Inkjet Hologram Printing Now Possible

Vivid holographic images and text can now be produced by means of an ordinary inkjet printer. This new method, developed by a team of scientists from ITMO University, is expected to significantly reduce the cost and time needed to create the so-called rainbow holograms, commonly used for security purposes, to protect valuable items, such as credit cards and paper currency, from piracy and falsification. The results of the study were published in Advanced Functional Materials scientific journal o...
More

BOT: A Vision For Commuting in the Future

    The idea is to combine taxi service, real-time ride sharing and self-driving vehicles. Friendly looking vehicles named BOT will be in constant connection with the network that accepts ride-requests. They can pick up users at any location, and unlike public transport, drive them directly to the destination. If someone needs to go in similar direction, the system allows him or her to join a ride, making it an efficient way to commute. One cab could replace 4 or even more privat...
More

Penguin Anti-Ice.

Scientists studying penguins’ feathers have revealed how the birds stay ice free when hopping in and out of below zero waters in the Antarctic. Penguins living in the Antarctic are highly evolved to cope with harsh conditions, their short outer feathers overlap to make a thick protective layer over fluffier feathers which keep them warm. Under their skin, a thick layer of fat keeps them insulated. The flightless birds spend a lot of time in the sea and are extremely agile and graceful swimmers, ...
More

PIXELIO Transforms Your Smartphone into a 3D Scanning Planetary Arm

A new UK-based startup, Smart 3D Company, Ltd., has come out with an innovative and easy-to-use device that, combined with a smartphone, will allow users to scan small objects in 3D, as well as take pictures or shoot 360° time lapse videos. The device is not only useful for photographers or 3D printer users, but also architects, engineers, graphic designers, bloggers and many more. PIXELIO, in combination with free software installed on your smartphone (eg. Autodesk 123D Catch), will allow us...
More

The ‘magic’ hi-tech window

Researcher have revealed the ultimate window one that can block out sound, but let fresh air in. It could be the answer to any city dweller's dreams. The double glazed windows have holes designed to let air in but block the most annoying frequencies. That tends to be the range of artificial sounds, leaving the natural sounds in the 0-500 Hz range largely undisturbed. After sending sound waves of 80 decibels, which is louder than a vacuum cleaner, through both windows, the pair discovered that th...
More

Using jeans to purify the air.

There are more jeans in the world than people. That sparked an idea in the mind of University of Sheffield chemist Tony Ryan. Why not use people’s penchant for wearing denim to help purify the air? With thoughts of reducing pollutants such as the nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds emitted by vehicles, power plants, residential heating, cooking and various consumer products, Ryan, in partnership with former fashion designer Helen Storey, came up with the concept of “Catalytic Clothing...
More

Flexible, implantable device could block pain signals

Building on wireless technology that has the potential to interfere with pain, scientists have developed flexible, implantable devices that can activate and, in theory, block pain signals in the body and spinal cord before those signals reach the brain. The researchers, at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, said the implants one day may be used in different parts of the body to fight pain that doesn’t respond to other therapi...
More

Using Holography to better understand clouds.

Scientists have just made a breakthrough in understanding how clouds interact with the surrounding air by studying clouds in unprecedented detail. Raymond Shaw, a professor of physics at Michigan Tech, looks at the smallest part of clouds, droplets. To understand groups of droplets, Shaw and the NCAR team flew airplanes through fluffy, cottonball cumulus clouds in Wyoming and Colorado. Aboard the plane, the team took detailed 3-D images with an instrument called the Holographic Detector for Clou...
More

Battery-free pacemaker powered by the heart itself

Scientists are developing next-generation battery-free implantable pacemakers that may be powered by an unlikely source, the heart itself. The advancement is based upon 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 heart that they are regulating," said M Amin Karami, assistant professor of mechanical engineeri...
More

New crystal captures carbon from humid gas

A new material with micropores might be a way to fight climate change. Scientists have created crystals that capture carbon dioxide much more efficiently than previously known materials, even in the presence of water. The research was recently published in a report in the scientific journal Science. One way to mitigate climate change could be to capture carbon dioxide (CO2) from the air. So far this has been difficult, since the presence of water prevents the adsorption of CO2. Complete dehyd...
More

Tesla Autopilot Mode – Model S Software Version 7.0

Tesla has launched a software update for its vehicles enabling the cars to have an "autopilot" mode. The latest software update, 7.0 allows Model S to use its unique combination of cameras, radar, ultrasonic sensors and data to automatically steer down the highway, change lanes, and adjust speed in response to traffic. Once you’ve arrived at your destination, Model S scans for a parking space and parallel parks on your command. Today’s update increases the driver’s confidence behind the wheel...
More

Robo Washer: The All-In-One Sink, Faucet, Soap Dispenser and Hand Dryer

Amazing self-cleaning invention that replaces sink, faucet, soap dispenser and hand dryer all in one, has been just launched on Kickstarter. This gadget may fix one of the worst things about using public bathrooms. In addition to waiting on long lines, one of the worst things about public bathrooms is having to use the same sink faucets and hand dryers that dozens before you have touched. Robo-Washer Revolution cleans and dries hands, then recycles its water after each use. The Robo-Washer is...
More

