Paleontologists working on an island off the coast of California’s Ventura County have discovered a strange mammoth skull that exhibits features never seen before in the extinct elephantine creatures. Not too big and not too small, this skull could represent a transitional species. Read more…
See the article here:
Strange Mammoth Skull Found in California Puzzles Paleontologists
Enlarge / Jeff Bezos, founder and Chief Executive of Amazon.com, in May, (credit: Alex Wong/Getty Images) We can say this much for Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon.com and Blue Origin—he does not lack ambition. First Bezos founded an online bookstore that became the largest retailer in the western world, and now he plans to self-fund a New Glenn rocket that is nearly as tall as the Saturn V launch vehicle and more than half as powerful. As wild as Bezos’ idea sounds, Blue Origin might be able to get the job done. And if Bezos and Blue Origin can fly their massive orbital rocket in the next three to four years, it would be a remarkable, unprecedented achievement in a number of ways that could radically remake spaceflight. Proof of concept First, a few words about why this might really be viable. It is true that all Blue Origin has flown so far is a propulsion module, powered by a single BE-3 engine, and a capsule on a suborbital flight. The company’s New Shepard spacecraft is designed to carry six passengers on 10- to 15-minute hops up to about 100km before bringing them back down to Earth. This is not dissimilar to the first Mercury flights in the early 1960s, hence the moniker New Shepard, named after pioneering astronaut Alan Shepard. Read 12 remaining paragraphs | Comments
Read the article:
Why Bezos’ rocket is unprecedented—and worth taking seriously
While Amtrak is a perfectly fine way to travel, especially on the Eastern seaboard, the country’s publicly owned rail company doesn’t exactly have a high-tech reputation. That will change in the next few years, thanks to a massive $2.45 billion loan from the federal government, which the company plans to invest in 28 next-generation train sets and significant upgrades to the Northeast Corridor. About $2 billion of that federal loan, which Vice President “Amtrak” Joe Biden announced Friday at his home station in Wilmington, Delaware, will be put towards those new train cars, which will boost the Acela fleet by 40 percent when they enter service in 2021. According to Amtrak, the new trains will offer one-third more passenger seating, more outlets and USB ports, improved WiFi quality ( finally ), and top speeds of 186 mph. (For comparison, Japan’s high-speed rail lines top out at 200 mph .) Thanks to a lighter, more aerodynamic design, the new trains should also cut energy consumption by about 20 percent. The trains will be 95 percent “Made in America” and built in New York state by Alstom . As for the other $450 million of that federal loan, the company will be putting the money towards revitalizing four stations — including Union Station in Washington DC and Penn Station in New York City — as well as some much-needed infrastructure improvements between DC and Boston. Source: Amtrak , Delaware Online
Read More:
Amtrak’s next-generation high-speed trains arrive in 2021
Six Flags first announced that it was teaming up with Samsung to outfit roller coaster riders with Gear VR headsets back in the spring. The theme park company is taking its virtual reality project to another level though, adding a gaming component to the immersive visuals. Before now, the addition of VR to rides just added a different visual experience to the ride itself. With the new “Rage of the Gargoyles, ” riders take flight in an Apache-style helicopter to battle “blood-thirsty” beasts. How do you control the game? Well, the Gear VR headset does all of the work so you can keep your hands tightly wrapped around whatever handle the ride offers. As Six Flags explains it, riders aim at the gargoyles by looking in their direction to aim the helicopter’s Gatling guns. Once a target is locked on, the weapon fires automatically. Based on the details the company offered, it sounds like there’s a HMD (Head Mounting Display) UI to guide you through the whole thing. There’s no word on if you’ll be able to keep score and compete against fellow riders. If you’re planning to take a road trip before summer officially comes to a close, “Rage of the Gargoyles” will be available on nine VR-equipped coasters at Six Flags parks in the US and Canada. Those locations and rides include Demon at Six Flags Great America, Skull Mountain at Six Flags Great Adventure, Shock Wave at Six Flags Over Texas, Kong at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, Dare Devil Dive at Six Flags Over Georgia, Goliath at La Ronde, Ninja at Six Flags St. Louis and Steamin’ Demon at The Great Escape. What’s more, there are sure to be new VR adventures at the parks in the future as Six Flags touts the setup’s versatility. “One of the most exciting things about this technology is that we have the ability to change the storylines to offer our guests new thrills and new reasons to visit our parks, ” said Six Flags president and CEO John Duffey. Rage of the Gargoyles virtual reality comes to the Demon https://t.co/xrpg9JzIYH — SF Great America (@SFGreat_America) August 5, 2016 Source: Six Flags (Business Wire)
See the original post:
Six Flags adds a gaming twist to its VR roller coasters
