Japan gives up on Hitomi black hole and X-ray astronomy spacecraft

SCIENCE Bizarre fourth state of water discovered You already know that water can have three states of matter: solid, liquid and gas. But scientists at the Oak Ridge National Lab (ORNL) have discovered that when it's put under extreme pressure in small spaces, the life-giving liquid can exhibit a strange fourth state known as tunneling. Read more AUTOMOTIVE Pictorial: Top Marques Monaco 2016 Top Marques has taken just 13 short years to become the world's highest profile show of outrageously expensive toys for the rich and famous. Take a walk with us through this wonderland of exquisite, extravagant creations. Read more ELECTRONICS ​Review: Flicks portable boombox packs a projector With the proliferation of wireless bluetooth speakers and the MP3 format, boomboxes have gone the way of the mullet haircut, but a new version called Flicks from Dashbon is bringing it back with a very 21st-century addition: a projector. We got to try one out.​ Read more MOBILE TECHNOLOGY Comparing the five iPads you can buy today iPads aren't flying off shelves like they used to, and Apple has taken to more reactive strategies to try to rekindle interest. Let's take stock of the iPads you can buy today. Read more TINY HOUSES Young couple goes Dutch with $28k tiny house build Dutch couple Martijn and Irene decided to ditch their steady jobs for seasonal work to travel the world and enjoy their hobbies. With the wanderlust bug well and truly caught, the pair next set upon building an off-grid towable tiny house for just €25,000. Read more MOBILE TECHNOLOGY Review: Joby’s new tablet tripod mount isn’t just for taking photos Joby has launched a new tripod mount for tablets. The GripTight GorillaPod Stand Pro for Tablet lets you position your slate whether shooting photos and videos, or bingeing on Netflix. We recently spent a bit of time with one ahead of its release, to try it out. Read more ARCHITECTURE London sculpture's twisting slide is almost complete Last year it was announced that the ArcelorMittal Orbit that was created for the 2012 Olympic Games in London and sits on the Olympic Park site was to have a slide added to it, giving visitors a quick way down from its observation deck. Construction is now almost complete and it will open in June. Read more AUTOMOTIVE Effeffe Berlinetta injects modern sportscar with classic Italian GT flair It's a pretty good time for (super-wealthy) lovers of 1950s/60s sports and race cars, and the all-new Effeffe Berlinetta makes it better. This hand-built Italian modern classic is so alluring that even Prince Albert of Monaco had trouble pulling himself away. Read more ENERGY Power dense zinc-manganese power unit as cheap as a car battery Zinc-manganese batteries are back in the spotlight now that a team of researchers has made them much more reliable, with greater numbers of charging cycles than ever before. And all for around the same price as a standard lead-acid car battery. Read more AROUND THE HOME Dyson Supersonic dryer quietly blows your hair (and cash) James Dyson has turned his hand to hair dryers, applying the lessons learned in Dyson's vacuum cleaners and hand dryers to create a faster, more balanced dryer that stops your luscious locks losing their sheen. Read more ELECTRONICS Circuit Classics revive a golden age of electronics design Filled with hand-drawn circuit diagrams and hand-written explanations, Forrest M.Mims' engineering books were an icon to a generation. Now a crowd-funded project is producing a limited set of working circuit boards in the Mims' style.Read more DRONES Caged selfie drone follows faces and folds up neatly The newly announced Hover Camera is the latest addition to the portable fleet of selfie drones, and with automated flight modes and a carbon fiber protective casing it could land as one of the more user-friendly solutions on the market.Read more MILITARY DARPA awards Ground X-Vehicle Technology contracts as it swaps agility for armor ​The days of tanks as giant steel behemoths may be numbered as DARPA awards eight development contracts for its Ground X-Vehicle Technology (GXV-T) program. Read more AUTOMOTIVE