Sleep with the fishes in the world’s first underwater villa
You can already dine underwater in the Maldives, and soon you'll be able to sleep there, too. Billed as "the world's first underwater residence," the plush accommodation will allow guests to lose themselves in the stunning marine life that surrounds their room right there in the Indian Ocean.
Squeeze up! The latest Skyrider airplane seat still looks really uncomfortable
The first Skyrider airplane seat didn't look like a particularly comfortable way to fly, and despite the extra padding, Skyrider 2.0 doesn't look much better. It seems like a squeeze and you're pretty much standing, but if seats are cheap and flights short, could you imagine using it?
Fed up with social media, major U.K. pub chain deletes all of its accounts
A major U.K. pub chain has suddenly deleted all of its social media accounts. Wetherspoon made the move in the wake of "bad publicity surrounding social media," adding that it was uncomfortable about the "addictive nature of social media." Chairman Tim Martin was adamant his business would not be adversely affected.
Google Maps users navigating through more scams and fake content
Volunteers who spend much of their time helping to build Google Maps claim the popular online tool is facing a growing threat from scammers and others posting fake content. Two reports over the weekend highlight a number of issues with the service, though Google insists it's working hard to clear the bogus data.
Cops use fingerprint pulled from a WhatsApp photo to nab drug traffickers
British police used a fingerprint pulled from a photo sent on WhatsApp to help secure multiple convictions against drug traffickers. In what's thought to be the first case of its kind in the U.K., police found the image on a smartphone seized in a raid and used data from the fingerprint as part of its evidence.
Ford intends to launch self-driving car service ‘at scale’ by 2021
Ford has signaled its determination to begin operating an autonomous-car service "at scale" by 2021. Early indications are that it'll launch some form of delivery business rather than a ridesharing service using its driverless vehicles, though any venture will first require regulatory approval.
Sweden is fitting electric rails along its highways to power EVs
Sweden plans to fit electric rails along its highways so electric vehicles can maintain power as they motor along. The EVs will need to be fitted with a retractable arm that automatically connects with the rail when the vehicle enters a highway. The nation recently opened its first electrified road in Stockholm.
Google Lens can now identify the breed of that cute dog you just saw
Google celebrated National Pet Day this week by adding a couple of new animal-focused features to its Photos app. They include a new trick for Lens, Google's A.I.-powered photo-analyzing tool, that cleverly IDs the breed of dogs and cats you've photographed, while also offering information about them.
The humble LED could help prevent shark attacks on surfers
A team of researchers in Australia believe it's found a way to help surfers avoid the unwanted attention of sharks. It involves sticking a set of LEDs to the underside of the board, which the researchers say helps to hide the surfer's silhouette from any sharks that happen to be nearby.
There is a good reason why this drone flies near aircraft
Flying a drone close to a passenger plane is a highly dangerous act in most circumstances, but Airbus has a good reason for doing it. The aerospace giant this week unveiled purpose-built Advanced Inspection Drone that uses HD cameras to search for defects in a plane's exterior.
First products from Facebook’s secret Building 8 lab could target Echo Show
There's been much talk over the last year that Facebook is preparing to launch a smart speaker. The latest report suggests it'll be hitting the market with two devices -- the first fruits of the secretive Building 8 hardware lab. We may have our first look at the patent behind the speaker, but details remain sparse.
Sleep tight: Airbus wants to fill plane cargo holds with beds
Fancy flying in the cargo hold? Airbus is designing modules with sleeping berths and differently designed rooms that can be slotted into the cargo section of its wide-bodied A330 aircraft. Options range from family-friendly to luxurious, and the first ones could take to the skies as early as 2020.
Rumored revamp of Spotify’s free mobile service could be a big step up
Spotify is on the hunt for new users and is reported to be prepping a new version of its free mobile service to do just that. The revamped offering could make it easier for music fans to select tracks instead of restricting them to shuffle mode. The tricky part will be converting those users to the paid model.
Enjoy the first-ever nonstop flight from Australia to the U.K. — vicariously
Qantas recently launched the first-ever non-stop commercial service between Australia and the U.K. At 17 hours, it's one of the longest flights in the world, and you can now experience the entirety of the journey without actually going anywhere.
NASA’s virtual tour of the moon in 4K will blow your mind
NASA has just released an all-new 4K-resolution video showing the surface of the moon in incredible detail. Created using data gathered over the last nine years, the five-minute presentation shows our nearest neighbor like you've never seen it before.
SpaceX in the clear over ‘Zuma’ spy satellite disaster, report suggests
A recently published report suggests SpaceX is in the clear over the loss of the "Zuma" spy satellite during a secretive mission at the start of the year. Investigators have reportedly pinned the blame on client Northrop Grumman for the way it prepared the satellite.
NASA crash-test dummies take a beating to make aviation safer
Part of NASA's work includes subjecting sensor-laden dummies to all kinds of crash scenarios for research aimed at helping to make aviation safer.
Airbus’ odd-looking BelugaXL aircraft is one step closer to its maiden flight
Airbus's huge BelugaXL aircraft will be able to carry large airplane parts from suppliers to assembly plants, and it's almost ready for its first test flight.
Elon Musk teases plan for a record-breaking Hyperloop speed test
Hyperloop initiator Elon Musk says he wants to carry out a speed test that could see a vehicle for the system reach more than 380 mph.
Louis Vuitton’s luggage tracker tells you if it’s landed in a different country
Louis Vuitton says its new Echo tracker will let you know "whether your luggage has arrived in the right airport or not."
Amazon is opening up its ‘rainforest’ Spheres to the public
Up to now they've been for the exclusive use of Amazon employees during breaks, but soon anyone can visit its "rainforest" Spheres in Seattle.
Start saving, because Leica cameras are about to get even more expensive
If you're in the market for a Leica, you'd better hurry. The company famous for its high prices is about to make them even higher.
Watch this delivery drone crash into a building on its maiden flight
Drone delivery is coming, but as this calamitous demonstration in Russia shows, it's not quite ready for prime time.
Apple’s latest hire just might make Siri seriously smarter
Siri launched several years before Amazon's Alexa and Google Assistant, but it has fallen behind in terms of usability and features. That could be about to change.
Drone pilot gets hefty fine after flying his machine over an Ed Sheeran concert
A drone flight over a packed Ed Sheeran concert in Brisbane, Australia last month cost the pilot more than $800 in fines.
Instagram to unfollow Apple Watch as app support comes to an end
Instagram's failure to update its Apple Watch app means that after the latest update, it will no longer run on the smartwatch.
University of Michigan hopes new drone facility pushes students to great heights
Aware that the drone industry is going places, the University of Michigan has opened a new facility where students can safely test-fly new designs.
