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This stunning image of a bearded dragon (Pogona barbata) soaking up the rays in the Australian capital of Canberra has taken out the overall prize in the 2024 British Ecology Society's photography competition, an annual contest open to any nature snapper around the globe.Continue ReadingCategory: Photography, Consumer Tech, TechnologyTags: British Ecological Society, Ecology, Animal science, Photography, Awards, Climate Crisis

Bucking the trend of bigger, badder and more ridiculously expensive teardrop trailers, Hiker Trailers is taking a step back in the other direction with a new entry-level model that prices thousands of dollars less than any new trailer we've seen in years. The pricing harkens back to the mid-2010s, but the Highway Lite trailer doesn't skimp on design, showcasing Hiker's years of teardrop-building experience...

Canada's ACDF Architectural firm recently completed a striking 19-story apartment building in downtown Montreal. Dubbed LINK Tower, the project seamlessly combines contemporary architectural design with the preservation of historical Victorian facades, creating a harmonious blend of past and present in the heart of Shaughnessy Village.Continue ReadingCategory: Architecture, LifestyleTags: Micro apartment, Residential towers, Students, Housing

Incredibly, for the first time, scientists have unraveled the mechanisms at play when rubbing a surface creates an electrical current, something that was first recorded in 600 BCE yet not fully understood until now. And while cats are not the main culprits of creating this static electricity, their fur is an ideal conductor.Continue ReadingCategory: Physics, ScienceTags: Northwestern University, Cats, Electricity, Animal science

Electronic rear shocks for mountain bikes have some big selling points, but it's imperative that they react to changing terrain quickly. That shouldn't be a problem with Fox's new Live Valve Neo, as it's claimed to be the world's fastest-responding wireless cycling suspension system.Continue ReadingCategory: Bicycles, TransportTags: Active Suspension, Mountain Bikes, Cycling

An enormous US$1 billion supertall skyscraper is currently under construction in Dubai. Named the Tiger Sky Tower, it will break several new records including the world's highest infinity pool and the world's highest restaurant – plus offer residents a respite from the harsh Dubai conditions with a lush green rainforest area inside.Continue ReadingCategory: Architecture, LifestyleTags: Building and Construction, Dubai, Residential towers, Skyscrapers, Luxury

Carnegie Mellon spinoff Shift Robotics has launched a lighter, quieter version of its strap-on powered wheels first introduced as a Kickstarter in 2022. Like the originals, the Moonwalkers Aero are designed to give users a powered boost as they walk.Continue ReadingCategory: Urban Transport, TransportTags: Walk, Assistive Technologies, roller skates, Moonwalker, Mobility

We officially have proof that video games are good for your mood – well, at least one in particular. An Oxford University study showed that playing the eponymous game Powerwash Simulator (PWS) showed a small improvement in the moods of more than 70% of its participants.Continue ReadingCategory: Mental Health, Brain Health, Body & MindTags: Game, Video Games, mental health

Scientists in Japan have developed a new organic device that can harvest energy from heat. Unlike other thermoelectric generators, this one works at room temperature without a heat gradient.Continue ReadingCategory: Energy, TechnologyTags: Energy, Thermoelectricity, Organic, Kyushu University, Temperature, Heating

Spinogenix, the company behind the once-a-day pill that restored lost nerve cell connections in people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), has now set its sights on using the pill to provide a novel treatment for another debilitating disease: schizophrenia.Continue ReadingCategory: Body & MindTags: mental health, Schizophrenia, Regenerative Medicine

Westinghouse Electric Company is advancing its revolutionary eVinci nuclear microreactor. Based on space nuclear technology, it boasts a tiny footprint, no moving parts, and can be swapped out for refueling, much like replacing a used gas bottle.Continue ReadingCategory: Energy, TechnologyTags: Nuclear, Westinghouse, Reactors

An innovative hybrid solar device that combines a PV panel and energy storage has achieved record levels of energy storage efficiency for such a device. And unlike conventional batteries, the molecular solar thermal energy storage (MOST) device doesn't rely on scarce materials.Continue ReadingCategory: Energy, TechnologyTags: Solar Power, Photovoltaic, Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya

