NASA develops shiny new coat for Orion spacecraft
Washington: NASA has developed a silver, metallic-based thermal control coating for its Orion spacecraft that will protect the vehicle from extreme heat both in orbit and during its fiery return to Earth. Orion’s thermal protection system is one of the most critical parts of the spacecraft intended to facilitate human exploration of asteroids and of […]
NASA’s ‘chemical laptop’ to search for alien life
Washington: In a bid to find concrete evidence of life outside Earth, NASA is developing a ‘chemical laptop’—the first portable, miniaturised laboratory built to detect both amino acids and fatty acids on other worlds. The device being developed at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California analyses samples for materials associated with life. “If […]
NASA to grow flowers in space for first time
Flowers could be blooming on the International Space Station (ISS) after the New Year, thanks to NASA’s first flowering crop experiment on the orbiting laboratory. NASA astronaut Kjell Lindgren activated the Veggie plant growth system and its rooting “pillows” containing Zinnia seeds on the space station on Monday. Growing Zinnias in orbit will help provide […]
Rings and pacifiers: Health gadgets get sophisticated
Helsinki: After the smartphone and fitness bracelet, here comes the smart ring. And the smart pacifier, and smart rollator. “Wellness” computers that monitor your pulse, temperature and other health indicators are becoming increasingly sophisticated and varied to cover every aspect — and age — of human life. Some products, like the ring by Finnish startup […]
Google to answer complex questions soon
Google has updated its mobile app to better understand complex queries and decipher the meaning of questions. Following the introduction of Knowledge Graph in 2012, which provided information on individual brands, countries and public figures, Google is now seeking to understand the meaning of questions, rather than simply understanding each component of a phrase individually. “We can […]
Mechanised love: Now, a machine that hugs you back
You might not be able to make someone love you, but you can design an elaborate contraption to provide physical affection. Designer Petri Eskelinen has created a wood and metal sculpture called ‘Mechanics of Hugging’. A participant can walk up to the contraption, step on a platform, and grab a handle on either side to […]
ViewSonic launches new LightStream PJD5151 projector
Mumbai: ViewSonic Corp, a provider of consumer electronics and communication solutions, has introduced the all new PJD5151 in their Light Stream PJD5 Series, which projects high-quality images, and features smart applications. With superior audiovisual features, flexible connectivity options and an affordable price, the PJD5151 is ideal for use in education and small business environments. The […]
Micromax Canvas Lapbook: Portable pleasure
To be productive on the hoof, presents a peculiar challenge: If you go for pocket sized, feather weight devices, you severely limit the applications that you can port. If you want the full desktop experience on the move, be prepared for some heavy lifting. I was elated, when smart phones and tablets came with quad […]
Railways to launch special safety app for women passengers
To curb crimes against women travellers, Railways on Tuesday said an all-India mobile application service will be launched through which immediate help from the Railway Protection Force could be availed. Some zonal railways such as Western Railway have launched mobile application for providing security to women passengers besides installing CCTV in trains,” Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu […]
Spellbound by sound
How times havmany e you wished that at the end of the day, some magic hand would pick up the things scattered messily all over the chairs and tables? That magic hand, or its ultrasonic equivalent, has been effectively designed now. A team of researchers, Asier Marzo et al, from Universities of Bristol, Sussex and Navarre […]
A gadget for a safe road journey
The high number of casualties in road accidents has prompted two entrepreneurs, Prasad Pillai and Jayanth Jagadeesh, to manufacture a gadget that automatically alerts rescue services in case of an accident. Raksha SafeDrive, an innovation from Elsys Intelligent Devices, a Thiruvananthapuram-based startup with an office in Bengaluru, debuted on KickStarter, the world’s leading crowdfunding platform, […]
Micromax Canvas Lapbook: Portable pleasure
To be productive on the hoof, presents a peculiar challenge: If you go for pocket sized, feather weight devices, you severely limit the applications that you can port. If you want the full desktop experience on the move, be prepared for some heavy lifting. I was elated, when smart phones and tablets came with quad […]
Smart helmet gives you eyes in the back of your head
For Marcus Weller the idea started off with an accident. He was riding a motorcycle in Barcelona when he took his eyes off the road to look at a road sign and smashed into the back of a car. A couple of years later he dreamt about that accident, but in the dream Weller didn’t […]
Data necklace and soap pen @ low-tech wearables
London: A necklace that stores electronic health data for babies and toddlers and a soap that encourages children to wash their hands have a won a global competition showcasing the potential of wearable products. The winning teams, which included students from India and the United States, will get a $15,000 prize and help in developing the […]
Instagram, an instant way to fame
It was a gorgeous fall day in Brooklyn, and Keira Cannon was holding one of the weekend photo shoots she does with her favourite subject: her five-year-old son, Princeton. A happy-seeming little boy, Princeton played with his scooter, balanced on the curb and twirled in endless circles but only had so much tolerance for the […]
An app you must taste
Tastemade is a fun app that gives you a step-by-step process for making professional-looking food or location videos. The videos are only a minute long, but they give you a great platform to sing praises of your favourite restaurants and hot spots. Tastemade isn’t just about making video reviews; it’s also about finding new spots […]
Soon, battery-free pacemakers powered by heart
Scientists are developing battery-free implantable pacemakers that may be powered by an unlikely source — the heart itself. The technology uses a piezoelectric system that converts vibrational energy — created inside the chest by each heartbeat — into electricity to power the pacemaker. “Essentially, we’re creating technology that will allow pacemakers to be powered by the very […]
WhatsApp to release new feature ‘Chatting with’ isn’t true
Netizens woke up to a fake message/information about a new feature to be introduced by WhatsApp being circulating around the internet. The rumour mentions that WhatsApp is going to start ‘Chatting with’ feature, which will enable everyone to know who you are chatting with. It will also allow you to see who your contacts are […]
Google’s internet balloons to circle Earth
Alphabet, parent company of tech giant Google, has announced tie-ups with three major Indonesian telecom operators to expand web connectivity in the country’s remote areas using hundreds of net-beaming balloons. The initiative is part of Project Loon by Google X, Alphabet’s research division, which works on ambitious ideas, including self-driven cars, EFE news reported.The inability […]
HTC Desire 728G Dual SIM
HTC has launched another mid-range device the Desire 728G Dual SIM in India a few weeks after it was tipped by a retailer. The device will come in Purple Myst and White Luxury color variants and is available at Rs 17,990. The HTC Desire 728G Dual SIM sports a 5.5-inch HD with 1280×720 pixels (267ppi […]