Old compact cameras are cool again – partly because taking a photo on something that isn’t also your phone feels kinda refreshing. Add in Y2K-esque nostalgia, toy-like design, and the appeal of charmingly imperfect snapshots, and you have a neat little niche for gadgets like Yashica's Funtastic Keychain Camera.
Category: Photography, Consumer Tech, Technology
Sally Ibrahim, Case Western Reserve University/The Conversation
Category: Sleep, Wellness and Healthy Living, Body and Mind
Tags: Case Western Reserve University, Melatonin, Insomnia, Sleeping, Sleep deprivation, Family health, Dietary supplements
The global marine industry has been trying to reduce emissions from shipping for years, and making a dent in the 2%-3% of global CO2 emissions from moving 90% of the world's cargo would be no mean feat.
Tags: Shipping, Climate Solutions: Shipping, Emissions, Wind-powered, Sailing
Amflow's versatile new ebike breaks out of the brand's eMTB comfort zone. The TL Carbon does everything from city commutes to loaded touring to trail riding, with plenty of power and functionality packed into a lightweight build.
Tags: ebikes, DJI Innovations, Mountain Bikes, Pedal-assisted, urban transport
A modified diet that takes cues from the Mediterranean model has the potential to promote healthier aging, with scientists combining a large dataset from human research with the results of an animal study to understand the mechanisms at play.
Category: Aging Well, Wellness and Healthy Living, Body and Mind
Tags: University of Southern California, Longevity, Health, Diet, metabolism, GLP-1 receptor agonists, Amino Acids, Protein, Plant-based diet
In today’s world, more and more daily tasks are being fully automated. Robotic devices can work independently, and they are often more efficient than humans. Yet, in some aspects, technology still cannot match what nature has created. One example is vision. Advanced cameras are used in modern robots and self-driving cars, allowing them to detect and recognize objects quickly and accurately, but there is one thing with which they still struggle: sudden changes in lighting. A research team from Pennsylvania State University may have found a solution.
Category: Technology
Tags: Pennsylvania State University, Self driving cars, Vision, Memristor
Prasad Nishtala, University of Bath/The Conversation
Category: Diet & Nutrition, Wellness and Healthy Living, Body and Mind
Tags: Fractures, Bones, Diet, Vitamins and minerals, Dietary supplements, University of Bath
Artemis Technologies has launched its latest take on the electric-propelled hydrofoil with its EF-12, which is billed as the world's first 100% electric, zero-emissions hydrofoil pilot boat designed to make transporting ships' pilots greener and safer.
The US Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) has developed new portable field devices that will allow soldiers to identify unknown biological threats, including bioengineered ones, based on RNA and DNA analysis, in under half an hour.
Category: Military, Engineering
Tags: US Navy, Naval Research Laboratory, Weapon
Looking for an original take in a scene set up by Pat Domingo, I asked the model if she could get into the driving seat of the car on the set. I wanted to see how much of the huge strobe outside would make it through the narrow windscreen. I asked her to look forward, as if driving, then turn to her right, as if something had caught her attention. This is the moment she did.
Leica SL3-P | Summilux-SL 50mm F1.4 | F5.6 | 1/200 sec | ISO 64
Photo: Richard Butler
The launch event for the Leica SL3-P included not only the chance to get trackside at the famous Nürburgring motor racing circuit and a studio setup by fashion photographer Pat Domingo but also the presence of famed photographer Steve McCurry.
This meant I found myself in the frankly ridiculous position of asking to shoot a portrait of one of the world's most famous portrait photographers, as well as the more familiar challenge of trying to find a unique shot in a pre-staged studio scenario.
Included in the gallery are a handful of shots taken with the new 50mm F1.4 and 100mm F2.8 Macro lenses.
Here's Leica SL3-P (and I) got on:
Leica SL3-P sample galleryPlease do not reproduce any of these images on a website or any newsletter/magazine without prior permission (see our copyright page). We make the originals available for private users to download to their own machines for personal examination or printing (in conjunction with this review); we do so in good faith, so please don't abuse it.
Sample galleryThis widget is not optimized for RSS feed readers. Click here to open it in a new browser window / tab.Since it was released two months ago, Olivia Rodrigo's music video for the song "drop dead" has already garnered 42 million views. There are probably a lot of reasons it's been so popular: it's the lead single for a very popular artist's new album, was shot on location in Versailles and clips from it have been popular on social media sites like Instagram. But the aesthetic of the video probably helps too; it has a dreamy, old-school look to it that taps directly into 90s VHS nostalgia.