Fastidiously engineered Ford EcoBlue diesel promises big fuel savings Ford has launched a new EcoBlue diesel engine promising a 13 percent improvement in fuel economy to go with its improved refinement and performance. Read more OUTDOORS The North Face's commuter backpack for those with no time to waste Zips may be practical, but who's got time to fumble around with those teethed fasteners in this day and age? This is the thinking behind The North Face's newest piece of luggage, a 22-liter (5.8-US gal) backpack for commuters. Read more AUTOMOTIVE Volvo adapts its Lounge Console interior to luxury sedan life Revealed at Auto China 2016, the new Volvo Lounge Concept builds upon last year's spacious rear cabin design. Volvo calls it a "unique piece of art." We call it "the backseat we want to take our next road trip in." Read more URBAN TRANSPORT Production begins on a REAL hoverboard ​When it was first announced at the end of last year, the hovering ArcaBoard was viewed with skepticism by many people. Since then, however, the device has been publicly demonstrated – and it has now reportedly entered production.​ Read more WEARABLES Wearable translates body biosignatures into creative digital expression Humans have developed numerous methods of creating music. The latest instrument adds a bit of a personal twist by using one's blood, guts, and muscles in lieu of strings, reeds, or valves. Read more SPACE Study of Titan sea reveals unexpected composition We've known for more than a decade that Titan plays hosts to seas of liquid hydrocarbons, but the exact make-up of these reservoirs has remained a mystery. Now, scientists have used data from Cassini flybys to confirm that one of the largest seas on the moon is made up largely of liquid methane. Read more MUSIC Old computer storage tech gets a job driving novel guitar stomp Proof positive that old computer tech never really dies, technicians from a German music company have come up with an oddball analog echo effects unit that generates the delay effect using a 3.5-inch floppy disc. Only 30 Echo effects units will be available. Read more SPACE Cassini image captures phantom rings ​NASA's Cassini spacecraft has captured a stunning, and seemingly impossible view of Saturn's iconic ring system intersecting with a second set of phantom rings. Read more MEDICAL Compound reverses symptoms of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's in fruit flies Scientists have identified a compound that can reverse symptoms of Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases. The method hasn't been tested on human patients just yet, but it's been found to be effective in genetically modified fruit flies. Read more VR Google puts you on stage at the Sydney Opera House Google has created one of the most comprehensive tours of the Sydney Opera House, that can be accessed without ever setting foot in Australia.Read more GAMES Nintendo's next console will launch globally in March 2017 Nintendo has confirmed that its mysterious console, codenamed NX, won't see the light of day in 2016 after all. The news was delivered alongside the company's latest financial results, while a little more information about the much anticipated new Legend of Zelda game was also revealed.​ Read more AUTOMOTIVE Volvo's autonomous driving trial will be UK's "most ambitious" Having announced what it calls China's "most advanced autonomous driving experiment" earlier this month, Volvo has now revealed plans for the UK's most ambitious autonomous driving trial as well. Drive Me London will see real families driving autonomous cars on public roads.​ Read more AUTOMOTIVE Land Rover pairs with Tile to help forgetful drivers The bermuda triangle under car seats is an easy place for personal items to go missing. Land Rover has teamed with Tile to try and put an end to the searching, with a dashboard app telling you if you've forgotten your valuables, and help you find them if they're in the cabin.