The guys at NASA are using a silicon based Aerogel in their mission dubbed ‘StarDust” which involves capturing particles from space. Collecting these particles without damaging them has always posed a problem because the impact velocity of particles can be up to 6 times the speed of a rifle bullet. Although these particles are smaller than a grain of sand, high-speed capture can alter their shape and chemical composition - or even vaporize them entirely. This silicon-based solid has a porous, sponge-like structure in which 99.8 percent of the volume is empty space. By comparison, Aerogel is 1,000 times less dense than glass, which is another silicon-based solid.

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Sorry, YouTube and How Stuff Works said it was evil to have their video available to the general public and the videos were taking down. So you are left with the following video:

I like YouTube and I like How Stuff Works - but man - they are so big now and have become overcome with legalese and rules. Another thing ruined, but you can not stop progression. Napster - LimeWire - Bit Torrents - YouTube - Google - Linux have all contributed and spawned out in so many directions that I do not understand why they even attempt to stop it. I think it looks bad on them. Instead they should focus on being dynamic and adjusting to the flow.

Time will tell ….

Since the Cold War the U.S Missile Command and the U.S Air Force have continually focused their efforts on designing an Airborne Laser Weapon. Whilst this idea may still seem like science fiction, testing for this ground breaking technology has already begun.

A powerful Chemical Oxygen Iodine Laser (COIL) has been mounted in a turret-like array on the nose of specially modified Boeing 747-400 air freighters. The Airborne System’s (ABL) primary mission will be to locate and shoot down enemy ballistic missiles whilst still in the launch stage.

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Over the last fours years IO2 Technology have been developing the Heliodisplay. Originally shown as a prototype back in 2003, the Heliodisplay third generation (M3) model is now on the market. Like a computer monitor or television, this mid air display can project any video signal coming from most sources with one main difference, there is no screen.

Check out the video to get more of an idea >>

A projector is focused onto a layer of mist in mid-air, resulting in a two-dimensional display that appears to float. This is similar in principle to the cinematic technique of rear projection but with no screen to display the image, the Heliodisplay produces an effect much like a hologram.

Images are visible under typical indoor lighting and are about as bright as the first-generation rear projection TV’s. The display works best under controlled lighting such as in museums, movie theaters, and most office spaces, although it is not recommended for outside use IO2 does build outdoor systems for enterprise solutions.

The Heliodisplay’s default resolution is 800 x 600 but supports up to 1280 x 1024, depending on the model, a 22 to 42 inch image can be projected floating above the device, this can be viewed from 150 degree viewing angle in front of the projector or from both front and rear, again depending on the model.

Another amazing feature of the Heliodisplay is the ability to be used as a touch-screen monitor to navigate and interact with content. When connected to a PC using a standard USB cable and the software provided you can use your finger, pen, pencil or any object to select and navigate as you would a conventional touch-screen, the only difference is that there is no physical screen.

Boeing have been hot press this year following the highly anticipated 787 Dreamliner, despite the huge launch campaign and all the time spent perfecting the Dreamliner, Boeing have still found time to develop and begin testing the new X-48B an unmanned Blended Wing Body Aircraft or BWB.

The first ever flight took off on the 20th July from NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base in California. This X-48B is only the second prototype that Boeing has built and the only one tested in flight; it was created to test the “structural, aerodynamic and operational efficiencies of the BWB concept,” according to Bob Liebeck, the BWB program manager, especially during take off and landing.

BWB planes don’t have a tail, the wing itself blends into the fuselage, giving more lift and less drag than a traditional circular fuselage. This means 30% less fuel consumption than a normal plane and also less noise, both inside and on the ground.

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The Japanese love technology so much that now even sex toys are on the cutting edge.

The gPod vibrator, is designed to respond automatically to sounds picked up by an accompanying handset, which can plug into anything from a telephone to a music player to a television. The sounds it receives are then detected by low, medium and high music frequency sensors and sent on to a distinctly phallic joystick.

When activated, the user experiences a chorus of vibrations that correspond to the chosen music or voices. According to Ichiro Kameda, the gPod’s inventor,

“You can use it in many ways, for example hooking it up to your mobile phone… so one of the ideas is that you can use it here in Tokyo when your boyfriend in New York is talking to you on the phone.”

Kameda said he had spent four years trying to design a product when he hit upon the concept, although he declined to say how the idea came to him.

