The Nest Thermostat from Google is one of the most recognizable smart home devices of recent years, though it doesn’t get updated all that often. The latest model to launch simplifies the design and lowers the price, while packing in some helpful controls using technology borrowed from the Pixel 4. That technology is the Soli radar sensor: in the Pixel […]
Google’s New Nest Thermostat
Oceanbird’s Huge 80-Meter Sails Reduce Carbon Emissions By 90%
The idea of using sails to power a boat is not exactly a new one; indeed, the earliest known depiction of a ship under sail appears on a painted disc found in Kuwait, dated back to somewhere between 5,000-5,500 BCE. Boats themselves, interestingly, appear to be closer to a million years old, and were used by homo erectus long before […]
Ellodee Audio Console For Kids
Children’s screen time is a growing concern for parents, as kids spend more time each day staring at phones, tablets, computers and TVs. Audio is one alternative, but it’s usually tied to screens as well. Enter the Ellodee Sound Companion – a kid-focused console that’s all about audio. The Sound Companion looks and largely works like a smart speaker, which […]
Air Taxi Launch In Japan Within 3 Years?
Having tested out its aircraft in Dubai, Singapore, Helsinki and Germany, Volocopter is spreading its tentacles far and wide in its efforts to get its air taxi service up and running. The company is now turning its attention to Japan through a new agreement with Japan Airlines, and says it is preparing for a commercial launch in the country within […]
Environmentally Free Antibacterial Cleaner
Whether you have kids going back to school, or if you recently started commuting to the office again, it’s now more important than ever to ensure your living space is bacteria-free. That being said, a number of sanitizing sprays and antibacterial cleaners in the realm of cleaning products are extremely unsustainable, and picking one that doesn’t do a number on […]
BiodiverCity Penang’s New Eco-Tourism Spots
In January 2020, the Penang State Government launched an international design competition centered on reinventing the Penang South Islands and transforming them into a sustainable destination. The goal was to create a livable community, both indoors and outdoors, that encompasses cultural, ecological and economic growth. The winner of the competition is Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), with a comprehensive plan it […]
Buying 2nd Hand Furniture Online
Vintage furniture has always been in high demand among the eco-conscious. Why pay big money for some laminated pressboard that’s likely to fall apart in less than a decade when you can buy something that’s already withstood the test of time. These days, however, as more and more people reach for something old to renew, hipsters the world over are […]
AI System Detects Loneliness In Natural Speech
A new proof of concept study, led by researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine, has demonstrated how speech-analyzing artificial intelligence tools can effectively predict the level of loneliness in older adults. Natural language processing (NLP) is an umbrella term encompassing a variety of techniques that process or analyze large volumes of unstructured natural speech and text. […]
Coronavirus Can Survive 28 Days On Banknotes
A new Australian study measuring the survival rates of SARS-CoV-2 on various surfaces has found the virus may be able to survive up to 28 days on glass, stainless steel and even banknotes. However, experts urge caution over how these results are interpreted as they do not translate to conditions influencing real-world transmission of COVID-19. The new research, from a […]
Ultra Thin Graphite Films
Making every micrometer count is a key consideration for designers and engineers working on modern smartphones, and a new material could free up some valuable space. Scientists have developed a nanometer-thick form of graphite that helps keep electronic devices cool, and does so while taking up just a fraction of the real estate of current solutions. Graphite films play an […]