A bit too late to order a coveted Bugatti Chiron? More of a do-it-yourselfer? Why not make one from Lego Technic parts? That’s what Lego has done, building a full-sized, functioning Chiron almost entirely from Legos, right down to the powerplant. It may not be fast, but it’s really dang cool. read more
While we’ve seen a number of devices that use ultrasound to ward off mosquitos, many people maintain that such deterrent systems just don’t work. The Nopixgo Mosquito Bite Protection Wristband takes a different approach, emitting electromagnetic waves instead. read more
A new patent from IBM could bring new meaning to instant coffee. The patent describes a drone that could detect when a person is tiring and fly over with a cup of coffee on demand—so no need to worry if yours is the one street corner without a Starbucks.
In its patent, IBM imagines a drone, or unmanned aerial vehicle, flying over a group of people and: read more
Steve Feher wants to cool motorcyclists’ heads, using the same technology he invented to cool drivers’ butts. The Feher helmet is the world’s first fully integrated air conditioned motorcycle helmet, and it claims to keep your head 10-15 degrees cooler than the outside world. read more
Samsung is thought to be releasing its flagship handset the S10 in 2019 and a patent application suggests it may be fitted with a futuristic self-healing screen.
The revolutionary display would be able to fix any cracks or scratches on the screen without the owner needing to do anything.
According to a patent filed with the World Intellectual Property Organisation, the screen will also be impervious to any scuffs, scratches and fingerprint marks.
The technology has been teased in small doses before and the patent also mentions the possibility of it being applied to ‘flexible devices’ which could open the door for foldable phones.
A Japanese firm is hoping a tiny holographic girl could take the place of a wife.
Called Aizuma Hikari, the tiny holographic anime girl that stands just a few inches tall inside of a cylindrical projector.
Japanese tech firm Gatebox says the system is able to communicate with its owners, called ‘masters’, through speakers and even an app.
The Tokyo-based firm says it is aimed at ‘single men who live alone’.
The US Army is moving forward with a new 100-kW laser weapon, awarding US$10 million to Lockheed Martin and Dynetics to continue development of the High Energy Laser Tactical Vehicle Demonstrator (HEL TVD). read more
According to the World Health Organization, snakes bite an estimated 5 million people each year, killing more than 100,000 of those victims and permanently injuring hundreds of thousands more. Current antivenoms might not be saving lives as efficiently as they could be, given that they’re difficult and expensive to produce, distribute and administer. Now, researchers at the University of California, Irvine (UCI) have developed a synthetic alternative with a long shelf-life that can neutralize the venom from several species of snakes. read more
Bike trailers are super-handy if you need to haul cargo, but they can become a burden the minute you empty that cargo and just want to ride your bicycle without a trailer rattling around behind you. German start-up Trenux aims to solve this disparity, offering a lightweight, go-everywhere bike trailer that folds up onto the back of the bike when not in use. Ride all over town with it secured on the bike, fold it out in seconds the minute you need it, pedal your cargo from A to B, and then fold it back away for next time.
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The asteroids that are whizzing around our little corner of space are basically the crumbs left over from the formation of the solar system, and that means they have a lot to tell us about those early years. Now, scientists have studied a particularly weird space rock and found that it’s the oldest known igneous meteorite, dating back to one of the very first volcanic eruptions in the solar system. read more
