering sunlight whatever the weather.
This century, the challenges of growing enough food to feed the world have grown more severe. We need to feed more people with limited agricultural land and resources. We need to make better use of land, light and logistics for an increasingly urban population. And we need to incorporate zero-waste and low-energy technologies into the task of food production. (Video)
Continue reading… “New LED light technology sheds light on the future of food”
Robots don’t judge. Humans do.
Japanese roboticist Mashahiro Mori coined the term “uncanny valley” in 1970 to describe the strange fact that, as robots become more human-like, we relate to them better—but only to a point. The ”uncanny valley” is this point.
Continue reading… “‘Uncanniest valley’ – when robots know us better than we know ourselves”
Futurist Thomas Frey: On a recent driving trip, my wife and I became immersed in the audio version of one of Tom Clancy’s last novels titled, “Threat Vector.” Without giving away too much of the plot, a Chinese super-geek villain has hatched a plan to hack into our most secure networks and blackmail people with their darkest secrets to subversively cause chaos and disruption for the American government.
Continue reading… “When Everyone Becomes Blackmailable”
Ultrathin zinc-polymer battery.
Imprint Energy is developing flexible, rechargeable batteries that can be printed cheaply on commonly used industrial screen printers. The California startup has been testing its ultrathin zinc-polymer batteries in wrist-worn devices and hopes to sell them to manufacturers of wearable electronics, medical devices, smart labels, and environmental sensors.
Continue reading… “Imprint Energy is developing flexible, printed batteries for wearable devices”
Mcor Iris 3D Printer
Most people think 3D printing involves a machine that either extrudes molten plastic, in a way similar to how a hot glue gun works, or think of one of the larger industrial level 3D printers manufactured by 3D systems or Stratasys. These huge machines print objects in a variety of materials, but come with price tags that are only affordable for a select few.
Continue reading… “Mcor Technologies improves their paper-based, full-color 3D printer”
This process can generate small amounts of electricity.
Last year, MIT researchers discovered that when water droplets spontaneously jump away from superhydrophobic (water-repelling) surfaces during condensation, the droplets can gain electric charge in the process.
Continue reading… “Generating electricity from jumping water droplets”
Mobile tech will help squash millions of annoyances we encounter with traveling.
Our lives have the potential of becoming completely automated because of beacons. The tiny transmitters will seamlessly give companies information about us that help them provide better service; control real-time opportunities for us to save or enjoy; and simplify the exchange of funds. They will remove the many steps we go through to get something done today. Steps which are so engrained in us that we don’t yet even realize how much they are interrupting our lives. Traveling in particular is full of millions of annoyances that beacons, sensors, and other advances in mobile tech will soon help to squash. Just imagine a 36-hour business trip:
Continue reading… “Mobile and beacons will power travel in the future”
By delving into the futuring techniques of Futurist Thomas Frey, you’ll embark on an enlightening journey.
Learn More about this exciting program.