NEWS : TECH (NFPC)

Deadly Tesla Lightning Battle: Gotta-See Video

Superheroes like Iron Man make their way to being super through technology, and now we have some of those powers today.

This video shows two people battling it out using electricity. They're throwing lightning bolts at each other while doused in red and blue lights. The whole choreographed show took place on the streets of Belfast, Ireland and though the fun starts at about 1:40, these guys are workin' it the whole time.

Tesla coils at high amperage allow electrical current to jump through the air through conductive material. Human bodies DO conduct electricity but these performers are wearing special suits to protect their fragile human forms.

If only science gladiators could battle it out like this...via dVice

Want to recommend a video? Tweet it to @Discovery_News with the hashtag #GottaSeeVideos.

Don't miss today's Must-Read DNews Nuggets and you can watch Discovery Curiosity video here.

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Skullcap for Sports-Related Head Injuries

It's way too often that we hear of athletes getting hurt on the job, especially football players. Whether it's high school, college or a professional team, the risk of head injuries and concussion from high-impact sports is a growing concern. Reebok and Massachusetts start-up MC10 teamed up to create an impact-sensing skullcap for players that can be worn with or without a helmet.

The cap, set to release in 2013, will fit much like the ones swimmers use. It's outfitted with sensors and stretchable electronics to measure and detect when an injury has occurred. LED lights on the cap flash red, yellow or green to advise on the severity of the injury.

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The driving force for the creation of this product was the lack of biometric data for head injuries in sports. There are helmets that already have biometric sensors embedded in them, but they are costly and usually only limited to one sport.

The cap costs a lot less than current technology. This makes it more accessible to all sports, regardless of budget constraints so that every player -- from the kid on a pee-wee football team to the professional hockey player -- will have the same opportunities to monitor and manage their safety.

via Technology Review

Credit: Chabruken / Getty Images

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Google Street View Hits the Trails

There was a time when I saw the Google Street View car a lot in my town. It became almost a daily event. And then as quickly as it came, it disappeared. Now, in attempt to leave no stone unturned on this planet, Google is taking it to the trail.

In their blog post this week, Google introduced the Trekker, a 40-lb backpack with one of those big-balled camera systems, to span rugged terrain those little hatchback cars can't handle. The ball has 15 cameras inside that capture images every 2.5 seconds.

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On its first outing to the Grand Canyon, the Trekker was able to capture 360-degree images of the landmark through its Android-controlled platform. The Street View team is continuing this week through the South Rim in the Grand Canyon National Park, as well as the Bright Angel Trail and South Kaibab Trail.

So, aside from rugged terrain and national parks, where else could the Trekker go? How about Venice? The narrow streets and unpredictable water has made it virtually impossible to get shots of the famed streets through traditional Google means. That's just one of the places they hope to get into. For now, panoramic views of their current travels will be up on Google Maps within the coming weeks.

via Laughing Squid

Credit: Google

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Felix Baumgartner Also Shattered YouTube Record

Were you one of the millions of people across the globe who tuned in to watch the live YouTube stream of daredevil Felix Baumgartner's historic leap from the edge of space? If so, you also helped break a record.

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At its peak, there were more than 8 million concurrent live streams of the stunt, YouTube confirmed Sunday in a blog post.

WIDE ANGLE: Red Bull Stratos Skydive

"We congratulate Felix Baumgartner and the entire Red Bull Stratos team for their successful mission, and for creating a live stream with the most concurrent views ever on YouTube," the blog post stated.

According to All Thing D, the previous record for a YouTube livestream was set during the London Olympics when 500,000 people tuned in. Baumgartner shattered that record before he even stepped out his launch pod, as 7.1 million people tuned in as he made his ascent.

But something tells me the YouTube record will remain a bit overshadowed. In case you need a refresher, here are the other records Baumgartner broke: highest jump from a platform (128,100 feet), longest freefall distance (119,846 feet) and maximum vertical velocity (833.9 mph or Mach 1.24).

PHOTOS: When Felix Jumped, The World Jumped With Him

That last record makes Baumgartner the first human to break the sound barrier outside of an aircraft. If you missed the live stream of the supersonic freefall or just want to relive the glory, check out the video below.

 

via Mashable

Credit: Red Bull Stratos

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Human-Powered Bike Set To Break Records

Over a decade ago, Scottish cyclist Graeme Obree broke records with his  bicycle he called Old Faithful. The handlebars for the bike sat right under the rider's chest, which gave it aerodynamic advantages. The advantages were so great, that after Obree's victory in 1993, the position of the handlebars was banned.

