Skip to main content

Latest by Rick Stella

loon copter swims flies and floats looncopter4

This amphibious loon copter is designed to fly, float, and swim under water

Oakland University's Embedded Systems Research Laboratory recently unveiled a multi-rotor drone capable of submerging itself underwater and still operating.
england to open stargazer cabin stargazer2

Day or night, this glowing cabin lets visitors see a gorgeous glowing map of the stars

Designed by the London-based firm George King Architects, the Stargazer's Cabin is an illuminated hut which features a glowing display of constellations.
weekend workshop diy turntable clock 040216

Weekend Workshop: How to build an uber hip DIY turntable wall clock

Have an old turntable gathering dust in the attic? Why not put it to good use by fashioning it into a beautifully functioning wall clock.
colin furze thermite cannon thermite1

British mad scientist Colin Furze just built a fully operational thermite cannon

Real-life mad scientist Colin Furze is back yet again, this time with an innovative DIY cannon built specially for launching combustible thermite canisters.
freebird flight launches one on kickstarter freebird1

See what your drone sees in VR with the FreeBird One weatherproof drone

FreeBird Flight's innovative FreeBird One drone gives pilots a chance to see what their drone sees by utilizing stunning, birds-eye-view VR functionality.
nasa ready to use green space fuel for rocket launches gpim1

NASA has developed a greener and less toxic rocket fuel, and plans to show it off this week

After working on a high-performance green rocket propellant for the last four years, NASA announced it will finally unveil its new fuel at the end of March.
ancient non stick fry pan found near naples nonstickpan1

Archaeologists confirm the use of non-stick cookware during the Roman Empire

An archaeological find in Italy provided evidence that non-stick frying pans were used in kitchens all over the Roman Empire some 2,000 years ago.
autodesk kidmob prosthetic challenge autodesk3

These kids 3D printed their own unique prosthetics, including a sparkle cannon

During an event in San Francisco this last January, Autodesk and KIDmob teamed up to let kids with upper-limb differences 3D-print unique prosthetics.
weekend workshop diy energy detector 032616

Weekend Workshop: Detect radio waves (and nuclear detonations) with this DIY coherer

By using tech made popular in the early 1900s, anyone with a 3V battery, metal shavings, and electrical wiring can easily build a coherer energy detector.
belgiums house pibo pibo12

House in the hill: Belgium’s House Pibo is a minimalist’s dream home

Constructed in the district of Maldegem, Belgium, OYO Architecture's House Pibo exudes privacy and minimalism without sacrificing comfort or living space.
project escher multi headed 3d printer escher1

Autodesk’s new 3D printer uses 5 print heads simultaneously to make gigantic objects

Developed by a team of researchers at the 3D design firm Autodesk, Project Escher aims to revolutionize the software used in modern day 3D printers.
robotic sub explores underwater for six months voyager1

Boeing’s new submarine drone can traverse 7,500 miles in a single charge

Dubbed the Echo Voyager, Boeing's latest robotic submarine boasts the ability to navigate Earth's oceans autonomously for up to six months at a time.
blossom 8 launches package 01

The Blossom 8 watering system adds features at half its predecessor's price

After releasing its first smart sprinkler system last year, Blossom announced it now offers an upgraded and cheaper watering system called the Blossom 8.
iPhone Passcode

Never mind, we got it! FBI claims it found a way into iPhone, cancels Apple hearing

After claiming to have found an "outside party" capable of cracking the San Bernadino shooter's iPhone, the FBI cancelled its March 22 hearing with Apple.
weekend workshop diy bluetooth boombox

Weekend Workshop: Wrap modern tech in retro style with a DIY Bluetooth Boombox

Bose makes a great Bluetooth speaker, no doubt, but why not try building one yourself? Here's how to build a Bluetooth boombox in a matter of hours.
johns hopkins underwater drone cracuns1

Sneaky new drone can hide under water for months, then float to the surface to take off

Even after being submerged underwater for two months, Johns Hopkins' CRACUNS drone has the ability to rise to the surface and conduct aerial missions.
boston dynamics robot roundup bostondynamics4

Google to sell innovative robotics company Boston Dynamics

Despite publishing several viral videos of its robotics progress to YouTube, innovative tech company Boston Dynamics is currently being shopped by Google.
scientists using hops to develop new antibiotics 32930388 ml