Remember Germany’s Radschnellweg ? That’s a 100-kilometer cycleway that, once completed, will link nearly a dozen cities. Well, we were very surprised to learn that America will be getting something similar. Similar and, in accordance with our increased landmass, a lot longer. The East Coast Greenway Alliance is currently masterminding a 3, 000-mile cycleway running from Calais, Maine (right on the Canadian border) all the way to Key West, Florida! While a determined cyclist can currently make that journey, the route would currently involve a lot of time sharing the road with cars, and the danger that brings. The ECGA has a different vision: “Our goal is for the entire Greenway to be on paths, completely separated from the road, ” they write. “By connecting existing and planned shared-use trails, a continuous, traffic-free route is being formed, serving self-powered users of all abilities and ages.” That last part is key. The Greenway is really intended more for people with Dad Body than those that look like a ‘roided-up Lance Armstrong. The idea is that the Greenway will be “a new tourism venue, enticing domestic and foreign tourists to explore the Eastern Seaboard in a leisurely and intimate manner” rather than a place where you get buzzed by bros wearing Lycra. [The Greenway] is not designed for those seeking a high-speed cycling route. A multitude of on-road routes better serve their needs. But, as a traffic-free, relatively flat route, the Greenway is a safe facility for people of all ages and physical abilities, including children, families, and the elderly. Also, the Greenway will not be of entirely new construction. What the ECGA is attempting to do is link existing trails, then “fill in the gaps” where there are none. This is a massive effort that involves coordinating with a variety of municipal bodies over the entire stretch, including within major cities. Here’s a snippet of the Philadelphia route, for instance: The sheer number of ground to cover explains why just 850 miles–about 30%–currently exists and is usable, with another 2, 050 miles yet to be nailed down. So, while the ECG will be longer than Germany’s Radschnellweg , the efficient Germans will undoubtedly have theirs completed first. The ECGA is currently gunning to have the Greenway 95% complete by 2030. Want to help them get it done faster? They need local volunteers to help them get various stretchs up to code. Learn how you can get involved by donating your time (or just some plain ol’ greenbacks) here . Sources: CityLab Country Living Curbed East Coast Greenway Alliance
Continue reading here:
A 2,900-Mile, Car-Free Bicycle Path Running from Maine to Florida is Underway
An anonymous reader quotes a report from CNN: FBI agents are currently trying to subpoena one of Tor’s core software developers to testify in a criminal hacking investigation, CNNMoney has learned. But the developer, who goes by the name Isis Agora Lovecruft, fears that federal agents will coerce her to undermine the Tor system — and expose Tor users around the world to potential spying. That’s why, when FBI agents approached her and her family over Thanksgiving break last year, she immediately packed her suitcase and left the United States for Germany. “I was worried they’d ask me to do something that hurts innocent people — and prevent me from telling people it’s happening, ” she said in an exclusive interview with CNNMoney. Earlier in the month, Tech Dirt reported the Department of Homeland Security wants to subpoena the site over the identity of a hyperbolic commenter. Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Read More:
Developer Of Anonymous Tor Software Dodges FBI, Leaves US
It’s been two weeks since Disney’s Jungle Book was released—and we still can’t quite believe the whole thing was filmed in a downtown L.A. warehouse . Now Disney is peeling back the curtain and showing us just how this incredible spectacle was created. Read more…
Continue reading here:
Astonishing Behind-the-Scenes Video Shows How The Jungle Book Was Filmed in Downtown LA
Researchers looking for a better way to secure their face computers have come up with a novel solution for hands-free, head-mounted password entry. A device could potentially identify its wearer by emitting an ultrasonic hum through their skull and listening for the unique frequency that bounces back. The ” SkullConduct ” setup was devised by university researchers in Germany and works on a modified pair of Google Glass. Using the integrated bone conduction speaker and microphone, the device played an imperceptible sound that was then picked up by the microphone. A test device was able to correctly identify the user 97 percent of the time in a lab. While the researchers originally envisioned the system as a way to keep unwanted users from accessing devices like Glass, Gizmodo thinks it could potentially be another TouchID for your skull. Imagine, if you will, a scenario where you can unlock your phone by placing it against your ear. But, then again, who actually takes phone calls anymore?
Continued here:
Log in with your skull via bone conduction biometrics
A pair of exquisitely preserved lion cubs found frozen in Siberian permafrost may still contain traces of milk from their mother. If confirmed, it would be the oldest breast milk ever discovered. Read more…
Continued here:
Bellies of Frozen Lion Cubs May Still Contain 12,000-Year-Old Mother’s Milk
One of the major elements of the the Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement Program will be the gigantic SR 99 tunnel which will host a double-deck roadway under downtown Seattle . In this stunning new photo, you are looking south inside the tunnel dug by Bertha, the SR 99 tunneling machine . It is hard to say less than this tunnel is really enormous. Read more…
Visit link:
The Two-Mile-Long Tunnel Beneath Seattle Makes Humans Look So Tiny