Eat your heart out, ‘Avatar’ fans: MIT just figured out how to make plants glow

As one of the leading technology universities in the world, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has invented a lot of the cool tech we’d love to fill our apartments with. Well, researchers there just added one more item to the list — although this one’s a bit different to the typical robotics or artificial intelligence projects we usually cover. What MIT engineers have invented is a plant that glows in the dark. By embedding specialized nanoparticles into the leaves of an otherwise ordinary watercress plant, researchers were able to get the plant to emit a dim light for a period of 3.5 hours.

Instead of using electricity, the plants utilize their existing energy metabolism and convert this into light. While a dim light might not be of much use, eventually the researchers hope that it will be possible to make the plants glow brightly enough that they could illuminate an entire desk — acting like a natural desk lamp that you never have to plug in. Thinking big, it might even be possible to turn entire trees on a street into self-powering streetlights. Considering that lighting accounts for around one-fifth of all worldwide energy consumption, that could turn out to be a valuable goal to work toward.

The secret ingredient giving MIT’s glowing plants their luminescence is a type of oxidative enzyme called luciferase, which is also responsible for causing fireflies to glow. Another molecule used by the researchers is called coenzyme A, which removes a reaction byproduct that otherwise slows down the luciferase activity. The researchers packaged these molecules in nanoparticles and then suspended them in liquid. When the plants were immersed in the liquid and exposed to pressure, the particles entered the plants through tiny pores called stomata.

Early on, the researchers were only able to get the plants to glow for around 45 minutes, although in newer experiments they have managed to increase this to several hours. There’s no word on when these light-emitting plants will be available to folks outside of MIT labs, but we know one thing: We totally want one.

A paper describing the work, titled “A Nanobionic Light-Emitting Plant,” was published in the journal Nano Letters.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Robot farmers have successfully planted and harvested barley by themselves
• After months of speculation, Tesla to open a plant in Shanghai
• Martians may call these massive domed greenhouses “home”
• Vertical forests are returning nature to cities, one skyscraper at a time
• Grow Duo adds some 21st-century brains to your old-fashioned garden

Facebook could soon allow users to leave news feed posts off their profiles

Facebook profiles may soon no longer be a long list of everything you’ve ever shared. Facebook appears to be testing a tool that would allow users to share posts without including them in their profile, sending them to the news feed only.

Facebook hasn’t yet confirmed the test of the feature, but The Next Web’s Matt Navarra recently spotted the option. The option shows up at the top of a new post next to the privacy options as well as the option to add to an album. By selecting “show on profile,” users can choose whether to, like the current option, post to both the news feed and the profile, or to just send the post to the news feed only.

NEW: Facebook now let’s you select whether to show your post on your profile or just in News Feed pic.twitter.com/LxxYfjygV8

— Matt Navarra (@MattNavarra) December 15, 2017

Another variation of the feature uses a pop-up window allowing users to choose to where to share, including the news feed and Stories.

Facebook is also testing a new option to share a new post ONLY to News Feed and/or Stories (not your profile)

h/t @AlHasanps pic.twitter.com/hcIruuvwsF

— Matt Navarra (@MattNavarra) December 15, 2017

If the tool makes it past testing, the option could give users more control over the look and content of their profile. Friends frequent the news feed to read updates, but visitors on the profile tend to be looking for something more specific, like something that user shared in the past, checking up on an old friend or checking out a potential new hire.

Users could, for example, want to share news stories they are interested in publicly, but may not want a potential new boss or friend to guess their political affiliation from the list of posts they’ve shared. Another option is to put the more important events in the profile, but leave off that photo of what was for lunch.

The test was spotted on Friday, December 15, the same day that Facebook brought the “snooze” tool out of testing. The option allows users to temporarily remove a friend, Page or group from their news feed for 30 days. A number of new tests and features appear to be cleaning up the social network while offering users more options to control what they see — Facebook also recently eliminated that real-time ticker and also adjusted algorithms to make video series that users visit more than once appear higher in the news feed.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Facebook Résumé? The feature is in testing, company confirms
• Facebook eliminates ad breaks on short videos, but expands ads in Watch Tab
• New Facebook Messenger tool could let businesses broadcast mass chat messages
• Is Facebook bringing the poke back? One-click greetings are in testing
• The option to post Instagram Stories to Facebook is now rolling out in the U.S.

