In a move that will probably delight anyone who raced slot cars as a kid (or an adult), the Swedish Transport Administration has just opened a 2-km (1.2-mi) stretch of electrified road that works the same way. The project, dubbed eRoadArlanda, involves embedding electric rails into the road surface to power electric vehicles through a contact arm hanging down from under the car. read more
The flying taxi space has welcomed a lot of newcomers over the past couple of years. But before the likes of Uber, Workhorse and the Volocopter swooped into the scene, Terrafugia had been testing the waters for more than a decade with a variety of flying taxi designs. And this old dog has new tricks in it yet, with a new concept dubbed the TF-2 that features a detachable pod for on-ground transit to and from the launchpad. read more
Austrian company Rebeat is looking to fundamentally change the way vinyl records are mastered, promising to bring what it calls “HD vinyl” to stores sometime in 2019. With the triumphant resurgence of vinyl in recent years as other forms of physical media sales have dwindled, this attempt at “high definition vinyl” is claimed to result in longer playing time, more amplitude than current records, and better sound quality. read more
Cancer is one of our most persistent enemies, but while we now have advanced immune systems to fight the good fight, how did early multicellular life manage to stave it off? A genetic “kill switch” seems to have been the original weapon of choice, and now researchers at Northwestern University believe they’ve discovered a way to trigger that mechanism. This knowledge could potentially pave the way to a therapy where cancer cells commit suicide, which would be impossible for cancer cells to adapt a resistance to. read more
We’ve already seen quite a few motorized wheels that let you convert your existing bike into an e-bike. The Alizeti 300C system, however, takes a different approach. Similar in concept to the Rubbee, it’s based around an integrated rear rack. read more
Advances in voice recognition technology have seen it become a more viable form of computer interface, but it’s not necessarily a quieter one. To prevent the click-clacking of keyboards being replaced by noisy man-machine conversations, MIT researchers are developing a new system called AlterEgo that allows people to talk to computers without speaking and listen to them without using their ears. read more
The U.S. Marine Corps is replacing its existing sniper rifles with a newer model that fires a heavier, longer-range bullet. The new Mark 13 Mod 7 sniper rifle, a favorite of Navy SEALs is replacing the older M40 series of rifles. The result is a more accurate rifle with the potential to hit targets at nearly three quarters of a mile. read more
Back in June of 2015, we heard about how Dutch 3D-printing firm MX3D was planning on printing a steel footbridge that would go across Amsterdam’s Oudezijds Achterburgwal canal. Well, construction of that bridge is now complete – although it still has to actually be placed over the water. read more
What could be more fun than roaring around tarmac driving a go-kart? Going off-road of course. And that’s what’s being offered by Marcel Beltran and his French Kart – an all-electric, all-terrain thrill machine that’s been in development since 2012. After a dozen or so prototypes, the quiet off-roader has hit Kickstarter to raise production funds. read more
Back in 2013 GoSun unveiled its first solar oven. Using parabolic mirrors to focus sunlight, this portable convection oven is designed to cook a variety of foods without the need for a traditional heat source. Now, after several different iterations, the company is launching its cheapest and most portable version, the GoSun Go. read more
