Watch inside Soyuz as it blasts astronauts (and toys) into space
It sure looks cramped inside the Soyuz capsule. A new video reveals the tight conditions three astronauts had to endure during a recent two-day trip to the space station. Besides holding the astronauts, the capsule also contains cargo for the station, and includes furry toys, too. But they're there for a good reason.
Japan aims to power Tokyo Olympics with 100 percent renewable energy
Japan is aiming to make the Tokyo Olympics the greenest ever, with plans to power the sporting extravaganza with 100 percent renewable energy. Part of the strategy includes ramping up wind and solar projects before 2020, while other efforts include making medals from metals taken from discarded mobile phones.
‘China’s Hawaii’ plans to ease internet restrictions for foreign tourists
An island known as "China's Hawaii" could have its internet restrictions lifted as part of plans to improve the vacation experience for foreign visitors. While China blocks access to online services such as Facebook and YouTube, the island of Hainan plans to create special zones offering open access.
Popular Instagrammer caught using photos from image libraries
Popular Instagrammer Daryl Aiden Yow impressed many of his followers with fancy shots from a range of dazzling locations. His work even caught the attention of brands such as Sony and Uniqlo, which worked with him on marketing projects. But it's now been revealed that some of his images were taken from stock sites.
What the hell? How Jonathan Higbee shoots these impossible street photos
Photographer Jonathan Higbee has an incredible knack for finding quirky moments on the street. But it's not just his sharp eye and patience that bring results. When a scene unfolds before him, he also needs lightning quick reactions to catch it. We caught up with New York-based Higbee to ask him about his work.
A country is shutting off its entire internet to stop exam cheats
Determined to prevent students cheating in exams, the Algerian government has ordered the internet to be shut off for several hours around the time the tests are taken. Officials have also installed metal detectors at exam centers to prevent the use of mobile phones and other connected devices.
SpaceX wins confidence-boosting Falcon Heavy contract with U.S. Air Force
SpaceX has won its first major national security contract for the Falcon Heavy, giving a big vote of confidence to its newest and most powerful rocket to date. SpaceX will launch the U.S. Air Force's Space Command-52 satellite in 2020 in a deal worth $130 million.
YouTube boosts creators with channel subs, merchandise stores, and Premieres
YouTube is expanding existing features and introducing a new one in a bid to help creators earn more money through their work. Channel subscriptions for $5 a month, merchandise stores with customized goods, and "Premieres" that enable creators to market their latest videos are all part of the effort.
Germany plans to put Airbus and Audi’s cool flying taxi concept into the sky
Airbus and Audi have been working on a flying taxi concept for a while, and now there are plans to build a working model and put it in the skies. The German government this week greenlit tests for a vehicle that's aimed at offering a "flexible, shared, and adaptable new way of moving within cities."
Car-sharing service Car2go tootles into Chicago with an advantage over rivals
Car-sharing service Car2go is about to launch in its seventh U.S. city. From July, folks in Chicago will be able to rent cars from 29 cents a minute, whether for short trips or a ride further afield. There are rival car-sharing services in the Windy City, but Car2go claims to have one distinct advantage over them.
Ohio wants to use camera drones to monitor highway traffic
Drones for traffic management? It may be coming to Ohio with the launch of a multi-million-dollar project to research how the tech could help monitor road conditions. But there's a lot of work to do, as it would involve convincing regulators that it's OK to fly the machines beyond the line of sight.
Thieves nab $100K of Apple gear in ‘Mission: Impossible-style’ raid
Thieves have again targeted Apple gear, this time stealing $100,000 worth of iPhones, iPads, and Mac computers from a Best Buy store in Dunwoody, Georgia. But the method of entry that the gang used has prompted local cops to compare the raid to an iconic scene from "Mission: Impossible."
Quickstarter inspires creators to dream up small but fun Kickstarter projects
If you're itching to launch a Kickstarter project but your ideas are on the ambitious side, then how about gaining some experience with a small, manageable project? The crowdfunding site has launched Quickstarter to inspire fun, low-budget ideas that can be completed in a short time frame.
Apple’s OS X Lion and new MacBook Airs likely coming Wednesday
If reports are to be believed, Apple's new Lion operating system and refreshed MacBook Airs will be out on Wednesday this week.
An android is entertaining passengers at a Scottish airport
Glasgow airport has become the first in the U.K. – and one of a growing number around the world – to test out robots for customer service. The android's duties include keeping travelers entertained with a variety of festive songs and stories.
Some folks still think it’s a good idea to fly drones over wildfires
Hobby drones are a lot of fun, few people will dispute that. So it's disappointing to learn that some folks just can't help making life difficult for the authorities, disrupting airborne efforts to tackle wildfires. It's happening more frequently, with incidents in Colorado reported in recent days.
Powering Apple: Tech giant to build solar farm for new data center in Reno, Nevada
Aiming to one day power all of its facilities with renewable energy, Apple this week announced plans to build a 137-acre solar farm next to its new data center located in Reno, Nevada.
Apple plans to build solar farm beside North Carolina data center
It looks as if the land cleared beside Apple's $1 billion data center in North Carolina will be used to build a solar farm to help power the new facility.
Fall release of iPad 3 canceled due to Retina display issues
Plans to release the iPad 3 in the fall appear to have been shelved as Apple deals with issues relating to its Retina display technology. The launch of a high-resolution iPad 3 in 2012 is now thought likely.
Like your personal space? This robotic spider dress should help
Here's a dress ideal for those who'd like a little more space when travelling on a packed subway train or bus.
MoboTap’s Dolphin browser comes to the iPhone
It's already popular with Android smartphone owners, and from today users of Apple's mobile devices can also try out MoboTap's Dolphin browser.
Report: Microsoft is building checkout-less store tech to take on Amazon
Microsoft is reportedly developing technology for checkout-less stores similar to Amazon Go, which lets you simply "grab and go." The computer giant is believed to be talking to Walmart ahead of a possible partnership, though it could also sell the technology to multiple retailers around the world.
Apple Park’s office setup aims to keep workers on their toes
If you're reading this at a desk and you feel a twinge in your back, then do you have a standing desk you can use instead? Apple boss Tim Cook said this week that all of the company's workers at its new Apple Park campus have access to a standing desk, which he's adamant is a healthier way to work.
Apple and Volkswagen are reportedly partnering to build self-driving vans
Apple has reportedly inked a deal with Volkswagen for the tech firm's self-driving shuttle service. Ferrying Apple employees between the company's various campuses and offices in Cupertino, California, the driverless shuttle will reportedly use modified versions of Volkswagen's T6 Transporter van.
Uber eyes millions of new riders with the launch of Uber Lite
Following in the footsteps of many other popular online services, Uber has just launched a lightweight version of its app. Targeted at emerging markets such as India, Uber Lite uses just 5MB of storage to offer a service that still manages to retain some of the core features of its regular app.
SleepScore app aims to take your slumber to new depths
Having trouble achieving a decent night's sleep? SleepScore is a new free app that assesses your sleep quality via sound waves from your smartphone. Based on a score linked to your sleeping patterns, it then offers a range of "sleep goals" together with advice on how you can achieve them.