When consumer aerial camera-drones first hit the market, buyers were mostly limited to models costing $1,000 or more. These days, half-decent quadcopters can be had for under a hundred bucks. While not going quite that cheap, Chasing Innovation is now aiming to make underwater drones similarly more affordable, with the Dory. read more
Scientists at the University of California, Berkeley have used the CRISPR gene-editing tool to give fruit flies an evolutionary advantage they’ve never had before. By making just three small changes to a single gene, the team gave the flies the ability to effectively eat poison and store it in their bodies, protecting themselves from predators in the process. read more
Few bodies in the solar system capture the imagination of life-hunting astronomers like the Saturnian moon Enceladus. Conveniently, hydrothermal vents pull materials from the moon’s core, mix them through its massive subsurface ocean and eject them into space, providing those searching for signs of life with plenty of subject matter.
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There is no doubt we’re headed towards a driverless future, but Scania’s AXL is the company’s first concept that does away with the cab altogether. read more
As expected, OnePlus has unveiled the OnePlus 7T at a special media event, a solid upgrade over the OnePlus 7 phone it launched back in May. For those who don’t want to spend big on the OnePlus 7 Pro, the mid-range option is now even more compelling. read more
Mere hours after the latest missile test by North Korea and Beijing’s parading of its ICBM arsenal through Tiananmen Square during the 70th anniversary celebration of Communist Party rule, the US military decided to carry out a missile test of its own on Wednesday, testing an unarmed Minuteman III ICBM.
The Minuteman was launched from the Vandenberg Air Force Base in California at 1:13 am Pacific Time. The missile, which was equipped with a ‘reentry vehicle’, traveled 6,750 kilometers across the Pacific Ocean before touching down on the Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands, according to the Air Force Global Strike Command.
A photo of the test shows the missile in a brilliant purple hue.
Amazon has stepped into the world of connected eyewear with its first ever pair of smart glasses. Not quite as ambitious as some designs to have come and gone before them, the company’s Echo Frames keep things relatively simple in hopes of making its Alexa voice assistant a key part of a user’s everyday life. read more
Hymer made quite a splash at this year’s Düsseldorf Caravan Salon with the Vision Venture, an exceptional plus-sized camper van concept that foretells a very capable, comfortable camping future for the year 2025. But it didn’t drop the crystal ball after designing that Mercedes-badged van, traveling a little farther into the future to show how autonomous driving will recast the vehicle camping experience. read more
