Tron-inspired electric bike wheel chucks the hub

[BICYCLES] [Tron-inspired electric bike wheel chucks the hub] There are now several choices of motorized front wheels that temporarily turn your regular bike into an e-bike. So, what does a new product have to do to stand out in this market? Well, it helps if has a radically different design than its competitors – and the GeoOrbital Wheel has just that.​ [Read more] [ARCHITECTURE] [New eco-village hits the (plastic) bottle] A new project in Panama is using plastic bottle waste as a basis for an entire village. It's early days yet, but the idea is that the aptly-named Plastic Bottle Village will eventually comprise between 90 to 120 homes, each packed with thousands of plastic bottles. [Read more] [MEDICAL] [Breathe easy: Over-the-phone lung monitoring is just a 1-800 call away] Researchers from the University of Washington have developed a monitoring system that allows patients to call in from anywhere in the world to gauge the health of their lungs over the phone. [Read more] [AUTOMOTIVE] [Testing proves the worth of Tesla's Bioweapon Defense Mode] When Elon Musk announced the Tesla Model X would be fitted with a Bioweapon Defense Mode, we wondered how well the system would work. Tesla's preliminary tests suggest the answer is pretty damn well, which is good news for early-adopting hypochondriacs keen to hum around in an exclusion zone. [Read more] [BICYCLES] [Trocadero’s unfixed fixie: The bicycle with the twisting frame] It looks like a regular pushbike until you pull a pin that unlocks the main frame downtube, allowing the bike to twist in the middle and put the wheels wildly out of alignment with one another. Why? Because it looks absolutely bizarre.​ [Read more] [SPACE] [ExoMars 2018 now ExoMars 2020 after two-year postponement] Exomars 2018 is now ExoMars 2020 after the Euro-Russian Mars landing mission was officially postponed for two years. The joint ESA/Roscosmos venture has been beset by delays over the past four years and recent setbacks in mission preparations have placed the 2018 launch window out of reach. [Read more] [MOBILE TECHNOLOGY] [LG's invisible fingerprint sensor hides beneath the smartphone screen] With a view to creating smoother, more minimalist devices, LG has just announced a new fingerprint sensor module that lives underneath the glass. Unless you know what you're looking for, you won't even know it's there. [Read more] [SPACE] [Three newly discovered exoplanets prime candidates in search for life elsewhere in the Universe] A team of astronomers working at the European Southern Observatory (ESO) has discovered three planets orbiting a dwarf sun, just 40 light-years from Earth. All three worlds are potentially habitable and may be the best candidates yet in the search for life beyond our solar system. [Read more] [AUTOMOTIVE] [Mini releases a Convertible with the (John Cooper) Works] Last year, Mini launched a car for "fresh air enthusiasts." Unfortunately, though, there was a problem – the Mini Convertible didn't cater for fresh air enthusiasts who want to go fast, forcing the British brand to add more power in the form of the new John Cooper Works Convertible. [Read more] [COMPUTERS] [Training dogs by computer and "smart harness"] ​While it's important that dogs know some basic obedience commands at the very least, training them can be a monotonous and frustrating experience. Well, perhaps before too long, we could have computers doing the job for us. They're already being used to teach dogs to sit. [Read more] [ROBOTICS] [Robot artists compete for cash] To recognize the burgeoning field of robot art, a new contest has been launched by website RobotArt.org, and you can help determine which mechanical painter will win. [Read more] [MEDICAL] [Diagnostic blood test shows promise in early detection of Parkinson's] A team of researchers at La Trobe University is developing a blood test for earlier detection of Parkinson's disease. The team estimates that it could be available within the next five years. [Read more] [AIRCRAFT] [Phoenix bound: Solar Impulse 2 begins 10th leg of round-the-world flight] A little over a week after pilot Bertrand Piccard touched down at Moffett Airfield in Mountain View, California, Solar Impulse 2 has taken off again. This time the aircraft has André Borschberg in command and will head toward Phoenix Goodyear in Arizona. [Read more] [ENVIRONMENT] [How infecting carp with herpes can help save dying river systems] The Australian government is moving to tackle its biggest freshwater pest, working toward the controlled release of specific herpes virus which it says is capable of killing individual carp within 24 hours. [Read more] [AROUND THE HOME] [SeeNote drags the sticky note into the digital age] The SeeNote is a compact, front-lit ePaper display to replace your sticky notes, and gives you reminders based on live traffic information, provides access to a range of smart-home features and, of course, lets you leave notes for your housemates. [Read more] [AUTOMOTIVE] [Nissan Kicks off with another small SUV] Like it or not, the number of SUVs roaming around our city streets is growing at an alarming rate. You can barely cover a block without seeing a Mazda CX-3 or Honda HR-V, so it's no surprise Nissan is keen to get a bigger slice of the pie with the brand-new Kicks. [Read more] [AUTOMOTIVE] [Volkswagen turns up the refinement in updated Amarok] ​Volkswagen has updated its Amarok, but rather than focusing on what makes it rugged and tough, the changes are all about refinement. With a more powerful V6 diesel engine, more precise steering and shiny exterior highlights, the updated truck should offer a more car-like drive. [Read more] [SPECIAL PROMOTION FOR GIZMAG READERS] [Last Chance: Scrivener 2 is the App of Choice for Best-Selling Authors — Now 50% off] Ever tried writing a novel in Microsoft Word? Trust us, you don’t want to. That’s why writing professionals around the world use Scrivener, the word processor and project management tool that stays with you from your first, unformed idea all the way through to the final draft. As you’re writing, outline your ideas, take notes, and view research all at once. Scrivener takes all the tools you have scattered around your desk and makes them available in one application. [Read more] You are receiving this email because you signed up for our daily newsletter at www.gizmag.com. [Update profile] | [Unsubscribe] Copyright Gizmag © 2016