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| MARINE |
| SeaSki high-speed boat design leaves little in its wake |
 | The SeaSki uses special skis on top of the water rather than foils underneath it to provide lift. Its creator says this approach allows for greater fuel economy, stability in rough waters, a shallow draught, and higher speeds while generating minimal wash or bow waves. read more |
| AUTOMOTIVE |
| 2016 Audi A3 offers a step above entry-level luxury |
 | The entry-level vehicles from luxury brands are often the black sheep, offering a lot less for a far lower price tag. With the Audi A3, though, VW’s premium nameplate has managed to keep its essence intact, offering a solid little compact luxury car at a reasonable price. read more |
| SMARTWATCHES |
| Fossil Q Founder review: An imperfect but fashionable smartwatch value |
 | Smartwatches are creating unexpected new rivalries, where tech companies like Huawei and Samsung are going head-to-head with jewelry firms like Tag Heuer and the Fossil Group. The Fossil Q Founder is a solid Android Wear watch that shows the latter group can hang with the former. read more |
| AUTOMOTIVE |
| BMW and Nissan carpool for fast EV chargers across the US |
 | Having an electric car is no good if there's nowhere to charge it. Fortunately, BMW and Nissan are on the case. The two firms have partnered to roll out a network of new electric vehicle fast ​charging points across the US. There will be 120 locations in total, across 19 states.​ read more |
| SCIENCE |
| Scientists create world's first biologically powered computer chip |
 | The dream of melding biological and man-made machinery is now a little more real with the announcement that Columbia Engineering researchers have successfully harnessed a chemical energy-producing biological process to power a solid state CMOS integrated circuit. read more |
| AUTOMOTIVE |
| Hymer adds modular flexibility to Mercedes V-Class camper van |
 | German camper manufacturer Hymer has its own ideas about modularity, and they look pretty convincing in a design study camper van developed with Mercedes-Benz. read more |
| SPACE |
| US restarts production of plutonium-238 to power space missions |
 | In an effort to avert an outer space energy crisis, the US Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) has restarted production of plutonium-238 (PU-238) after almost 30 years. read more |
| SPACE |
| Faulty instrument delays Mars lander launch |
 | NASA announced today that the launch of the InSight Mars lander mission scheduled for next March has been scrubbed due to a persistent vacuum leak in the primary science instrument. read more |
| AUTOMOTIVE |
| Lexus caps its 2015 weirdness with working ice wheels |
 | When you have as fun-filled a year as Lexus had in 2015, you don't let it end without one last stunt. The luxury carmaker follows up its hoverboard and cardboard IS sedan projects with an equally weird-but-compelling design: an NX crossover riding on a set of ice wheels. read more |
| SCIENCE |
| Gecko-inspired adhesive tape finally scales to market |
 | The natural stickiness of gecko's feet has inspired decades-long research efforts to develop advanced adhesives. Now a company spun out of university research group called nanoGriptech has taken the science to market. read more |
| SCIENCE |
| New flow battery projected to cost 60% less than existing standard |
 | A new flow battery technology promises to drastically lower the cost and sustainability of running energy storage systems. The battery uses low-cost and sustainable organic materials for electrolytes rather than the usual commodity metals, and it could be retrofitted to existing batteries. read more |
| SPACE |
| SpaceX's new high-res images get up close and personal with historic rocket landing |
 | If you caught SpaceX's rocket landing live, or in the near aftermath, then chances are it was via its exhilarating but distant video stream. The company has now released a set of high-res images offering a more detailed look at its most famous scientific achievement. ​​ read more |
| AROUND THE HOME |
| Adorn makes up makeup, custom-colored to its user |
 | ​Finding the right foundation makeup can be a real chore. That's why Adorn was invented. It's a portable "3D makeup printer" that creates foundation makeup, custom-toned to the user.​ read more |
| ENVIRONMENT |
