Mining resources from asteroids may sound like the stuff of science fiction, but — at least if you believe some very smart people — it’s well on its way to becoming science fact. What will be mined? Why would anyone want to do this? And who are the main players in this (literal) space? Read on for a beginner’s guide […]
Asteroid Mining Is Here
Sustainable Flatpack Home Pops Up In Less Than A Month
Homes that come in easy-to-assemble flat-packed components are gaining in popularity, and a new one to pop up in São Paulo, Brazil is undoubtedly one of the more impressive we’ve seen. As the first SysHaus from the local startup of the same name, the dwelling took less than a month to construct and was designed with sustainability in mind, right […]
Making Keys Smart
We’ve been seeing quite a few “smart” door locks lately, that allow users to lock and unlock their door using a smartphone. Perhaps you don’t want to replace your existing locks, though? Well, Locky offers some smart-lock features, but it’s used to augment an existing old-school key. Locky is basically an electronic fob, which is capable of clamping onto the […]
Thailand Is Bringing A Forest Indoors To Her Airport
Duangrit Bunnag Architect Limited (DBALP) has unveiled an eye-catching design for a new airport terminal in Bangkok that features intricate wooden detailing and an indoor forest. The new building is reportedly expected to be operational in 2025. Details are still rather thin on the ground at this early stage, but assuming all goes well, the Suvarnabhumi International Passenger Terminal II […]
Roll Up Tablet?
In ancient times, people read from rolled-up papyrus scrolls. Today, many of us read from flat tablets. Scientists at Canada’s Queen’s University have now combined aspects of the two, in the potentially-quite-handy MagicScroll. The prototype device was developed by a team led by Dr. Roel Vertegaal (who has previously brought us a flexible smartphone, among other things), from Queen’s Human […]
Gas Sensing Drones
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) floating through the air can lead to a long list of health problems for humans, in both the long and short term. Knowing where they are and in what concentrations would therefore be an invaluable capability, and one that a team of Rice University scientists is making great headway on with their autonomous gas-sensing drones. Volatile […]
Wristband Protection Against Mosquitoes
Anyone who has been caught in a summer storm knows that it kind of sucks. Evidently, mosquitoes think the same thing, as they apparently choose to seek shelter when they sense an approaching storm, rather than risk hanging out and biting people. Who can blame them, right? Well, maybe no one can blame them, but smart engineers can certainly jump […]
Google Assistant Goes Billingual
Whether you’ve come to say “Hola!” or “Bienvenue” or “Auf Wiedersehen,” Google Assistant is ready to answer you right back as the smart assistant becomes the first of its kind to go fully bilingual. Users can now speak two languages interchangeably with the Google Assistant on smart speakers and phones and the Assistant will respond in kind. As of right […]
Inflatable Paddle Up Board
Stand-up paddleboarding is a lot of fun and it’s great exercise, too. But sometimes it can be a real challenge to store and transport the board to and from the water. Inflatable models have helped with this issue somewhat, but an ultra-portable SUP board has been the Holy Grail for serious outdoor athletes for some time. Now, Red Paddle Co. […]
Brexit Prompts More Automation Of Work
Britain is facing a strawberry labor shortage that only threatens to get worse as Brexit approaches, so roboticists at the University of Essex are working in conjunction with jam makers Wilkin & Sons of Tiptree to develop robotsto take up the slack. Led by Vishuu Mohan, from the School of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering, the team’s goal is to […]