Weekly Rewind: Galaxy Note 8 vs. iPhone 8, paper lightsabers, Nissan Leaf review

A lot can happen in a week when it comes to tech. The constant onslaught of news makes it nigh impossible for mere mortals with real lives to keep track of everything. That’s why we’ve compiled a quick and dirty list of this week’s top tech stories, from a battle between the Galaxy Note 8 and the iPhone 8 to a smart home makeover — it’s all here.

Facebook Messenger is now used by 1.3 billion people worldwide

Facebook Messenger has grown a lot since it was originally introduced as Facebook Chat way back in 2008. Since it launched, it has grown from a very simple web-based messaging system to one that supports video and group chats on both Android and iOS. With the introduction of several new features in 2017, Facebook Messenger saw its biggest year yet, with more than 1.3 billion users globally.

Read: Facebook Messenger is now used by 1.3 billion people worldwide

The Galaxy Note 8 and iPhone 8 Plus battle it out for photo supremacy in Japan

Many of us will only ever use a smartphone, not a DSLR, to take pictures on vacation. That means smartphone cameras need to offer high-quality images, be easy to use, fast to react, and ideally, feature-packed. In the second half of 2017, Samsung released the Galaxy Note 8, and Apple brought us the iPhone 8 Plus. Two phones from two giant rival companies, both with highly capable dual-lens cameras.

We carried them both on our recent trip to Japan, and took hundreds of pictures with each phone, ready to put them both under the microscope to see which one captured the best pictures. Through rain and shine, neither phone missed a beat, and they both performed superbly. But one did manage to stand out against the other.

Read: The Galaxy Note 8 and iPhone 8 Plus battle it out for photo supremacy in Japan

A.I. algorithms study brain waves to predict seizures

Researchers at the University of Melbourne and IBM Research Australia have taken a big step in developing the ability to predict seizures triggered by epilepsy. Using deep learning, a brain-inspired machine learning technique, the system automatically analyzes the electrical activity of a patient’s brain, improving seizure prediction by 69 percent, and giving patients time to recognize the onset of an episode.

Artificial intelligence algorithms are increasingly being used in healthcare, from crunching chemical combinations to discovering new drugs, to offering advice on dieting. But in most of these cases, the algorithms are best used in combination with medical professionals, giving human decision-makers insight to make better decisions.

Read: A.I. algorithms study brain waves to predict seizures

Want a lightsaber? Just roll up a piece of paper and InstaSaber will do the rest

Who didn’t, as a kid, wave around a folded sheet of paper and pretend they were brandishing their very own lightsaber? Well, to quote a famous Apple slogan, “there’s an app for that” — or, at least, there will be very soon. Created by developer Hart Woolery, the InstaSaber is an augmented reality app, set to arrive in the iOS app store soon, which lets you fire up your very own George Lucas-style laser sword from the comfort of your smartphone.

“It’s an iPhone app that turns a rolled up piece of paper into a virtual lightsaber,” Woolery told Digital Trends. “I think the best thing about it is that it brings a special effect that has typically been reserved for advanced video editors to a mass audience.”

Read: Want a lightsaber? Just roll up a piece of paper and InstaSaber will do the rest

2018 Nissan Leaf first drive review

The second-generation 2018 Nissan Leaf picks up where its predecessor left off, but the Leaf faces stiffer competition. The Chevrolet Bolt EV and Tesla Model 3 have proven that long-range electric cars can be affordable, and other automakers have their own mass-market electric cars waiting in the wings. So can the pioneering Leaf stay relevant?

Read: 2018 Nissan Leaf first drive review

/div>

The best 10 movie that should be made into TV shows

We’ve put our producer’s hat on and picked 10 movies that we’d love to see studios make into TV shows.

