Tag: books

The U.S. military’s robopocalyptic army is starting to take shape

Everyone, say hello to WildCat, a robotic quadruped that can run 16 mph (26 kph) without tethers. It joins an already impressive cast of conceptual bots, including an updated version of ATLAS — who, as showcased in a must-see new video, may soon appear on an episode of American Ninja . Read more…        

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The U.S. military’s robopocalyptic army is starting to take shape

An incredible new polymer that heals itself to 97% efficiency

The Spanish scientists who developed it are calling it the ‘Terminator’ Polymer — and for good reason. Like the T-1000 blown to bits, it can spontaneously and independently repair itself without any outside intervention. Read more…        

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An incredible new polymer that heals itself to 97% efficiency

Luc Besson still wants to make another Fifth Element

Fifth Element director Luc Besson doesn’t exactly want to make a sequel to his famous space opera — but another film, in the same vein and with the same ideas. Which he would direct. Read more…        

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Luc Besson still wants to make another Fifth Element

Ars Test Drives the "Netflix For Books"

Ars Technica reviewer Casey Johnston gives a mildly positive review to the Oyster book-rental app (and associated site), which intentionally tries to be for books what Netflix has become for movies: a low-price, subscription-based, data-sifting source of first resort. For $10 a month, users can read any of the books in Oyster’s catalog (in the range of 100, 000, and growing), and their reading habits are used to suggest new books of interest (with some bum steers, it seems, at present). It’s iOS-only for now, with an Android version expected soon. I’ve only grudgingly moved more and more of my reading to tablets, but now am glad I have; still, I don’t like the idea of having my books disappear if I don’t pay a continuing subscription. Read more of this story at Slashdot.

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Ars Test Drives the "Netflix For Books"

Stargate is getting rebooted into a new movie trilogy

Good news, Stargate fans! Original movie director Roland Emmerich wants to make more! The bad news? He doesn’t want to continue the massive original universe as seen in SG-1, Atlantis, Universe, Infinity , and The Legend of Curly’s Gold , but will reboot the franchise with a new movie trilogy. Read more…        

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Stargate is getting rebooted into a new movie trilogy

Transparent skull implant is the next step in body mods (and medicine)

Researchers have been kicking around the idea of a cranial porthole for years – a skylight for your skull that doctors could peer through to monitor brain cancer, or treat neurological disorders. But glass is too fragile, and traditional skull implants are opaque. Now, a team of bioengineers has developed an implant using a strong, transparent material that could make brain-windows a reality. Read more…        

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Transparent skull implant is the next step in body mods (and medicine)

China’s brand-new abandoned cities could be dystopian movie sets

China’s building boom has created a ton of abandoned cities and massive ruins — most of which are brand new, and have never had people living in them. Here are the deserted Chinese cities, mostly built in the last 10 years, which could be sets for your next dystopian movie. Read more…        

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China’s brand-new abandoned cities could be dystopian movie sets