TEXT WOLF: Wolves are back in Switzerland after a 100 year absence and now Swiss sheep are vulnerable to wolf attack, so how best can a shepherd protect them? The answer may lie in a text messaging system. Tests with muzzled dogs threatening sheep wearing heart monitors showed that the flock's heart rate rose significantly when they were under attack. The developers plan to test a prototype collar that can send the shepherd an SMS when the flock's heartrate shows alarm. Don't let that phone battery go flat. The Himalayan Times details.
PRINT NEGATIVES: Researchers from Zhejiang University in China have a new way to get fingerprints at a crime scene, using electrochemiluminescence. A fingerprint is transferred to a glass plate coated with indium tin oxide then reactants are added to produce light. The fingerprint produces a negative as it stops light from being emitted. An image of the fingerprint then reveals it with clear detail. So they still have to actually acquire the fingerprint somehow first. PhysOrg explains.
SPINNER WINNER: Washing clothes takes a lot of water, time and effort if you're doing it by hand, or it takes an expensive machine that needs plumbing and electricity. In many countries the poorest people spend hours a day washing clothes. The GiraDora is a person-powered washer and spinner that can handle a load of clothes with little water and no electricity. The built-in seat on the top lets the user sit while they push a foot pedal to agitate the clothes. The machine saves back, hand and wrist strain and reduces the amount of time clothes must dry. That reduces mould, which reduces respiratory problems. It looks great, but perhaps a two-pedal option would make it easier and more comfortable to work with. Dell Social Innovation Challenge has further info. Video here.
DYE DYE DYE: Dyeing clothes takes lots of water, lots of chemicals and lots of energy. The DryDye process from Adidas uses no water and cuts energy and chemical use in half. The process involves sealing fabrics and chemical dyes in a chamber. Then CO2 is pumped in and pressurised. The chamber's heated and the dyes permeate the fabrics. That good old standby: heat and pressure. Gizmodo elaborates. Check out the video.
DRIVE AND FLY: The PD2 roadable aircraft from PlaneDriven lets the pilot fold the wings and drive the craft on the road. The vehicle has a drive unit and wheel at the rear and steerable main wheels. It can climb hills and drive at up to around 117 Kph. Stow the drive unit in the rear of the craft and you can fly away. I bet it's not as easy as it sounds to 'stow the drive unit'. Flying Magazine has more. Here's the video.