Since it’s possible to reimagine almost any movie as a TV series, we whittled down the options by picking films that have gripping or unresolved story points, an intriguing cinematic world, and compelling characters that touch upon topics we don’t see enough of on TV. The fact that almost any movie you can think of has at least been considered as a TV show also helped us dig deep to find unexplored projects. Enjoy!

Read: The 10 best movies that should be made into TV shows

We took a dumb home and made it smart. Here’s where we started

20 years ago, new home builders saw an opportunity to add value to a property by installing in-wall and in-ceiling speakers, routing miles of speaker wires, and installing volume dials in every room. Before the days of Sonos and LCD TVs, it was a novelty to be able to listen to music everywhere, and getting a big screen meant a dedicated room with a projector. Today, if you’re buying a home under 30 years old, there’s a good chance the house will come with just such a system or room. It may seem pretty cool at first, but it won’t take long before you realize it’s disappointingly outdated — certainly nothing like the connected smart homes you read about online.

Such was the case with our gorgeous new test bed for smart home technology and smart appliances out in the country. The new home had speakers in every room, an aging home theater, and two closets loaded with what was high-end gear in its day. Unfortunately, all of the infrastructure was horribly outdated, and the gear in the closets was either showing its age, or entirely defective.

Read: We took a dumb home and made it smart. Here’s where we started

 ‘Operation Apex’ lets you explore the deep, no scuba gear required

The water surrounding me provided little resistance to the powerful handheld propeller in my hands. Effortlessly gliding over the seabed, I reached the edge of a precipice and stopped. I gazed down into the blackness. It was filled with mystery, and I felt dizzy staring down. Looking up, schools of tuna and black sea bass swam, creating dark shadows against the bright sunlight beyond the rippling surface. A voice urged me to continue my mission of cataloging sea life, and exploring the effect our environmental carelessness was having on them.

This wasn’t real life, although I was in the coastal city of Brighton in the United Kingdom. I was wearing an HTC Vive headset and playing Operation Apex, a virtual reality game from startup Curiscope. It’s as close to living out The Blue Planet as I’m going to get.

Read: ‘Operation Apex’ lets you explore the deep, no scuba gear required

T-Mobile wants you to ditch cable, satellite for its ‘disruptive’ new TV service

T-Mobile has set out to shake up another industry. The Un-carrier is planning to take on satellite and cable providers by launching a “disruptive new TV service in 2018,” according to a press release.

To bring its TV ambitions to its millions of customers, T-Mobile acquired cable provider Layer3 TV. The company brands itself “the new cable,” and has its own IP network, which allows it to send high-definition video to homes at levels of bandwidth similar to Netflix. Layer3 TV is currently only available in five U.S. cities and provides more than 275 channels, including ESPN, NBC, AMC, and other popular channels at higher video quality than similar services. The TV provider also mixes video content from streaming services and social media with broadcast and cable channels.

Read: T-Mobile wants you to ditch cable, satellite for its ‘disruptive’ new TV service

Editors’ Recommendations

• 8 Infamous tech flops that were way ahead of their time
• Apple iPhone 8 review
• iPhone 8 Plus review
• Weekly Rewind: Best products of 2017, Google vs. Amazon, Facebook’s top issues
• Weekly Rewind: The best Porsches ever, a new Nest security system, Google’s HTC acquisition

Weekly Rewind: Galaxy Note 8 vs. iPhone 8, paper lightsabers, Nissan Leaf review

A lot can happen in a week when it comes to tech. The constant onslaught of news makes it nigh impossible for mere mortals with real lives to keep track of everything. That’s why we’ve compiled a quick and dirty list of this week’s top tech stories, from a battle between the Galaxy Note 8 and the iPhone 8 to a smart home makeover — it’s all here.

Facebook Messenger is now used by 1.3 billion people worldwide

Facebook Messenger has grown a lot since it was originally introduced as Facebook Chat way back in 2008. Since it launched, it has grown from a very simple web-based messaging system to one that supports video and group chats on both Android and iOS. With the introduction of several new features in 2017, Facebook Messenger saw its biggest year yet, with more than 1.3 billion users globally.

