Multi-scale imaging technique brings the brain into focus MIT scientists have developed a multi-scale imaging technique that allows them to examine brain tissue at both close subcellular detail and in terms of the broader long-range connectivity of neurons. The technique could improve the accuracy of efforts to map the connections within the human brain

AIRCRAFT World's largest amphibious plane from China ready to sail and soar ​China just just taken the wraps off what is the world's largest amphibious plane. Made by the state's aircraft maker, the AG600 is around the size of of a Boeing 737 and will be used to dowse forest fires and rescue people in danger offshore.  Read more BIOLOGY Placenta-on-a-chip models what is "arguably the least understood organ in the human body" ​The organ-on-a-chip concept has been around for a while now, providing researchers with working, lab-based models of hearts, kidneys, and more. Now, researchers have created a new placenta-on-a-chip, a device that could provide insights to help prevent preterm births.   Read more URBAN TRANSPORT LiDAR to shed light on pedestrian footfall A new Ford and MIT research project is aimed at improving ride-hailing services by predicting the movement of pedestrians. LiDAR sensors and cameras will be used to identify pedestrians and their movements around a location, allowing vehicles to be dispatched to areas that are predicted hot-spots.   Read more TINY HOUSES Top tiny homes on the market today The tiny house scene has come a long way in recent years and we continue to be impressed at how firms manage to shoehorn more and more house into what's really a very small space. Below, we've selected some of the best tiny houses currently available for purchase in Europe and North America.   Read more SPACE Orbital telescope speed tests the Milky Way's "halo" ​​Using archival data from ESA's XMM-Newton orbital telescope, a team of astronomers from the University of Michigan has calculated the speed of the vast halo composed of incredibly hot gas that surrounds the Milky Way.   Read more AUTOMOTIVE Mercedes "Bertha Benz" autonomous car drives into retirement It is now fairly common for carmakers to test their autonomous vehicles on public roads. In 2013, however, Mercedes carried out the first autonomous journey in everyday overland and city traffic with its "Bertha Benz" S 500 Intelligent Drive research vehicle, which is now being retired.   Read more SCIENCE Multi-scale imaging technique brings the brain into focus MIT scientists have developed a multi-scale imaging technique that allows them to examine brain tissue at both close subcellular detail and in terms of the broader long-range connectivity of neurons. The technique could improve the accuracy of efforts to map the connections within the human brain.  Read more SPACE Comet-combing Philae lander signs off for good It has been a long and drawn out farewell, but today the European Space Agency will wave a final goodbye to its Philae lander, the first spacecraft to ever touch down on the surface of a comet.   Read more AUTOMOTIVE Nissan Titan embraces the single life The Nissan Titan has just come in for some attention, with the lineup growing to include a single-cab model aimed at rough and ready commercial use.   Read more COMPUTERS Deep learning algorithm paints smooth-moving works of art A team at the University of Freiburg has given neural networks a better sense of style by developing a method for taking an existing art style and smoothly applying it to a video. Artists, including New York-based Danil Krivoruchko, have already put the system to work with some beautiful results.   Read more AUTOMOTIVE Farewell, Mr. Bond: Aston Martin ends DB9 production after 13 years The DB9 was hugely significant for Aston Martin, keeping the money rolling in after Ford sold it in 2006, and providing a base for the Rapide, DBS and Vanquish. Here's a look at how the model has changed over the years, and where Aston Martin is headed with the DB11   Read more DRONES Lehmann launches future-proof, modular drones for professionals France's Lehmann Aviation is looking to help professional drone users future-proof their UAVs with what the company claims is ​the world's first modular design in its latest line of drones.   Read more MOTORCYCLES That was quick: Honda officially launches the new CBR250RR lightweight supersports bike Honda has officially released photos and details about its new lightweight sportsbike, the CBR250RR, with an all-new high performance parallel twin engine, fly-by-wire throttle control and pretty mean looks, it should be compact, light and very quick.   Read more SCIENCE Inkjet printed solar cell turns your portrait into a power source Researchers at Aalto University have come up with an inexpensive inkjet-printed solar cell that can be made into text or images. Designed to be used with low-power devices, it has already shown performance and durability comparable to that of existing​ organic dye solar cells.  Read more DRONES US Army welcomes tethered drones into its unmanned aerial fleet Lately the US Army has been exploring tethered versions that could help plug some holes in its military strategy, and has now placed an order with drone-maker CyPhy Works for a wired aerial vehicle that could provide an eye in the sky for days at a time.​   Read more MEDICAL Gene "reboots" stem cells to slow or reverse the aging process A new study, centering on an embryonic stem cell gene known as Nanog, was found to restore the regenerative properties of adult stem cells, which naturally diminish over time. This process has the potential to slow or even reverse the effects of aging, as well as combat premature aging disorders.   