Sierra Nevada is taking the United Nations to space in 2021

Sierra Nevada’s Dream Chaser might not have won NASA’s space taxi contract, but at least it’s taking the United Nations to orbit. The spacecraft, which resembles NASA’s old Space Shuttles, will launch the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs’ first actual mission in 2021, 59 years after the division was established. It’s meant to give developing nations without a space program the chance to send experiments and other payloads outside our planet, though any UN member can apply for a spot on the vehicle. UNOOSA will even offer technical assistance to countries that have no experience developing microgravity payloads.

UNOOSA director Simonetta Di Pippo said in a statement:

“One of UNOOSA’s core responsibilities is to promote international cooperation in the peaceful use of outer space. I am proud to say that one of the ways UNOOSA will achieve this, in cooperation with our partner SNC, is by dedicating an entire microgravity mission to United Nations Member States, many of which do not have the infrastructure or financial backing to have a standalone space program.”

The UN will choose submissions in 2018, and countries whose projects are selected will have to pay part of the mission’s total bill. Sierra Nevada officials said poorer nations will likely a get a price break, though. Plus, the Office for Outer Space Affairs is currently looking for sponsors to ensure participants will pay the least amount possible.

Via: Space

Source: Sierra Nevada Corp

Surgeons could use these fake elastic bones to fix injuries

A team of American scientists have developed a 3D-printed bone biomaterial that can coax your own skeleton to grow and fix injuries on its own. They haven’t tested it on humans just yet, but they were able to use their creation to repair a monkey’s skull and to fuse rat spines. The synthetic material called “hyperelastic bone” is primarily made of ceramic and polymer and can be manufactured using an expensive but commercially available 3D printer. It’s dubbed hyperelastic, because unlike other bone graft materials, which are typically brittle, it’s flexible, strong and not prone to chipping or breaking.

More importantly, it remains porous and absorbent even if it’s crammed into a small space. Those properties are significant, because your biological materials, such as your blood vessels, need to be able to infiltrate the materials to regrow real bones. Adam Jakus, one of the the team members from Northwestern University, said their hyperelastic bone is “purely synthetic, very cheap and very easy to make.” Since it can also “be packaged, shipped and stored very nicely,” he hopes it can be used even in developing nations.

That won’t be anytime in the near future, though, since the material has to undergo further testing before any hospital starts using it to mend fractures and other bone injuries. The team is pushing for human trials within five years’ time, but it’s worth noting that the FDA has yet to approve a 3D-printed regenerative bone material for testing on actual patients.

Via: Reuters, IEEE

Source: Science Translational Medicine

‘Fuze’ Case for iPhone 7 Aims to Bring Back the 3.5mm Headphone Jack

A new iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus case launched recently on Indiegogo, called “Fuze,” with the explicit goal of providing an integrated 3.5mm headphone jack directly into the body of the protective case. With an integrated Lightning adapter that plugs into the iPhone 7, the Fuze case provides users with the ability to charge their new iPhone and listen to music simultaneously without the need of a dongle or adapter.

As a bonus, Fuze also provides extra battery life to the iPhone, and is rated for 2,400 mAh for the 4.7-inch iPhone 7 and 3,600 mAh for the 5.5-inch iPhone 7 Plus. As a comparison, Apple’s Smart Battery Case for the iPhone 7 is rated for 2,365 mAh. Fuze said its own case provides “a doubled battery life,” with sync-through charging so users can charge their iPhone, the case’s battery, and listen to music at the same time.

Fuze restores 3.5mm audio jack for iPhone 7 and 7 Plus. It delivers a doubled battery life as well as scratch and shock protection, all while maintaining the iPhone’s compact profile. We need your help to bring back the jack. When you purchase Fuze, you purchase the freedom of choice.

The company said that its case is made out of durable TPU and ABS plastics, which Apple uses in its first-party battery case, to provide protection against drops and scratches. Fuze also lacks the “chin” of Apple’s Smart Battery Case, “adding only 5mm (.2 inches) to the overall thickness of the phone.” The case weighs 2.9 ounces as well, which the company equates to less than a deck of playing cards, so Fuze in total “keeps the slim design the iPhone is known for,” without unnecessary or bulky additions.