Read: Facebook Messenger is now used by 1.3 billion people worldwide

The Galaxy Note 8 and iPhone 8 Plus battle it out for photo supremacy in Japan

Many of us will only ever use a smartphone, not a DSLR, to take pictures on vacation. That means smartphone cameras need to offer high-quality images, be easy to use, fast to react, and ideally, feature-packed. In the second half of 2017, Samsung released the Galaxy Note 8, and Apple brought us the iPhone 8 Plus. Two phones from two giant rival companies, both with highly capable dual-lens cameras.

We carried them both on our recent trip to Japan, and took hundreds of pictures with each phone, ready to put them both under the microscope to see which one captured the best pictures. Through rain and shine, neither phone missed a beat, and they both performed superbly. But one did manage to stand out against the other.

Read: The Galaxy Note 8 and iPhone 8 Plus battle it out for photo supremacy in Japan

A.I. algorithms study brain waves to predict seizures

Researchers at the University of Melbourne and IBM Research Australia have taken a big step in developing the ability to predict seizures triggered by epilepsy. Using deep learning, a brain-inspired machine learning technique, the system automatically analyzes the electrical activity of a patient’s brain, improving seizure prediction by 69 percent, and giving patients time to recognize the onset of an episode.

Artificial intelligence algorithms are increasingly being used in healthcare, from crunching chemical combinations to discovering new drugs, to offering advice on dieting. But in most of these cases, the algorithms are best used in combination with medical professionals, giving human decision-makers insight to make better decisions.

Read: A.I. algorithms study brain waves to predict seizures

Want a lightsaber? Just roll up a piece of paper and InstaSaber will do the rest

Who didn’t, as a kid, wave around a folded sheet of paper and pretend they were brandishing their very own lightsaber? Well, to quote a famous Apple slogan, “there’s an app for that” — or, at least, there will be very soon. Created by developer Hart Woolery, the InstaSaber is an augmented reality app, set to arrive in the iOS app store soon, which lets you fire up your very own George Lucas-style laser sword from the comfort of your smartphone.

“It’s an iPhone app that turns a rolled up piece of paper into a virtual lightsaber,” Woolery told Digital Trends. “I think the best thing about it is that it brings a special effect that has typically been reserved for advanced video editors to a mass audience.”

Read: Want a lightsaber? Just roll up a piece of paper and InstaSaber will do the rest

2018 Nissan Leaf first drive review

The second-generation 2018 Nissan Leaf picks up where its predecessor left off, but the Leaf faces stiffer competition. The Chevrolet Bolt EV and Tesla Model 3 have proven that long-range electric cars can be affordable, and other automakers have their own mass-market electric cars waiting in the wings. So can the pioneering Leaf stay relevant?

Read: 2018 Nissan Leaf first drive review

/div>

The best 10 movie that should be made into TV shows

We’ve put our producer’s hat on and picked 10 movies that we’d love to see studios make into TV shows.

Since it’s possible to reimagine almost any movie as a TV series, we whittled down the options by picking films that have gripping or unresolved story points, an intriguing cinematic world, and compelling characters that touch upon topics we don’t see enough of on TV. The fact that almost any movie you can think of has at least been considered as a TV show also helped us dig deep to find unexplored projects. Enjoy!

Read: The 10 best movies that should be made into TV shows

We took a dumb home and made it smart. Here’s where we started

20 years ago, new home builders saw an opportunity to add value to a property by installing in-wall and in-ceiling speakers, routing miles of speaker wires, and installing volume dials in every room. Before the days of Sonos and LCD TVs, it was a novelty to be able to listen to music everywhere, and getting a big screen meant a dedicated room with a projector. Today, if you’re buying a home under 30 years old, there’s a good chance the house will come with just such a system or room. It may seem pretty cool at first, but it won’t take long before you realize it’s disappointingly outdated — certainly nothing like the connected smart homes you read about online.

Such was the case with our gorgeous new test bed for smart home technology and smart appliances out in the country. The new home had speakers in every room, an aging home theater, and two closets loaded with what was high-end gear in its day. Unfortunately, all of the infrastructure was horribly outdated, and the gear in the closets was either showing its age, or entirely defective.