Read more CHILDREN LEGO version of Large Hadron Collider picks up speed Ever wanted to build a particle accelerator in your basement? Well if one University of Liverpool PhD student gets his way, you may soon be able to do that – with LEGO.   Read more SPORTS High-tech headwear speaks to you as you swim The problem with swimmers' watches is that users have to stop and look at them. That's why Hong Kong-based Platysens created Marlin. It's a head-worn system that delivers data verbally, via a bone conduction earpiece.​   Read more SPACE Has dwarf planet Ceres been erasing its craters? When you're a 4.5 billion year old space rock with no atmosphere, chances are good that some major asteroids are going to smack into you. That is likely the case with dwarf planet Ceres, but its surface doesn't show any major craters. That's probably because it's been erasing the evidence   Read more MUSIC Space oddity: High-flying turntable heading for atmospheric performance Third Man Records is seven years old on July 30, and is celebrating with an attempt to play the first phonographic record in space. A master of Carl Sagan's A Glorious Dawn will be played using a custom-built turntable designed for operation at high altitude.   Read more MOTORCYCLES Indian adds big, sleek infotainment system for 2017 Chieftan and Roadmaster ​Available as a standard feature on their top of the line 2017 Indian Roadmaster and the Indian Chieftan, the Ride Command infotainment system offers a slough of features that were once found only on luxury automobiles   Read more GOOD THINKING SuperMeat seeks to replace slaughterhouses with science SuperMeat is an Israeli start-up that wants to promote a paradigm shift in meat consumption — mass manufactured chicken meat without harming animals. Under the scientific guidance of biomedical engineer Yaakov Nahmias, the company is currently fundraising to get it done.   Read more OUTDOORS Weather station watches the clouds and sources the crowd BloomSky is back on Kickstarter to raise funds for its latest, complete weather camera system. The Storm and Sky2 devices are designed to collect and broadcast comprehensive weather ​data to users and followers in real-time​.   Read more ENVIRONMENT Frogs who have sex in private have smaller privates Frogs are increasingly having more sex on dry land than in rivers and lakes and new research says that the reason for this might be for males to avoid competition from other males. In arriving at this theory, the researchers took a look at frog testes.   Read more AUTOMOTIVE Car was exceeding the speed limit at time of Tesla Autopilot accident Tesla's Autopilot has come under scrutiny recently, after a driver using the system was killed when his Model S hit a white tractor-trailer. More details have emerged from the accident, with investigators revealing the car was traveling 9 mph over the posted limit at the time of impact.  Read more ENVIRONMENT New Zealand aims to eradicate invasive predators – including rats Anyone who's ever dealt with rats in their home knows how hard it can be to completely clear out the pests, but the New Zealand government plans to achieve it on a national scale – and not just with rats. Prime Minister John Key announced plans to completely eradicate introduced predators by 2050.   Read more SPECIAL PROMOTION FOR GIZMAG READERS The KOAR Bone Conduction Headphones Are the Future of Sound — Now 48% Off Boasting patented transducers that use bone conduction technology to convey crystal clear sound directly to your inner ears, these futuristic headphones allow you to fully hear your surroundings and talk with friends while you listen to your music. With Bluetooth technology and IP67 water resistance, this headset will play your soundtrack anywhere.   Read more AIRCRAFT Man levitates on terrifying gasoline-powered flying carpet Eight petrol-powered heavy duty propellers. One tube lattice frame, a simple seat and a hobby-grade R/C controller wired in. What could possibly go wrong? This Swedish engineer displays a pair of colossal cojones as he puts his home-made flying carpet to the test.Read more BICYCLES Review: Electric bike wheel turns bikes into e-bikes It was a couple of years ago that Evelo first announced its Omni Wheel – a motorized wheel that replaces a regular bicycle's existing front wheel, turning that bike into an e-bike. In the past few months, however, the company introduced a new-and-improved second version. We recently tried it out.Read more OUTDOORS Shoulder strap-free backpack aims to be more than a "me 2" design Backpacks virtually always have the same basic structure: a storage pouch hanging from a set of shoulder straps. The ME-2 dares to be different. This all-new backpack doesn't go over your shoulders at all, instead wrapping around your torso and catching a ride.Read more DRONES Look out London: Amazon drone delivery trials to kick off in the UK Amazon has found itself a new ally in its plans to get the Prime Air delivery service off the ground, today announcing a partnership with the UK government to commence trials using its autonomous drones.Read more WEARABLES Vibrating boots to help astronauts keep their footing To keep future space explorers on their feet, MIT researchers are developing a new space boot that uses built-in sensors and tiny "haptic" motors to help guide the wearer around obstacles by means of vibrations.Read more HEALTH & WELLBEING Can you stomach this? Cockroach milk shapes up as a high-energy superfood Scientists have identified a milk protein in the stomach of a certain type of cockroach that has three times the energy of buffalo milk, and are now working to transform it into food supplements to give those who are game a