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'Fortnite' update delivers destruction, new areas and meme emotes
Fortnite Season Four is here, and Epic Games has delivered in a big way. After teasing a spectacular comet crash at the end of the previous season, today's update sees much-loved areas of the map destroyed, new ones added and players bestowed with tonnes of new skins, emotes and in-game items.
The Future IRL: Robot farmers do the dirty work
The US is facing an agricultural worker shortage, along with aging farm owners, at the same time it juggles demand in food from a global population boom. If we're being blunt, those elements added together would mean farmers and production are straight screwed. Luckily, some engineers and researchers are creating robots that are already beginning to ease the load.
Faraday Future leases new California plant amidst financial uncertainty
After seemingly abandoning its plans to open a manufacturing plant in Las Vegas, electric car maker Faraday Future has found a new home. The company has signed a lease for a 1,000,000-square foot facility in Hanford, California, and more than 500 employees were already onsite last Saturday decorating the building.
Xbox One S review: a worthy successor -- to the Xbox 360
Microsoft is making a lot of assumptions with the Xbox One S. It's a 40 percent smaller and 100 percent whiter version of the Xbox One that launched nearly three years ago, albeit with a few key differences. First is the built-in 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray player and compatibility with high-dynamic-range video for increased contrast and a wider color gamut. Then there's support for Ultra HD streaming from apps like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. As for the rest of the system? For better and worse, it's basically the same.
ICYMI: Drawing bot, 3M's future plan and an orb with a soul
#fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-232743{display:none;} .cke_show_borders #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-232743, #postcontentcontainer #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-232743{width:570px;display:block;} try{document.getElementById("fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-232743").style.display="none";}catch(e){}Today on In Case You Missed It: Artist Sougwen Chung creates art with help from a robotic arm, take a tour of 3M's exhibit, which visualizes the challenges the earth will face by 2050 and finally, bask in the glow of a large orb with AI that changes its display depending on what the humans around it are doing. There will be one more SXSW-dedicated ICYMI episodes this week, but we'll be back on Thursday from the studio. As always, please share any interesting science or tech videos, anytime! Just tweet us with the #ICYMI hashtag to @mskerryd.
ICYMI: Sony's sound necklace, smart music earbuds and more
#fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-515226{display:none;} .cke_show_borders #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-515226, #postcontentcontainer #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-515226{width:570px;display:block;} #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-929316{display:none;} .cke_show_borders #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-929316, #postcontentcontainer #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-929316{width:640px;display:block;} try{document.getElementById("fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-929316").style.display="none";}catch(e){} Today on In Case You Missed It: Austin played host to SXSW by starting the Interactive portion of the conference with musical tech you didn't know you wanted. We got a tour of Sony's R&D Lab for a look at its new Arc wearable speaker, Sony's interactive tabletop projector that the company is trying to get on the market asap. And we tried out the smart concert earbuds Here by Doppler Labs. There will be two more SXSW-dedicated ICYMI episodes this week, but we'll be back on Thursday from the studio. As always, please share any interesting science or tech videos, anytime! Just tweet us with the #ICYMI hashtag to @mskerryd.
ICYMI: Space junk reboot, biological machine v2 and more
#fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-763516{display:none;} .cke_show_borders #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-763516, #postcontentcontainer #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-763516{width:570px;display:block;} try{document.getElementById("fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-763516").style.display="none";}catch(e){}Today on In Case You Missed It: NASA thinks it can extend the life of even dead satellites orbiting Earth with a new solution from the agency and Orbital ATK. Mission Extension Vehicles should go up in 2018 and give the sats battery power for as long as another 15 years. A game developer is trying to make older, classic Nintendo games 3D with an emulator that uses a custom algorithm to separate flat backgrounds into 3D objects. And the National Science Foundation funded work to create a biological machine that can be controlled with electrical or optical signals-- while using it's own muscle tissue for power. We also wanted to make sure you saw the ostrich chase video that is making the rounds. As always, please share any interesting science or tech videos, anytime! Just tweet us with the #ICYMI hashtag to @mskerryd.
ICYMI: Music with your eyes, 3D print everything and more
#fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-512707{display:none;} .cke_show_borders #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-512707, #postcontentcontainer #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-512707{width:570px;display:block;} try{document.getElementById("fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-512707").style.display="none";}catch(e){}Today on In Case You Missed It: An engineer built a DIY musical instrument for people with disabilities, helping them create music with an eyetracking device. Two 3D-printed bits of technology caught our attention: One is for flesh, the other graphene aerogel. We are also reviewing a messenger app and a Kickstarter campaign for a speaker that basically makes us crazy. As always, please share any interesting science or tech videos, anytime! Just tweet us with the #ICYMI hashtag to @mskerryd.