Read: We took a dumb home and made it smart. Here’s where we started

 ‘Operation Apex’ lets you explore the deep, no scuba gear required

The water surrounding me provided little resistance to the powerful handheld propeller in my hands. Effortlessly gliding over the seabed, I reached the edge of a precipice and stopped. I gazed down into the blackness. It was filled with mystery, and I felt dizzy staring down. Looking up, schools of tuna and black sea bass swam, creating dark shadows against the bright sunlight beyond the rippling surface. A voice urged me to continue my mission of cataloging sea life, and exploring the effect our environmental carelessness was having on them.

This wasn’t real life, although I was in the coastal city of Brighton in the United Kingdom. I was wearing an HTC Vive headset and playing Operation Apex, a virtual reality game from startup Curiscope. It’s as close to living out The Blue Planet as I’m going to get.

Read: ‘Operation Apex’ lets you explore the deep, no scuba gear required

T-Mobile wants you to ditch cable, satellite for its ‘disruptive’ new TV service

T-Mobile has set out to shake up another industry. The Un-carrier is planning to take on satellite and cable providers by launching a “disruptive new TV service in 2018,” according to a press release.

To bring its TV ambitions to its millions of customers, T-Mobile acquired cable provider Layer3 TV. The company brands itself “the new cable,” and has its own IP network, which allows it to send high-definition video to homes at levels of bandwidth similar to Netflix. Layer3 TV is currently only available in five U.S. cities and provides more than 275 channels, including ESPN, NBC, AMC, and other popular channels at higher video quality than similar services. The TV provider also mixes video content from streaming services and social media with broadcast and cable channels.

Read: T-Mobile wants you to ditch cable, satellite for its ‘disruptive’ new TV service

Editors’ Recommendations

• 8 Infamous tech flops that were way ahead of their time
• Apple iPhone 8 review
• iPhone 8 Plus review
• Weekly Rewind: Best products of 2017, Google vs. Amazon, Facebook’s top issues
• Weekly Rewind: The best Porsches ever, a new Nest security system, Google’s HTC acquisition

Geeky Decor Gift Guide

Geek out this holiday season with Team Thrifter’s selection of favorite Geeky Decor. From Super Mario Bros. canvas art to Hogwarts Express bookends, there’s sure to be something to please the mega-fan in your life.

Razor Firefly – mousepad with custom lightingStill rocking that boring mouse pad you bought for $2 in the early 90s? Upgrade to one with custom lighting underneath. Game in style.Amazon$39.99WishlistLegend of Zelda – Link Canvas Art setAny good gaming room needs good gaming art, and this canvas art featuring Link from Legend of Zelda will class up your wall.Etsy$64.99WishlistLEGO Minifigures Display CaseMinifigs are people, too! Don’t throw your star players into the giant bucket with all the other Lego pieces. Keep them on display so you’ll have access to them when your imagination calls.Amazon$29.00WishlistFunko POP! Marvel: Dancing Groot Bobble Action FigureBaby Groot was the best thing to come out of Guardians of the Galaxy and is probably the only reason any of us went to see Volume 2. Well, now you can have your own baby groot bobblehead and make him dance whenever you want.Amazon$8.70WishlistThe Insanley Great History of AppleFor all of you out there that are already Apple fanboys, you might as well revel in the glory that is one of the greatest tech companies of our lifetime with this poster highlighting every Apple system going back to 1976.Pop Chart Lab$37.00WishlistKlingon Bat’leth budget replicaThis is the traditional Klingon weapon for the less affluent warriors out there.Amazon$74.95WishlistKlingon Bat’leth replicaIf you don’t have a Klingon Bat’leth within reach, how will you defend your honor and die in glorious battle when your best friend says Star Wars is better?Roddenberry.com$349.00WishlistGears of War 4 replica lancerThis is the most iconic weapon from the Gears of War franchise, and it should be propped up on your man cave wall.Amazon$99.99WishlistHogwarts Express bookend setThis bookend set simulates the look of your favorite Hogwarts train moving through a mountain tunnel. Also works with DVDs for the Harry Potter fans who didn’t bother with the books.Think Geek$94.99WishlistAudio-Technica direct-drive professional turntableWhether you want to start a new vinyl collection, or just want people to think that’s what you’re doing, this is a simple, hassle-free turntable that looks good, too.Amazon$279.00WishlistGuardians of the Galaxy Groot RugIn this case, “I am Groot!” roughly translates to “Stop stepping on my face!Think Geek$29.99WishlistClassic NES box art canvas printsBe both chic and geek with these canvas prints featuring box art from original NES games.Think Geek$15.99WishlistSuper Mario Bros. canvas artCombine a post-modern look with 8-bit design using these exclusive canvas prints featuring Mario, Yoshi, Princess Peach, and others.Think Geek$14.99WishlistLegend of Zelda Master Sword letter openerOpen your monthly bills and junk mail with the legendary, unbreakable, blade of evil’s bane.Think Geek$9.99WishlistFallout Nuka Cola mini fridgeTurns out real life is a lot like Survival mode because eating and drinking is important in both situations. Keep this fridge stocked for those marathon gaming sessions where you can’t be bothered to come up for air for long.Think Geek$149.99WishlistDarth Vader pen holderWe can’t all be as in-tune with the Force as the Jedi and the Sith, but it’s like the old saying goes… the pen is mightier than the lightsaber.Amazon$18.09WishlistDeath Star tree topper ornamentSome families top their Christmas trees with angels. Some use stars. You’d prefer to use a symbol of galaxy-wide oppression and bad engineering decisions.Think Geek$99.95WishlistGiant Super Mario wall decalsIt’s like Super Mario Maker for your wall! Recreate World 1-1 or design your own custom level with these wall decalls! Mario decal is not a playable character.Amazon$13.55Wishlist

