VIDEO: DARPA test autonomous tank and off-roader in challenging terrain
DARPA’s Robotic Autonomy in Complex Environments with Resiliency (RACER) program successfully tested autonomous RACER Heavy Platform (RHP) tanks and Fleet Vehicles (RFVs) in the Texas countryside, navigating vegetation cover, trees, bushes, rocks, slopes, obstructed ditches, and creek crossings.
Scientists capture X-rays from upward positive lightning
From Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL) 02/05/24 Globally, lightning is responsible for over 4,000 fatalities and billions of dollars in damage every year; Switzerland itself weathers up to 150,000 strikes annually. Understanding exactly how lightning forms is key for reducing risk, but because lightning phenomena occur on sub-millisecond timescales, direct measurements are […]
The double-fanged adolescence of saber-toothed cats
Research from the University of California, Berkeley, USA, reveals the evolutionary significance of saber-toothed cats’ dual-fanged development, shedding light on their hunting prowess.
Biodegradable ‘living plastic’ houses bacterial spores that help it break down
Researchers at the University of California San Diego, USA, have developed a biodegradable thermoplastic that could significantly reduce the environmental impact of plastics.
VIDEO: World’s largest plane for carrying giant wind turbine blades
US startup Radia are aiming to build the world’s biggest aircraft, WindRunner, to carry giant onshore wind turbine blades directly to wind farms, landing on semi-prepared dirt or gravel landing strips.
Inexpensive spring truffles or exquisite piedmont truffles?
Researchers at the Technical University of Munich, Germany, have developed a method to distinguish expensive Piedmont truffles from cheaper varieties using chemical markers.
Methane emissions from landfill could be turned into sustainable jet fuel in plasma chemistry leap
Researchers at the University of Sydney in Australia have developed a plasma-based chemical process to convert landfill methane into sustainable jet fuel.
Possible alternative to antibiotics produced by bacteria
Researchers at the University of Bonn in Germany have discovered a new lantibiotic that targets skin bacteria, offering potential in combatting antibiotic resistance.
VIDEO: Inflatable space habitats as big as stadiums
US startup Max Space have unveiled plans to launch their first low cost inflatable space habitat in 2026 and eventually launch 10,000+ m3- sized modules in the coming decades.
More efficient molecular motor widens potential applications
Researchers at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands have enhanced a light-driven molecular motor, potentially paving the way for various real-life applications.