Space travel is a bit more civilized now that there’s a bespoke Italian espresso machine aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Unfortunately, solving one problem just raises another and the astronauts are still having to drink their cappuccinos out of placcy bags. To help the zero-g coffee aficionado, Portland State University’s (PSU) Maseeh College of Engineering and Computer Science has developed a microgravity espresso cup that drinks like its earthbound counterparts.
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Watching TV is already one of the top things to do when you’re feeling lazy, and soon it’ll require even less effort. UK telco Virgin Media is set to trial a new wristband that monitors your pulse and can tell when you’ve fallen asleep. It’ll then beam a message to your TiVo and tell it to pause the current program and start … Read More → "New wearable tells your DVR to record a show when you doze off at the TV"

A “hobo nickel” is a nickel that has been inscribed with appealing images. During the Great Depression, poor people sometimes made them to sell, which is how the folk art form got its name.
via Neatorama

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On December 17, 1903, the Wright brothers flew the first airplane ever at 6.8 mph (10.9 km/h).Only 61 years and five days later, the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird took off. It’s still the world’s fastest airplane with a speed of 2,193 mph (3,530 km/h.) This fascinating video reveals how its top secret engine technology works.
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You know that moment where you overhear a loved one talking about something they really need, and realize you just stumbled onto the perfect thoughtful Christmas present? That’s what just happened on the ISS, where an astronaut recently opined about needing a wrench—and then received one over email and printed it out.

… Read More → "NASA emailed a new wrench to the ISS"

As much as we don’t want the fashion choices of the world’s incredibly influential and important scientists to necessarily overshadow their scientific achievements—seriously, despite what you might think, we promise we don’t—you’ve got to admit that wearing a dress decked out in sequined examples of the very neurons you helped to discover is ridiculously awesome. It’s … Read More → "One Nobel recipient accepted her prize wearing a gown covered in neurons that she discovered"

Japanese researchers have found a way to turn tissue transparent in mice, allowing them to see cellular networks and gain a better understanding of biological systems. Researchers say this may ultimately lead to deeper comprehension of autoimmune and psychiatric diseases given it can assist in 3D modelling of organs including the brain.
via Gizmag

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Mushrooms are the new plastics, just ask anyone at Ecovative. To be fair, the company is a little biased—it’s in the mushroom business. Since 2007, the company has been developing a method to replace harmful plastics with a mushroom-based substance. This sustainable foam-like material, made from agricultural waste and mycelium (the root part of the mushroom) has been used to build bricks, grow lamp shades and replace polluting packaging. Now you … Read More → "DIY kit lets you make designs out of mushrooms"

At Expand NY in November, DARPA Director Arati Prabhakar talked about the erm, friendlier projects the agency is funding, including a mind-controlled robotic arm tested by Pittsburgh native Jan Scheuermann. Her test run has recently ended, but the University of Pittsburgh researchers in charge of project have published a paper detailing how much the limb has improved over the past two years. Before they took off Jan’s implants, she could … Read More → "DARPA-funded mind-controlled robotic arm now works a lot better"

The group of scientists who created the Open Worm Project have successfully mapped the connections of all 302 neurons in a roundworm’s brain, simulated them as a piece of computer software, and uploaded that software to a LEGO robot. So now there’s a LEGO robot that acts like a worm.
via Geekologie

… Read More → "Scientists put worm brain in robot body"