nutritional boost. Read more COMPUTERS New light rendering technique ups the realism of computer generated images UCSD researchers have developed a graphics algorithm that not only realistically models light reflecting off complex surfaces like water, leather, glass, and metal, but which also runs about 100 times faster than current state-of-the-art systems.Read more SCIENCE Water tunnels beneath Mexican tomb carried ancient Mayan ruler away to the underworld Archaeologists have unearthed a network of water tunnels beneath the ancient Mayan ruler King Pakal's tomb, which they say not only offers an indication of his intentions to float way to the underworld, but reframes theories about how the grand pyramid itself was built. ​​​Read more WEARABLES Blink controlled camera provides recipe for awkward moments Blincam is designed to remove awkward fumbling from mobile photography, instead allowing users to capture the perfect shot of that dog/latte/kid/sunset by winking or blinking.Read more GAMES Sonic the Hedgehog gets new Mega Drive console for 25th birthday In the vein of Nintendo’s recently-revealed Classic Mini NES, British retailer Funstock Retro has announced an updated Sega Mega Drive Classic line to celebrate Sonic's 25th anniversary, including a home console and a handheld which both contain 80 pre-installed games.Read more HOME ENTERTAINMENT Sony tops out Bravia line with new Z series For those a bit of cash to splash that are looking to upgrade their TV for the Olympics, Sony is providing some options with its latest range-topping Bravia Z9 series, promising better contrast, more accurate colors and deeper blacks than previous X series Bravias.Read more SCIENCE Simple process extends milk's shelf life by weeks A new quick-fire process improves upon pasteurization​, which extends shelf life to about two to three weeks, and brings the length of time milk can be safely stored in the fridge up to around seven weeks.Read more AIRCRAFT Solar Impulse 2 flies into the history books with completion of circumnavigation To​ ​the​ ​squeal​ ​of​ ​bagpipes​ ​and​ ​the​ ​beating​ ​of​ ​drums,​ ​Solar​ ​Impulse​ ​2​ ​today​ ​completed​ ​its round-the-world​ ​voyage​ ​at​ ​8:05​ ​pm​ ​EDT​ ​(July​ ​26​ ​00:05​ ​GMT) as it​ ​alighted​ ​on​ ​the​ ​tarmac​ ​of​ ​Al​ ​Bateen​ ​Executive​ ​Airport outside Abu Dhabi ​Read more AUTOMOTIVE Morgan ups style-factor with limited edition EV3 Morgan Motor Company introduced the all-electric EV3 at this year's Geneva Motor Show, after showing it as a concept last year. To make the car even more striking, it's teamed up with British department store Selfridges to create a special edition. Read more ARCHITECTURE This low-impact house is built from the Earth it stands on While undoubtedly modern, there’s an unassuming beauty to Cherem Arquitectos’ Casa Candaleria. It’s the perhaps the choice of materials that is most understated: the house is built from the Earth on which it stands.Read more GOOD THINKING MIT movie screen delivers 3D dazzle without the glasses A new breakthrough from MIT takes a well-known trick and leverages it in a way particular to how we move our heads in cinemas. A small prototype using 50 mirrors and lenses has been developed and, if researchers can advance upon the idea, glassless 3D viewing might just become the future of cinema.Read more MEDICAL Microneedle painlessly monitors drug levels without the need to draw blood ​Microneedle technology uses tiny needles to break only the upper layer of the patient’s skin, doing their job without the need to dig deeper. The pain-free tech has now been used to create a device capable of monitoring patient drug levels – something that usually requires the drawing of blood.Read more MILITARY Reopened Mary Rose Museum promises panoramic views of a Tudor classic After six months of restoration work, the Mary Rose Museum is open to the public once again, offering an even more immersive look at life aboard a Tudor ship. Visitors will be granted a panoramic view of the ship's deck from nine different galleries, aided by floor-to-ceiling glass.Read more GAMES Catch historical figures in Russia's answer to Pokémon Go The ridiculously successful Pokémon Go may let players bag a Bulbasaur, but what if you want to nab a Napoleon? Moscow City Hall is taking cues from Nintendo's mobile hit for its own geolocation app, which lets players "catch" historical figures like Napoleon, Tchaikovsky and Ivan the Terrible.Read more AUTOMOTIVE Concours-condition Lamborghini Diablo SV to go under the hammer Almost nothing else on the road draws attention like a classic Lamborghini. Kitted out with the full gamut of wings and scoops, cars like the Diablo SV have a magnetic quality about them, a quality Super Veloce Racing is hoping will draw buyers to this concours-condition example. Read more ARCHITECTURE Tech meets tradition in Melbourne’s "suburb of the future" A new suburb of Melbourne, Australia, will be home to a mix of new technology and old traditions, according to its developer, Glenvill. The firm says that Yarrabend will be holistically designed with green spaces, solar-powered premium homes, a tech concierge and its own app. Read more SPECIAL PROMOTION FOR GIZMAG READERS The CityGo Urban is a uniquely designed e-scooter CityGo Urban, a uniquely designed e-scooter with revolutionary drivetrain system that will change your urban commute forever. Brought to you by industrial designers from the car industry, it has the sleek and elegant look of a luxury car with none of the headaches. Live on Indiegogo now with up to 45% off retail price. Get your CityGo Urban today and keep life on the go! Read more VR VR headset that relays facial expressions to the virtual world