ICYMI: Drone net launcher, whale call science and more
#fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-636237{display:none;} .cke_show_borders #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-636237, #postcontentcontainer #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-636237{width:570px;display:block;} try{document.getElementById("fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-636237").style.display="none";}catch(e){} Today on In Case You Missed It: Hundreds of thousands of whale calls from a seafaring science journey in 2006 have finally been analyzed, resulting in proof that whales gather by species when feeding. Police officials are likely highly interested in the drone catching net, that launches from a large black metal tube that puts bazookas to shame, taking out drones up to 100 meters away. BMW's new concept car (the Vision Next 100) can subtly shift its shape near the wheels and of course has AI and augmented reality sensors for days. You can see a video of the newly discovered octopus species that doesn't yet have a name, read about Ray Tomlinson and learn more about the thing we can't not hate, the biēm butter sprayer (which of course, is on Kickstarter). As always, please share any interesting science or tech videos, anytime! Just tweet us with the #ICYMI hashtag to @mskerryd.
ICYMI: Fast brain upload, mind-control monkeys & more
#fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-222051{display:none;} .cke_show_borders #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-222051, #postcontentcontainer #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-222051{width:570px;display:block;} try{document.getElementById("fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-222051").style.display="none";}catch(e){}Today on In Case You Missed It: Researchers at HRL Labs have developed a system to upload information to your brain using electrical signals already mapped from an expert's mind. Duke University is testing a wireless brain-machine interface that allows monkeys to steer a wheelchair with their mind, which they were able to do while also improving their skills over time. Cardiologists have a new tool to roto-rooter blood vessels filled with plague in the first FDA approved device that helps surgeons see inside vessels with a built-in camera.
ICYMI: Poop fuel, magnet-attached spherical tires and more
#fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-182793{display:none;} .cke_show_borders #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-182793, #postcontentcontainer #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-182793{width:570px;display:block;} try{document.getElementById("fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-182793").style.display="none";}catch(e){}Today on In Case You Missed It: UCLA's biofuels lab is doing interesting work with manure protein, to see if supply of a better kind of alternative fuel can be produced on an industrial scale. Goodyear is out with crazy futuristic prototype tires that would connect to a car with magnets, be 3D printed, totally beach-ball round, include foam sponges inside the grooves to help with traction on water, and more. A Swedish musician spent a year constructing a marble music machine that is absolutely stunning to see in action. And even though this video has made the rounds before, the Japanese company that created it is still riding high so we wanted to include it. It's a tomato-headed, 18-pound robot backpack that automatically feeds you tomatoes while you run. As always, please share any interesting science or tech videos, anytime! Just tweet us with the #ICYMI hashtag to @mskerryd.
ICYMI: Supersonic jetliner, the issue of sea sponge and more
#fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-37467{display:none;} .cke_show_borders #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-37467, #postcontentcontainer #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-37467{width:570px;display:block;} try{document.getElementById("fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-37467").style.display="none";}catch(e){}Today on In Case You Missed It: NASA gave Lockheed Martin $20 million to make a preliminary design of a supersonic jetliner that will break the sound barrier without a sonic boom. Stanford students are putting a self-driving Audi through a race course to improve AI algorithms. And MIT says it has found proof that sea sponges are the first animal on earth. Finally, Sweden's McDonald's has a new happy meal box that turns into a virtual reality headset. As always, please share any interesting science or tech videos, anytime! Just tweet us with the #ICYMI hashtag to @mskerryd.
ICYMI: Moon waystation, human skin like bananas and more
#fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-92297{display:none;} .cke_show_borders #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-92297, #postcontentcontainer #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-92297{width:570px;display:block;} try{document.getElementById("fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-92297").style.display="none";}catch(e){} Today on In Case You Missed It: The European Space Agency wants to put a permanent base on the moon, for all agencies to share. A new solar plant in Nevada is the first to store 10 hours of energy in salt, continuing to produce electricity overnight. And researchers are studying bananas because an enzyme in their skin is just like one produced by human skin. Maybe that's why they taste so good? JK, that was just for Hannibal Lecter. We also wanted to bring you this latest Guinness World Record, of an electrified skateboard traveling at 59.5 miles per hour. As always, please share any interesting science or tech videos, anytime! Just tweet us with the #ICYMI hashtag to @mskerryd.