​ Read more SPECIAL PROMOTION FOR GIZMAG READERS Bobine Blackout Charging Dock Keeps Your iPhone Upright Everywhere — Now 25% off Get the safety of hands-free driving plus the convenience of easy phone access everywhere with the BOBINE BLACKOUT Everywhere Mount. This hardy cable is like a relic of the classic pay-phone, so you know it has staying power no matter what position you put it in. The newest model of this best-selling gadget, the BLACKOUT includes an all new USB mount, the original AUTO mount, and an extender cable. Read more   AUTOMOTIVE Camless technology promises more power, better fuel figures Rather than using a traditional camshaft to control an engine's valves, Qoros' QamFree motor uses electro-hydraulic-pneumatic actuators​ to provide precise control over each valve for more power and a 12 to 17 percent improvement in fuel economy. Read more AROUND THE HOME In style: Highlights from Milan Design Week 2016 This year's Salone Internazionale Del Mobile (aka Milan Design Week) filled the 204,850 sq m (2.2 million sq ft) of the Rho Milan Fairgrounds in Italy. Here's a look at the highlights. Read more DIGITAL CAMERAS Understanding the buttons and dials on your new camera Modern cameras can be confusing for new photographers, but understanding what all those buttons and dials do is important if you want to take better pictures. Here we look at the parts of your camera you’ll want to get familiar with to up your photographic game.Read more AUTOMOTIVE BMW X1 xDrive 25i: The consummate all-rounder Front-wheel drive has now crept across into BMW's smallest SUV. So, is the X1 worth the sticker price and can a roomy family SUV really be built on the skinny carcass of the Mini Cooper? After spending a week in the xDrive25i, we have some answers. Read more BICYCLES Review: 560G is claimed to be "world's lightest high-security bike lock" When it comes to bike locks, there are heavy but effective U-locks, and lighter but less secure setups such as cables with padlocks. Well, Altor Locks is out to change that. Its compact new 560G weighs just 1.23 lb (or 560 grams, hence the name), yet is claimed to be extremely theft-resistant. Read more MUSIC Thunderous guitar pickup gets an Ego boost After securing Kickstarter success, and undergoing some nifty design tweaks, Andy Alt's A Little Thunder pickup has now found its way into its very own signature guitar. The Ego Thunder has been developed in partnership with Italy's Marconi Lab custom shop. Read more ARCHITECTURE Arboretum branches out with UK's longest treetop walkway A newly-opened treetop walkway in the UK is said to be the longest in the country. The 300-m (984-ft) path at Westonbirt Arboretum takes visitors into the tree canopy, providing a perspective that would otherwise not be possible, along with views out across the surrounding landscape. Read more ENVIRONMENT Increased CO2 levels are greening the Earth According to a new international study using NASA satellite data, sizable parts of the Earth have shown significant greening over the last 35 years largely due to rising levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Read more SPACE SpaceX fast-tracks Mars plans and shoots for 2018 launch of unmanned lander Either Elon Musk really can't wait to get to Mars or his engineers are building the necessary technologies a bit faster than expected. SpaceX has just announced plans to have one of its Dragon spacecraft on its way to the Red Planet as soon as 2018, four years earlier than anticipated.​​ Read more PETS Furbo lets you dispense dog treats from afar For dog owners who treat their pets like children, it can be hard leaving them alone while at work. What if - in the absence of your constant reminders - they forget who is, in fact, a good boy? Furbo is designed to allay these fears by letting you remotely talk to, and feed, your pet. Read more SPACE New imaging technique provides "drone's eye" view of Mars University College London (UCL) has released images of the Martian surface with five times the resolution of anything previously sent back from Mars orbit courtesy of the newly developed Super-Resolution Restoration (SRR) imaging technique​. Read more ROBOTICS "Robo-mermaid" combs ocean depths for shipwreck treasure Through haptic feedback technology and artificial intelligence, Stanford University's humanoid diving robot is now putting the ocean's depths within human reach, scouring