Shave and a Haircut: Secret Knock Opens DIY Door Lock
on Nov 16, 2009 in Do It Yourself Technology arduino DIY locks programming Anyone who spent any time being a kid can probably remember having a clubhouse, or building forts, or just really wanting a secret hideout. And of course, every secret hideout requires a good secret knock. Well, now that you’re all grown up, yo...

Junkbots: 8 Artists Creating Lovable Bots From Trash
on Nov 16, 2009 in Art of Tech Technology art recycling robots sculpture Is there anything more adorable than a friendly robot? They may not be cuddly, but you get the feeling that, with the right programming, they could be your best friend someday. What makes these robots even better is that they’re made from recyc...

Smile, or Else: Hat Stabs Your Head When Your Smile Fades
on Nov 15, 2009 in Various Gizmos Do you find yourself or someone you love scowling a little too often? Maybe it’s time to introduce a little negative reinforcement. UCLA grad student Lauren McCarthy has come up with an ingenious, if painful, way to make the world a happier pla...

Science, You So Crazy: Transparent Aluminum Made in Lab
on Nov 15, 2009 in New Materials Science discoveries metal research x-rays Star Trek fans will already be familiar with the concept of transparent aluminum – but who knew it really exists? The fantasy material isn’t fantasy anymore. It’s here, it’s clear, and it’s completely awesome. Transparen...

Take Bread Crumbs: We Really Do Walk in Circles When Lost
on Nov 15, 2009 in Medical Marvels Science medical research traveling Everyone has heard an allusion to the common belief that people “walk around in circles” when they’re lost. You might have assumed it was just a turn of phrase or a funny expression. But researchers at the Max Planck Institute for B...

Space Case: Compact Camper Van Carries Everything
on Nov 14, 2009 in Cars & Trucks Transportation camping inventions vehicles Necessity is the mother of invention, of course, and some of the best things in the world have come about because someone was frustrated enough with the current choices to come up with an alternative. Such is the case with the SpaceCamper, the innova...

High Times: The High-Res Camera Showing us Mars’ Face
on Nov 14, 2009 in Science Space & Time mars nasa photography space space travel The landscapes of other planets have long been the source of fantasies and speculation, but in the last few decades we’ve finally been able to get a close-up view of the surfaces of alien worlds. NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) h...

Phone Home: 8 Crazy Futuristic Japanese Phone Concepts
on Nov 13, 2009 in Gadgets Phones & Mobile cell phones concepts phones Technology Every year, thousands of technology professionals flock to CEATEC, Japan’s answer to the Consumer Electronics Show. It’s the place to debut new technologies and gadgets, network, and get a feel for where the industry is headed. In 2009, F...

Tilt-a-World: Global Warming Could Shift Earth’s Axis
on Nov 13, 2009 in Earth & Nature Science climate change environment global warming Did you think global warming was all about sunny winters and the death of natural ski slopes? There’s actually much more to it than that. According to a new study, melting polar ice and growing oceans may actually cause a significant shift in t...

Button Envy: 18-Button Mouse Kicks Your Mouse’s Butt
on Nov 12, 2009 in Gadgets Gaming & Geek Computers gaming mice mouse video games wow Once upon a time, computer mice were rather simple. They had two buttons – some had only one – and their functions were pretty basic. But then we started using our computers for more sophisticated programs and games, and we needed more in...