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ICYMI: Submersible sticky situations and elongating elastomer electrodes
Today on In Case You Missed It: Researchers from Purdue University and the Office of Naval Research teamed up to develop a new kind of glue that even works underwater. The synthetic compound is derived from proteins used by muscles to keep themselves attached to rocks. The man-made adhesive is 17 times stronger than its source material and could one day hold US Navy ships together. We also take a look at a stretchable electrode developed at Stanford University. Leveraging the same kind of molecule that commercial kitchens use to thicken soups, the Stanford researchers were able to develop an electrical conductor that can be easily deformed while actually conducting better as it is stretched. And finally, this is what happens when you hook a watermelon up to a car battery. As always, please share any interesting tech or science videos you find by using the #ICYMI hashtag on Twitter for @mskerryd.
ICYMI: Sorting crops with artificial intelligence
try{document.getElementById("aol-cms-player-1").style.display="none";}catch(e){}Today on In Case You Missed It: Google's Tensor Flow machine learning technology helped create a device to sort through massive amounts of cucumbers at a farm in Japan, sorting the vegetables by quality grade so that humans don't have to do it manually. Meanwhile, an Australian scientist created an ink that changes colors when exposed to sunlight, which could theoretically help people from getting a sunburn. We also touched on the new internet-connected pet toy from Acer and rounded up the biggest headlines of the week for you in TL;DR. Be sure to check out IBM Watson's movie trailer and read about SpaceX's rocket explosion. As always, please share any interesting tech or science videos you find by using the #ICYMI hashtag on Twitter for @mskerryd.
Retro RPG Pier Solar HD hits Xbox One later this month
Following its November 6 Wii U launch, classically styled role-playing game Pier Solar HD will reach the Xbox One on November 21. Originally developed for the Sega Genesis well after Sega had left the console business, Pier Solar proved such a success that developer Watermelon launched a crowdfunding campaign to bring the game to more modern hardware. Not just a simple port, Pier Solar HD includes high resolution graphics and new, hand-drawn background art. Despite its technical enhancements, as you can see from the trailer beyond the break, Pier Solar HD is slavishly modeled after classics of the role-playing game genre, down to the pixelated character sprites. Watermelon's announcement doesn't specify a price point for the Xbox One iteration of Pier Solar HD, but if it mirrors the recent Wii U release expect a $15 price tag. [Image: Watermelon]
Retro RPG Pier Solar HD out for Wii U on November 6
The Wii U version of WaterMelon's classic-styled JRPG Pier Solar HD will hit the eShop on November 6, suffering a brief delay after its recent cross-platform launch. Tracing its origins back to a Sega Genesis homebrew release in 2010, Pier Solar later transitioned to modern platforms thanks to a successful Kickstarter campaign. Pier Solar premiered for the PlayStation 4 and PS3 in September, arriving alongside releases for Windows, Mac, Linux, and Ouya. Pier Solar HD boasts stylish art and turn-based combat that recalls the 16-bit RPG era. A release for the Xbox One is also in the works. [Image: WaterMelon]
This is what makes the snapping bone sound in Mortal Kombat X
That juicy explosion of a crushed skull in Mortal Kombat X is actually the sound of a watermelon splattering on a layer of plastic in NetherRealm's foley studio. The remaining bone snaps, cranium hits and squishy organ sounds are mostly made with various fruits and vegetables, Warner Bros Marketing Games Manager Brian Goodman told Joystiq at Gamescom. Mortal Kombat X is an exceedingly gruesome game, done in a way that makes it clear that NetherRealm knows how ridiculous it's being at all times. The art team stressed to accurately portray the sub-dermal anatomy of each character, Goodman said – and then Scorpion rips a hole though Sub-Zero's torso until his heart dangles in the middle of his gaping chest cavity. Ridiculous. The next time you pick up a melon at the store, try picturing it as Raiden's melon. Yum. [Image: Warner Bros]
Pier Solar HD pushed back to June
Pier Solar HD, the Sega Genesis-style RPG developed by Watermelon, has been delayed to June, Sega Nerds reported. The delay was announced via a backers-only update on the developer's Kickstarter page. Watermelon earned $231,370 on the service in December 2012, and just received approval from the Steam Greenlight community in March to begin distribution for PC, Mac and Linux on that platform. Also in development for PS3, PS4, Wii U, Android, Ouya, Dreamcast and considered for 3DS, Pier Solar HD was delayed to April just a few short months ago. Watermelon is reportedly looking to launch the game before E3, which starts on June 10. We've reached out to Watermelon to confirm the game's delay, and will update as we learn more [Update: Watermelon confirmed to Joystiq that Sega Nerds' report is accurate]. [Image: Watermelon]
Throwback RPG Pier Solar HD delayed to April, 3DS version considered
Sega Genesis homebrew-turned-modern console release Pier Solar HD has been pushed back to an April launch on all platforms, developer WaterMelon confirmed this week. WaterMelon's retro-styled RPG was originally set to launch digitally in March for the PlayStation 3, PS4, Wii U, PC, Mac, Linux, Android, Ouya and Dreamcast platforms. The project earned over $230,000 in backer pledges when it turned to Kickstarter for funding in 2012. Ports for the Xbox 360 and Xbox One are also in the works, pending WaterMelon's acceptance into Microsoft's ID@Xbox self-publishing program. WaterMelon studio president Tulio Goncalves additionally hinted at the possibility of a 3DS port in a recent interview with Nintendo Enthusiast, explaining that the Wii U version's second-screen functionality would transfer easily to Nintendo's portable platform. [Image: WaterMelon]
Watermelon cooler push cart: perfect for those sultry North Carolina summers
Crazily enough, the device you're staring at above -- jaw solidly on the floor, we're sure -- is real. As in, you can purchase one for you and yours. So far as we can tell, this here watermelon cart (priced at ¥19,950, or a whopping $231) serves to keep your voluptuous fruit cool when being transported from market to mouth, but everything beyond that is lost in translation. What's curious, however, is that this seems like a device created and sold exclusively in Japan. If we had to bet, though, we'd say it was originally dreamed up by a farmer in eastern North Carolina -- you know, the home of watermelon Cook-Out milkshakes, an official watermelon license plate and roads where chop-top school buses are frequently used as watermelon hauling machines.
