Aerial photography hits new heights in the 2020 Drone Awards

Drones may no longer be the novelty item they were a few years back, but none of their shine has faded when it comes to the amazing images they produce in the hands of skilled photographers. This weekend we have the cream of the crop from the 2020 Drone Photo Awards, plus BMW's first M-series motorcycle, the latest on the Playstation 5, and all the top stories of the week. [Photography]( [Aerial photography hits new heights in the 2020 Drone Awards]( [Commended - Sport. Kleanthis Vikelidis stadium in flames]( This year’s Drone Photo Awards deliver an outstanding assortment of aerial images, from the overall winning shot, catching a school of salmon forming the shape of a heart, to a special category focusing on the ways COVID-19 has transformed our cities. [Read more]( [Materials]( [Ancient Persians were making "20th-century" chromium steel 900 years ago]( [A sample of crucible slag from an 11th century archaeological site in Iran, which was found to contain chromium]( Chromium is used to make tool steel or stainless steel, and it’s thought to have been invented around the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Archaeologists have now discovered that Persians were mixing chromium into steel way back in the 11th century. [Read more]( [Motorcycles]( [BMW releases its first M-series motorcycle, the extraordinary M1000RR]( [The S1000RR was already a sharp track bike but the M1000RR takes things up a notch]( BMW has announced its most powerful motorcycle ever – a lightweight, juiced-up version of its outstanding S1000RR superbike that becomes the first bike to wear the storied M badge. The M1000RR is a razor-edged track bike that's also street-legal. [Read more]( [Automotive]( [VW's sub-$40K 250-mile ID.4 crossover dares Americans to go electric]( [The Volkswagen ID.4 will launch in early 2021]( Bringing EV technology closer to the tipping point at which the masses embrace it, VW today revealed the ID.4. With small SUV packaging, available AWD and RWD, and pricing set to dip into the low $30s, the ID.4 promises to be a statement vehicle. [Read more]( [Space]( [NASA updates Artemis Plan for returning astronauts to the Moon in 2024]( [Illustration of Artemis astronauts on the Moon]( NASA has released an updated outline of its Artemis program to return US astronauts to the Moon and set up a permanent human presence there, beginning with the landing of the first woman and the next man on the Moon in 2024. [Read more]( [Aircraft]( [Universal Hydrogen and Magnix building world's largest hydrogen plane]( [A De Havilland Canada DCH-8 (Dash-8) Q300 like the aircraft above will be retrofitted with a hydrogen fuel cell powertrain to become the world's largest hydrogen aircraft]( Hydrogen is on the rise as the zero-emissions aviation fuel of the future, and LA-based fuel logistics startup Universal Hydrogen is partnering with electric aviation specialists Magnix to develop a 40-seat hydrogen-electric airliner for 2024. [Read more]( [Medical]( [Common diabetes drug linked to lower dementia rates]( [New research found the rate of cognitive decline was similar between non-diabetics and diabetics taking a medication called metformin]( New research has found diabetic patients using a drug called metformin experience slower rates of cognitive decline and dementia compared to those not using the drug. The findings build on a body of evidence suggesting this drug generates anti-aging effects. [Read more]( [Medical]( [Promising Alzheimer’s biomarker detected in eyes for the first time]( [A protein associated with neurodegeneration, previously detected in blood samples, has now been found in eye fluid]( A protein, previously found to be an effective blood-based biomarker of neurodegenerative diseases, has for the first time been detected in eye fluid. The discovery lays the foundation for eye tests to catch neurodegenerative diseases before symptoms appear. [Read more]( [Health & Wellbeing]( [Older people today are smarter, stronger and faster than 30 years ago]( [New research offers a valuable insight into the progress made extending healthspan over the past century]( A new study has compared the physical and cognitive performance of a group of older people in 2017 with a similarly aged group three decades earlier. Improvements were seen in almost every test, suggesting progress has been made extending healthspan. [Read more]( [Science]( [2020 Ig Nobel Awards celebrate the not-so-serious side of science]( [Dr Ivan Maksymov and Andrey Pototsky from Swinburne University in Melbourne took out the 2020 Ig Nobel Prize for Physics with the help of an inebriated earthworm]( For three decades, the Ig Nobel Awards have celebrated the lighter side of science by highlighting research achievements that “first make people laugh then make them think.” And there’s no shortage of amusing projects amid the 2020 crop. [Read more]( [Games]( [PlayStation 5 and PS5 Digital Edition vs. Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S]( [New Atlas compares the specs, features, games and hardware of the PlayStation 5, PS5 Digital Edition, Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X]( Microsoft and Sony are both launching their next-generation consoles soon. But which one is best for you? New Atlas compares the specs, features, hardware and games of the PlayStation 5, PlayStation 5 Digital Edition, Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X. [Read more]( [Bicycles]( [Clever cycling multitool features nesting magnetic bits]( [The Daysaver is presently on Kickstarter]( Regardless of whether they ever use them or not, cyclists certainly do like their multitools. The things can be heavy and bulky, though, which is where the Swiss-designed Daysaver comes in – it combines nine tools in a single hex wrench. [Read more]( [Medical]( [World-first bionic vision system poised for human trials]( [The Monash Vision Group is now setting its sights on human trials for its Gennaris bionic vision system]( Scientists in Australia who have spent more than 10 years developing a first-of-a-kind bionic vision system are now eyeing human trials, with the hopes that it could one day help restore vision in those suffering from untreatable blindness. [Read more]( [Energy]( [Skeleton and KIT promise graphene SuperBattery with 15-second charging]( [Skeleton's ultracapacitors will work alongside lithium-ion cells in the SuperBattery]( Estonia's Skeleton Technologies and Germany's Karlsruhe Institute of Technology have partnered up to complete development on what they're calling the SuperBattery for EVs – "a groundbreaking graphene battery with a 15-second charging time." [Read more]( [Science]( [Huge cache of teeth seal Spinosaurus as a swimming dinosaur]( [A deposit of tooth fossils confirm that Spinosaurus was an aquatic dinosaur]( Earlier this year, paleontologists discovered that Spinosaurus was the first water-dwelling dinosaur. Now some of the same team has found further evidence, with a deposit of teeth recovered from an ancient riverbed, far outnumbering land dinosaurs. [Read more]( [Sports]( [Punching robot designed for mixed martial arts training]( [The RXT-1 is currently on Kickstarter]( While many fighters train with a punching bag, it's not really a fair fight – after all, the bag can't punch back. Stryk's new RXT-1 training robot, however, does exactly that. [Read more]( [Automotive]( [Alphavan turns Sprinter into gorgeous two-bedroom smart camper van]( [The all-new Alphavan packs plenty of size and comfort without loads of weight]( The new Alphavan debuts as a massive Mercedes Sprinter camper with duplex bedroom, entertainment suite, and smart home-grade control system accessed all around the van. Yet, it still manages to weigh less than smaller camper vans. [Read more]( You are receiving this email because you signed up for our daily newsletter at [newatlas.com]( (or [gizmag.com]( before August 2016). [Update profile]( | [Unsubscribe]( Copyright New Atlas © 2020