3D scanning at a range of 0.62 miles? It just became possible, thanks to a laser camera developed by physicists at Heriot Watt University in Edinburgh, UK. You can pretty much see how it works from the images above — laser beams are bounced off the target and the duration of their return journey is measured precisely enough to detect millimeter depth changes even at extreme distances. Speaking of which, the researchers believe they could pump … Read More → "Laser scans objects in 3D from half a mile away, scientists just need reason to use it"

Are we witnessing the birth pangs of a new decentralized global currency? Or is Bitcoin merely an age-old investment mania repackaged for the digital age?

Recent headlines are humming over the booming digital currency Bitcoin—it’s either the next big thing or the digital equivalent of Tulipomania. Either way, there’s no debating the fact Bitcoin’s on a wild ride.
via Read More → "Bitcoin blows up, exchange rate jumps ten-fold in recent weeks"

Summer time is just around the corner, which means that house fly season is about to get really real… Thanks to the miracles of modern science though, you may one day be able to put down the swatter and relax without worrying about some insect rubbing its disease-ridden hands all over your food. That’s because a team of scientists at the Agricultural Research Service have identified a virus that renders flies incapable of … Read More → "New virus could stop houseflies from breeding, landing on your lunch"

From Phil Plait at Bad Astronomy, a list of ten things you might not know about black holes. Some of this I knew, but this one is incredible:

If you were to rope off the solar system out past Neptune, enclose it in a giant sphere, and fill it with air, it would be a black hole!

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It’s stiffer than Kevlar, thinner than paper, and in a few years, it may be mass-produced using only sunlight and water.

Scientists in the US this week announced a new, and potentially groundbreaking method for producing nanocellulose — a so-called “wonder material” derived from tree fiber that could be used to create ultra-thin displays, lightweight body armor, and a wide range … Read More → "Can we grow a stronger-than-steel ‘wonder material’ to save the world?"

The world’s largest robot competition (described as the “Olympics of Robots”), the International RoboGames, is celebrating its tenth year in 2013. Organizers Simone Davalos and David Calkins “invite the best minds from around the world to compete in over 50 different events: combat robots, fire-fighters, LEGO bots, hockey bots, walking humanoids, soccer bots, sumo bots, and even androids that do kung-fu.” RoboGames 2013 takes place in … Read More → "Tenth Annual RoboGames, the world’s largest robot competition"

With the Objet Connex 500, Atherton is able to print single objects that seamlessly integrate two different materials, as opposed to less expensive printers that output one substance only. In this case, he combined a flexible rubber and a hard plastic to print out a pair of crystal orb speaker housings. From there he inserted strips of addressable RGB LEDs operated by a custom LumiGeek microcontroller to make the speakers glow in time with your tunes. … Read More → "3D printed speakers give you a custom light show to go with your tunes (video)"

For centuries, the threat and selective use of brute force has steered the international balance of power. In the last couple decades, the system has increasingly accommodated economic power as a means of non-violent leverage between states. Now, says Singularity University’s Marc Goodman, we must add technology into the mix.

Technological power is not new, of course, but information technology’s exponential pace and declining cost is changing how … Read More → "Are we paying enough attention to technology’s dark side?"

This week, Adafruit Industries launches an educational series aimed at kids, report Hackaday and others. And it’s about time.

Discussions of modern technology often evokes the word “magic.” Some of the most popular devices, like the MacBook Air, are built in such a way to seriously dissuade anyone who would go inside and tinker with the works. For the vast consumer market, it makes sense for technology to present itself as a “magic box.” Most people don’t care about how their laptop works; they just want … Read More → "A Sesame Street for makers?"