Washington state deploys $30,000 drone to combat graffiti
Washington state is readying a $1 million anti-vandalism project, part of which involves testing a $30,000 drone that paints over graffiti. Signed into law on March 15 by Gov. Jay Inslee, the “Graffiti Abatement and Reduction Pilot Program” is scheduled to go into effect on June 6, and includes “field testing spray drone technology” along […]
Bullet-fast mantis shrimp punches caught by super-speed cameras
With their impressive eyes, Herculean strength, and punches with the force of a 22-caliber bullet, mantis shrimp are some of the ocean’s most impressive tiny wonders. These sucker punches are used on animals like worms, squid, and fish that they are preying on, predators, and each other. New research found that their shells make a decent […]
Chicken fat supercapacitors could store green energy of the future
As vital as it is for society to transition to renewable energy, it’s not as easy as simply swapping out fossil fuels for solar panels. To ensure they’re as efficient as possible, power infrastructures need powerful batteries to reliably house their excess generated energy for later use. Storage equipment has increasingly utilized carbon materials due […]
How sweat and stamina helped make humans exceptional runners–and hunters
Endurance running is not just a hobby for modern marathoners or for posting on social media. A new look into the anthropological history of endurance running when hunting for game shows that it may be just as efficient as other more traditional hunting methods like foraging. The findings are described in a study published May […]
2025 Aston Martin Vantage track test: 656 horsepower in an unassuming package
It is paradoxical that a secret agent would get dolled up in a tuxedo and attend high-roller social events, where he famously identifies himself by his name–his real name. The Aston Martin Vantage, a ride preferred by said agent, possesses similar paradoxical qualities. The Vantage debuted as a stand-alone model in the Aston Martin line […]
Battle of the AI bots: Copilot vs ChatGPT vs Gemini
You can’t miss the recent and rapid rise of generative AI chatbots, with more and more of these apps opening up their doors to users—and pushing their way into the software and hardware we use every day. In the same way you can choose your favorite email provider or music streaming app, you can now […]
Spectacular aurora photos: Skies dazzle in vivid colors around the world
The aurora put on a spectacular celestial show Friday night. Bright pink, swirling greens, and splashes of purple lit up the night skies over much of the globe. Earlier in the day, the NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center noted that “extreme (G5) geomagnetic conditions have been observed.” G5 is the most intense level for a […]
A father and son designed the world’s fastest quadcopter drone
A father-and-son team recently set a new Guinness World Record for the fastest quadcopter drone, speeding past the previous title holder. After months of fiery trial-and-error, Luke and Mike Bell’s remote-controlled Peregrine 2 design buzzed through the air at a ridiculous 298 mph. While the team’s four-propellor drone achieved its top speed back on April […]
Neuralink admits patient’s brain implant is partially ‘retracted’
Neuralink quietly published an update earlier this week on the first patient to receive its experimental brain computer interface (BCI), but a troubling detail is buried within the progress report. According to Elon Musk’s company blog post on Wednesday, the implant is partially detached from its user’s brain. The Neuralink N1 is a roughly quarter-sized […]
The World Video Game Hall of Fame announces its 2024 inductees
There are a lot of great video games, but only a select few are considered pivotal enough to earn a place within the World Video Game Hall of Fame. Established in 2015 and located within The Strong National Museum of Play, the Hall of Fame highlights titles that meet four major criteria—iconic status, longevity, international […]