A real-world Hyperloop preview, and more in the week that was
The Hyperloop cometh: Danish architecture firm BIG just gave the world a sneak peek at a 93-mile track designed to connect Abu Dhabi and Dubai, while the University of Waterloo is set to test the world’s first levitating pneumatic system next week. Tesla is having a great month as it turned a profit for the first time in two years and unveiled its next-generation Powerwall 2.0 system. Meanwhile, Henrik Fisker gave the world a first look at his upcoming ‘Tesla-killer” supercar, which is set to launch next year. And Otto delivered the world’s first shipment by a self-driving truck: 51,744 cans of Budweiser beer.
2016 is on track to be the hottest year in recorded history, but fortunately clean energy is on the rise. According to a new report, the world’s total capacity for generating renewable electricity is now higher than coal. Sunflare debuted a new type of ultra-thin solar “wallpaper” that sticks to just about anything, while Singapore is getting ready to launch a massive floating photovoltaic array. Iceland is sourcing clean energy from another source: the center of the Earth. The nation is drilling the world’s “hottest hole” to harvest geothermal energy from liquid magma.
Could seaweed-eating supercows save the world? A team of Australian scientists found that adding dried seaweed to cattle feed can cut methane emissions by 70 percent. Meanwhile, a futuristic new farm in Indianapolis is able to grow veggies with 100% renewable energy and 90% less water. In other design and technology news, researchers developed a wave-powered desalination buoy that cuts the price of clean water production in half, and the TetraPOT uses mangrove trees to protect seashores from storms and rising tides. Air Shepherd is using drones to hunt poachers poisoning wildlife with cyanide, and a new 3D-printed heart on a chip could end animal testing for good.
The bottom line: Our quick verdict on the ASUS ZenBook 3
ASUS’s latest ultraportable the ZenBook 3 is often compared to Apple’s 12-inch MacBook. And can you blame people? The laptop is even thinner and lighter than Apple’s two-pound wonder, but just as fast and with longer battery life. And it comes with a mini dock in the box, adding precisely the sort of ports you’d be missing on the MacBook (and would only have access to if you paid extra for an adapter). On paper, then, it’s precisely the computer Windows-using travelers have been looking for.
Depending on your needs, that may still be the case, but in practice we found the ZenBook 3 isn’t everything we hoped it would be. In particular, we found the keyboard and trackpad uncomfortable to use, and we had some concerns about the build quality too. It’s possible you’ll disagree with us there, but you owe it to yourself to get some hands-on time with the machine at a local store before buying, if at all possible.
Starbreeze deal gives you more freedom to move in VR
If Starbreeze is going to get you wearing VR headsets in IMAX theaters and pods, it’ll have to create a wow-inducing experience… and it might have taken one step closer toward that goal. The company has bought Nozon, a visual effects house whose recent breakthrough is an interactive parallax effect that gives you more freedom when watching computer-generated or 3D-scanned VR video. You ideally get quality closer to pre-rendered 3D, but the freedom to tilt your head and otherwise look around more naturally. You should feel more like you’re present in a given scene, instead of staring at a giant video wall.
You don’t need Nozon’s tech to have freedom of movement in VR tracking — just ask HTC. However, existing approaches are generally designed for gaming, not the pay-per-view experiences Starbreeze wants. This could help studios produce VR recreations of movie and TV scenes that you’d actually want to watch, or guided tours that are more immersive than the usual 360-degree video clips. It’ll take a while for this technology to find its way into something you can watch, but it should give you a better reason to leave home for a VR extravaganza.
Via: VentureBeat
Source: Starbreeze
Terahertz scans could save male chicks from an untimely end
Chicken hatcheries often grind up male chicks as soon as they break out of their shells — they don’t produce enough meat as adults, so they’re considered useless compared to the egg-laying females. It’s not exactly compassionate, and it wastes money as hatcheries incubate eggs they’ll never use. However, technology might just have a way to prevent such a horrifying fate. Vital Farms and Novatrans are partnering on TeraEgg, a technology that uses terahertz spectroscopy to identify the sex of a chicken well before it hatches. The technique traps and analyzes the gas emanating from the pores of eggs, identifying the sex (or infertility) within seconds. You can use it as soon as 2 days after the hen lays her eggs, or early enough that you can sell the male eggs as food.
TeraEgg is starting out slowly with “scaled tests,” and a full launch is expected by late 2017.
The terahertz technology could be tremendously appealing to animal welfare advocates, who are understandably upset by the mass deaths of chicks (up to 7 billion every year, Vital Farms says). It won’t make you completely happy if you object to eating any animal products, but it would be far kinder than what you see today. And the egg industry should save money in the process. Along with making better use of each egg, it’d let hatcheries reduce the number of inspectors and spend less energy heating eggs. It’s theoretically a win for everyone, no matter what you prefer to eat.
