New light-powered retinal prosthesis could restore sight to the blind

A new retinal prosthesis could allow the blind to see, by using pulses of near-infrared light to activate the retinal neurons in their eyes

Age-related macular degeneration is the leading cause of blindness in North America, while retinitis pigmentosa causes approximately 1.5 million people worldwide to lose their sight every year. Individuals afflicted with retinal degenerative diseases such as these might someday be able to see again, however, thanks to a device being developed at California’s Stanford University. Scientists there are working on a retinal prosthesis, that uses what could almost be described as miniature solar panels to turn light signals into nerve impulses.

Fahrradi Farfalla FFX could just be the world's slowest supercar

It sure looks like a Ferrari special edition

Look quickly at the Fahrradi Farfalla FFX and you might mistake it for a limited edition Ferrari. Scan a little more closely, though, and you'll notice the thin, hollow wheels and barren interior. Something is certainly amiss, and it's because the FFX isn't one of the world's most exotic supercars. It's one of the world's most exotic bicycles.

Wendy: The slick partyscape designed to clean New York's air

Wendy will rise above the courtyard at MoMA's PS1 in Queens, New York this summer

This summer, Wendy will be tidying up the neighborhood in Queens, New York. The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) will be attempting to clean the air in style at its PS1 satellite location with an outdoor architectural project that's designed to provide shade, shelter and water while also plucking pollutants out of the sky.

Smartsense navigation system works where GPS won't - indoors

The Smartsense system provides real-time turn by turn navigation indoors

It's not that long ago that GPS capabilities in a mobile phone were considered a standout feature. Today, GPS navigation is standard for smartphones, and as a result, many of us have come to rely on them when it comes to getting from A to B. However, GPS technology isn't without its faults, and if A to B is located under a roof, out of sight of the orbiting GPS satellites, then you can end up falling back on the not always reliable sense of direction. To fix the problem, Fraunhofer Research is developing Smartsense, a smartphone sensor capable of providing accurate navigation indoors, without the aid of GPS.

FDA approves 20 minute take-home HIV test

The FDA has approved an over-the-counter HIV that takes just 20 minutes

One of the biggest problems in fighting the spread of AIDS has always been convincing people to have themselves tested regularly. Unfortunately, getting someone to take a trip to a clinic isn't always easy, particularly in areas where there aren't many options for discrete testing. In a development that could leap right over this privacy hurdle, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has just unanimously approved an over-the-counter HIV test that enables people to test themselves in their own home and receive results in just 20 minutes.

World's most expensive camera sells at auction for €2.16 million (US$2.77 million)

The world's most expensive camera - the Leica 0-Series

The Viennese WestLicht Photographica Auction House continued its stellar run of success with its 21st Camera auction in just its eleventh year as an auction house, when it recently broke its own world record for the fifth consecutive time by selling one of the original Leica 0-series cameras for €2,160,000 (US$2.77 million), including the buyer’s premium.

Striking a balance: Honda unveils UNI-CUB mobility device

Honda's UNI-CUB Personal Mobility Device

Honda has released details of a new personal mobility device dubbed the UNI-CUB. An evolution of the U3-X unicycle EV that has been shown globally since the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show, the UNI-CUB employs the same impressive balance control technology and omni-directional wheel as its predecessor, with the biggest differences appearing to be the addition of an extra wheel, a comfier perch and optional user control via a mobile phone or tablet.

Rare Talbot Lago T23 Teardrop Coupe goes up for auction

On display at the company’s sale in Monaco this week (May 11–12)

It's hard not to get carried away with the superlatives when writing of the art deco wheeled sculptures of Paris-based automotive couturier Giuseppe Figoni. Figoni created this exquisite 1938 Talbot-Lago T23 'Goutte d'Eau' Coupe amongst many extraordinary works of automotive art. The Talbot Lago "teardrop" is not just a pretty face - an almost identical car finished third in the 1938 Le Mans 24 hour race ... and it's for sale. From the Paris studio's of French coachbuilder Figoni et Falaschi, Figoni's Talbot-Lago T23 is one of just four Jeancart-style machines still in existence.