While that's well-trodden ground for modern music videos, the effect is very convincing... because it's real. A recent video from the YouTube channel Frame Set goes deep on how the video, directed by Petra Collins, was shot, in a wide-ranging interview with its cinematographer, Todd Banhazl.
The interview also covers how the team captured the dreamy, undercranked effect used in the striking opening scene.The video obviously covers the mix of cameras used, going into why the crew chose to use BetaCam, VHS and MiniDV, and the different situations where they needed to go with one over the other. There are plenty of interesting details in it for camera nerds, but it also doesn't slack on discussing craft; a lot of the video is focused on the interesting lighting setups needed to film in a historic building with limited control while using cameras with very low sensitivity.
It also touches on other technical aspects, like the difficulties of editing interlaced footage that will eventually be shown using a platform designed for progressive video, and deeper topics like the rise of the lo-fi aesthetic in the age of AI-generated imagery. Even if you're not into music videos or Olivia Rodrigo's brand of pop-rock singer-songwriting, the interview is well worth a watch just to see a clearly talented creative talk about their process.
Origami, the Japanese art of folding flat sheets of paper into three-dimensional figures, is the creative spark behind a new hybrid 3D printing technique. It allows structures to be created without molds, which fold into shape once printed.
Category: 3D Printing, Manufacturing, Engineering
Retro-styled electric motorcycles seem to be the new flavor among e-moto manufacturers. In the last few months alone, I must have seen, ridden, and written about half a dozen at least.
Category: Motorcycles, Transport
Tags: Electric Motorcycles, Retro, New Zealand
Five weeks of walking around armed with poles in each hand could have a surprising effect on anyone with depression symptoms. What's more, it's also a low-impact workout that can suit people who are lacking energy or motivation.
Category: Mental Health, Brain Health, Body and Mind
Tags: Exercise, Depression, mental health, Physical activity, Physical therapy
Just two years ago, Volkswagen launched a new California, but the iconic camper van is already up for a refresh. Along with the Multivan underneath it, the California gets a new look, sharpened interface and improved driver-assistance package. Best of all, a new climate control feature promises to make camping more comfortable throughout the entire year. Combine all that that with existing features like an available PHEV powertrain and indoor/outdoor kitchen design, and we'd say Volkswagen has quietly introduced the best California ever.
Category: Campervans, Adventure Vehicles, Outdoors
Tags: Volkswagen, Campervan, RV, Minivan, Camping, Plug-in Hybrid, PHEV, Outdoors and Camping
Just a year after the company's first foray into motocross bikes, Ducati has unveiled the Desmo250 MX, a fire-breathing featherweight built to dominate tracks with possibly the highest revving engine in its class.
Category: Motorcycles, Transport
Tags: Ducati, Dirt Bikes, Off-road
IBM has developed the blueprint for producing a processor using sub-1-nanometer (nm) chip technology, outdoing its own efforts to increase efficiency and processing power with 2-nm tech from a few years ago.
Category: Computing, Consumer Tech, Technology
Tags: IBM, Chips, Nano, Performance, Efficiency
Lockheed Martin is moving the US hypersonic missile program a step closer to production with the announcement that it has begun work on its Next Generation Glide Body (NXGB), a new hypersonic vehicle designed for low-cost, large-scale manufacturing.
Category: Military, Engineering
Tags: Lockheed Martin, Hypersonic
A lot of modern multitools are designed with outdoor use in mind: they are compact, functional, and easy to carry. The Ti-Trailblazer takes a unique approach by making a compass its main feature and building 10 additional tools around it. The product is currently seeking funding on Kickstarter.
Category: Knives and Multitools, Gear, Outdoors
Tags: Multitools, EDC, Kickstarter, xxKickbooster, Titanium, Navigation
Chinese scientists have discovered a way to combine high-tech light-absorbing nano-technology with more conventional water-based carbon pigment spray to coat car bodies with a durable ultra-black finish. The result is a black that creates a ‘black-hole’ effect of virtually no reflected light at all.
Category: Automotive, Transport
Tags: Super-Black, Paint, Coatings, Cars, Robust
