Siri helped save a teenager after his vehicle crashed into icy river
Apple's digital assistant Siri helped save 18-year old Gael Salcedo, who found himself in a freezing river after losing control of his Jeep. The teenager could not locate his phone after the accident so he asked Siri to call 911, sending firefighters to the scene to carry out the rescue.
These robots taser weeds to death so farmers don’t need chemical herbicides
A new agricultural robotics startup called the Small Robot Company has come up with a trio of robots that hunt weeds down, kill them with mini blasts of lightning, and then plant crops in their place. Here's what the company has developed -- and what its future plans are.
The visually impaired can now watch Comcast TV channels on VR goggles
For years, if you were legally blind and wanted to watch TV, your choices were slim. Most people resorted to described video soundtracks as a way to "hear" what was going on. Comcast has joined up with NuEyes to offer a second option: Watching live and on-demand TV on VR goggles for those with visual impairments.
McDonald’s is sending Ford its garbage in the name of sustainability
Ford isn't breaking into the waste disposal business; its researchers found an innovative way to replace plastic with a natural byproduct of the coffee-roasting process. McDonald's will start sending Ford a significant amount of coffee waste, which will be used to make headlight housings for the Ranger.
The cardboard, all-mechanical Jollylook camera is a great gift for photographers
After a successful crowdfunding campaign two years ago, the Jollylook instant camera is now shipping. As a toy camera or a novelty, it makes a great gift for the photographer on your list. It shoots widely available Instax Mini film, produces a print in a just a couple of minutes, and costs just $69.
Light Phone 2 review: Not the cure for smartphone addiction
Is your smartphone use out of control? Looking for a break? The Light Phone 2 is a basic phone that promises exactly that. Its 4G connectivity means you can place calls and send texts, and you can also set an alarm. More tools like ridesharing apps are on the way, but all of this comes at a high price.
Dr. Cecilia Bitz tracks sea ice as it disappears at unprecedented levels
Dr. Cecilia Bitz is an atmospheric scientist who studies sea ice. She's watched it melt and retreat in the Arctic Ocean and knows the trend is harmful for the planet. Melting ice is part of a climate change feedback loop that's causing big problems for polar bears, Native Alaskans, and others.
Gamers in the U.S. create as much carbon dioxide as 5 million cars, study says
A new study puts the spotlight on gaming's power consumption, and it's not good news. It finds that gaming energy use in the United States puts out carbon dioxide equal to 5 million cars, more than all freezers nationwide.
This monstrous, 826-ton wave buoy turns rough seas into renewable energy
Ocean Energy has spent the better part of the past decade perfecting a wave power generator that’s not only tough enough to survive the seas, but also capable of capturing huge amounts of energy from them. The result? A hulking, 826-ton marvel of modern engineering known as the OE Buoy.
Schwinn Monroe 250 review: Making me a fan
Schwinn has been a household name for as long as anyone can remember, but it's not one often associated with electric bikes. The Monroe 250 looks to change that, providing ample range and excellent rideability while making compromises that may not matter to the everyday commuter.
Specialized Turbo Como 4.0 Review: Comfortably quick
Specialized's Turbo Como 4.0 is a quick and comfortable ride that's perfect for your commute. It's more agile, and much faster, than you'd expect a commuter bike to be. It lacks the tech wizardry you might want from an ebike, but Specialized's 45 years of experience building bikes is obvious here.
IBM contest winners answer call by developing lifesaving tech for firefighters
Could smart sensor technology help make firefighters’ jobs a bit less dangerous? That’s the hope of Prometeo, a Spanish team that was announced as the winners of IBM’s Call for Code 2019 competition. Here's what the team has developed -- and how it promises to help.
The Mara X and Mara Z smartphones are built almost entirely in Rwanda
Rwanda's Mara Group, the first smartphone manufacturer in Africa, has built a new smartphone assembly plant in which it almost entirely builds two new smartphones: The Mara X and Mara Z phones. Both devices are relatively inexpensive, and offer decently powerful performance for the price point.
How facial recognition is helping astronomers reveal the secrets of dark matter
Could the same A.I. technology that is used to unlock people’s smartphones also help unlock the potential secrets of the universe? It sounds crazy, but that’s exactly what researchers from ETH Zurich in Switzerland are working to achieve. Here's what they have developed.
Earth has a food waste problem. Can giant, solar-powered refrigerators help?
There’s a problem with food waste in developing countries that can’t be fixed by buying a fridge. Farmer Nnaemeka C. Ikegwuonu created ColdHubs, solar-powered rooms that extend the shelf life of produce. With the potential to reduce food waste worldwide, places in Africa are already reaping the benefits.
Thanks to iris scanning, refugees can get the food they need at a glance
For humanitarian organizations trying to deliver aid to refugees, the lack of identification can be a quagmire. The United Nations' World Food Programme has deployed a technological solution, using iris scanning and Blockchain to help refugees get food quickly and easily.