Mini-speakers for bike helmets let riders hear more than just their music

Otus Mini-Speakers are tiny speakers that mount on a bicycle helmet, reportedly allowing the rider to hear both their music and the environment around them

While it can be nice to listen to motivating music while riding your bike, riding on the streets while wearing earbuds is ... well, crazy. In many places, it’s also illegal. One option is to wear non-sealing earHero earphones, which are claimed to allow both outside noise and music into the user’s ear canal. Another, however, is to attach some Otus Mini-Speakers to your helmet.

802.11-2012 Wi-Fi revision offers 600Mbps and mesh networking

The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers has announced the publication of the latest revision to the IEEE 802.11 Wireless LAN Standard

The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE) Standards Association has announced the publication of the fourth revision to the 15 year-old 802.11 Wireless LAN Standard, upon which protocols like Wireless-N and 802.11ac are based. More commonly known as Wi-Fi, the latest revision brings together the base standard and the various technical updates and enhancements published in the last five years into a single document. Additions include much higher throughputs up to a maximum of 600Mbps, support for faster and more secure devices and networks, mesh networking and improved cellular network hand-off.

Turn your iPhone into a networked night vision scope

The Night Vision iPhone Adapter connects night vision scopes and iPhone 4 models

Imagine if you could turn your iPhone into an advanced night vision recording device, tuned to your every espionage whim. No, there's not an app for that ... but there is the USNV Night Vision iPhone Adapter. Before you get too excited about it, you should note that it doesn't directly turn an iPhone into a night vision scope – you'll still need an actual separate scope. What the NViA does is bridge the iPhone with the night vision scope to leverage iPhone features like video recording, geo-tagging and messaging ... because when you're in the middle of a midnight tail, sometimes you want to go back and scour the footage for more clues – or I assume that you might want to do that, if you were some type of vigilante running around the city with a pair of infrared goggles.

NASA’s Dawn spacecraft unlocks secrets of giant asteroid

Image showing the south pole of the giant asteroid Vesta obtained by the framing camera on NASA's Dawn spacecraft

After becoming the first probe to enter orbit around an object in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter in July 2011, NASA’s Dawn spacecraft has spent the last 10 months orbiting said object - the giant asteroid Vesta. During that period it has captured more than 20,000 images of Vesta and a multitude of data from different wavelengths of radiation. What it reveals is an asteroid that in many ways shares more in common with a small planet or Earth’s moon than it does with another asteroid.

Researchers aim to build eco-friendly robots from biodegradable materials

This toy robot won't decompose naturally, unlike those which researchers are hoping to develop

The quest to build better robots capable of completing more tasks is an important one, that could lead to humanity as a whole having a much easier time of it. Robots already manage some of the most banal and time-consuming tasks related to manufacturing, or dangerous tasks such as bomb-disposal. In the future they will likely take on roles in a much wider field of jobs and industries. However, one aspect that few people seem to be considering as we approach a time when robots are a mainstream part of everybody's lives is the environmental impact such a scenario may have.

Electric virus powers liquid crystal display in piezoelectric breakthrough

Scientists at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have developed a means of converting mechanical energy into electrical energy using a harmless, specially engineered virus

Scientists at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have developed a means of converting mechanical energy into electrical energy using a harmless, specially engineered virus. By simply tapping a finger on a virus-coated electrode the size of a postage stamp, the scientists were able to produce enough current to drive a liquid crystal display, albeit a very small one. The scientists claim that this is the first time that the piezoelectrical properties of a biological material have been harnessed.

GEODOG GPS-enabled collar lets you find your dog using your smartphone

GEODOG fits snug without added bulk

We've all experienced that moment of panic when we open the back door to let the dog inside only to find that he's not there. Technology has provided a solution to this dilemma with GPS tracking devices designed specifically for our four-legged friends entering the market in recent years, but this offering from GEODOG claims to improve on those that have gone before with a new slimline design that's shockproof, easily-adjustable, user-friendly and unobtrusive.