The campaign has a goal of $60,000 over the next month, with the first “super early bird” perk priced at $49 for one Fuze case, going to a basic early bird level at $59, and landing on the predicted retail price of $69 once the first two tiers sell out.

Users can choose from white, black, gold, rose gold, and blue colors for the case, and the company is currently claiming that the first units “should arrive before December 23” of this year. All the same, potential backers should note the sometimes disappointing nature of crowdfunding campaigns, which could lead to schedule postponements, design alterations, or cancellation.

Related Roundup: iPhone 7
Discuss this article in our forums

Apple and George R.R. Martin Debut ‘A Game of Thrones’ Enhanced Edition iBook

Apple today launched an “Enhanced Edition” for A Game of Thrones [Direct Link], the first book in George R.R. Martin’s fantasy series A Song of Ice and Fire (via The Guardian). The new digital edition marks the 20th anniversary of the release of the novel, and its four subsequently published sequels are also coming soon in the new remade format: A Clash of Kings (October 27), A Storm of Swords (December 15), A Feast for Crows (February 2), and A Dance with Dragons (March 30).

The enhanced editions offer interactive maps, author notes from Martin, glossaries, family trees, and illustrations that “add to the adventure, whether you’re new to the books or speak fluent Dothraki.” For fans still waiting for the sixth book in the series, The Winds of Winter, each enhanced edition comes with an excerpt from the upcoming novel that was previously published on Martin’s website.

“We’re now entering a new period in the history of publishing,” said Martin, announcing the new edition. “The digital book gives readers the ability to experience all this rich secondary material that had not been possible before. These enhanced editions, available only on iBooks, include sigils and family trees and glossaries. Anything that confuses you, anything you want to know more about, it’s right there at your fingertips. It’s an amazing next step in the world of books.”

In a video on the iBooks page for the new collection, Martin calls his partnership with Apple “an amazing next step in the world of books,” thanks to the interactivity infused in each edition that can help explain the sometimes overwhelming nature of his novels. Fans interested can purchase A Game of Thrones for $8.99 today [Direct Link], and pre-order the other four books for $11.99 each.

Tag: iBooks
Discuss this article in our forums

2017 iPhone to Feature Glass Design With Stainless Steel Frame on High-End Models

KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has outlined further predictions for next year’s iPhone lineup, claiming the popularity of Jet Black models will encourage Apple to return to glass casing for 2017 models, as the material tends to have a higher gloss finish than metal.

While a glossy finish is possible for metal casing, we identify two prerequisites for the 2017 new iPhone to be competitive in terms of casing design, considering competitors will definitely launch smartphone models with glossy metal or glass casing prior to Apple’s launch: (1) adoption of a glossy finish design; (2) enhanced productivity and higher yield will prevent a supply shortage, as has happened with jet black casing, which is manufactured at an unsatisfactory yield rate of 60-70% due to the metal material; and (3) better scratch resistance will improve user satisfaction. All things considered, we see glass casing as the only option.

Kuo believes Apple is more likely to stick with slightly curved 2.5D cover glass on the 2017 iPhone, as used on iPhone 6s, rather than adopt a fully curved 3D design, in light of mass production considerations and drop test performance. Kuo previously said Apple will launch a 5.8-inch iPhone with a curved OLED display and glass casing next year, which a subsequent report said will be a high-end model. The other models would retain LCD displays with 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch screen sizes.

Kuo said the new glass casing will be reinforced by an aluminum metal frame, while stainless steel will be used for high-end models.

Metal frame can be stainless steel or aluminum, with former more likely for high-end models. As all-glass casing is not possible at present given technological bottlenecks, a metal frame surrounding the edge is necessary for reinforced structure design. As stainless steel has a better look than aluminum and costs more, we expect only high-end new iPhone models to come with a stainless steel frame next year.

The analyst believes Foxconn will be the sole supplier of high-end iPhone models next year as the exclusive manufacturer of the new stainless steel frame. Meanwhile, glass material supplier Corning and glass casing makers Lens Technology and Biel Crystal are said to be beneficiaries of the new glass design.

