RECHARGE OR BUS: If you have to wait around for a bus it's good to be able to do something useful — like charge your phone. One advertiser in the US is equipping their bus shelter ads in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Boston with 5-volt battery USB ports. Travellers can charge up their devices while they wait. It may be one of those rare times when you hope the bus actually will be late. Discovery has more.
FLY AND DRIVE: The Model 367 BiPod is a flying car with two fuselages. It has two seats and is a hybrid-electric aircraft. Up to now it has only hopped and not actually flown as the propellers aren't installed. Two 450cc internal combustion engines will drive generators that feed an electric power system. In flight the engines will power four propellers. On the road they will power 15kW motors on driving wheels. The wings will be stowed between the fuselages. Separated fuselages could be handy when driving an overly chatty passenger. Aviation Week has details.
TWEET FEVER: In Brazil scientists have identified a high correlation between people tweeting they may have dengue fever and the official statistics for where the disease appears. Official notifications of dengue can take weeks, meaning treatments lag behind the outbreaks. Software that monitors and analyses tweets can identify current trends so health services can quickly take action. Which also suggests a better official reporting system could be useful. New Scientist has details.
LIGHT WALLS: A luminous textile from Philips integrates LED lights into Kvadrat Soft Cell wall panels, absorbing sound and creating ambient lighting. The surface of the panel glows softly and effects can be adjusted. An ambience for every occasion. More information here.
MAGNETIC CLIMB: Climbers rely on their carabiners not to undo at a crucial moment. But the same locking systems that make a carabiner safe also make it hard to use. Black Diamond Equipment created a new Magnetron carabiner that relies on magnets. While unlocked, the magnets on the lock repel each other. But when closed around the steel steel insert in the carabiner nose they attract, keeping the carabiner closed. The big question though is does it feel as safe? Video here.
- Miraz Jordan knowit.co.nz