| Arctic winter observations show higher-than-expected methane emissions |
 | A new study has examined the amount of methane gas escaping from the Arctic – a key component of global warming. The results go against conventional theory, finding that a much larger amount of the gas escapes during the Arctic winter than was thought. read more |
| MEDICAL |
| University of Oxford-developed computer program can rapidly predict drug resistance |
 | A team of University of Oxford researchers has developed easy-to-use software that's able to quickly predict which antibiotics will work for a patient by analyzing DNA from their infection. The program is currently being trialed in three UK hospitals. read more |
| SPACE |
| Dawn delivers its closest-ever view of Ceres |
 | NASA's Dawn spacecraft has sent home the first images from its best-ever viewpoint around the dwarf planet Ceres, orbiting at an altitude of around 240 miles (385km). The views include a chain of craters across the body's scarred surface, and two 3D snaps, viewable through red-blue glasses. read more |
| SCIENCE |
| Researchers produce new fuel from coal dust and algae |
 | Researchers at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) in South Africa have developed a new fuel, known as Coalgae. Made from a combination of algae and coal dust, the latter of which is a waste product, the fuel could have a significant positive impact on the environment. read more |
| SCIENCE |
| Scientists plan to grow potatoes under Martian conditions |
 | A new collaborative team is planning to grow a crop of potatoes on Earth under the same conditions as Mars. The effort is not only a step towards one day farming on the Red Planet, but will also demonstrate the potential of growing potatoes in inhospitable environments back home. read more |
| AUTOMOTIVE |
| University of Cambridge tech teaches cars, robots to see |
 | One of the more difficult things to teach a machine is how to see. With that in mind, researchers have developed two technologies that use deep learning for robotic sight. read more |
| ARCHITECTURE |
| Renzo Piano designs luxury condo for North Beach, Miami |
 | Early details recently emerged concerning starchitect Renzo Piano's North Beach, Miami condominium, Eighty Seven Park. The residential tower will include 70 luxury apartments, with the cheapest reportedly starting at US$2 million. read more |
| GOOD THINKING |
| DIY airsoft rifle uses a syringe to shoot BBs |
 | ​OK, so picture this: MacGyver is hiding in a medical lab, and needs to build a weapon using whatever's at hand. Well, if he had a syringe, he could perhaps make himself an airsoft-type rifle … not unlike the one recently built by our friend Patrick Priebe.​ read more |
| WEARABLE ELECTRONICS |
| Oculus Rift still set for Q1 2016 launch, with pre-orders starting soon after the new year |
 | Today Oculus' founder shed some light on the lack of a Rift pre-order announcement, saying we can now expect them to start soon after the new year. More importantly, the Oculus Rift's Q1 2016 release window is still on track. read more |
| URBAN TRANSPORT |
| Designer of wearable scooter launches crowdfunding campaign |
 | Hungarian designer Ãdám Török​ previously devised a collapsible scooter that can double as a belt. He has now launched a campaign to further develop his concept and hopefully bring it to market read more |
| AUTOMOTIVE |
| Free in-car Spotify is music to the ears of Tesla Model S drivers |
 | Tesla has announced that drivers of its Model S in Europe, Australia and Hong Kong can now stream music via Spotify Premium for free. The new feature has been delivered as by way of Tesla's latest over-the-air software update. Spotify replaces Tesla's previous music partner, Rdio.​ read more |
| SPECIAL PROMOTION FOR GIZMAG READERS |
| World's Smallest Camera Drone Fits in the Palm of Your Hand, now 30% off |
 | This tiny flyer is the smallest drone of its kind to carry its own camera for taking epic shots in the smallest places. Four fast blades make this new quadcopter omni-directional, which in layman’s terms means it can dip, dash, zip, spin, and flip anywhere you tell it to via remote control. Plus its decked out with LED lights so you can embark on night flights and document it all the while. Tote it anywhere you go and let it rip. read more |
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