Swedish engineer creates playable accordion from 2 Commodore 64 computers
Linus Åkesson's instrument sports custom software and a bellows made of floppy disks. Enlarge / Linus Åkesson playing his homemade "Commodordion" in a YouTube video. (credit: Linus Åkesson) In late October, a Swedish.....»»
The BASIC programming language turns 60
Easy-to-use language that drove Apple, TRS-80, IBM, and Commodore PCs debuted in 1964. Enlarge / Part of the cover illustration from "The Applesoft Tutorial" BASIC manual that shipped with the Apple II computer starting in 1981......»»
NASA balloons head north of Arctic Circle for long-duration flights
NASA is set to begin launch operations mid-May for the 2024 Sweden Long-Duration Scientific Balloon Campaign. Four stadium-sized, scientific balloons carrying science missions and technology demonstrations are scheduled to lift off from Swedish Space.....»»
We’re one step closer to replicating the human brain
Scientists have just created an iontronic memristor -- a device that might become the foundation of building computers that think like humans do......»»
Apple poaches AI experts from Google, creates secretive European AI lab
At least 36 former Googlers now work on AI for Apple. Enlarge / Apple has been tight-lipped about its AI plans but industry insiders suggest the company is focused on deploying generative AI on its mobile devices. (credit: FT mo.....»»
Discovery of mechanism plants use to change seed oil could impact industrial, food oils
Researchers have discovered a new mechanism of oil biosynthesis and found a way to genetically engineer a type of test plant to more efficiently produce different kinds of seed oil that it otherwise wouldn't make......»»
Engineered increase in mesophyll conductance improves photosynthetic efficiency in field trial
It is possible to engineer increased mesophyll conductance in plants according to new research from the University of Illinois. Mesophyll conductance plays a key role in photosynthesis and refers to the ease with which CO2 can diffuse through a leaf'.....»»
Wholesale laptop deals: How to buy cheap computers in bulk
Need to furnish a whole office or classroom with laptops? Here are some of the best outlets that have cheap computers in bulk......»»
Don Petersen, CEO who steered Ford to success in late 1980s, dies at 97
A mechanical engineer with a zeal for quality, Petersen led the company during some of its most prosperous years and was only the second person outside the founding Ford family to lead the automaker, after his predecessor, Philip Caldwell......»»
Towards novel promising perovskite-type ferroelectric materials: High-pressure synthesis of rubidium niobate
Capacitors are crucial components in electronic devices such as smartphones and computers. They are made of dielectric materials that polarize on the application of the voltage. Currently, barium titanate (BaTiO3) is the most widely used material for.....»»
Tribeca Games 2024 will feature 7 games and a Final Fantasy 7 panel
This year's Tribeca Festival will feature playable demos for seven games and a panel on the making of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth......»»
Verizon upgrades Home Device Protect to cover almost all devices, 2nd residences, more
Verizon is out with an update for its Home Device Protect plan that repairs or replaces an unlimited number of devices from computers, game consoles, smart home devices, TVs, and now robot vacuums, healthcare devices, and more. The service also now c.....»»
If Starship is real, we’re going to need big cargo movers on the Moon and Mars
"I left SpaceX knowing the width of the Starship door." Enlarge / The author tries not to crash a lunar rover. (credit: Eric Berger) As a SpaceX engineer working on the Starship program about five years ago, Jaret Matthe.....»»
Demonstration of heralded three-photon entanglement on a photonic chip
Photonic quantum computers are computational tools that leverage quantum physics and utilize particles of light (i.e., photons) as units of information processing. These computers could eventually outperform conventional quantum computers in terms of.....»»
Artificial intelligence helps scientists engineer plants to fight climate change
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has declared that removing carbon from the atmosphere is now essential to fighting climate change and limiting global temperature rise. To support these efforts, Salk Institute scientists are harne.....»»
Research combines DNA origami and photolithography to move one step closer to molecular computers
Molecular computer components could represent a new IT revolution and help us create cheaper, faster, smaller, and more powerful computers. Yet researchers struggle to find ways to assemble them more reliably and efficiently......»»
Linux can finally run your car’s safety systems and driver-assistance features
Increasingly, our cars will be controlled by a small number of powerful computers. Enlarge (credit: Getty Images) There's a new Linux distro on the scene today, and it's a bit specialized. Its development was led by the.....»»
New algorithm solves century-old problem for coral reef scientists
An algorithm developed by a Florida Tech graduate student creates a new ecological survey method that allows scientists to unlock important historical data from a vast trove of coral-reef photographs dating back more than a century......»»
Why a GameCube/Wii emulator may not be possible on the iOS App Store
DolphiniOS dev says barring just-in-time compilation prevents playable performance. Enlarge / Don't expect to see this on the iOS App Store any time soon. (credit: OatmealDome) Last week's release of the Delta emulation.....»»
Merging nuclear physics experiments and astronomical observations to advance equation-of-state research
For most stars, neutron stars and black holes are their final resting places. When a supergiant star runs out of fuel, it expands and then rapidly collapses on itself. This act creates a neutron star—an object denser than our sun crammed into a spa.....»»
The experimental demonstration of a verifiable blind quantum computing protocol
Quantum computers, systems that process and store information leveraging quantum mechanical phenomena, could eventually outperform classical computers on numerous tasks. Among other things, these computers could allow researchers to tackle complex op.....»»