VR firefighter training simulator keeps Big Data close to its chest

Firefighting is a dangerous gig by nature, so training is particularly important. But training can be just as dangerous, not to mention costly and time-consuming. To help train firefighters more often and more easily, a new virtual reality simulator called the FLAIM Trainer has been developed, made up of an HTC Vive VR headset, haptics systems and a vest that tracks the trainee's vital signs.

.. Continue Reading VR firefighter training simulator keeps Big Data close to its chest

Category: VR

Tags:

• Data
• Firefighting
• Haptics
• HTC
• HTC Vive
• Simulations
• VR

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Facebook culls accounts amid new coordinated election interference campaign

Facebook has just revealed it has removed 32 pages and accounts from Facebook and Instagram. It claims these "bad actors" were part of a "coordinated inauthentic" campaign similar to actions perpetrated by Russian sources in the lead up to the 2016 US presidential election. No source for the accounts has been tracked yet but Facebook is working with law enforcement agencies to investigate further.

.. Continue Reading Facebook culls accounts amid new coordinated election interference campaign

Category: Computers

Tags:

• Facebook
• Hack

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Milan Red Austrian hypercar joins the one-horsepower-per-kilogram club

It's a day that ends with "y", and we all know what that means in 2018: the launch of another new boutique hypercar. In this case it's the Milan Red, a 1,325-hp, quad-turbo V8 beast. We've seen cars before that look like they're going 100 mph standing still, but this one looks like its cheeks are flapping in the wind.

.. Continue Reading Milan Red Austrian hypercar joins the one-horsepower-per-kilogram club

Category: Automotive

Tags:

• Hypercar
• Supercars

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Biometric Mirror starkly demonstrates how facial recognition systems amplify human bias

Innocuously set up in the corner of a library foyer at the University of Melbourne is a confronting social experiment tailored to highlight the fundamental flaws behind modern facial recognition technology. Called the Biometric Mirror, this interactive installation asks people to step up and have an AI application determine a variety of personality characteristics using current facial analysis systems. I tried it, and it concluded I am weird and aggressive.

.. Continue Reading Biometric Mirror starkly demonstrates how facial recognition systems amplify human bias

Category: Computers

Tags:

• Artificial Intelligence
• Facial Recognition
• Human

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Growing "Alzheimer's in a dish" reveals new potential treatment target

The human brain is a complicated piece of machinery, which makes it difficult to untangle illnesses like Alzheimer's. To improve our understanding and find new potential ways to treat the disease, researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) have now produced one of the most detailed models of "Alzheimer's-in-a-dish," using cultures of human neural cells that display neuroinflammation, a key element of the disease.

.. Continue Reading Growing "Alzheimer's in a dish" reveals new potential treatment target

Category: Medical

Tags:

• Alzheimer's Disease
• Brain
• Cells
• Culture
• Disease
• Harvard
• Inflammatory
• Neuroscience
• University of North Carolina

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Flatbox kit turns the Toyota Land Cruiser into an overland camper

Ququq already offers affordable all-in-one camper solutions for some of the world's most rugged off-roaders, with its Land Rover Defender box and Mercedes G-Class box. Now it's adding something for what might just be the world's most universally beloved overlanding machine: the Toyota Land Cruiser. The all-new Flatbox slides inside the Land Cruiser's tailgate, creating a vehicle that can travel to the ends of the earth during the day and feed and sleep its occupants at night.

.. Continue Reading Flatbox kit turns the Toyota Land Cruiser into an overland camper

Category: Outdoors

Tags:

• Campervan
• Camping
• Off-road
• Outdoor
• ququq
• SUV
• Toyota

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3D-printed electrodes add a whole new dimension to lithium batteries

So much of the research focus in lithium battery circles centers on the electrodes. As the components where electrical currents flow in and out of the battery, scientists are continually tweaking their makeup and the chemical reactions they generate in pursuit of better performing batteries. Among them are researchers at Carnegie Mellon University, who have come up with a new way of 3D printing latticed electrodes they say result in an "unprecedented improvement."

.. Continue Reading 3D-printed electrodes add a whole new dimension to lithium batteries

Category: Electronics

Tags:

• Batteries
• Battery
• Carnegie Mellon
• Lithium-ion

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"Light-fingerprints" of our solar system could reveal secrets of distant exoplanets

A team of scientists from Cornell University has created a reference catalog detailing the "light-fingerprints" of worlds orbiting our Sun, in the hope that it will help future telescopes to uncover the true natures of distant exoplanets. The researchers characterized a total of 19 celestial bodies from our cosmic backyard, including all nine planets, major moons such as Enceladus, as well as the dwarf planets Ceres and Pluto.

