The Dubai Ziggurat: 1 million living souls in a pyramid, entirely self-contained

Pyramids and ziggurats represent an oddly survivable form of architecture. Built by civilizations such as the Egyptians, Mayans and Babylonians, several of these testaments to ancient ingenuity are still standing after thousands of years. Timelinks, a design firm based in Dubai, has unveiled plans to make a pyramid of its own — one that could Read more about The Dubai Ziggurat: 1 million living souls in a pyramid, entirely self-contained[…]

Kuwait building world’s tallest tower, huge rail network

There are some big plans underway in Subiya, Kuwait in Madinat al-Hareer, the City of Silk. Not only are they planning to erect the world’s tallest tower, stealing the crown from Dubai, but they’re also planning on creating a hugely ambitious rail network that would link the Middle East with China. The railway will connect Read more about Kuwait building world’s tallest tower, huge rail network[…]

Nike’s armor-plated war truck comes in peace (and with its own skate ramp)

Known as the Nike 6.0 Ill Mobile, the monstrous fun wagon you see pictured above came from ad/design firm Hub Strategy, which the shoe company tasked with making something that would make people stop and say, “Holy crap!” The first thing Hub Strategy did? Repurpose an amphibious armor-plated war-truck from 1959 into a mobile extreme Read more about Nike’s armor-plated war truck comes in peace (and with its own skate ramp)[…]

Dedicated gaming table crowns you King of the geeks

Are you the type of gamer who needs to get every latest input device and display for your killer rig? If gaming peripherals are just piling up on the floor of your bachelor pad, perhaps this gaming table from Digital Edge can get things under control. I just wouldn’t put it anywhere a potential girlfriend Read more about Dedicated gaming table crowns you King of the geeks[…]

Stunning Ferrari Monza concept is ready for takeoff

While most crazy fast concept cars use aerodynamics to keep the wheels firmly planted on the ground, designer Iman Maghsoudi has taken the opposite tack with his wild Ferrari Monza concept. Once you reach a predetermined speed, an onboard computer changes the car’s aerodynamic profile, using winglets called canards ahead of the front wheels to Read more about Stunning Ferrari Monza concept is ready for takeoff[…]

1% of potential geothermal energy could deliver power for 26,000 years

geothermal-power-process.jpgIn case you weren’t aware, below the surface of the earth there’s a sea of insanely hot material that’s constantly swirling around. When tapped, that heat source can be used as geothermal power. With so much down there, why aren’t we using it more? That’s a question asked in Australia, where a study determined that Read more about 1% of potential geothermal energy could deliver power for 26,000 years[…]

Hinterland electric vehicle looks like a bulbous bullet train

Of all the electric car designs we’ve seen, this one is the most puzzling yet. The Hinterland Project starts with the shape of an airplane fuselage and turns it into a sustainable vehicle. However, it looks more like an electric tin can with wheels to us. The idea is its aerodynamic shape and lightweight aluminum Read more about Hinterland electric vehicle looks like a bulbous bullet train[…]

Intel wireless power is pure magic, most efficient yet

The final frontier of wireless tech is upon us, with Intel showing off its electricity flying through the air with better efficiency than ever. While it’s not the first wireless power transmitting device we’ve seen, this one uses resonance rather than induction, and boasts 75% efficiency. Hey, that means if you send 100 watts across Read more about Intel wireless power is pure magic, most efficient yet[…]

Australian student fashions solar cells out of nail polish as only MacGyver could

What do you get when you bring together a pizza oven, some nail polish and inkjet printers? Solar cells. You and I may be scratching our heads, but the woman behind the process known as iJet, Nicole Kuepper, won two Australian Museum Eureka Prizes — Australia’s top science awards. The real beauty of Ms. Kuepper’s Read more about Australian student fashions solar cells out of nail polish as only MacGyver could[…]

Satellite Damage Assessment For Tskhinvali, South Ossetia, Georgia (as of 22 Aug 2008

This map presents a satellite-based damage assessment for the city of Tskhinvali, South Ossetia, Georgia following the armed conflict between Georgian and Russian military forces in August 2008. Damaged buildings have been identified with WorldView-1 and Formosat-2 satellite imagery acquired on 19 August 2008 at a spatial resolution of 50cm and 2m respectively. An estimated Read more about Satellite Damage Assessment For Tskhinvali, South Ossetia, Georgia (as of 22 Aug 2008[…]

Star Wars gets unofficial sequel: Lockheed’s orbital missile barrage system

Lockheed’s Multiple Kill Vehicle-L space superiority platform promises to be the final word in the event of an intercontinental ballistic missile attack. Part of the U.S. Ballistic Missile Defense System, the MKV-L is designed to deal with the multitudinous targets an ICBM launch would provide, rather than take out a single warhead. ICBMs can be Read more about Star Wars gets unofficial sequel: Lockheed’s orbital missile barrage system[…]

A Heart Device Is Found Vulnerable to Hacker Attacks

To the long list of objects vulnerable to attack by computer hackers, add the human heart. The threat seems largely theoretical. But a team of computer security researchers plans to report Wednesday that it had been able to gain wireless access to a combination heart defibrillator and pacemaker. They were able to reprogram it to Read more about A Heart Device Is Found Vulnerable to Hacker Attacks[…]

Saudi King Abdullah drops quiet bombshell; U.S. media sleep through it

On April 13, Reuters reported the following from Riyadh: Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah said he had ordered some new oil discoveries left untapped to preserve oil wealth in the world’s top exporter for future generations… “When there were some new finds, I told them, ‘no, leave it in the ground, with grace from god, our Read more about Saudi King Abdullah drops quiet bombshell; U.S. media sleep through it[…]

From the Runway to the Road: Terrafugia Redefines the Flying Car—Make that Drivable Airplane

Don’t call it a flying car. It’s a “roadable aircraft.” It’s named the Transition, and the first full-scale model is taking shape inside a former machine shop on an industrial back alley in Woburn, MA. Between now and late July, the 10 employees of angel-funded startup Terrafugia will be spending “a lot of long days, Read more about From the Runway to the Road: Terrafugia Redefines the Flying Car—Make that Drivable Airplane[…]

Single-column bridge is not for the faint of heart

How brave are you? Because from the looks of it, the Sky Bridge in Langkawi, Malaysia will require some guts to gross. That’s because this majestic cable-stayed bridge is supported by only one support column as it wraps its way around a mountain a whopping 2,250 feet above sea level. Even scarier? The single support Read more about Single-column bridge is not for the faint of heart[…]

Data recovered from Seagate drive in Columbia shuttle disaster

It was one of the most iconic and heart-stopping movie images of 2003: the Columbia Space Shuttle ignited, burning and crashing to earth in fragments. Now, amazingly, data from a hard drive recovered from the fragments has been used to complete a physics experiment – CXV-2 – that took place on the doomed Shuttle mission. Read more about Data recovered from Seagate drive in Columbia shuttle disaster[…]

Squirting Videos Make Federal Prosecutor Mad as a Wet Hen

Deep in the bowels of Washington, a federal US Attorney is watching porn videos. Lots of porn videos. They are looking for crime, they’re looking for a cause, a way to bring back integrity to the US Attorney’s Office. Now they’ve found one: filing an obscenity case against porn legend John Stagliano, and his company Read more about Squirting Videos Make Federal Prosecutor Mad as a Wet Hen[…]