The Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) is a rover that will assess whether Mars ever was, or is still today, an environment able to support microbial life. In other words, its mission is to determine the planet’s “habitability.” Scheduled to launch in November or December of this year, the Curiosity rover should land on Mars in […]
Using robotics, laser rangefinders, GPS and smart feedback tools, Dennis Hong is building a car for drivers who are blind. It’s not a “self-driving” car, he’s careful to note, but a car in which a non-sighted driver can determine speed, proximity and route — and drive independently. [TED]
Yes geeks, our pal Bill Hammock, the Engineer Guy, is back, and this time, he tells us more about the science behind fiber optic cables. Enjoy! [Via Neatorama]
A study suggests childhood autism in the Netherlands is more common in a area with a high proportion of IT workers. The figures suggest there’s more to it than coincidence, though how correlation translates to causation is still open to question. The key figures come from research by Simon Baron-Cohen (cousins, before you ask) of […]
At TEDxMaastricht, Daniel Kraft offers a fast-paced look at the next few years of innovations in medicine, powered by new tools, tests and apps that bring diagnostic information right to the patient’s bedside. [TED]
Physicists are used to the idea that subatomic particles behave according to the bizarre rules of quantum mechanics, completely different to human-scale objects. In a breakthrough experiment, Aaron O’Connell has blurred that distinction by creating an object that is visible to the unaided eye, but provably in two places at the same time. In the […]
I’ve battled with occasional bouts of sleeplessness for years; it’s now to the point where, when sleep evades me, I’ve given up on sleep aids and bedtimes and such. I just go to sleep when I think I can sleep, and that’s that. But a recent article in the LA Times tells me I’m doing […]
Have you ever wondered what the best spot is in your microwave to heat your food more effectively? If this is the case, listen to the following video from Smarter Every Day and you’ll never have to wonder again! [Via TDWG]