Tag: Innovations

Harry Potter exhibition blends wizardry with history

LONDON, England (Reuters) — A new exhibition celebrating the 20th anniversary of the first Harry Potter book’s publication is offering ‘muggles’ with an interest in magic the chance to view rare memorabilia, combined with historic artifacts referenced in the popular series. “Harry Potter: A History of Magic,” held in the British Library in London, features Potter memorabilia including author J.K. Rowling’s first annotated sketch of Hogwarts school, as well as her handwritten list of its […]

From thin air to stone – greenhouse gas test starts in Iceland

HENGILL, Iceland (Reuters) — A Swiss company will start to extract carbon dioxide from thin air in Iceland on Thursday (October 12), seeking to transform the gas into rock far below ground in a first test of a costly technology meant to slow climate change. The engineering experiment, by Swiss firm Climeworks with Reykjavik Energy, will cost hundreds of dollars to extract each ton of greenhouse gases from nature and entomb it permanently underground. Climeworks plans […]

Solar panels shine in darkest Amazon, the ‘last frontier’

by Paula Ramon Agence France-Presse ITUXI Extractive Reserve, Brazil (AFP) — In the darkest reaches of Brazil’s Amazon, solar panels are bringing light — and could help save the rainforest. Aurelio Souza is working to install solar panels in villages along the remote Purus and Ituxi rivers in the western Amazonas state. “The Amazon is the last big frontier for electricity in the country,” says the consultant for a joint program of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) […]

Eye selfie could screen for pancreatic cancer

SEATTLE, USA (Reuters) — In a laboratory in the Computer Sciences building at the University of Washington a photograph is being taken. The blue box was produced by 3D printing and the phone being slid into it is just a standard smartphone. Its camera is going to take a ‘selfie’ of the subject’s eyes. The photograph is analyzed using an app called BiliScreen being developed in the lab. It evaluates the color of the white […]

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 […]

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 […]

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. […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

UAE introduces driverless car in collaboration with VW

DUBAI, UAE (Reuters) — The Dubai Land Department has showed off a driverless car developed with Volkswagen at the much visited Cityscape Global exhibition. Dubai has already stated its intention to become one of the world’s smartest and most sustainable cities and the VW prototype car could help its ambitions. Although still just a concept, the driverless car, named ‘Sedric’ (self-driving car) by VW, will be sustainable and safe, convenient and easy to use, using […]

Glow-in-the-dark jacket that is charged by sunlight

  LONDON, England (Reuters) — Twin brothers Steve and Nick Tidball have created a solar-powered glow-in-the-dark, waterproof jacket that they hope will allow late-night runners and cyclists to safely exercise for up to twelve hours in the pitch black. The pair’s start-up Vollebak has already enjoyed success with previous innovative tech clothing, including the 100 Year Hoodie made from Kevlar. The Solar Charged Jacket contains an ultra-thin layer of a phosphorescent compound which absorbs and […]