The gPod made a splash at the first-ever sex toy expo in Tokyo, Joymind were just one of the nearly 160 companies or groups displaying their products and services at the three day Adult Treasure Expo 2007, also known as SEXPO, where they announced retail prices at ¥25,000, or approx $243.

There is an already accessory on the market for the ipod which incorporates the same kind of technology. Although it’s difficult to say who developed the technology first, Apple started fighting the Japanese company when the latter started applying for trademarks around the world, eventually sending Japanese lawyer and repeated requests to stop using the gpod trademark. The company laughed off Apples requests and said they would fight if Apple ever decides to sue.

It seems the widley popular Nintendo Wii has surpassed its gaming expectations and is now being used by a Vancouver Gym as a Virtual Personal Trainer.

The Canadian Health Club Studio 55 is offering a new form of exercise for people bored with the treadmill or cycling classes - The Wii Workout Station. Clients at the health club are encouraged to use the Wii as part of circuit training, warm-up or cool-down, with the system set up in a 400 square-foot theater room with a large projection screen.

While some other gyms have combined stationary bikes with PlayStations and Xboxes in a bid to win younger clients, a spokesman for Nintendo Canada said this is the first they have heard of a gym using the Wii in its schedule.

Nathan Mellalieu, the owner of Studeo 55, said he decided to bring video games into a fitness environment after watching how much fun some children were having and, more importantly, seeing them sweating.

“We are always trying to break down paradigms and keep things fresh. It is used here to break up the monotony of traditional workouts,” he told Reuters.

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Iraq war veteran Sgt. Juan Arredondo can now grasp tennis balls and door knobs with his left hand again, now that he’s been outfitted with a bionic hand that has flexible fingers. This brings new meaning and current implementation to once futuristic themes such as Terminator, Robo Cop and Star Wars.

The 27-year-old former Army soldier, who lost his left hand in 2005 during a patrol in Iraq when a IED exploded through the left side of his vehicle, is one of the first recipients of the i-LIMB. Arredondo was on patrol in Iraq on Feb. 28, 2005, when an explosive device blasted through the left side of his vehicle. As he jumped from the driver’s seat, he noticed that his left hand was still clutching the steering wheel. At San Antonio’s Brooke Army Medical Center, he was stabilized enough to have his amputated arm closed up and readied for a prosthesis. He went through two artificial arms until finally receiving the i-Limb.

“To have this movement, it’s — it’s amazing! My son tells me I’m half robot, half man,”

Arredondo said Monday as he showed off the limb made by Scotland-based Touch Bionics.

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Transformers are amongst us and they are battling to be Number 1. Well they aren’t actually The Transformers, but from the previous post this is a good follow-up with actual combat robots. Welcome to the future of ultimate fighting. K1 was a popular fight club in Japan, but Robot battles are quickly sweeping the popularity and gaining support from fans (nerds like me). Check out the video to see what I am talking about

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The Transformers was an American cartoon series depicting a war between giant robots who could transform into vehicles, animals, and other objects.In Japan, the series was called Fight! Super Robot Life Form Transformers (??! ?????????????????, Tatakae! Cho Robotto Seimeitai Toransuf?m?). The Transformers toy-line and cartoon series owed their existence to the Japanese toyline, Microman (an Eastern descendant of the 12 inch G.I. Joe action figure series). For many, like myself, Transformers were a huge part of their childhood and this movie was long awaited. The technology and computer graphics in the 80s or even 90s were not advance enough to accurately portray the concept behind Transformers. Today’s CGI technology has finally caught up and Steven Spielberg’s and Dream Works team went all out!

Transformers quickly grossed astronomical amounts attributing to Steven Spielberg’s and Dream Works continued success. Anyone who has seen Transformers knows why this movie is in the Top 20 at theaters and already grossed over $70-Million USD! The most realistic computer graphics in movie productions yet, with an action packed video that featured a bunch of military high tech equipment and military men and women (both active duty and former) as extras and speaking roles.

More than 300 Airmen and numerous aircraft were featured in the July 4th released film to help make this movie possible. Backed by the Defense Department, the movie was more factual and realistic than most movies that portray the military are. Many 80s movies were notoriously incorrect with their cast, ranks, equipment, and protocol.

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NetCam XL - Rugged Design, Beautiful Results

With images up to 2048×1536 in resolution, the new NetCam XL 3MP is the highest quality network camera on the market. Using a 3.1 megapixel sensor, the NetCam XL 3MP is the perfect tool for web attraction, weather monitoring or high definition security camera.

