Scientists see invisibility on the horizon

By Sterling “Chip” Camden Contributing Writer, [GAS] The ability to become invisible figures as a theme in the magic and mythology of many cultures over the centuries.  At least since H.G. Wells’ The Invisible Man, science fiction fans have wondered whether it might be possible to achieve invisibility through the application of science.  It appears (har) that this little […]

Electronic Passports Hacked Within Minutes, Engineer Says

By JR Raphael Contributing Writer, [GAS] They’re billed as an international security solution, but the high-tech electronic passports developed after 9/11 may be easier to forge than their ink-and-paper counterparts. The passports, issued by the U.S. and 44 other countries, feature embedded microchips that contain the owner’s data. They were designed to boost protection against […]


Toyota Segway-like Winglet looks like great fun

Toyota just unveiled a new series of what they call “Partner Robots” which are supposed to help people extend their range of mobility safely and effectively. Dubbed as “Winglets,” these toys for grown-ups look like segway-like devices that consist of a body that contains an electric motor, two wheels, and a couple of internal sensors […]

Electronic Nose May Replace Police Dogs

By JR Raphael Contributing Writer, [GAS] The days of the police dog’s career may be numbered. Scientists are working on a new breed of electronic noses that could replace the canine cadets, CNN reports. The high-tech sniffers would be able to find even the smallest amounts of explosive substances in places like airports and could […]

Pensieve: The Human Memory Assistant

By JR Raphael Contributing Writer, [GAS] Your own human memory could soon have a digital backup. IBM is working on new software that collects pieces of information during your day, then uses them to help you remember things later. The project sounds like something that could have come straight from Dumbledore’s quarters — and not […]

Meet “Anton,” the Robotic Tongue

Just when you thought you’d seen it all, British scientists have come up with “Anton,” the animatronic tongue. This squirming creation was designed to help better understand how the human tongue works and thus improve speech recognition software. See for yourself: I feel it’s necessary to quote the following line from New Scientist Magazine: “The […]

Introducing the $10 Laptop

Would you like a laptop with that? India’s getting ready to debut a notebook computer at near-McDonald’s-level prices. The laptop, now under development in Bangalore, will sell for $10 US currency. It’ll be marketed toward “higher education applications” — college students, we assume. Government officials revealed the plans for the product at a conference this […]