an untouched shipwreck and returning with a delicate, 17th century vase in its grip. Read more AUTOMOTIVE China rising: Highlights from the 2016 Beijing Auto Show The Beijing Motor Show played host to some important launches, as well as some market-specific specials from brands keen for a slice of China's 1.35 billion-person pie. Have a flick through our gallery for all the new and exciting metal on display. Read more MATERIALS Liquid-metal particles enable heat-free soldering at room temperature Researchers have produced novel micro-sized particles filled with liquid metal that retains its liquid state at room temperature and are able to meld with each other. Read more SPACE Hubble discovers new moon in our Solar System ​A team of astronomers has announced the discovery of a new moon located in the far reaches of our Solar System, orbiting the little-known dwarf planet Makemake. Read more AUTOMOTIVE Tula cuts cylinders to boost fuel economy Cylinder deactivation is nothing new, it’s been used in automotive for decades. A new system called Dynamic Skiip Fire from Tula Technologies takes this idea to a new level with significant fuel economy gains as a result – especially in heavy-duty applications. Read more SCIENCE The world's tiniest thermometer is made from DNA Researchers at the University of Montreal have created a thermometer that's an astonishing 20,000 times smaller than a single human hair. The work could lead to significant improvements in our understanding of how the human body functions on the nanoscale. Read more ARCHITECTURE Europe pushes the houseboat out at Dubai's The World Ever wondered what it looks like if you combine Dubai's wealth, ambition, coastline and climate? Well, it looks like floating villas with submerged bedrooms that provide views of the surrounding sea-life off a reclaimed island archipelago shaped like a map of the world in the Persian Gulf. Read more MEDICAL Glued-together virus-like particles make for simple and effective vaccines Developing vaccines is a difficult and time-consuming endeavor, but a new technique developed by researchers at the University of Copenhagen could revolutionize the practice. The simple method could have a big impact, with the potential to create vaccines for everything from asthma to cancer. Read more ARCHITECTURE Couple clocks 22,000 miles in tiny home A new video highlights the tiny-house lifestyle of a couple who've dragged their 20-foot-long abode over 22,000 miles in the US and Canada. Read more AUTOMOTIVE Subaru enlists IBM Watson to enhance connected cars IBM Japan has teamed up with Subaru to investigate how its Watson Supercomputer could help improve its EyeSight driver assist technology. As well as developing a data analytics system, the two companies are keen to integrate cloud and AI technologies. ​ Read more AUTOMOTIVE BMW rolls on with new carbon fiber-infused racing wheelchair Following up on an announcement made last year, BMW has introduced its all-new racing wheelchair, which will find use in the 2016 Paralympic Games in September. BMW has worked closely with the American team to create a chair that capitalizes on aerodynamic design and carbon fiber construction. Read more AUTOMOTIVE Isuzu D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35 conquers all forms of terrain Isuzu has teamed up with Arctic Trucks to develop its most extreme D-Max pickup truck ever. This D-Max wants to get dirty. ​ Read more ELECTRONICS Google Fiber lights up another big city Google Fiber officially launched in its fifth American city on Wednesday, when the gigabit broadband service became available in one Nashville, Tennessee neighborhood. Read more SPECIAL PROMOTION FOR GIZMAG READERS IT Professionals Can Improve their Service with ITIL Foundation Training — Now 97% off Businesses need IT professionals to operate efficiently. Understanding ITIL will allow you to optimize your IT service, and help you build better strategies to keep customers happy. Beginning with an assessment of your current IT service offering, you’ll be ready to take the ITIL Foundation exam by course’s end. Read more AUTOMOTIVE Volkswagen turns to the Miller Cycle for improved efficiency

