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Electronic racquet shows how crappy your tennis game really is

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If you want to improve your tennis game you could hire a fancy coach, or you could get this electronic smart racquet which will let you analyze your swing in minute detail.

Loaded with electronic sensors, the Play & Connect racquet can determine everything from your service velocity and racquet speed, to exactly where on the racquet you’re making contact with the ball. Most importantly, despite all of the fancy electronics, … Read More → "Electronic racquet shows how crappy your tennis game really is"

George Dyson on the origins of the digital universe

The video [here] shows our interview with George Dyson about his new book, Turing’s Cathedral

The book is a fascinating, meticulously researched account of the effort to build the first universal Turing machine, under the leadership of the mercurial John von Neumann, at the Institute for Advanced Study during the second world war. The resulting computer, called the MANIAC, was used to perform thermonuclear calculations that fueled the development of the atomic bomb, and, in spare moments, to … Read More → "George Dyson on the origins of the digital universe"

This giant, spiky stargate is really a huge musical instrument

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A unique new sculpture was unveiled in London that not only looks good — it sounds good as well. The arch is made of 310 polished steel tubes channeling both light and the breeze to create an ever-changing experience for its audience standing below.

The sculpture is actually a giant Aeolian harp — an instrument played by the wind. In between the giant tubes& … Read More → "This giant, spiky stargate is really a huge musical instrument"

Earth has scores of mini-moons, models predict

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Our moon is not alone: Scores of unseen mini-moons are now in orbit around Earth, new computer models predict.

What’s more, these tiny moons occasionally plummet through our planet’s atmosphere, creating brilliant fireballs, the researchers say.

The findings are based on supercomputer simulations of ten million asteroids known to fly through the Earth-moon system. The models show that objects that circle the sun in … Read More → "Earth has scores of mini-moons, models predict"

DARPA wants humanoid robots that can drive tractors, open doors and save the day

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DARPA is poised to launch a new Grand Challenge for a humanoid robot, according to robotics insiders — and the result could be a souped-up metal soldier running alongside BigDog, driving an ATV, unlocking doors and clearing a path to safety for its human counterparts. There’s no official agency announcement yet, but robotics companies heard all about it at a recent industry … Read More → "DARPA wants humanoid robots that can drive tractors, open doors and save the day"

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Feb 18, 2026
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