Windows 8 will launch without DVD playback

Windows 8 will give users access to video content through Apps, rather than discs

Microsoft has announced plans to scrap native DVD playback from Windows 8, instead focusing on improving video streaming abilities by making it easier to access services like Netflix, Hulu, and YouTube. Citing a decline globally in physical media sales, Microsoft is investing in a future without discs, and is hoping to keep costs down by removing DVD licensing fees. However, those interested in having access to their collection of DVDs do have options, as Microsoft claims that third party DVD software will be readily available to fill the void where Windows Media Player once was.

Exped Ergo Combi all-in-one hammock camping solution

Exped says that it developed its horizontal suspension system for more than half a decade

The Exped Ergo Combi aims to give you the protection of a tent within the comfortable, 'zero gravity' confines of a roomy hammock. It looks like it could offer one of the best nights of sleep you've ever had outdoors.

World's largest solar-powered boat completes its trip around the world

The TURANOR PlanetSolar, passing through Tahiti earlier on its voyage 

On September 27th of 2010, the world’s largest solar-powered boat – the TÛRANOR PlanetSolar – set out from Monaco on a quest to become the first boat to sail around the world using nothing put the power of the Sun. This afternoon it successfully completed that quest, arriving back in Monaco after 18 months spent circumnavigating the planet.

ARIS: The wireless speaker designed for Windows users

The ARIS wireless speaker for Windows plays music streamed from a Windows PC

While there seems to be an unending stream of wireless speakers designed primarily to stream audio from iOS or Android mobile devices using AirPlay or Bluetooth, Oregon-based Aperion Audio is showing Windows-using music fans some love with the ARIS wireless speaker. The unit is designed to work with Windows 7’s “Play To” feature that makes it easy to stream content from a PC over a home network.

Brammo reveals pricing for Empulse electric motorcycles

The Brammo Empulse will cost US$16,995 when it hits the road in June

Brammo has revealed pricing and release details for its new Empulse and Empulse R electric motorcycles. Both models are specced at an impressive 100 mph (160 km/h) top speed and 100 mile (160 km) range.

Brydge aims to turn Apple iPad into MacBook Air

Brydge keyboard case with iPad operational

Brydge is a keyboard cover for the iPad that attempts to turn the Apple tablet into something very close in style and weight, if not grunt, to the MacBook Air. Currently a Kickstarter project, Brydge aims to join the growing number of accessories tailored for those who produce as well as consume content on their iPad.

Acoustic wind pavilion makes music out of thin air

The Aeolus Acoustic Wind Pavilion

Aeolus, a fascinating acoustic wind sculpture made by prolific Bristol artist Luke Jerram, is as much a feast for the ears as it is for the eyes. Named after the mythical Greek ruler of the four winds and built in conjunction with the University of Southampton's Institute of Sound and Vibration Research and the University of Salford's Acoustics Research Center, the giant aeolian wind harp is intended to inspire the public to learn more about the amazing things that can happen when engineering, acoustics and aerodynamics are blended together.

Sony’s 2012 flagship HX850 BRAVIAs released

Sony's HX850 BRAVIA features a bezel-free monolithic design 

Following its announcement at CES in January, Sony’s 2012 flagship BRAVIA LCD TVs have hit stores in the U.S., with other markets set to follow. Coming in 46- and 55-inch screen sizes, the HX850 line offers Dynamic Edge LED backlighting with fully local dimming, and W-Fi internet connectivity and 3D capabilities out of the box.

Dubai Water Discus hotel will allow guests to sleep underwater

The Water Discus underwater hotel, scheduled for construction in Dubai

It seems the construction boom in bustling Dubai is far from over – already home to several world record-holding projects, including the tallest building (for just a little while longer), the largest shopping mall and biggest man-made island, plans are now afoot to construct what will likely be the world's largest underwater luxury hotel, the Water Discus. Several years ago, we reported on another such ambitious project, Hydropolis, which sadly never got past the blueprint stage. If Polish company Deep Ocean Technology's (DOT) plans come to fruition, however, guests could one day find themselves asleep beneath the waters of the Persian Gulf.