Veeso is claimed to be the first VR headset to capture your face and transmit your expressions – and as a result, your emotions – onto a virtual avatar in real time. With it, the company is emphasizing emotional connections through video call apps and social games like poker.Read more

AUTOMOTIVE Review: 2016 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible is hot summer fun
	Just about everything during the summer is better topless. That includes the redesigned Camaro with its convertible option. Add in the surprisingly potent mid-range engine and transmission choice and this car is good times on four wheels.Read more

VR Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070: The new VR sweet spot
	Nvidia is tempting HTC Vive​ and Oculus Rift​ owners by updating its entire line of graphics cards in the last couple of months. If you own a virtual reality headset and want the best balance between pricing and performance, the GTX 1070 is the current-gen sweet spot GPU.Read more

ARCHITECTURE Floating house breaks up when its owners do
	Deciding what to do with the house is a big concern for home-owning couples to sort out when they separate, but Prenuptial Housing takes the sting out of the process. Taking the view that love doesn't last forever, the floating home splits when its owners do.Read more

MOTORCYCLES Video review: Suzuki's brilliant GSX-S1000 is the supersport of the naked bike class
	Finally yielding to the plaintive cries of naked bike fans, Suzuki has put the storied GSX-R1000 motor in a streetbike. And what a wonderful, nutty, wheelie-happy streetbike it is - with one of the lowest pricetags in the class.Read more

ENVIRONMENT US to create nationwide network of EV charging stations
	The US government has announced “an unprecedented set of actions” to pump up the country’s plug-in electric vehicle market, including US$4.5 billion in loan guarantees to create a nationwide network of commercial scale and fast charging stations.Read more

MATERIALS Hardening up: New alloy four times as tough as titanium
	Scientists have found that by melting gold into the titanium mix they can produce a non-toxic metal that is four times harder than titanium itself, raising the prospect of more durable, longer lasting medical implants. ​​Read more

SPACE Business ideas sought to launch ISS marketplace
	NASA has been signalling intentions to welcome more commercial partners aboard the ISS for a little while now, and is now canvassing the private sector for ideas to increase business activity on the orbiting laboratory. Read more