.. Continue Reading "Light-fingerprints" of our solar system could reveal secrets of distant exoplanets

Category: Space

Tags:

• E-ELT
• Exoplanet
• James Webb Space Telescope
• Solar System

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New class of materials could lead to safer, fast-charging lithium-ion batteries

Researchers at the University of Cambridge have found that materials known as niobium tungsten oxides form microscopic structures that let lithium ions flow through them at much greater rates than current technology allows. The finding could be the key to building next-generation lithium-ion cells that charge in minutes rather than hours, and are not prone to dangerous overheating.

.. Continue Reading New class of materials could lead to safer, fast-charging lithium-ion batteries

Category: Energy

Tags:

• Battery
• Charging
• Lithium-ion
• University of Cambridge

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Nutritional supplement may succeed where antidepressants fail

Depression can be a frustrating illness, as sufferers often have to try numerous types of medication before finding one that works – if any work for them at all, that is. There could be new hope, however, in the form of an existing off-the-shelf product.

.. Continue Reading Nutritional supplement may succeed where antidepressants fail

Category: Health & Wellbeing

Tags:

• Depression
• Stanford University
• The Rockefeller University

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Radio blackouts caused by intense solar storms complicated 2017 hurricane relief efforts

According to a newly published paper, powerful solar storms were responsible for communication outages in 2017, as professionals and volunteers alike worked to provide emergency aid in the wake of the devastation caused by hurricanes Irma, Katia and Jose. The source of the interference was a series of enormous solar flares, which were responsible for disrupting Earth's atmosphere and preventing radio signals from reaching their targets.

.. Continue Reading Radio blackouts caused by intense solar storms complicated 2017 hurricane relief efforts

Category: Space

Tags:

• Hurricane
• Sun
• Weather

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Toyota reveals Project Portal Beta fuel cell truck

Toyota has unveiled its second prototype of the Project Portal hydrogen fuel cell truck. This "Beta," as Toyota refers to it internally, is the second iteration of the truck, adding more range, more room in the cab, and better usability. This is a more commercially-viable truck, Toyota says.

.. Continue Reading Toyota reveals Project Portal Beta fuel cell truck

Category: Automotive

Tags:

• Commercial
• Fuel Cell
• Hydrogen
• Hydrogen-powered
• Toyota

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Oko gives smartphone photographers a dual eyepiece

Although DSLR cameras have LCD screens, they also have eyepieces that allow photographers to get a close, glare-free look at their shots. So, what if you use a smartphone for your photo-taking/video-shooting, instead of a DSLR? Well, that's where Oko comes in.

.. Continue Reading Oko gives smartphone photographers a dual eyepiece

Category: Digital Cameras

Tags:

• Kickstarter
• Photography
• Smartphones

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Ocado starts making deliveries with low emission dual-fuel Sprinter

Online supermarket Ocado has taken delivery of the first dual-fuel conversion of a Mercedes Sprinter by Liverpool's ULEMCo. The vehicle has been modified to run on both diesel and hydrogen, cutting CO2 emissions and extending the range. The converted Sprinter is operating now from Ocado's West Drayton hub, delivering goods to customers in the surrounding area.

.. Continue Reading Ocado starts making deliveries with low emission dual-fuel Sprinter

Category: Automotive

Tags:

• Delivery
• Diesel
• Hydrogen
• Hydrogen-powered
• Van

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Harley-Davidson reveals bold expansion plans, previews new models

Under the title "More Roads to Harley-Davidson," the American motorcycle manufacturer revealed its strategy to broaden its customer base. A series of new models in the next three years will include an adventure bike, a streetfighter, a custom, a small-displacement series and, finally, electric motorcycles.

.. Continue Reading Harley-Davidson reveals bold expansion plans, previews new models

Category: Motorcycles

Tags:

• Harley Davidson
• Motorcycle

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Europe's new tallest tower nears completion in Saint Petersburg

Rising over the historic city of St. Petersburg like an elegant glazed bullet, the 87-story Lakhta Center is nearing completion following six years of construction. The supertall skyscraper rises to an impressive height of 462 m (1,516 ft), making it Europe's tallest building, as well as the 13th tallest building in the world.

.. Continue Reading Europe's new tallest tower nears completion in Saint Petersburg

Category: Architecture

Tags:

• Building and Construction
• Russia
• Skyscrapers

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Canon brings 4K video to pocket superzoom

With a smartphone camera in just about every pocket, compact camera makers are having to rely on big zoom lenses and pixel-packed video prowess to convince consumers to buy dedicated snappers. Such is the case with Canon's upcoming PowerShot SX740 HS, a 20 megapixel compact with 40x optical zoom and 4K video capabilities.