PHOTOS: Work It! Human-Powered Machines

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Obree set about designing a new bike and with it, hopes to be the first man to break the 100 mph record for a human-powered vehicle. (The current IHPVA land speed record is 82.81 9mph, held by Canadian Sam Whittingham.) Obree's bike, named Beastie, has a compact front and a slim width, and unlike standard bikes, is not pedaled by foot using a circular motion but powered using a push and pull method. The design keeps the rider's knees from having to dip, which aids in aerodynamics. In addition, the bike has skin. Obree worked with the Glasgow School of Art to create a clear cover to encase the rider and make him resemble an engine.

EXCELLENT IDEA OF THE DAY: Bike Lanes in the Sky

Originally, Obree set his sights on this year's International Human Powered Vehicle Association event in Battle Mountain, Nev, which is being held from Sept. 10 to 15. But, according to Obree's website, the bike isn't ready for prime time. A statement says, "This is disappointing but we have had technical issues in particular with regard to the fairing construction. We are not 100 percent happy with what we have and do not want to travel to Battle Mountain with any part of The Beastie unsatisfactory."

While the bike isn't ready for this year's event, Obree and his team are planning to attend a future speed event in the U.K. to try and break the record in the coming weeks. Stay tuned.

via Humans Invent

Credit: Graeme Obree

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Underwater Wheelchair Freewheels the Deep

When it comes to diving into the waters of self expression, British artist Sue Austin is as freewheeling as they come. As the 2012 Paralympics kick off this week in London, Austin has been making waves with a series of performances and film screenings of "Creating the Spectacle," a theatrical video of Austin as she navigates the deep in her underwater wheelchair.

According to the project's website, the work's "unexpected juxtapositions" aim "to excite and inspire by creating images that transform preconceptions."

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Austin, who's been in a wheelchair since 1996, told the BBC that she first had the idea for the project after learning to scuba dive in 2005.

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"When we started talking to people about it, engineers were saying it wouldn't work, the wheelchair would go into a spin, it was not designed to go through water -- but I was sure it would," she said.

Austin's wheelchair is powered by two dive propulsion thrusters under her seat. To steer, Austin slips her feet into an acrylic, U-shaped fin reminiscent of stingray wings. She also uses floatation devices for buoyancy.

Austin modified a standard-issue wheelchair from Britain's National Health Service (NHS) because it "is one of the most ubiquitous images of disability" and she wants this project to leave "a legacy of attitudinal change" in regards to the public perception of disability.

BLOG: Tongue Drives Wheelchair

The wheelchair has patents pending and is already making a splash outside of the art world.

"We've had Professional Association of Diving Instructors course directors and very experienced divers saying they would pay to hire it," Austin said.

"The Oceanography department at the University of Plymouth, where I did a BA in performing art, said it would make their courses accessible to students with disabilities."

Visit Creating the Spectacle's website to learn more about the project, film and live performances. In the meantime, grab your scuba gear and take an enchanting trip under the sea with Austin in the following video.

 

 via BBC  

Credit: Norman Lomax

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Nyad's High-Tech Wetsuit Didn't Stop Jelly Stings

Long-distance swimmer Diana Nyad was pulled out of the water earlier today en route to the Florida Keys from Cuba. Four days into her bid, she was in the middle of a storm, suffering from jellyfish stings despite donning a high-tech wetsuit that was supposed to protect against them.

Swimmer, Nyad, Pulled From Water: DNews Nugget

Originally Nyad, 63, wanted to attempt the roughly 100-mile crossing without a wetsuit. She'd been adamant about pursuing the massive swim with as little aid as possible, notably refusing a shark cage like the one used by Australian Susie Maroney in her historic 1997 swim.

Sharks aside, jellyfish are so dangerous that the groups governing marathon swimming changed the rules to allow wetsuits. The catch: the suits can't contain neoprene because that kind of material provides unfair floatation. So Nyad collaborated with the California-based company FINIS on a high-tech hooded sting suit that would "allow her to avoid the painful stings of the box jellyfish." While the suit's exact specifications aren't public, the suit did meet the new requirements.

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Nyad had blogged that the custom sting suit was actually harder for her to swim in than a regular bathing suit, but at night the jellyfish threat increased. In a video of Nyad demonstrating the suit she said, "The jellyfish are becoming an issue worldwide and for ocean swimmers, we're beginning to have to resort to tactics like this." Nyad's exposed skin got smeared with black-tinted anhydrous lanolin to prevent rubbing and help with warmth.

