MotoGP bans aerodynamic wings amidst controversy

[MOTORCYCLES] [MotoGP bans aerodynamic wings amidst controversy] The Grand Prix Commission delivered its final verdict on the use of aerodynamic wings, banning them from all racing classes from 2017 onwards. Citing safety concerns, the ruling followed the manufacturers’ failure to reach a unanimous agreement, and sparked complaints from Ducati.[Read more] [SPACE] [Hybrid balloon/glider designed to wing its way through Titan's atmosphere] ​With oceans of methane and an atmosphere that could host non-water-based lifeforms, it’s no surprise that scientists want to learn more about Saturn’s moon Titan. To that end, a new project by GAC and NGAS is developing a new exploration vehicle to soar through the skies of that mysterious moon.[Read more] [AROUND THE HOME] [AI deep learning system helps keep lawn cat poop-free] Motivated by the dual desires to learn about neural net software and keep his lawn cat poop-free, software engineer Robert Bond rigged up a system that detects when cats – and only cats – stroll into his yard, and responds by turning on the sprinklers.[Read more] [AIRCRAFT] [Embraer 170 becomes first non-Boeing ecoDemonstrator flying testbed] Boeing showed off the latest aircraft in its ecoDemonstrator program today, rolling out a specially modified version of an Embraer E170 designed to study ways to make aircraft aircraft greener and more efficient. [Read more] [MARINE] [Yamaha's autonomous boat makes surveying a breeze] Silt buildup can damage a dam's ability to effectively collect water, which means they need to be scanned and dredged periodically. Yamaha has developed an autonomous boat designed to make the mundane task of dam and lake bed sediment surveying a little bit easier.[Read more] [SPACE] [NASA works to wake up Curiosity as mission gets two-year extension] ​​NASA's Curiosity Mars rover has been cleared for another two-year extended mission to study the Red Planet – if it can wake up. Since July 2, the unmanned explorer has been in safe mode and engineers are trying to find out why. [Read more] [SCIENCE] [Robotic ray made with rat cells can be steered by light] Researchers from a variety of universities have just announced that they've taken a different approach to make a soft robot. To create their robotic ray, they engineered some pretty special heart cells and attached them to a golden skeleton. [Read more] [HEALTH & WELLBEING] [Scientists identify neurons that drive drinking habits] Scientists from Texas A&M identify the neurons in mice that drive them to drink more and curb their drinking habits. [Read more] [SPACE] [Giant exoplanet with three suns surprises with its stable orbit] ​​Astronomers have detected the first-ever exoplanet holding a wide stable orbit in a chaotic triple star system.[Read more] [AUTOMOTIVE] [Skoda's most powerful car yet is Superb] For a long time, Skoda was a byword for poor performance, build and looks. That may not be the case any more, with its new Superb 2.0 TSI said to be faster than many of the supercars that were most celebrated while its own star was at its lowest.[Read more] [GAMES] [Nvidia's GTX 1060 is VR-ready and affordable] ​Nvidia has announced its latest mainstream graphics card in the form of the GeForce GTX 1060. The new GPU offers a big performance jump over its predecessor, and is certified VR Ready, making it more affordable than ever to jump into the enticing world of virtual reality.[Read more] [TINY HOUSES] [Tiny house packs a home office and walk-in closet] You'd think that tiny house builders would struggle to think up new ideas on how to make each project different - but if that's the case, we're not seeing any signs of it yet. Wind River Tiny Homes' Triton features a unique floorplan that includes a walk-in closet and a home office.[Read more] [DIGITAL CAMERAS] [Fujifilm’s X-T2 will lure more DSLR shooters to mirrorless] Fujifilm has announced the X-T2, its latest high-end mirrorless camera, and the first X-Series device to boast 4K video recording. The retro-styled X-T2 also features a 24-megapixel sensor and improved autofocus options.[Read more] [AUTOMOTIVE] [Hanergy teases a solar-powered electric vehicle future] The latest solar-powered EV concept comes from China's Hanergy Holding Group. Actually, that should read the "latest four solar-powered EVs." Hanergy unveiled a quartet of thin-film solar cell-equipped vehicles over the weekend. [Read more] [MOBILE TECHNOLOGY] [Samsung unveils blazingly fast UFS cards] Samsung is the first to offer a taste of the next-gen memory cards.​Its new Universal Flash Storage cards are the same size as microSDs, but can match the blazingly-fast data transfer speeds of solid state drives.​​Samsung's new cards are the first to hit the market.[Read more] [MARINE] [WallyKokoNut is four million euros worth of floating extravagance] The KokoNut is a serious luxury yacht, for serious buyers with a serious amount of cash at their disposal. With a luxurious sunbed, glass-walled dining room and space for 10, the KokoNut takes Wally's base model and makes it fit for a seafaring millionaire.[Read more] [VR] [SoundStage lets you rock out without bugging the neighbors] Virtual reality drawing and sculpting programs like Tilt Brush and Medium let you tap into your creative side. In that vein comes the music-making suite SoundStage, where you can set up a virtual music studio and jam without needing any actual equipment – beyond a HTC Vive.[Read more] [AROUND THE HOME] [Ilumi heads outdoors with weatherproof smart LED strip] There are plenty of indoor wireless-connected LED lighting options, but the pickings are slimmer for those looking to brighten up patios or backyards. Ilumi is looking to change that with its LED Smartstrip, which it claims is the first outdoor-rated strip with digitally addressable LEDs.[Read more] [MATERIALS] [Future buildings may be tough as coconuts] If you've ever tried cracking open a coconut, then you're no doubt aware of how strong they are. Well, scientists recently analyzed coconut shells, to see what makes them so tough. Their findings could lead the way to building materials that are better able to withstand earthquakes.[Read more] [CHILDREN] [Schoolkids' bullet-shaped mini racer rockets to 48 mph] A team of schoolkids from the UK has built a rocket-powered mini racing car capable of reaching speeds of over 48 mph. Slim Jim won the inaugural BBC micro:bit Model Rocket Car Competition, for which participants had to use foam, solid fuel rockets and BBC micro:bit computers to build their cars.[Read more] [SPECIAL PROMOTION FOR GIZMAG READERS] [Intro to Unity 3D Game Development Bundle] Ever wanted to create mobile games? Well, Unity 3D has made it easier than ever, and with this course bundle you'll learn how to optimize this powerful game engine to create amazing, interactive games for iOS and Android.[Read more] You are receiving this email because you signed up for our daily newsletter at www.gizmag.com. [Update profile] | [Unsubscribe] Copyright Gizmag © 2016