In cars with automatic transmissions, the point at which the vehicle shifts gears isn’t just about its current speed – or at least, it shouldn’t be. With that in mind, Hyundai and Kia have developed a system that preemptively shifts gears based on the road ahead. Described as being the first of its kind, the setup is known as the […]
Predictive System For Future Cars
Bluetooth Candle Wick
Lighting a candle is not that difficult to do, although if you have to light a bunch of the things on a daily basis, it could be a bit of a hassle. That’s where Candle Touch comes in, as it’s an actual flame-and-wax candle that’s lit by Bluetooth. The Candle Touch device itself consists of a base containing the rechargeable […]
Modular Mountain Bike Pedals
While plastic mountain bike pedals tend to be lighter and cheaper than their aluminum counterparts, they certainly don’t last as long. Canadian company Squidworx has set out to combine the best features of both, with its Modular Flat Pedal. At the heart of each pedal is a sealed steel axle, contained within a central 6061-aluminum body. Attached horizontally to either […]
Retina Tracking Tech Excels At Assessing Neurological Disorders
For some time now, the tracking of eye movements has served as a means of assessing neurological health. A new system is said to do so more precisely than ever, providing highly accurate readings in just 10 seconds. Developed by Berkeley, California-based C. Light Technologies, the setup is centered around a device known as a Tracking Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscope (TSLO). […]
E05 Full-Frame Mirrorless Camera
The EOS R was first introduced in September 2018. The full-frame mirrorless camera system was joined by a second, cheaper, model the following year and now Canon has revealed it’s working on another – the R5. “Today’s announcement comes as a direct result of the tireless effort of Canon engineers who have been tasked with developing the next generation […]
Ultrasound Battery Prevents Potential Fire Using Sound Waves
It’s hard to imagine a world without the lithium-ion batteries that power today’s laptops and mobile devices, but the technology does have its limits. One way scientists are working to break a bottleneck of energy density and greatly extend the battery life of these devices (and many others) is by bringing pure lithium metal into the mix. A new battery […]
Hand Paddle Assesses Swimmers Strokes
While there are already performance-tracking watches that count swimmers’ laps and strokes, they typically don’t provide feedback on the quality of those strokes. A new device known as the SmartPaddle, however, is designed to do just that. The SmartPaddle was created by Trainesense, a spinoff company from the Finnish Institute of Technology. It actually consists of two devices, each one […]
Metal Infused Lumber
While lumber certainly has many desirable qualities as a building material, it typically has to be pressure-treated with eco-unfriendly chemicals to keep from rotting. With that problem in mind, US scientists are working on a greener alternative – giving the wood a shot of metal oxide. Led by Asst. Prof. Mark Losego, a team at Georgia Tech is taking advantage […]
“Aerophilic Surface”
Although some people may like a good frothy head on their beer, the foaming of liquids is considered problematic in many fields. A new MIT-designed material could help, as it keeps such foam from forming. In various industrial processes, unwanted foam can both clog up machinery and occupy space that would otherwise be put to better use. Additionally, when foam […]
Robot Completes Supermicrosurgeries On Human
A highly precise form of reconstructive surgery, known as supermicrosurgery, seeks to connect ultra-thin blood and lymph vessels as a way of restoring them to healthy function. This requires a high level of expertise on part of the surgeons, but they may soon have a new robotic tool at their disposal called Musa, which has performed its first round of […]