As they drew, the artists’ individual strokes were recorded. Factors such as length, curvature, stylus pressure, stylus speed, and directionality were taken into account. The strokes were then divided into two groups – shading strokes and contour strokes. Contour strokes were further sub-divided into complex and simple strokes. The computer noted the order in which the strokes were drawn, too – different artists use different facial features as their starting, middle and end points.</ … Read More → "Computer model learns to copy artists’ drawing styles (video)"

In Light Leaks, artists Kyle McDonald and Jonas Jongejan use that setup to fill a room with shimmering small reflections and patterned shadows that overwhelm viewers’ peripheral vision. “I was looking for a creative way of filling a space completely with projected light, allowing control over the entire field of vision of … Read More → "50 disco balls fill a room with magical shimmering light (video)"

Chinese auto maker BYD has managed to fight off stiff competition from four other manufacturers to supply 35 of its electric buses to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, one of Europe’s busiest airports. Under the SUBSS Project (Sustainable Bus System of Schiphol), the single-deck e-buses will replace the airport’s aging fleet of specialized gas-powered vehicles, and be used to quietly transfer passengers between terminals and aircraft. The new e-fleet is due to enter service this … Read More → "BYD to supply Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport with all-electric bus fleet"

Astronaut Karen Nyberg has been sharing photos from the International Space Station onFacebook, Pinterest, and Twitter.

Shown here, “Early morning lightning storms, inland of LA and San Diego. Taken July 21, 2013.”
via < … Read More → "Lightning storms, seen from space"

The Project Apollo Archive is a collection of scans of every roll of Hasselblad film shot on each Apollo Mission. These photos are from the Apollo 17 mission, and you can browse lots, lots more in the Project Apollo Archive.
via Laughing Squid

Continue reading</ … Read More → "The Project Apollo Archive, scans of every image captured on the Apollo Missions"

… Read More → "Robotic skin lights up when touched (video)"

The typical approach to adding actuated joints and additional degrees of freedom to a robot is slapping additional servos and motors on there. And that’s fine, except that it adds weight and cost and complexity. A little bit of cleverness with gears can go a very long way, and Disney Research has developed a new rapid design tool that can create sophisticated mechatronics that operate with just one motor.
via Read More → "Disney rapid design tool creates mechatronic characters (video)"

A species of bumble is returning to some areas after over ten years of absence. Numbers of Bombus occidentalis, more commonly known as the western bumblebee, fell dramatically in the nineties, totally disappearing in parts of Washington State. The western bumblebee is one of several species to see a massive population decline, while even the more hardy honey bee — … Read More → "Lost bumble bee species returning to northwest coast"

Dr. Zoltan Takats of the Imperial College London has developed one very sharp knife – and we’re not referring to its keen edge. The Intelligent Knife (iKnife) is equipped with a nose and a brain that can sniff out cancer as it cuts. Using a mass spectrometer to detect chemical profiles associated with tumors, it enables instant identification of cancerous tissue and helps surgeons to make sure that all of a tumor has been … Read More → "Imperial College develops cancer-sniffing Intelligent Knife"

For every invention that actually makes it to production, there are dozens of failed ideas, most of which failed for very good reasons. Like the fact that they’re painfully inefficient, totally unnecessary or just plain bizarre.  These 15 weird and wacky creations developed between the 1920s and 1970s might be ridiculous, but they’re fun to look (and laugh) at.< … Read More → "Bizarre inventions: 15 idiotic ideas from the past"