ICYMI: Trusting robots too much, automated garbage and more
#fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-528017{display:none;} .cke_show_borders #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-528017, #postcontentcontainer #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-528017{width:570px;display:block;} try{document.getElementById("fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-528017").style.display="none";}catch(e){} Today on In Case You Missed It: The Georgia Tech Research Institute studied how people would react to a robot with clearly labeled 'emergency guide' signage, during a fire drill. Researchers thought humans would ignore the robots and go straight for nearby exits, but instead, they followed the robots deeper into the building, where there was no way out.
Xbox's Phil Spencer still coy about a 'Battletoads' sequel
When Xbox head Phil Spencer takes the stage at a gaming event, eagle-eyed fans pay close attention to what's on his chest -- his choice of attire is usually a subtle hint of games to come. Last January when he introduced Windows 10's Xbox app and its features, he was wearing a T-shirt sporting the cult classic Battletoads' logo. Of course, that lead to rampant speculation that a proper, 20-plus years-in-the-making sequel was under way.
ICYMI: Rogue wave detection, exo-glove and more
#fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-127753{display:none;} .cke_show_borders #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-127753, #postcontentcontainer #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-127753{width:570px;display:block;} try{document.getElementById("fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-127753").style.display="none";}catch(e){}Today on In Case You Missed It: Researchers at Seoul National University developed the Exo-Glove Poly, which can help wearer's perform difficult tasks like opening doors or grasping delicate objects. MIT built an algorithm to help detect rogue waves and warn sailors about them. And the Leidenfrost effect of a water droplet landing on a hot griddle and hovering above steam had never been captured on video, until now. We also covered a bunch of news in TL;DR but most urge you to dive into the latest on Apple vs. FBI, or for fun, read about what algae injections can do to vision. As always, please share any interesting science or tech videos, anytime! Just tweet us with the #ICYMI hashtag to @mskerryd.
ICYMI: 3D-printed vertebrae FTW, YouTube blur and more
#fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-105465{display:none;} .cke_show_borders #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-105465, #postcontentcontainer #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-105465{width:570px;display:block;} try{document.getElementById("fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-105465").style.display="none";}catch(e){}Today on In Case You Missed It: An Australian neurologist successfully used 3D printed replacements for vertebrae to save a man who would have died from cancer otherwise. YouTube has updated its editing tools to include a custom blurring option. Another new device for the problem of not having wireless service in the boonies is available, you just have to keep it on you... and whoever you're trying to contact. We also wanted you to see the latest Guinness Record for a robot solving a Rubik's Cube. It's less than a second and of course, incredible. As always, please share any interesting science or tech videos, anytime! Just tweet us with the #ICYMI hashtag to @mskerryd.
Tracking the Engadget staff's vitals was a terrible mistake
#fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-164847{display:none;} .cke_show_borders #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-164847, #postcontentcontainer #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-164847{width:570px;display:block;} try{document.getElementById("fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-164847").style.display="none";}catch(e){} We challenged eight Engadget staffers to wear a biometric health-tracking shirt for the first few days of CES. In a word, it went terribly. For many of us, it was a struggle to set up a shirt, computer and bluetooth-connected app amid the general stress and distraction of the show. Especially since everyone was also overloaded with work on the first full day of CES coverage.
ICYMI: Scrubbable smartphone, bioreactive bandage and more
#fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-628914{display:none;} .cke_show_borders #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-628914, #postcontentcontainer #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-628914{width:570px;display:block;}try{document.getElementById("fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-628914").style.display="none";}catch(e){}Today on In Case You Missed It: Scientists created a bandage that react to the presence of infection with a green glow. Yet another flying drone camera is up on Kickstarter, but this one keeps its rotors under wraps for safety. And Japanese phone maker Kyocera just upped its cool cred with a smartphone that can be soaped up and rinsed without harming the phone.
ICYMI: Reading a fly's mind, real Minecraft phone and more
#fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-44671{display:none;} .cke_show_borders #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-44671, #postcontentcontainer #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-44671{width:570px;display:block;}try{document.getElementById("fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-44671").style.display="none";}catch(e){}Today on In Case You Missed It: Neuroscientists figured out what fruit flies are thinking with fluorescent molecules. Minecraft now has an internal smartphone that can be used to text and call people within the game. And this new smart flossing product that gives a strip of floss once the button is pushed also serves to shame your partner for not flossing with lights that come on if a daily cleaning is missed.