Waiting in the wings: How drones are revolutionizing the battle against hunger
How do you use drones to save lives following a disaster? The World Food Programme, the food-assistance branch of the United Nations, is doing its bit to use drone technology to help humanity. Here are some of the ways that it is using unmanned aerial vehicles right now.
Fighting world hunger with a trivia game? It’s not as crazy as it sounds
Freerice is a quiz game from the United Nations' World Food Programme. It lets players donate the equivalent of 10 grains of rice for every correct answer. The recently revamped version of the game featurre a variety of categories, including languages, math, literature, and more.
This virtual grocery store puts real food on the table for refugees
The World Food Programme has been experimenting to find new ways that technology can be used to help refugees and other vulnerable families find the best, most affordable food. The Dalili app has been rolled out successfully in Lebanon, and it's enabling new interactions between stores and customers.
No soil? No problem. H2Grow can cultivate crops practically anywhere
Through tailor-made hydroponic systems, H2Grow aims to solve hunger in arid regions and help vulnerable communities become more self-reliant by securing food resources. H2Grow, a project from the United Nations World Food Programme, is helping crops flourish in unexpected places.
Ubco 2×2 review: Mountain goat
The Ubco 2x2 is a unique electric moped that combines high quality parts, off-road suspension, and lightweight design. The result is an approach, easy-to-ride electric steed that can handle both pavement and off-road terrain with ease. But is it worth its high MSRP?
Team Rubicon revolutionizes disaster response. Microsoft wants to help
Coordinating a network of more than 100,000 volunteers is no easy feat -- Team Rubicon would know. Thankfully, as the disaster response non-profit grows and the toll of Hurricane Dorian continues to grow, Microsoft has a custom solution to make it all manageable.
LifePod believes smart home tech can help facilitate the challenges of eldercare
Boston-based startup LifePod is digging deep into the eldercare market, partnering up with the American Heart Association for a heart failure study to help seniors take better care for themselves and monitor their own health via smart home technology.
The Plyy is a fully customizable accessible gaming controller for everyone
There are many people who want to play console games but can't due to problems using traditional controllers. German brand Plyon wants to change that, creating a prototype of a fully customizable gaming controller. Digital Trends spoke with head of design Alexander Römmelt about the project.
The Fairphone 3 places ethics and the planet over specs and greed
The new Fairphone 3 is a smartphone sold not on the specification, but on the sustainable materials inside, ethical production methods and supply chain, and how it can be recycled and reused when you’re finished with it. The mid-range phone is designed to last longer than others too.
Scientists develop implant to restore sight by stimulating the optic nerve
Blindness is difficult to treat, in part because it can be caused by so many different issues in the eye, the brain, or the optic nerve which connects the two. Now, scientists have developed a technology to directly stimulate the optic nerve, which could be used to restore people's sight in the future.
2020 Chevrolet Bolt EV rated at 259 miles of range, outpacing most rivals
The 2020 Chevrolet Bolt EV will have the longest range of any mass-market electric car, according to a new report. Range is expected to increase from 238 miles to 259 miles per charge. Chevrolet hasn't officially commented on the range increase, which was listed on an EPA website.
The three largest public EV charging networks are now working together
Electrify America has signed an interoperability agreement with EVgo. This follows agreements between both major electric-car charging networks and ChargePoint. That means drivers can charge at stations on all three networks with one account, making the charging process much easier.
The Amazon rainforest is burning, but there’s a way you can help from your desk
In response to the fires in the Amazon, search engine Ecosia is planting even more -- an additional one million trees in the Brazilian rainforest to help make up for the biodiversity lost in the flames. The engine plants a new tree for every 50 searches.
Where do AirPods go when they die? The big problem with tiny earbuds
True wireless headphones are tiny and convenient, but they’re also among the most ephemeral tech products you can buy. With relatively short lifespans and designs that make them exceedingly difficult for disposal or repair, industry leaders like Apple are creating a potential e-waste problem with ever pair they sell.
The Biotica800 air purifier uses probiotics to clean the air in your home
The BetterAir Biotica800 air purifier disperses probiotics through the air to neutralize harmful bacteria and trap allergens. It aims to be a completely natural solution to home and office air purification. The unique approach of the Biotica800 targets the causes of indoor air pollution at the source.
Biologists create an ‘eyeball on a chip’ that actually blinks
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Engineering and Applied Science have developed a human eye replica that’s actually capable of tearing up and blinking. Here's why they've created it -- and, no, it isn't because they're building a Terminator-style robot.
Hyundai Sonata Hybrid gets a solar roof to help recharge its battery pack
The latest Hyundai Sonata Hybrid will get a solar roof that helps recharge its battery pack. While the new Sonata Hybrid will be sold in the United States, Hyundai hasn't yet discussed plans to offer the solar roof here. Hyundai isn't the first automaker to offer solar charging.