In the not so distant future, your antibiotics and beer might both contain hops

Two University of Idaho scientists have nearly developed a method to successfully synthesize hops' healthful compounds to create new antibiotics.
researchers say faa overestimating small drone risk above city

New research suggests the FAA exaggerates the threat that drones pose to planes

According to a study by two George Mason University researchers, the frequency of drone-related near-misses with airplanes is wildly misreported.
f 16s now deploy drones f16 fighter jet

Now an F-16 can launch a swarm of 3D-printed carbon fiber drones

According to a secretive wing of the Pentagon, U.S. Air Force F-16s may soon have the ability to launch swarms of 3D-printed drones while in flight.
scientist says hemp fibers are better than graphene 8812369 ml

Hemp waste fibers form basis of supercapacitor more conductive than graphene

Dr. David Mitlin of New York's Clarkson University has turned ordinary hemp waste into a composite that proves to be a cheaper supercapacitor than graphene.
weekend workshop raspberry pi 2 retro console 031216

Weekend Workshop: How to build a Retro gaming console from a Raspberry Pi 2

Even owners of a PlayStation 4 and Xbox One enjoy playing a retro game every once in a while, and here's how to fashion one out of a Raspberry Pi 2.
hyperloop transportation technologies to build track in slovakia htt1

Proposed Slovakian Hyperloop could go from Bratislava to Budapest in 10 minutes

One of the companies looking to make Elon Musk's Hyperloop system a reality just inked an agreement with Slovakia to bring the tech to Europe.
south korea to clone extinct siberian cave lions lion 3

A South Korean scientist wants to clone an extinct 12,000-year-old cave lion

South Korean cloning expert Dr. Hwang Woo-Suk announced he will attempt to clone a 12,000-year-old extinct cave lion after retrieving samples of the animal.
russian billionaire proposes snake like skyscraper snaketower2

A Russian billionaire wants to build a cobra-like skyscraper in Japan

Architect Vasiliy Klyukin took to his blog this week to reveal the ambitious details of constructing a cobra-like skyscraper in China or Japan.
weekend workshop portal gun diy

Weekend Workshop: This DIY Portal gun is a Valve fan’s fantasy come true

Known for its innovative puzzles and eery storyline, Valve's Portal series introduced gamers to the iconic Portal gun. Here's how to make your own replica.
chemists create compound close to kryptonite

Polish chemists tried to make kryptonite and failed, but then made a huge discovery

Though chemists didn't actually see a bond in person, the team ran algorithms that allowed them to theorize the possibility of bonding krypton and oxygen.
connecticut to make arming drones a felony screen shot 2016 03 at 4 47 01 pm

Connecticut may soon make it illegal to strap firearms onto drones

The Connecticut legislature will soon rule on two new laws that would make it a felony if anyone strapped a handgun or flamethrower to a quadcopter.
tech projects

Kickstarter could make this antimatter propulsion system a reality

After years spent persuading scientists, Gerald Jackson and Steven Howe say they'll now turn to Kickstarter to fund their antimatter propulsion system.
dji phantom 4

DJI’s next Phantom dodges obstacles, follows automatically, cruises at 45 mph

DJI, the world's leading manufacturer of consumer drones, announced the next generation of its insanely popular Phantom line of drones, the Phantom 4.
new south wales testing little ripper shark finding drones littleripper2

This helicopter drone helps Australia monitor shark activity and reduce attacks

With shark attacks serving as an annual source of terror, the state of New South Wales has launched an initiative which relies on drones to improve safety.
weekend workshop how to build bb 8 022716

Weekend Workshop: Embrace the Force with this full-size replica of BB-8

Star Wars: The Force Awakens introduced the fan favorite BB-8 droid when it released in 2015, and we've got your ticket to building your very own replica.
air force unveils b 21 bomber image

The US Air Force just unveiled initial renderings of its new B-21 stealth bomber

At the Air Force's Air Warfare Symposium on February 26, Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James officially revealed the first image of the new B-21 bomber.
massive meteor explosion recorded over atlantic asteroid 1200x0

A meteor that exploded over the Atlantic on Feb. 6 had more force than the Hiroshima bomb

Earlier this month, a meteor bound for Earth exploded off the coast of Brazil, letting off an energy explosion equivalent to roughly 13,000 tons of TNT.