What's for dinner? Just check the spectrometer

The IPMS spectrometer could one day be integrated into smartphones

Foodies who've ever dreamed of having superhero-style vision that could analyze what they are about to eat should keep an eye on the upcoming Sensor+Trade fair in Nuremberg. Scientists from the Fraunhofer Institute of Photonic Microsystems (IPMS) will be exhibiting a tiny prototype spectrometer that can measure factors such as water and protein level in foods, meaning you won't make the mistake of buying fruit that looks good on the outside but is rotten at its core.

Microsoft announces subscription-based Xbox 360

The Xbox 360 is now the world's first subscription game console

Microsoft has announced the world's first game console with subscription-based pricing, making the Xbox 360 more accessible to those interested in gaming on a budget. The new package will cost US$99 up front, with a two-year contract of $15 a month, much like your average cell phone contract. This is an entirely untested price model for videogame consoles, and may prove to be a stroke of genius for Microsoft, whose Xbox 360 is closing in on its seventh anniversary. A new price model could breathe life into the system for years to come.

Kit lets you build your own retro Nixie Tube Desk Clock

ThinkGeek’s DIY Nixie Tube Desk Clock kit lets electronics tinkerers build their own retro/modern timepiece

If you’re a fan of things retro and an electronics do-it-youselfer, this might might be just the thing for you – it’s a kit that lets you built your own clock, that displays the time using wonderfully outdated nixie tubes.

Eco-minded hotel installs bicycle-powered television

An eco-minded hotel in the UK has installed a bicycle-powered television in one of its rooms

If you're on a cycling holiday where you spend all day in the saddle, there's nothing like getting back to your accommodation and flopping down in front of the TV for a well deserved rest. But for guests at one UK bed and breakfast, it really is nothing like that ... because Cottage Lodge in Brockenhurst has installed a bicycle-powered television in one of its rooms.

Leica M Monochrom - 18 megapixel digital rangefinder shoots only black and white

The Leica M-Monochrom will instantly look familiar to anyone who has ever lusted after a Leica

When you think of Leica, you probably think of cameras which are built like a tank and feature that famous red dot. But if you were to take a photo of the iconic red logo with the latest rangefinder camera from the German firm, it might not come out as you'd expect … because the Leica M-Monochrom is the world’s first digital rangefinder which only shoots in black and white.

Baby jacuzzi launched by BluBleu

The BluBleu MagicBath features a 10 jet air massage system and underwater LEDs

Babies have a pretty charmed existence, they get food whenever they want, they're pushed around in strollers which resemble arm-chairs on wheels and enjoy relaxing stints in jacuzzis ... wait, what? The MagicBath from Italian design firm BluBleu is a specially designed baby bath featuring an air massage system for your little one's derriere.

BMW reveals new Touring models of F30 3 series

The new 3 Series Touring has a significantly larger interior than the Touring version of the E90 series, adding 35 liters for a total capacity of 495 liters, but it is also extremely versatile thanks to some very clever design.

It hasn't been around long, but the sixth (F30) generation of BMW's 3 series is already regarded as a stand-out version of the perennial top-seller. Hence the first release of images and details of the new Touring estate version will no doubt interest a lot of people seeking a practical compact executive car. Highlights include a full-color Heads-Up Display, twin turbo engine, automatic stop-start, and optional eight-speed automatic gearbox and M Sport package.

Stylish climbing wall looks good in even the fanciest homes

Lunar envisions an accompanying smartphone app

As great of a home improvement as an indoor climbing wall might seem to a climbing fanatic, it's not exactly the type of addition that will increase the value of your home. Chances are, potential buyers will prefer all walls unmarred by rubber scuffs and multi-colored arrays of grips and tape. If the wall looks anything like the Lunar Nova, however, they might just pay extra.