Scientists in China have developed the world’s strongest resistive magnet, which produced a steady magnetic field of 42 Tesla (T). The system could improve devices that use magnets, as well as enable a range of new experiments that probe electromagnetism.Continue ReadingCategory: Physics, ScienceTags: Magnetism, Magnetic, Magnetic field, Electromagnetic, China, Chinese Academy of Sciences, World Records

Nobody wants to get a respiratory infection such as COVID-19 or the flu, but vaccines aren't 100% effective, and constantly taking preventative drugs can be problematic. That's where a special nasal spray may come in, as it's been shown to prevent such illnesses (in mice) without the use of drugs.Continue ReadingCategory: Illnesses and conditions, Body & MindTags: Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Viruses and Bacteria,...

Ordinarily, if you want liquid to flow in only one direction through a pipe, that pipe needs to be equipped with a flap-type valve – which could fail. Now, however, scientists have created a new type of potentially more robust one-way-flow pipe, which was inspired by shark intestines.Continue ReadingCategory: Good Thinking, LifestyleTags: University of Washington, Sharks, Biomimicry, Fluid Dynamics, Liquid

A new player has entered the projected home entertainment space with a compact 1080p projector. The We.Beam from audiovisual veteran Loewe aims to occupy premium ground in the battlefield, but does it have the specs to match?Continue ReadingCategory: Home Entertainment, Consumer Tech, TechnologyTags: Luxury, HD, Laser, Projectors, Portable

Bizarre clumps of organic matter found buried alongside Bronze Age mummies in northwestern China have now been identified as cheese. After a decade's work, DNA analysis has finally uncovered its origins, making it the most ancient cheese ever found, dating back around 3,600 years.Continue ReadingCategory: History, ScienceTags: Chinese Academy of Sciences, Fossils, Mummies, Fermentation, Probiotic, DNA

Dragon Tiny Homes offers a good balance between size and features with its recent model, the Vista. Despite its compact footprint of just 204 sq ft (18.95 sq m), the tiny house includes a snug but livable interior that fits two bedrooms and even a small home working space.Continue ReadingCategory: Tiny Houses, LifestyleTags: Building and Construction, Tiny Footprint, Micro-House, House, Home

KTM is kitting out a new motorcycle for the 2025 model year with a bunch of clever radar-guided safety features – including the ability to automatically squeeze the brakes to prevent a collision.Continue ReadingCategory: Motorcycles, TransportTags: Bosch, KTM, Radar, Safety, Assistant

Though many of us carry our digital music library or streaming player around with us in the shape of our smartphones, enjoying high quality audio can be problematic. Fiio's KA15 DAC not only levels up the sound but also looks retro cool while doing so.Continue ReadingCategory: Mobile Technology, Consumer Tech, TechnologyTags: Audiophile, Portable, Hi-fi, Earphones, Headphones, Digital music

Major steps towards better, sustainable and affordable food production free of environmental challenges have been taken, with the "world's first farm to grow indoor, vertically farmed berries at scale" opening in Richmond, VA. It's backed by an international team of scientists that see this new phase of agriculture as a way to ease global food demands.Continue ReadingCategory: Manufacturing, TechnologyTags: sustainable design, Food technology, Biotechnology,...

Aurora Flight Sciences has released a new video of its revolutionary wing-in-ground-effect Liberty Lifter concept aircraft that it's developing for DARPA. The aircraft uses ground effect to lift heavy loads without the need for an airstrip or ship port.Continue ReadingCategory: Aircraft, TransportTags: DARPA, Ground Effect Vehicle, Aircraft

A newly discovered cell that matures into two specialist cell types – an immune cell responsible for tissue repair and a cell that forms blood vessels – significantly boosts wound healing, according to new research. It could be a game-changer for people suffering from chronic, hard-to-heal wounds.Continue ReadingCategory: Body & MindTags: wound-healing, Stem Cells, progenitor-cells, south-australian-health-and-medical-research-institute

Blue Origin has conducted the first hot-fire static test of the fully integrated second stage of the company's New Glenn orbital rocket. The 15-second test took place on September 23, 2024 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.Continue ReadingCategory: Space, ScienceTags: Blue Origin, New Glenn, Rocket