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When luggage makes its merry way through the airport, bomb-sniffing scanners have to check it out for explosives. Now, scientists in Israel say they have developed a small electronic chip that could be a million times more sensitive than our bulky scanners. To detect explosives, airport security and the military usually rely on machines that…
The technology of the future was going to provide all kinds of new possibilities for the classroom of tomorrow — including eliminating the classroom entirely. Interestingly enough, it would seem we’re still chasing that dream. https://gizmodo.com/15-technologies-that-were-supposed-to-change-education-1481232959 The December 18, 1960 edition of Arthur Radebaugh’s comic strip “Closer Than We Think” featured this home-schooling console of…
Oculus VR is now owned by Facebook, but that won’t keep them from slurping up some companies of their own. And most recently, Oculus VR has agreed to snap up the Carbon Design Group, the designers behind the wonderful Xbox 360 controller and the original Kinect. Someday soon, it might not look quite so silly.…
Flickr just unveiled a brand-new app for Apple TV. Now you can share your own photos and explore the whole world of Flickr user uploads from the comfort of your TV. [Flickr]
Ready for some weird science? Certain bacteria found in the dirt near coca plants are powered by an enzyme that eats cocaine. Unfortunately, the enzyme breaks down quickly at body temperature, meaning it can’t be used to treat human overdoses or addiction. Now, though, researchers have designed a version that can survive body temps—and more…
In the chimeric world of vertical-takeoff-and-landing (VTOL) aircraft, the most common hybrid one finds are tiltrotor planes with helicopter-like abilities. But the X3 prototype from Airbus took the opposite approach. It transformed a traditional helicopter into a high-speed turboprop. There’s always been a distinction between airplanes and helicopters in that planes can fly farther and…
Going to concerts is fun no matter what, but it’s a million times more fun if you know all the songs. Sadly, sometimes if you only know a cut or two, it can be hard to brush up on an artist’s whole catalog before the show. Spotify’s new Set Listener tool is here to help.…
In a document seeking feedback on new drone policies, the FAA indicated that it does not want unmanned aircraft “delivering packages to people for a fee.” Even if a company doesn’t collect a fee—as Amazon has proposed—drone deliveries count as commercial activity, the agency says. And that’s against the rules. (Updated below) The move is…
Last Friday I published a video that caused many to discover autonomous sensory meridian response, a perceptual phenomenon that gives a pleasing tingling sensation. Some said they got it watching people writing. Well, put your headphones on, because this is the mother of all calligraphy ASMR videos. It’s a demonstration of a fountain pen—a Namiki…
It doesn’t have anything to do with Bill Murray, but I want to eat it anyway: The patty is “seared on the outside, medium rare on the inside, with a molten core of melted cheese and creamy sous vide egg yolk.” I want to get sucked into a Groundhog Day time warp hole and eat…
Not feeling paranoid enough today? Here you go: Your phone lock screen might actually make it easier for nefarious cyber bandits to steal your passwords. Researchers at the University of Massachusetts Lowell recently conducted a study illustrating how easy it is to steal phone PINS, even from across the room. They used cameras on Google…
The Washington Post and Twitter users are reporting a massive outage of Microsoft Outlook, Office 365, and other services. Are you experiencing problems? Share them here! [WP]
There are three ways that television displays can be improved, two of which you’re probably already familiar with: you can up the density of the pixels, or increase the refresh rate. But Dolby has taken to improving the third factor: They’re building a better and brighter pixel. What Is Dolby Vision? There’s currently a disconnect…
Going into Google’s big developer conference, one of the biggest questions was whether or not we would see a whole new version—the “L” version—of Android. The answer is yes, and it comes from Android frontman Sundar Pichai via Bloomberg Businessweek. From Businessweek: This year, Pichai will preview the next release (Lollipop? Lemonhead?) for the first…
If there was any lingering doubt that we are a nation of consumers, this real-time infographic should all but eliminate it. Retale.com has illustrated the staggering amount of money being spent every second in retail and online stores, as well as on various products, in a chart that makes you wonder why anyone would ever…
Pending public rage, the FCC’s flawed net neutrality rules will kick in later this summer. And yet, despite the impassioned coverage in the media, it’s obvious that most people are still missing the point. As Wired points out today, a type of internet fast lane already exists, and nobody’s talking about how to shut them…
FireChat, the elegant mesh networking app that lets you talk to you friends without an internet connection, just got even better. While you’ve been able to use the app on iOS and Android devices separately for months, a new version of the app lets you cross the platforms. It sounds pretty neat! The update, FireChat…
For some, coal mining conjures images of quaint Appalachian towns. In parts of Germany, where some of the world’s largest open-pit coal mines exist, the resemblance is more of an apocalyptic wasteland. Photographer Bernhard Lang’s stunning overhead documentation of the Hambach Mine depicts the massive scale of the mining operation. The pit is 961 feet…
Need or want a new flashlight? Here’s a chance to win one of six (or all six) FOURSEVENS portable illumination devices. Each is one of the nicest lights on the market. https://gizmodo.com/how-led-flashlights-are-designed-and-manufactured-1594909789 Enter as many of these giveaways as you want. The winner of each will be randomly chosen and contacted by email, so make…
With Google Glass still being in its Explorer phase, there hasn’t been a whole lot of diversity as far as its app (or “Glassware”) selection is concerned. But to kick off I/O, Google has just announced a whole slew of new apps you can slap onto your face computer. The most notable (and mildly disconcerting)…