Star Wars: Jedi Challenges AR headset gets Last Jedi content

Available January 2018.

There’s no shortage of Star Wars-themed everything no matter where you look right now, and in November, Lenovo released its Star Wars: Jedi Challenges headset that lets you battle Darth Vader in augmented reality, play HoloChess, and more. Alongside the release of The Last Jedi, Lenovo announced its first expansion for Jedi Challenges that’ll add three main pieces of new content for users to check out.

The best part of Jedi Challenges is arguably Lightsaber Duel mode, and The Last Jedi expansion will allow users to battle two enemies at once for the first time ever. You’ll be fighting Supreme Leader Snoke’s Praetorian Guards, and if they put up a fight like they do in the movie, they’re going to be a formidable challenge.

Strategic Combat mode is also getting three new challenges that are all set on Crait (one of the new planets introduces with The Last Jedi), and Assault mode will be outfitted with a First Order Stormtrooper Executioner, Riot Controller Stormtrooper, and other enemies and levels to interact with.

And, of course, this wouldn’t be a Last Jedi-themed update without porgs.

This expansion will be available as a free update to the Jedi Challenges app, and it’ll be rolling out in January 2018.

Star Wars: Jedi Challenges review — The Force is strong in AR

Set sail with your pals in a new ‘Adventure Time’ game

A new Adventure Time game is in the works and it features some maritime fun, a nameable boat and pirates. Adventure Time: Pirates of the Enchiridion begins with a flooded Land of Ooo and Adventure Time characters have to set off to figure out what’s going on. You’ll be able to play as Finn, Jake, Marceline and BMO as you battle pirates, add others to your crew and hunt for clues. And the boat you and your pals will be riding on — you can enter to name it through a competition that opens today.

The game will be available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo 3DS and PC. It’s set to launch next spring and you have until January 2nd to submit your boat name ideas.

Source: Outright Games

Google Inbox will remind you to unsubscribe from unread promo emails

Google has made email a much less tedious, junky affair for a lot of us, and it’s about to take another step to helping us clean out our inboxes. According to a report over at Android Police, users of Google’s Inbox app will start seeing new tips that will prompt them to unsubscribe from any promotional emails that haven’t been opened in a month.

If you have any emails that Inbox has classified under its “Promos” tag, you might start seeing a new Inbox Tip that offers an easy way to unsubscribe (or say no thanks, if you want to keep getting the emails). The feature appears to be new, and seems to only be available on Android phones and the web version of Inbox.