Volkswagen has released a 1.5-liter Miller Cycle engine tasked with improving fuel consumption and increasing low-down torque. Read more

AUTOMOTIVE Video Review: Toyota Fortuner shines off the beaten track
	You’ve read what we think about the Toyota Fortuner in our road test, now it’s time to see it in action. With seven seats and space for all your kit, it suits parents who forgot to swing by the condom aisle before getting busy. Enjoy our video review, complete with some gorgeous drone shots! Read more

GOOD THINKING In-road LEDs providing lightbulb moments for distracted smartphone users
	For those who are forever glued to their smartphones, navigating a city can be hazardous. Dodging street lights and other pedestrians without looking up is tricky, and crossing roads is downright dangerous. That's why Augsburg in Germany is trialling in-road pedestrian lights.​ Read more

MOBILE TECHNOLOGY iPad Pro 9.7 vs. Microsoft Surface Pro 4
	​Apple is a little late to the 2-in-1 party, but judging by iPad Pro sales figures the company is still playing an important role. But what about for you? Is the iPad Pro 9.7 worth considering as a Surface Pro 4 alternative? Read more

BICYCLES Carla Cargo trailer gives your bike (or body) serious electric muscle
	The German-designed Carla Cargo electric bicycle trailer upgrades your bike for loads up to 330 lb (150 kg) and 53 cu ft (1.5 cu m). Not only can it power those loads independently behind your bike, but it also unhitches and rolls as a powered hand truck.​ Read more

MOTORCYCLES 2016 BMW C650 Sport and GT review: Hunting sportsbikes on a maxi-scooter
	Sure, it's a great way to get through city traffic, but with revised suspension and a focus on sporty handling, the C650 is more than capable of bagging sportsbike scalps in the twisties. ​ Read more

ELECTRONICS High performance transistors created on flexible plastic sheets
	A breakthrough manufacturing method, using a technique known as nanoimprint lithography, has been devised that creates high-performance transistors with wireless capabilities on rolls of common, flexible plastic. Read more

MARINE Kilkea adds touch of luxury to container ships
	Built on the shell of an old container ship, the VARD 1-08 KILKEA is designed to take you and 36 of your closest friends to the corners of the globe in sumptuous comfort, provided you've got a spare $62 million. Read more

DRONES Drone service delivers extra balls to wayward golfers
	With its vast open spaces a golf course might just be the ideal location to put drone technology to the test. Japanese online shopping giant Rakuten is kicking off its drone delivery service next month, where it will drop off balls and snacks to golfers throughout their rounds.​​ Read more

AIRCRAFT Don't try this at home: Colin Furze's crazy homemade hoverbike
	Well-known backyard inventor Colin Furze has proven common sense and engineering experience aren't prerequisites for creating crazy, hovering vehicles by strapping two-stroke petrol parajet motors to a metal frame, in the process creating a DIY hoverbike. Read more

SPACE Golden JWST mirror section unveiled in all its glory
	In the clean room at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt Maryland, a team of engineers has unveiled the vast gold-covered primary mirror of the future James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). Read more

MEDICAL Portable device detects Ebola on the spot
	The sooner the Ebola virus is detected in blood samples, the better. Unfortunately, those samples currently have to be shipped off to labs for analysis. That could soon change, though, as a compact new device can identify Ebola in under half an hour.​ Read more

SCIENCE Active and passive in-cell movements distinguished for the first time
	A new data analysis technique is improving our ability to distinguish between active and passive movement of components within cells, and the results could significantly improve our understanding of cell biology.​ Read more

SCIENCE Buoys warn swimmers of dirty water
	Is the water in your local lake clean enough to swim in today? Currently, the only way to find out is for someone to take a water sample. Soon, however, water-sampling buoys anchored off of beaches could provide readings in real time. Read more

SCIENCE Mapping the thesaurus of the human brain
	Researchers have used MRI data to create a map of how the brain organizes language. The knowledge could one day help patients suffering from conditions such as motor neuron diseases and strokes in making themselves understood. Read more

LAPTOPS HP's Chromebook 13 is the first premium Chromebook that isn't the Pixel
	Most chromebooks are budget-focused machines with low-end specs, but HP’s aiming a little higher with its latest notebook. It offers a pixel dense display and capable Core M processor, while still hanging onto a wallet-friendly price point.Read more

SPACE Japan gives up on Hitomi black hole and X-ray astronomy spacecraft
	Japan's black hole-spotting x-ray astronomy satellite ASTRO-H or “Hitomi” is officially dead after a month of uncertainty. Read more

ELECTRONICS Cracking a few eggs to make electronics that dissolve
	A team of researchers from the UK and China has just figured out how to create a dissolving memory resistor chip using egg whites and other degradable components.​ Read more

ARCHITECTURE Tourists to have a new place to hang out in Dubai
	Such is the desire for every new blockbuster building in Dubai to differentiate itself from all others that their features get ever-more outlandish. Aykon City, for example, is a development aimed at providing all the trappings of a city. You'll also be able to hang off the top of it. Read more

AUTOMOTIVE Elio Motors completes engineering, moves to crash testing
	The eagerly-anticipated Elio vehicle recently came a step closer to consumers, as Elio Motors announced that the final stage of engineering has been completed. Crash testing is next, before commercial production begins.Read more

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