Australian Hill House rides a wave of grass

Hill House is an urban family home in Melbourne that appears as if it is riding a wave of grass 

Australian architect Andrew Maynard has come up with an unorthodox approach to capturing the sun in winter and excluding it in the summer. One of his latest creations, Hill House, is an urban family home in Melbourne that appears as if it is riding a wave of grass. The family home extension has been built upon the footprint of what once had been the back yard, without obstructing or losing the original building. Seemingly perched above a rolling hill, the new building faces the sun and the box-shaped structure above acts as a passive solar eave, cutting out summer sun, while letting the winter sun flood in.

SpaceX and Bigelow Aerospace team up to push private space missions

The Dragon spacecraft that will be used to take passengers to the orbiting Bigelow habitats

SpaceX and Bigelow Aerospace (BA) have joined forces in an attempt to woo international customers looking to enjoy some extended periods of microgravity. The joint marketing effort will push trips to orbiting Bigelow habitats on SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft using the Falcon launch vehicle.

Insect-inspired smartphone projector focuses images onto uneven surfaces

The Fraunhofer smartphone projector actually consists of an array of 200 microprojectors 

If you were using a smartphone projector to shine an image onto an uneven surface, or onto a flat surface but at a diagonal angle, parts of the image would end up out of focus ... unless, that is, your phone featured a new prototype LED projector developed by Germany’s Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Optics and Precision Engineering. Inspired by the compound eyes of insects, the device can reportedly display crisp, bright, distortion-free visuals onto irregular surfaces, and at non-perpendicular angles. Additionally, users can manipulate that display by reaching in and touching the projection surface.

Keychain alternatives for the fingernail-less

The Freekey keyring opens with a push

The keyring is a true nemesis for those of us with short nails - such a simple contraption capable of bringing such deep frustration and resentment. Two innovative redesigns improve upon the traditional keyring, making keys easy to organize for all. The Freekey lets you pop it open with a push and the Carabiner Key gets rid of it completely.

Nike Pro TurboSpeed is a golf ball-inspired track uniform with dimples

The Nike Pro TurboSpeed features golf ball-inspired dimples - Sleeve detail

The Nike Pro TurboSpeed is, as the name vividly suggests, a track uniform that is designed to give professional athletes an advantage over their rivals. Through the clever use of aerodynamic techniques more commonly found on golf balls, the company has found a way to shave milliseconds off a sprinter's time. Or at least that's the bold claim Nike is making.

Audi's Wörthersee e-bike concept features "wheelie" mode

Riders can run through five travel programs from pedal-power to electric only

Audi has announced that it will debut a new performance e-bike prototype at next week's Wörthersee Tour car show in the picturesque village of Reifnitz, Austria. Described as a high-end pedelec for sport, fun and tricks, the Audi e-bike Wörthersee features a futuristic carbon fiber frame that houses an onboard computer and a Li-ion battery pack, and carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) wheels - both designed to keep the weight down. The prototype offers five travel modes, ranging from pedal-power to electric-only, and inclusive of two "Wheelie" modes where the power is automatically controlled to assist the rider while the front wheel grabs some air.

The triple barrel, 18-shot Pistola con Caricato revolver

The Pistola con Caricato is a three-barreled revolver with 18 chambers in 6.35 x 16 mm semi-rimmed caliber

A host of unusual firearms have been floated and (mostly) abandoned over the two centuries of largely trial-and-error design. After our recent coverage of Arsenal Firearm's AF2011-a1 double barrel semiautomatic pistol, we wondered if more extreme versions of multi-barrel repeating handguns existed. The outlandish Pistola con Caricato three-barreled revolver is a definite candidate.

Etcher brings Etch A Sketch to the iPad

Etcher: Etch A Sketch for the Apple iPad

 Even those of us who live for new technology and the wonders it brings cannot escape the power of nostalgia. Being reminded of a toy that fascinated us as children can snap us back to those heady days when stress meant not getting everything you asked for from Santa. This is the feeling that the people behind Etcher are hoping to capitalize on - it's an Etch A Sketch for the iPad.