Via: NPR
Source: BusinessWire
Scientists find the first known dinosaur brain tissue fossil
That lump you see above many not look like much at first blush, but it’s a big deal for paleontology: scientists say they have discovered that the sample has the first known example of a dinosaur brain tissue fossil. The team used a scanning electron microscope to detect mineralized blood vessels, collagen, membranes and possibly brain cortex in the remains of an iguanodonid that lived about 133 million years ago. The findings suggest that the dino’s brain had a lot in common with those of modern birds and reptiles. Instead of completely filling the cranial cavity, the brain matter significant space for blood vessels and sinuses.
Researchers may understand more about the evolutionary link through technology, too. While the team has already conducted a CT scan, there are hopes of performing future 3D scans that help compare the iguanodontid’s brain to that of present-day creatures.
Don’t expect to see too many discoveries like this in the future. The scientists believe they got lucky — they theorize that the dinosaur’s brain was preserved in highly acidic water (possibly from a bog or swamp), protecting its form before the whole animal was buried. However, the revelation may prompt other paleontologists to revisit fossils they already have in case they missed something.
Via: National Geographic, Reddit
Source: University of Cambridge (1), (2)
‘Skyrim Special Edition’ audio took a step backward
As a rule, remasters of classic video games are supposed to be clear steps forward in audiovisual quality. However, Bethesda didn’t get that memo before launching Skyrim Special Edition. PC and Xbox One owners have noticed that their version of Skyrim is using highly compressed audio that’s noticeably worse than in the original release. You’re fine if you have the PS4 version (or are willing to modify your PC copy), but it’s a rude surprise for everyone else.
Mercifully, you won’t have to put up with this downgrade for too long. Bethesda is testing a patch that improves audio quality, and might have the update available by early November. It’s not certain what prompted the use of compression in the first place (it’s possibly a size reduction measure), but it’s safe to say that Bethesda will be careful with any remasters going forward.
[Thanks, Kristy]
Source: Reddit (1), (2)
DraftKings and FanDuel may be serious about a merger
DraftKings and FanDuel have dismissed talk of a possible merger for ages, but it looks like those rumors may be more than just idle banter. Sources for both ESPN and Recode say that the daily fantasy sports websites are in serious talks about a union. Just how close they are is up for debate (ESPN says it’s “imminent,” Recode says the terms are “still being ironed out”), but this wouldn’t just be an exploratory discussion.
FanDuel isn’t commenting so far, but DraftKings has responded with a non-denial. While it says that it doesn’t talk about “rumors or speculation,” it also says that a combination would be “interesting to consider” and that there are “no assurances at this time” that talks would lead to a formal alliance.
It wouldn’t be shocking for the two to join up at this stage. The two have paid a steep price to put their legal troubles behind them, and it’s still not over. ESPN contacts understand that both DraftKings and FanDuel are behind on paying some partners. A merger may be more a matter of survival than anything else.
The biggest challenges may be the regulatory environment and the company leadership. The two sites dominate daily fantasy sports, and would immediately hold a monopoly if they teamed up. Officials would likely demand concessions if a merger went through, assuming it went through at all. Also, the CEOs of Draft Kings and FanDuel are notoriously hostile to each other despite the companies’ overly cozy ties. Pride may make it difficult for either leader to assume a less prominent role, and there’s no certainty that the two will find a way to share responsibility for a single company.
Source: ESPN, Recode
Game studios go all-out with Halloween events and sales
Game developers thrive on seasonal events, and that’s truer than ever this Halloween. It’s not just themed skins and game modes, although there are plenty of those — there are some serious bargains to be had, whether you’re a Steam veteran or just getting into virtual reality. Even PlayStation Now has some Halloween goodies. We’ve rounded up some of the spookier events and sales to make sure you don’t miss out.
Fiil Diva headphones are almost perfect for on-the-go VR users
Good, portable headphones are hard to come by.
Most of the great headphones out there aren’t all that portable. Even with collapsible sides, many still take up quite a bit of space in your bag. That makes bringing decent headphones with you when you also plan on bringing your VR headset with you filling even more space when you go around every day. You could go earbuds, or you could take a look at some smarter headphones.
After spending a couple of weeks with the Fiil Diva headphones, it’s clear these are the headphones VR fans should be looking at for their next audio fix.
Read more at VR Heads
The bottom line: Our quick verdict on the PlayStation VR
And then there were three. The PlayStation VR went on sale earlier this month, making it the third big-name tethered VR headset to arrive this year. Though it’s less immersive than either the Oculus Rift or HTC Vive that came before it, the PSVR is compelling for an entirely different set of reasons. It’s cheaper than the competition, for one, with a starting price of $400.
Secondly, look at all the content available for it! The PSVR launched with 30 compatible games, and Sony promises that number will grow to 50 by year’s end. And that includes some major franchises too, including Batman and Resident Evil. Not only are these games people will want to play, but the gear you need to experience them — a PS4, PlayStation Camera and Sony’s “Move” motion controllers — are already in millions of homes. Equally important, the PSVR is comfortable to wear — something we haven’t been able to say about every headset we’ve tested. That’s the bottom line, but if you’re craving a little more, find our full review here.
AIVAnet 