Sci-Tech

Scientists create paper that can be erased and reprinted up to 80 times

CALIFORNIA, United States (Reuters) —  Scientists in California have created rewritable paper, printed using light instead of ink, that can be erased and reused up to 80 times. In the United States alone, about 70 million tons (63.5 million metric tons) of paper and paperboard are used each year, with more than 350 million magazines and 24 billion newspapers published, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency. The chemists at the University of California, Riverside, […]

What makes a dog man’s best friend? It’s in the genes

by Kerry Sheridan Agence France-Presse MIAMI, United States (AFP) – Dogs that are extra friendly share certain genetic similarities with people who are born with a developmental disorder sometimes called the “opposite of autism,” which makes them hyper social, researchers said Wednesday. The report in the journal Science Advances pinpointed changes in two genes that are related to extreme social behavior in dogs, and also in people who are born with Williams-Beuren Syndrome. People with this […]

Want to escape Sao Paulo’s traffic? Take a flying taxi

by Paula RAMON Agence France-Presse SAO PAOLO, Brazil (AFP) — While Uber has changed ground transport in many cities, Sao Paulo’s infernal traffic jams have sparked a new app that opens the sky to commuters: Voom, a helicopter taxi service that charges according to distance and the passenger’s weight. It’s a godsend for those in a rush — but only if the weather permits. Gustavo Boyde, a Brazilian living in the United States who goes […]

World’s first child hand transplant a ‘success’

WASHINGTON DC, United States (AFP) – The first child in the world to undergo a double hand transplant is now able to write, feed and dress himself, doctors said Tuesday, declaring the ground-breaking operation a success after 18 months. The report in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health provides the first official medical update on 10-year old Zion Harvey, who underwent surgery to replace both hands in July 2015. “Eighteen months after the surgery, the […]

Microsoft cloud to help Baidu self-driving car effort

SAN FRANCISCO, United States (AFP) – Microsoft’s cloud computing platform will be used outside China for collaboration by members of a self-driving car alliance formed by Chinese internet search giant Baidu, the companies announced on Tuesday. The US software giant is one of more than 50 entities that have joined an Apollo alliance created by Baidu in April. Microsoft will enable alliance members to collaborate, share information and tap into the analytic power of Azure […]

Ghanaian teen builds video search engine to rival YouTube

ACCRA, Ghana (Reuters) — Ghanaian university student Gabriel Opare wanted to build a search engine that could challenge the dominance of YouTube. The 19-year-old taught himself how to code by taking online courses in his free time. He is currently a full-time student of Sociology at the University of Ghana, in Accra. In his quest to rival Google – the world’s most popular search engine, Opare developed Mudclo – a free search engine for videos. […]

Wheelchair prototype lets users ‘lean in’ to turn

LONDON, United Kingdom (Reuters) — A new wheelchair system that allows paraplegics to maneuver by using their upper body movement rather than through breaking and pushing has been designed by a student. Swiss design graduate Reto Togni showed off his Reagiro wheelchair at the Royal College of Art (RCA) graduate exhibition in London in June. Togni told Reuters: “Conventional wheelchairs work the same way as shopping carts, with casters that rotate in every direction. With […]

Combining origami with modular robotics

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (Reuters) — Mori combines origami robots and reconfigurable, modular robots, a unique marriage say its creators at Switzerland’s École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL). Current origami robots consist of thin structures that can be folded into a single robot that changes shape. In modular robotics, by contrast, multiple individual robots are used, but are bulkier and more complex. Origami robots are restricted by both the size and folding pattern of the sheet used […]

Wheelchair prototype lets users ‘lean in’ to turn

(Reuters) — A new wheelchair system that allows paraplegics to manoeuvre by using their upper body movement rather than through breaking and pushing has been designed by a student. Swiss design graduate Reto Togni showed off his Reagiro wheelchair at the Royal College of Art (RCA) graduate exhibition in London in June. Togni told Reuters: “Conventional wheelchairs work the same way as shopping carts, with casters that rotate in every direction. With this wheelchair one […]

Russia launches 73 satellites into orbit

MOSCOW, Russia (AFP) — An imaging satellite and 72 micro-satellites were launched into orbit Friday from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, the Russian space agency Roscosmos and research center Glavcosmos announced. The Soyuz 2-1A rocket successfully lifted off at 0643 GMT with the satellite payload, Roscosmos said in a statement. According to Russian news agencies, Glavcosmos, charged with putting the satellites into orbit, later reported that by 1441 GMT all the satellites had successfully separated. […]

5-seater solar car going for glory

EINDHOVEN, Netherlands (Reuters) —  A student solar racing car team says its newly-created five-seater model has two purposes – to win the Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) its third successive Bridgestone World Solar Challenge (WSC) and to make sun-powered vehicles sexy. Solar Team Eindhoven’s Stella Vie has fewer solar panels than its previous four-seater models – Stella and Stella Lux – but spokesperson Beatrix Bos insists this is no problem. “Even though we have one […]