.. Continue Reading Canon brings 4K video to pocket superzoom

Category: Digital Cameras

Tags:

• 4K UHD
• Canon
• Compact
• Photography
• PowerShot
• Superzoom

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Pictorial: 2018 World Ducati Week - heaven for the Ducatisti

Those who follow the Ducati motociclo faith are known as Ducatisti. The most faithful Ducatisti from across the globe perform a pilgrimage every two years to a spot near Rimini on Italy's Adriatic Riviera, and the event is known as World Ducati Week (WDW). This is our story in pictures of WDW 2018.

.. Continue Reading Pictorial: 2018 World Ducati Week - heaven for the Ducatisti

Category: Motorcycles

Tags:

• Ducati

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Canadian craftsman turns out beautiful, high-end retro TV consoles

Canadian craftsman Konstantin Mazin runs MazinCraft, a Vancouver-based company specializing in high-end custom timber interiors and home theaters. He recently launched a line of mid-20th century-style hi-fi-enabled TV consoles under the the MeiliAudio name, which should be great if they sound half as good as they look.

.. Continue Reading Canadian craftsman turns out beautiful, high-end retro TV consoles

Category: Home Entertainment

Tags:

• Audio
• Audiophile
• Hi-fi
• home theater
• Retro
• TV
• Wood

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Houses Awards showcase the best new homes from down under

Australia's Houses Awards, as the name might suggest, is an annual award program that showcases the best new builds in the realm of residential architecture. The 2018 edition has seen a spectacular cave-like home built into a rock shelf claim top honors, while a host of smaller dwellings, gardens and extensions were also celebrated for their ingenuity and charm.

.. Continue Reading Houses Awards showcase the best new homes from down under

Category: Architecture

Tags:

• Building and Construction
• Competition
• Gallery
• Home
• House

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Laser-blasted graphene boosts capacity of sodium-ion batteries

Lithium-ion batteries are effective, but they can be a bit on the expensive side. Striking a balance between common materials and efficiency is important, and regular old salt looks like it could fit the bill – after a few kinks are ironed out. Now, researchers at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) have developed a way to make "disordered" graphene that can help improve the sodium-ion battery recipe.

.. Continue Reading Laser-blasted graphene boosts capacity of sodium-ion batteries

Category: Energy

Tags:

• Batteries
• Battery
• Graphene
• KAUST
• Laser
• Lithium-ion
• Sodium battery

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Folding camping hammock travels light and sets up without the trees

Minneapolis-based startup Republic of Durable Goods is presenting a more versatile way to hammock with the Mock One hammock, which takes cues from folding camp chairs to provide an all-in-one hammock solution that doesn't require trees. The multifunctional folding hammock travels anywhere, sets up with ease and doubles as an overnight shelter, complete with mosquito mesh and weatherproof tarp.

.. Continue Reading Folding camping hammock travels light and sets up without the trees

Category: Outdoors

Tags:

• Camping
• Hammocks
• Kickstarter
• Outdoor
• Outdoor Retailer 2018

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A gene that causes hair loss may be recruited to help kill cancers

An intriguing new study from Columbia University Irving Medical Center has found that the same gene associated with a condition responsible for autoimmune-related hair loss could be recruited to help our immune cells better target tumors.

.. Continue Reading A gene that causes hair loss may be recruited to help kill cancers

Category: Science

Tags:

• Cancer
• Genetics
• Hair
• Immunotherapy
• Skin Cancer
• Tumors

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Blue crystals in meteorites reveal the Sun's rowdy younger years

Although it's a relatively calm place today, the solar system had a pretty turbulent youth. After it sprung up about 4.6 billion years ago, the Sun was far more active in its early years, but we only really know this from studying other similar stars. Now, researchers have found the fingerprints of this active young Sun in tiny, bright blue crystals preserved in meteorites from a collection at Chicago's Field Museum.

.. Continue Reading Blue crystals in meteorites reveal the Sun's rowdy younger years

Category: Space

Tags:

• Helium
• mass spectrometry
• Meteorite
• Solar System
• Sun
• The Field Museum of Natural History
• University of Chicago

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Stem cells to be transplanted into brains of Parkinson's patients in world-first trials

The deterioration of motor skills in Parkinson's patients is driven by the decline of dopamine production, but researchers in Japan are making exciting progress on a way to potentially arrest the slide. Following promising experiments on monkeys last year, scientists at Kyoto University are now preparing to begin transplanting reprogrammed stem cells into human brains as part of a first-of-a-kind clinical trial.

.. Continue Reading Stem cells to be transplanted into brains of Parkinson's patients in world-first trials

Category: Medical

Tags:

• Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPS)
• Kyoto University
• Parkinson's Disease
• Stem Cells

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