NASA announces revolutionary space exploration studies

NASA: NASA's Institute for Advanced Concepts (NIAC) has selected the proposals comprising phase 1 of its revolutionary space exploration concepts. Included in the awards, granted to people and organizations outside of the space agency, are technologies to extract antimatter from planetary magnetic fields, kilometer diameter space telescopes built from superconducting cables, and positron powered and propelled spacecraft.

Israeli inventor designs tankless underwater breathing system

ISRAEL: In our world's oceans, wind, waves and underwater currents spread dissolved air through the water. At a depth of 200m below the sea, there is still about 1.5% dissolved air. Fish gills work comfortably with this amount of air, and now Israeli inventor Alon Bodner has designed a way for man to do the same, eliminating the need for cumbersome oxygen tanks and expensive air compression units.

National Geographic looks at ET life

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC: In an impressive speculative online multimedia presentation, the National Geographic magazine's official website takes a look at what life on other Earth-like planets might be like. Based on real scientific theories about life, the presentation features videos, 3D models, snapshots and fact files on hypothetical species living on two new worlds.

Futurologist predicts brain to computer transfer by mid 21st century

LONDON: British futurologist Ian Pearson, head of the futurology unit at BT, predicts humans will be able to download the contents of their brain into computers by the mid 21st century. Pearson also believes machines will also be capable of feeling emotion in the future, and that the next computing goal is replicating consciousness.

Remote tactile transmission system developed in Singapore

SINGAPORE: Researchers at the National University of Singapore's Mixed Reality Lab have developed a way to transmit tactile sensations over the Internet. The system allows remote physical interaction in real time, with initial trials conducted using chickens. The birds wear haptic jackets that transmit sensation through tiny vibration motors.