COMPUTERS Superbook gives Android smartphones a laptop form factor
	The size and touch input of smartphone displays isn't always the best way to take advantage of all that power under the hood. Andromium's new Superbook is designed to change that, giving an Android smartphone an 11.6-inch screen, full-size keyboard and trackpad.Read more

DRONES 7-Eleven deploys donut delivery drone
	7-Eleven has carried out the US' first drone delivery to a customer's home. The retailer teamed up with drone startup Flirtey to complete the shipment, whose flying robot was loaded up with Slurpees and other snacks to give convenience store a new kind of meaning. Read more

ROBOTICS Germ-inspired microbots shape shift to deliver drugs, unclog arteries
	Scientists have used the protozoa that causes sleeping sickness as the model a new class of microbots for delivering drugs with precision and carrying out other medical procedures.​Read more

AIRCRAFT Solar Impulse 2 heads for finish line in round-the-world flight
	Solar Impulse 2 has taken off on what is expected to be the final leg of its solar-powered round-the-world voyage. The single-seater aircraft took off today from Cairo International Airport with Bertrand Piccard at the controls. Read more

AUTOMOTIVE Tiny 1970s-era EV captures world speed record ... after a few modifications
	If you had to guess the street-legal electric car with the best quarter-mile time, the Tesla Model S P85D or Rimac Concept One might immediately pop to mind. What wouldn't pop to mind - the Enfield 8000. But that's the right answer .. well, kind of. Read more

MEDICAL Hernia surgery gets the 360-degree interactive treatment
	On July 28, 2016 a partnership between GIBLIB, Livit and 360fly will live stream a hernia surgery open to the public, from a 360-degree interactive point of view.Read more

OUTDOORS Packable device keeps mosquitoes away in the boonies
	Thermacell is preparing to launch a lighter, more compact mosquito repeller designed to go deeper into the wilderness. The Backpacker Repeller drops Thermacell's mosquito-fighting technology into your pack.Read more

HEALTH & WELLBEING Cinnamon adds some spice to learning
	​If you have trouble learning, you might want to try eating more cinnamon. A study has found that "slow learner" mice do better at finding their way through mazes, after a month of ingesting the spice.​Read more

BIOLOGY Ancient Silk Road hygiene sticks lead to a "fluke" discovery
	Named after the silks that were exported from China, the Silk Road helped spread news, art and culture through a large part of the world. Now, a new study focused on a 2,000-year-old Silk Road latrine shows that the routes also helped spread something else – disease.Read more

SCIENCE Imaging technique shows in living brain what was once only visible in cadavers
	A team of scientists has developed and tested a technique that could revolutionize how we observe the progress of common brain disorders. In the long run, it could lend a hand in the development of treatments for everything from Alzheimer's to epilepsy.Read more

SPACE Mars rover can now pick its own targets to sharpshoot with its laser
	With its mission recently extended for another two years, NASA has improved Curiosity's ability to conduct science operations under its own steam. The upgrade is related to the ChemCam instrument, allowing the rover to pick targets to fire its laser at without direction from scientists back home.Read more

MUSIC Korg tuner keeps time, improves technique
	A few years ago, Korg released a nifty practice tool called the TM-50 that combined tuner and metronome in one unit, allowing musicians to keep time and stay in tune. Now the company has added the ability to analyze and improve tone and technique with the release of the TM-50TR.Read more

ARCHITECTURE Hobbit hole-style luxury home hits the market
	Many hobbit holes are fairly modest dwellings, with low ceilings and relatively cramped and dark rooms. This example in Huddersfield, England, will appeal to the Lord of the Rings fans looking for a little more luxury. It boasts four bedrooms and a large recreational area including a swimming pool.Read more

REMARKABLE PEOPLE Scribbles reveal Leonardo da Vinci ahead of his time, again
	Notes previously dismissed as “irrelevant” have turned up a new discovery: Leonardo da Vinci had a sophisticated understanding of the laws of friction, almost 200 years before they were formalized. New research demonstrates how da Vinci applied that knowledge to his work over the next 20 years.Read more

SPECIAL PROMOTION FOR GIZMAG READERS The Virtually Indestructible Titan Lightning Cable Is Now 24% Off
	Life moves pretty fast, if your charging cable snags, wears, or tangles, you're gonna miss it. Titan Travel charging cables are built tough and designed never to tangle. Two layers of flexible, high-strength steel protect your industrial-grade cabling so anywhere you go, you'll know your charging cable is up to the challenge.Read more