gizmag

SPACE
The Solar System may really have nine planets
	There's good news for those who were annoyed when Pluto was knocked off the list of planets. According to a pair of scientists at Caltech, there may actually be nine planets in the Solar System after all.   read more
URBAN TRANSPORT
Review: Skipping taxi lines with EcoReco's M5 Air electric scooter
	Getting around Las Vegas during CES week can be a painful exercise, but our time using the EcoReco M5 Air scooter made for a decent alternative to standing in taxi lines. If you live in a city that's more friendly to personal transport, it can be much more than that.  read more
DIGITAL CAMERAS
Leica goes underwater with the X-U (Typ 113) camera
	Leica has revealed its first rugged and waterproof camera designed especially for outdoor use with the new X-U (Typ 113). The high-quality fixed prime lens camera features a 16-megapixel APS-C sensor and a 23-mm F1.7 lens, while being shock-resistant, dust-sealed, and waterproof.  read more
SCIENCE
DARPA looks at revolutionizing neural interface implants
	​DARPA has announced a program aimed at developing a cutting edge neural implant capable of forming a communication bridge between a human brain and a biocompatible device. It is hoped that technology, developed under the program, will have a wide range of applications in research and healthcare.  read more
OUTDOORS
Motorized, self-inflating, stand-up paddleboard goes fishing
	After a successful Kickstarter last year, Slovenian company SipaBoards has launched an updated self-inflating motorized stand-up paddleboard model that caters toward fishermen. It's available for pre-order now for US$1,990.  read more
AROUND THE HOME
Amazon Dash is now live, automatically reorders household supplies
	Your smart appliances can now handle the exhausting task of shopping for you. With Amazon’s Dash Replenishment Service, connected devices in your home or office automatically reorder from Amazon when supplies run low.​  read more
SCIENCE
Lithium-ion battery warms itself in cold environments to maintain performance
	In an advance that could have ramifications for everything from electric vehicles to space exploration, researchers have built an all-climate lithium battery that warms itself up to battle the winter chill. ​  read more
ROBOTICS
Robotic 3D printer on wheels looks to fill the potholes of the future
	Startup Addibots is looking to help cut the man hours required to maintain our cities, wheeling out a roving 3D printing robot it imagines will scoot around town mending dodgy road surfaces.   read more
SPACE
First high speed laser communication satellite set for launch
	Space-based laser communications​​ are moving out of the testing phase and into orbit as the first satellite in the European DAta Relay System (EDRS), or SpaceDataHighway, prepares for launch at the end of January.  read more
BICYCLES
Bindio lets cyclists leave their lock at home
	​There's no denying that good-quality bike locks tend to be heavy, plus they're often awkward to carry. While we have seen efforts to make them lighter and less obtrusive, GreyNut has gone a step farther – its Bindio system simply places the lock at a parking spot at the cyclist's destination.​  read more
DRONES
FAROS drone climbs the walls to find fires
	Fires in high-rises can be particularly deadly. With that in mind, researchers have created the flying, wall-climbing, fire-resistant FAROS quadcopter. It's designed to ascertain the source of a fire as soon as possible, along with the locations of people trapped within the building. read more
SCIENCE
Giant clams could inspire better color displays and solar cells
	Researchers have discovered that giant clams may hold the key to improving solar cells and color displays. The new findings indicate that giant clams produce a white coloration by combining red, green and blue light, in a manner similar to what occurs in television and smartphone displays.​  read more
MEDICAL
Light-activated quantum dots successfully combat drug-resistant bacteria
	New research being conducted at the University of Colorado Boulder has found that tiny particles known as quantum dots might be useful in tackling antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which cause in excess of 23,000 deaths in the US every year.   read more
ENVIRONMENT
Breaking down humanity's contribution to climate change
	An international team of researchers has analyzed almost 40 years worth of data in order to quantify exactly what fraction of the change can be attributed to mankind based on events and trends in different regions.  read more
ARCHITECTURE
Europe's largest department store will be split into four
	Rotterdam's OMA has been given the nod to extensively renovate Berlin's famous Kaufhaus des Westens (KaDeWe) department store. The firm will mostly focus on modernizing the interior by splitting it into four sections, but a distinctive new glass roof will also be added.  read more
AUTOMOTIVE
Audi gears up Brussels plant for production of first electric SUV
	Audi is getting its production plant in Brussels ready to produce the first purely electric sport utility vehicle in the brand’s lineup. A rotation of line production for other models will make way for the Audi e-tron SUV, including the battery-electric vehicle’s batteries.  read more
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