Sci-Tech

Chinese commercial satellites highlighted at International Astronautical Congress

ADELAIDE, Australia (CCTV) — China’s low-cost commercial satellites have been highlighted at the 68th International Astronautical Congress, which will conclude in the southern Australian city of Adelaide on Friday. Models of the KZ-11 solid rocket are on display by the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC), one of China’s large state-owned hi-tech enterprises, and have attracted much attention. The rocket’s easy launching process will help decrease the costs for putting satellites into orbit. “In […]

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Lockheed Martin unveils reusable water-powered Mars lander

ADELAIDE, Australia (AFP) — A reusable, water-powered Mars lander that will allow humans to explore the Red Planet from an orbiting ‘base camp’ as early as the 2030s was unveiled Friday by US defence giant Lockheed Martin. Governments and private firms are collaborating on projects to send humans to new frontiers, with NASA planning missions next decade into the space between Earth and the Moon to prepare for trips to Mars. Lockheed Martin has been […]

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Fourth gravitational wave is detected, with European help

MIAMI, United States (AFP) – A fourth gravitational wave has been detected — this time with help from Italy-based equipment — after two black holes collided, sending ripples through the fabric of space and time, researchers said Wednesday. Gravitational waves were predicted by Albert Einstein a century ago as part of his theory of general relativity, but the first hard evidence of their existence came only in 2015, when two US detectors found the first such signal. The […]

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Twitter aims to boost appeal with new 280-character tweet limit

by Glenn Chapman Agence France-Presse SAN FRANCISCO, United States (AFP) — Twitter is testing allowing tweets to be expanded to 280 characters — double the existing limit — in the latest effort to boost flagging growth at the social network. San Francisco-based Twitter said Tuesday that the new limit, a major shift for the messaging platform known for its 140-character tweets, aims to address “a major cause of frustration” for many users. Twitter chief executive […]

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British James Dyson to make electric cars by 2020

by Jean-Baptiste OUBRIER Agence France-Presse   LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — James Dyson announced Tuesday he was investing £2.0 billion ($2.7 billion, 2.3 billion euro) into developing an electric car by 2020, a new venture for the British inventor of the bagless vacuum cleaner. The 70-year-old British entrepreneur said work began two and a half years ago on a project which he hopes will help tackle the scourge of air pollution. “Dyson has begun work […]

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Cooking pancakes on computer cover: Chinese ‘office chef’ becomes internet sensation

HONG KONG, China (Reuters) — In what looks like a typical office setting, a woman takes apart the central processing unit of a computer and uses it as a hot pan to make Chinese pancakes. That’s just one of many innovative videos from Youtube star, an “office chef” who calls herself “Ms Yeah.” Chinese hotpot, pancakes and flame-grilled fish are all cooked using everyday objects found in an office. The 23-year-old, who doesn’t want to […]

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Driverless hover-taxi makes first ‘concept’ flight in Dubai

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AFP) — Dubai has edged closer to its goal of launching a pioneering hover-taxi service, with the authorities announcing a successful “concept” flight was made on Monday without passengers. Safety features for the two-seater air taxi include emergency parachutes and nine independent battery systems, according to Dubai’s Road and Transport Authority (RTA). It said the prototype, supplied by Germany-based Volocopter, can fly for 30 minutes at a maximum speed of 100 […]

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Robotic fashion: Wear your heartbeat on your sleeve

by Joshua Melvin and Charlene Pele Agence France-Presse MILAN, Italy (AFP) — Dutch designer Anouk Wipprecht has a vision for a world in which people stop telling themselves little lies about their emotions — and she believes high-tech fashion is the key. Her creations, which combine digital technology with haute couture, play with social norms and aim to engineer a cold-turkey solution to our dearest deceptions, she told AFP on the sidelines of Milan Fashion Week. […]

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Chinese solar energy company striving to reduce greenhouse emission

Dezhou City, China (CCTV) — China, one of the world’s leading countries in clean energy investment, has made efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions which is growing at an alarming rate globally. Playing football is just like doing solar business, and one needs passion, spirits and persistence to carry out the career, said Huang Ming, chairman of Himin Solar Company Ltd., adding that China is much more advanced than western countries in utilization of solar […]

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Apple shares slip on smartwatch reviews

SAN FRANCISCO, United States (AFP) – Apple shares slipped Wednesday after mixed reviews of its latest smartwatch and amid concerns pre-orders of coming iPhone 8 models were lagging. Apple Watch Series 3 set to hit the market on Friday boasts the ability to connect directly to telecommunications networks to let users remain connected without a smartphone for phone calls, music, and other functions. During a live demonstration at a media event earlier this month, an […]

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Defibrillator drones could save lives in hard-to-reach areas

BRALANDA, Sweden (Reuters) — A drone which carries a defibrillator to help people suffering from a cardiac arrest is being developed at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden. Paramedic and researcher Andreas Claesson said that every year about 5,000 people suffer from sudden cardiac arrest in Sweden and around 70 per cent of these attacks occur in rural areas. Having to cover great distances, since most emergency medical services are located in towns, the ambulance response […]

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Insect robot that brings robotics to the amateur

SAN FRANCISCO, California (Reuters) — Six-legged robot HEXA isn’t simply a slightly creepy, over-sized insect that will scare your children. It’s a highly adaptable robot open to developers, allowing them to practise  their programming and coding skills, using simple commands. Developed by Chinese start-up Vincross, the 4.7-inch-high robot has two three-axis accelerometers for balance and a built-in distance measuring sensor to avoid obstacles. It also contains an infrared sensor and camera, complete with night vision […]

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