Bring on the cold! NetCam XL can withstand temperatures down to -40° degrees without a heater.

The NetCam XL is the latest generation in the popular NetCam series of network cameras. Designed for both indoor and rugged outdoor installations, the NetCam XL streams video and produces some of the highest quality images found in a network camera.

No computer is required to operate the NetCam XL — it is a standalone solution that can connect to a local network, DSL, cable modem, satellite modem, cellular, wireless Ethernet or even a phone line. You simply browse to its IP address to view live video and access configuration options. Set up is straightforward and simple and NetCam XL is designed to run unattended for years on end.

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The summer is on and the heat is rising. For those of you stationed in Japan or a military buddy or family friend there, you might be able to get your hands on this USB power seat cooler. For troops heading to the Sand Box see if you can arrange this before deployment.

We all know sitting behind the computer for long periods of time, can play a serious toll on our rears. However, this Japanese company has the solution. When directly sitting down, the applied pressure to our bottoms causes a pain known as TsuTe, which isn’t the best feeling. By connecting the USB to your computer, instantly your seat cushion is transformed into a cooling fan. The cushion works by drawing air in from the bottom of the seat attachment, and channeling it through the entire seat. Thereby decreasing temperature and increasing comfort.

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Surfing across the web I came across some information about some ideas and concoctions brewing over at Microsoft Live Lab. For those of you who can appreciate Google Earth, Vector Imaging, EBooks, and Visual Media in general will definitely appreciate the technology and the endless capabilities behind Seadragon’s goals.

The goal of Seadragon is to alter the way users use valuable screen reality without affecting quality and bandwidth. This is a critical concern for mobile users and the eventual evolution of the internet. Visual information can be smoothly browsed regardless of the size of a file or your network’s bandwidth.

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Bill Gates will manage one of the highest-profile transitions in American business history and computer technology. Before stepping down as chairman of Microsoft (currently $300 billion company that he co-founded over 30 years ago) and moving on to philanthropy, Gates will head a few more high-tech projects and hopefully achieve his goal of bridging the physical and virtual worlds. A secret covert project code named Milan and is 5 years in the making was top secret until recently being unveiled to the public at the Wall Street Journal conference. The project involved transforming an ordinary tabletop into a brilliant, interactive surface with effortless interaction with digital content through natural gestures, touch, and physical objects. A revolutionary aspect of Microsoft Surface is its natural interaction with everyday objects and technologies with an intuitive touch-sensitive 30-inch tabletop with nothing but your fingers. No more computer mouse, keyboards, or wires. The multi-touch interface allows the user to have hands-on control of photos, music, maps, and more. The coolest feature I liked was the photo resizing and stacking that is similar to Macintosh’s Apple iPhone’s zoom gestures.

This idea is nothing new and is not the only company eyeing the new market, but it has never been more than a prototype until recently being exhibited at the All Things Digital conference.. Microsoft Surface made several appearances in movies like the futuristic movies Minority Report and The Island. This new technology, the brainchild of Stevie Bathiche and Andy Wilson, is breaking down the traditional barriers of people and technology by providing an effortless interaction with digital media. It is apart of Intel’s vision of the near future where devices work seamlessly together. This innovative computer has price tags running $10,000 a unit. Microsoft however expects prices to plummet over the next three to five years to the point that it will be available for every home.

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It is often said that amphibious assaults are the hardest of all military operations to coordinate. High Speed Amphibians enable a transformation of operational maneuvers from the sea to the land like never before. An amphibious operation is a military operation launched from the sea by naval and landing forces embarked in ships or craft involving a landing on a hostile or potentially hostile shore or beachhead. Modern U.S. Navy Amphibious Assault Ships project power and maintain presence by serving as the cornerstone of the Amphibious Readiness Group (ARG) / Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG). The two nations that have made by far the most amphibious assaults during the past century are the United States and the United Kingdom. From the great assaults of World War II to the recent attack on the Al-Faw Peninsula in Iraq, both countries have been at the forefront of developing amphibious assault doctrine and shipping. From small swift reconnaissance missions to truly amphibious expeditionary and support vehicles, High Speed Amphibians have the ability to realize the vision of the future fighting force. The transition from land to sea, and vice-versa, is seamless, eliminating operational pause in ship to objective maneuvers.

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