Related Roundup: iPhone 8 (2017)
Tags: KGI Securities, Ming-Chi Kuo
Discuss this article in our forums

Cambridge Audio reveals Yoyo range of Bluetooth speakers

British audio brand Cambridge Audio has taken the wraps off three Bluetooth speakers as part of a new Yoyo range. The speakers comprise the Yoyo S, Yoyo M and Yoyo L. Cambridge Audio says the Yoyo range has been produced to make Bluetooth speakers look and sound better.

The look of the speakers has been designed in collaboration with British weaving company Marton Mills, which has created “sound-transparent” fabrics to wrap the speakers in.

All three speakers have been fitted with high-performance, low-distortion amplifiers with Cambridge Audio’s own digital signal processing (DSP). The company says all models “faithfully reproduce your music, neither adding nothing to nor losing any of the original performance.”

So, with technical info taken care of, on to the speakers themselves. Starting with the smallest of the bunch, the Yoyo S, which features two full range drivers, a subwoofer and a passive bass radiator. It’s been designed as a portable Bluetooth speaker and for where space is at a premium. It’s available in dark grey, light grey, blue and green fabric finishes and can be connected to via Bluetooth with NFC and an auxiliary input. A USB output can charge mobile devices on the go. The Yoyo S is available for £150.

The Yoyo M is a pair of stereo Bluetooth speakers as opposed to a single unit, with each of the two speakers having its own full range driver and subwoofer. The Yoyo M also has an auxiliary input and USB out for charging, a 14 hour battery life and is available for £300 in dark grey, light grey and blue.

• Cambridge Audio G5 review: Sleek and smart Bluetooth speaker
• Libratone Zipp review: A sound Scandinavian success

Finally, the Yoyo L is the largest of the three models and is marketed as an all-in-one audio system. A full range driver and subwoofer can be found in the front, left and right sides and each driver has its own amplifier. Cambridgr Audio says the Yoyo L “delivers impressive sound throughout the listening room, with the side-mounted drivers giving wider dispersion”.

It’s available for £350 in dark or light grey and adds Google Cast, Spotify Connect and digital optical connections on top of Bluetooth and auxiliary.

Court overturns New Hampshire ban on ballot selfies

In the state of New Hampshire, proud voters can legally snap a selfie after filling out their ballot paper. Hurray! As NBC News reports, the First Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston has upheld a lower court ruling which concluded the state-wide ban was unfair. Since 2014, legislation has made it illegal for citizens to photograph and share their ballot markings on social media. According to politicians, the law was intended to combat potential vote-buying schemes — the argument being that shady individuals could use them to track and verify influenced votes.

While the court accepted this reasoning, it felt there was a “substantial mismatch between New Hampshire’s objectives and ballot-selfie prohibition.” The three-judge panel ultimately concluded that “the restrictions on speech” were “antithetical to democratic values.” Put another way, the group felt the ban was violating the First Amendment.

BREAKING: Snap away! Federal appeals court rules “ballot selfies” are legal in NH after @ACLU_NH suit. #nhpolitics

— Trent Spiner (@TrentSpiner) September 28, 2016

The decision will please Snapchat (sorry, Snap Inc.), which gave the following statement in April: “A ballot selfie—like a campaign button—is a way to express support for or against a cause or a candidate. And because it is tangible proof of how a voter has voted, a ballot selfie is a uniquely powerful form of political expression. It proves that the voter’s stated political convictions are not just idle talk. Not only that, but ballot selfies and other digital expressions of civic engagement encourage others to vote—particularly younger voters who have historically low turnout rates.”

Ballot selfies are a divisive subject in the US. Some states, such as Florida and Texas, expressly forbid the practice in law. Others, including Hawaii, Washington and New Jersey, have unclear legislation, meaning voters have to judge for themselves whether a well-timed selfie is unwise. Yesterday’s ruling only affects New Hampshire, but maybe, just maybe, it can cause a domino effect within other states. A universal decision would give the public some much-needed clarity — it’s frustrating, after all, if you see a photo in your feed, only to discover that your own state prohibits it.

Source: NBC News, Slate