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.