Although facial ID verification tech may seem pretty impressive, it can be thwarted. An experimental new system is claimed to be more foolproof, by requiring users to make specific facial movements. According to Utah’s Brigham Young University (BYU), existing facial ID technology – such as that utilized on some smartphones – can be circumvented by holding the phone up to […]

Robotic exoskeletons are already making a huge difference to people who are otherwise unable to walk, but the things do still have some limitations. Researchers are now seeking to address those problems, using onboard cameras and AI. Although motorized exoskeletons automatically help move the wearer’s legs as they walk along level ground, most have to be manually switched over to […]

Among the promising experimental battery architectures scientists are exploring is one that uses pure lithium metal for the anode, rather than the mix of materials used in today’s lithium-ion devices. Scientists working in this area have now made a breakthrough around how these devices function at ultra-low temperatures, building a version that relies on weak bonds in its electrolyte to […]

Things don’t fall from the sky without a damn good reason. US lawyers Baum Hedlund, who specialize in litigation concerning transport accidents, lists human errors as the main reasons (53 percent) for aircraft crashes, followed by manufacturing defects (20 percent) and poor maintenance. Take a Boeing 737, for example, that in 2011 lost a section of its roof while in […]

Modern zoom lenses work wonderfully, but crack one open and you’ll be greeted by a truly terrifying degree of micro-mechanical complexity, with 20 or more polished glass elements set to move in different directions at varying rates when you work the zoom or focus rings. The fact that these things last for years and years of heavy use while getting […]

Coming later this year, the Cognixion ONE headset is promising something extra on top of the regular augmented reality experience: a brain computer interface (BCI) that can turn thoughts into commands for the device. While the AR headset is aimed primarily at users with conditions such as cerebral palsy or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) – anyone who already uses eye […]

It’s very important for fish farmers to keep track of the number of fish in their pens, but doing so typically involves going in and actually netting out some of the fish. According to new research, echo-sounding tech could soon serve as an easier and more accurate alternative. Not only is periodically capturing some of the farmed fish difficult and […]

For some time now, we’ve been hearing about prosthetic limbs that are designed to work with amputees’ bodies. MIT researchers are taking a different approach, though, with a new type of amputation that facilitates the use of prostheses. Most movements of the arms and legs involve two joined muscles, one of which stretches while the other contracts. These are known […]

Thanks to options like Mpowerd Luci solar strings and BioLite NanoGrid hanging lanterns, string lighting has started to creep in on the old, reliable lantern as the campsite ambient lighting source of choice. Such hanging lights create as much atmosphere as they do light, helping to delineate the campsite from the greater campground. Nite Ize offers another alternative with its […]

  It’s perhaps not much of a stretch to imagine a computer program that could visually identify which pieces of music were being performed in silent piano-playing videos. A new AI system goes further, however, by digitally reproducing the sound of that piano-playing in a realistic fashion. Known as Audeo, the technology was designed by a team at the University […]