SpaceX fast-tracks Mars plans and shoots for 2018 launch of unmanned lander

[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] [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] [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] [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] [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] [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] [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] [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] [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. 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