We’ve seen artificial corneas that could replace damaged organic corneas, but how about a digital image sensor that adjusts itself like a human retina? That’s exactly what John Rogers at the University of Illinois is creating. An improved method of transferring silicon sensors onto a curved surface allowing for the sensor to capture wide-angle views with low distortion. Because it ...
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Earth From The Moon Umbrella
On some days, it rains and rains until a flood surrounds us and nothing is left but water. We walk through crowds of people to our jobs, staying inside a cubicle for hours until leaving to return home. The next day, the process is repeated and it continues to rain. Nothing new can come with the rain. Nothing dry. It ...
Read More »Even The Poorest Of Bums Can Afford This Computer
Think that $130 NPX-9000 Firefox tablet or the OLPC $75 touch screen laptop are as cheap as it gets? Think again. The brains at MIT are sure of themselves that they can create a computer for a mere $12.� With a price tag like that, it’d only take a few hours of panhandling outside of a McDonalds to accumulate the ...
Read More »Artificial Cornea Won’t Make You Geordi LaForge
I bet you’re wondering why Geordi LaForge was always so glum. If you’ve ever gotten a scratch on your cornea, you’d know how painful it can be. Thankfully, researchers at Stanford University have developed a new artificial cornea. I’m not talking about eyeball lamps either, these are real corneas for real eyeballs. Animal studies incorporating the cornea are showing promise, ...
Read More »Air-Purifying Concrete Is Not Green In Color
The Dutch town of Hengelo is putting certain concrete paving stones to the test. These said stones contain a titanium dioxide-based additive that, when under the influence of sunlight, bind the nitrogen oxide particles emitted by car exhausts and turns them into harmless nitrates. They plan on measuring the air quality after paving one half of a road with the ...
Read More »Tesla Coil Guitar Amp
Not much is known about this video except that a guy built a Tesla coil and used it as a guitar amplifier. Each note he plays, lightning and electricity shoot out from a device sitting in his living room. Does it look incredibly unsafe? Absolutely. Is it rock and roll? You bet your ass it is. Link
Read More »Robot Uses Artificial Beetle Juice To Cling To Gut
With all this RFID implant business going on, the Magic School Bus days are getting closer and closer. We already have a pill that’ll show you your insides, so what’s next? How about a robot you can swallow that attaches to your intestinal wall which can then perform biopsies, deliver drugs, or administer localized treatment to your gut? Metin Sitti, ...
Read More »Rocket Accident Scatters Human Remains Over The Pacific
It turns out that space funerals might not be such a great idea after all. Commercial spaceflight company SpaceX had their third failed launch in a row last night when the Falcon 1 rocket began spinning out of control less than two minutes after liftoff in the Marshall Islands. Aboard the doomed rocket were the ashes 208 people including Star ...
Read More »Coming Soon To A War Near You: Mini Dragonfly Robots
Dutch scientists have unveiled the DelFly Micro, an insect-like robot that’s the world’s smallest camera-carrying aircraft. Despite being less than four inches long and weighing only 0.1 oz., the Del Fly is able to stream live broadcast-quality images and to reach speeds of up to 10mph. Features of the DelFly include ultra-light thermoplastic polymers, carbon fibre, a super small lithium ...
Read More »RoboStool Is The Stalker You’ve Always Wanted
This robot may not be well versed enough in sports to partake in Robot Soccer, but it’s certainly lazy enough to be a sports fan. With three different modes of control: universal remote, beacon navigation, and thermal sensor following, the RoboStool tries its best to find you, so it can take the weight off your feet or die trying. Labeled ...
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