CubeSensors monitor your sleeping environment

CubeSensors is a startup that makes small, pretty stylish, connected devices that monitor rooms, feeding back information about air quality, temperature, and other things. They are little boxes containing a few environmental sensors. These let you know how much nasty stuff was in your air and has systems of measuring temperature and humidity. Sense is a sleep tracking device measures temperature, humidity and ambient light. The Cubes that use the new Sleep feature glow gently to remind you wh...
More

UV-light enabled catheter fixes heart defects without surgery

The newly designed catheter device utilizes UV light technology and can be used to place the patch in a beating heart without open heart surgery. Researchers from Boston Children’s Hospital, the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University, Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) and the Karp Lab at Brigham and Women’s Hospital have jointly designed a specialized catheter for fixing holes in the heart using a biodegradable adhesive ...
More

Flyte lightbulb levitates and rotates in the air.

Flyte is a levitating light which hovers by magnetic levitation and is powered through the air. The amazing flyte hovering light uses magnetic levitation and wireless technology to rotate continuously with almost no friction. It is described as a new way to experience light, one that is free from the constraints of gravity and enhances wireless technology to receive power. Combing tesla laws of induction with the signature bulb, it is powered through the air making it safe and harmless as it nee...
More

Breathe fresh clean air in a SmartVent home.

SmartVent Evolve is an intelligent tablet based system that lets you control your home’s internal climate. This new system quietly ventilates your home with fresher, drier air, removing condensation and moisture and creating a healthier, more comfortable living environment. It is set to change home ventilation forever. Evolve’s sensor technology can monitor both temperature and humidity to effectively control condensation. This air is passed through a high efficiency filter and introduced int...
More

Cloaking device protects soldiers from shock waves

The amazing concept of a sci-fi cloaking device which is a shield of ionized air that damps the force of a shock wave and bends it, could protect soldiers protect soldiers from intense shock waves generated by explosions. The US Army has experienced much collateral damage due to shock waves from explosions and this new device will help in reducing the damage to the vehicle and the injuries to the soldiers onboard. An armored vehicle is equipped to handle debris from an explosion but is not...
More

Wikipearls: Bite-sized foods wrapped in edible Food packaging

WikiFoods, Inc. has developed a revolutionary, plastic-free food and beverage packaging technology that delivers Triple Good called WikiPearls™ which are good for you, good for the environment, and just plain good. Created by David Edwards, a Harvard professor and biomedical engineer, the intention of the WikiPearl is to kill the packaging and make its relationship with food symbiotic. WikiPearl skins are inspired by the way nature packages fruits and vegetables. These skins are delicious ...
More

Researchers discover the key to staying dry underwater

Imagine staying dry underwater for months. The latest research from Northwestern University engineers identified a wide variety of surfaces that can do just that. Through a combination of analysis of “air-retaining insect surfaces” used by aquatic insects, aging and degassing experiments on material surfaces, and molecular simulations, these engineers believe they understand what keeps certain surfaces dry underwater. Saturation of air within “valleys” on surfaces (less than 1µm wide) defl...
More

Penn Research Simplifies Recycling of Rare-earth Magnets

Chemical technology can instantaneously separate elements and enable a smaller scale recycler. The latest news from researchers at the University of Pennsylvania is that they have pioneered a process that could enable the efficient recycling of two metals, neodymium and dysprosium. These elements comprise the small, powerful magnets that are found in many high-tech devices. Despite their ubiquity in consumer electronics, rare-earth metals are, as their name suggests, hard to come by. Mi...
More

Atmospheric Water Generators that Make Water from Air

The WaterMill WM-200 is unlike any other water collection device. It is an  intelligent system that can regulate itself to produce pure water for a healthy family and environment. Johathan Ritchey has invented this novel device, which is essentially an atmospheric water collection device that condenses water vapor and purifies it. Originally designed for areas that do not have clean drinking water, the Watermill is for households that need an eco-friendly, cost effective alternative to bot...
More

Unique 3D Pen that Draws In The Air

3Doodler is the world’s first 3D printing pen. The pen, created by science inventors Max Bogue and Peter Dilworth is called the 3Doodler, and allows the user to draw in the air. It does not require any software but simply needs to be plugged into an electrical outlet for use. This pen has been fed into with colorful plastic thread. The thread is then extruded as heated plastic that cools and solidifies instantly as it exits the tip. This allows solid 3D structures to be drawn on any surfac...
More

Portable water purification device for the ultimate traveler

 Inventor Micheal Pritchard has found a solution for safe drinking water with a handheld water purification device that creates fresh water instantly. The LifeSaver bottle provides refreshing, germ free water anywhere. The bottle itself is designed to be uncomplicated and user friendly. This bottle consists of long lasting cartridges which help remove viruses and bacteria from contaminated water. One just needs to pump the products manually a few times and pristine drinking water will start t...
More