None of the editors at Engadget seem to have one of these tip cards, yet, but Android Police has images of the feature and we’ve reached out to Google for confirmation. We’ll update this post when we hear back.

Via: The Verge

Source: Android Police

Google ends Tango support to fully focus on ARCore

Google began delving into the world of AR with its 2014 venture Project Tango, or just Tango as of last year, and its AR work has grown quite a bit since then. Earlier this year, it unveiled ARCore, an augmented reality platform that differs from Tango in that it doesn’t require any specialized hardware. Today Google announced an update to its ARCore Developer Preview and with it, the end of Tango support. “As we focus on bringing augmented reality to the entire Android ecosystem with ARCore, we’re turning down support of Tango,” Google said in a blog post.

We’re turning down support for Tango on March 1, 2018. Thank you to our incredible community of developers who made such progress with Tango over the last three years. We look forward to continuing the journey with you on ARCore. https://t.co/aYiSUkgyie

— Tango (@projecttango) December 15, 2017

With the accessibility of ARCore, moving away from Tango makes sense. But Google notes that its first venture into AR helped make ARCore possible. Google showed off what ARCore can do earlier this year and some projects taking advantage of the platform have used it to incorporate street view and give a more real-world experience of a distant place, to show how an under construction building will look like when it’s finished and to bring AR stickers to the Pixel 2.

“Thank you to our incredible community of developers who made such progress with Tango over the last three years,” said Google. “We look forward to continuing the journey with you on ARCore.” Tango support will end on March 1, 2018.

Source: Google

Radius is a smart device that acts like a force field for mosquitoes

You don’t need us to tell you that mosquitos are no good. At best, they are a nuisance and, at worst, a vector for deadly diseases. When it comes to stopping mosquitos in their tracks, there are a number of high-tech solutions we’ve covered, but a new one on Kickstarter promises a no-fuss way to stay bite-free without having to slap on chemical-based mosquito repellent. Called Radius, it’s a small device that, once switched on, promises to clear the air of all mosquitoes within a 110-square-foot radius.

“Radius is the world’s first rechargeable, EPA-approved, zone mosquito repellent,” product designer Kyle Adelman told Digital Trends. “Instead of treating your skin with messy chemical sprays or lotions, Radius treats the area around you. Essentially, Radius uses heat to activate and disperse a clean and scent-free repellent. A rechargeable lithium-ion battery powers an internal heating element, which silently warms and activates the repellent. Once activated, the repellent disperses to create an invisible zone of protection that keeps mosquitoes from entering into your outdoor space. It works continuously, releasing fresh repellent to maintain the zone of protection around you.”

Adelman says that Radius uses a “nature inspired” pyrethroid repellent formulation modeled on the naturally occurring mosquito repellent found in the chrysanthemum flower.

“While Radius is a revolutionary new product, it is not our first zone repellent,” Adelman explained. “Our company, Thermacell, is the leader in the design and development of Zone Mosquito Protection. We’ve sold butane powered versions of Thermacell for over a decade, and have earned a loyal following among outdoor enthusiasts. In fact, Thermacell currently enjoys the highest consumer ratings in the mosquito repellent space. Our technology and products have been used by the military and has been proven effective in some of the toughest mosquito-infested areas.”

When it comes to developing Radius, Adelman says the team is “pretty far down the development path.” It has demonstrated a proof of concept and carried out field trials. “We’re currently working on pilot tooling modification and line setup, with a plan to start full-scale production by end of month,” he said.

If you’d like to order your own Radius device, you can place a pre-order on Kickstarter, where prices start at $40. Be aware that you will have to buy refills of the pyrethroid repellent, however, so it might be worth investing in one of the higher price points, which come with multiple refills.

Editors’ Recommendations

• U.S. approves plans to release weaponized mosquitoes — for your own good
• This app will track disease-carrying mosquitoes by listening to their buzz
• The North Face’s new Ventrix jacket is built to vent heat and moisture
• Robotics startup could fight Zika by dumping mosquitoes from a drone
• The 21 best camping hacks to keep you prepared all winter