Technologies Inspired by Sharks: Photos

Nyad didn't encounter any jellyfish on her first try in 1978, but they thwarted her attempt last summer. "I experienced that jellyfish sting last year for 41 hours," she said in another video. "I'm lucky I lived through it frankly." This time, they struck again through her custom suit, their venom slowing her average pace. She got zapped nine times yesterday.

Ultimately, it was a large tropical storm that finally forced a weakened Nyad from the water. Her 64th birthday is tomorrow.

Photo: Diana Nyad at first light during her latest attempt to reach Florida from Cuba. Credit: Christi Barli.

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Environmental Efforts Power the Olympics

We’re seeing a lot of gold at this year’s Olympics, but behind the scenes, it’s all green. From environmentally responsible energy to recyclable venues, the London 2012 Olympics could be one of the most eco-friendly games yet. Two areas stand out when talking about sustainability and the Olympics, transportation and architecture, and here’s a few ways London is keeping them green:

Transportation

BMW is providing two-hundred zero-emission electric cars comprised of 160 ActiveE First Drive and 40 Mini Cooper Mini Es (right). GE has placed 120 of their DuraStation EV chargers throughout the Olympic Village to keep the cars juiced and ready to go.

An even cuter “mini-er” Mini Cooper (right) is being used to transport athletic gear. According to Edmunds Inside Line, the radio-controlled electric vehicles are small enough to carry equipment like a single discus or two javelins, which can be accessed through a sunroof. Charging up in about 80 minutes, the cars can carry up to 18 pounds and have a range of around 109 yards.

Architecture

All of the structures built for the London 2012 Olympics were done so with environmental sustainability and energy consumption in mind. Both the Velodrome (above), home of indoor cycling, and the Copperbox, venue for handball and badminton, collect rainwater from their sloped roofs for indoor plumbing usage, which cuts water consumption by 40 percent annually. Using a natural ventilation system, outdoor air is used to keep the more than 6,000 visitors to the Velodrome cool -- no A/C needed.

Two buildings in Olympic Park won’t last long after the closing ceremonies -- and that’s ok. The Water Polo Arena (right) and the Basketball arena will be torn down immediately after the Olympics are over. Both structures were built with PVC fabric that’s highly recyclable and will be reused for other construction projects. The wings of the exterior of the Aquatic Center will also be removed and the main structure will be used for other London community events. 

So, whether you’re watching at home or from the stands, remember that not only are these games making athletic history, they are also making environmental history. 

Credits: Edmund Sumner/View/Corbis (top); BMW North America (middle); London 2012 (bottom)

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Human-Powered Sub Sets Speed Record

The Olympics may be in London, but in Gosport, some 80 miles away on the south coast of England, another international competition unfolded for the fastest human-powered submarine.

The inaugural European International Submarine Races (eISR) were held on June 25-39 at Qinetiq, the former Royal Navy's testing facility in Gosport. Teams of students from around the world showed off their designs for a submarine powered entirely by human muscle. No energy storage was allowed -- no batteries, flywheels or motor assists.

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The winner was the Omer 8 (above), from the Ecole de Technologie Superieure of Montreal, Quebec. It hit a speed of 7.03 knots (8.08 mph) over a 13-meter section of the course. In second place was the Talon 1, from Florida Atlantic University, and the University of Bath's Minerva was in third.

The Talon 1, from FLorida Atlantic University, came in second place.

The race was in a 60- by 120-meter pool, with both a speed section and a slalom -- the point was to demonstrate both speed and maneuverability. Each team's overall score was calculated from how the sub performed on different tasks. So while Omer 8 won the speed round, FAU's Talon 1 took the prize for agility and the University of Michigan's Wolverine won for innovation.

The University of Bath's Minerva.

All were crewed by a person in SCUBA gear, as adding a separate air supply complicates the design. But they took slightly different tacks for powering the subs and maneuvering them -- some had electrical assists for adjusting fins in order to steer.

The Wolverine, the entry from the University of Michigan.

Powering a submarine is a lot different from a bicycle or even the human-powered aircraft designs, though they all use pedals. "You have to strap your feet into the pedals," said Jennifer Blowers, a mechanical engineering student on the University of Bath's team. "On a bike you have gravity and momentum, but on the boat you don't get any of that."

This means that a human crew member has to push that much harder. It's also important that the bottom of the sub be transparent, because the course is marked at the bottom of the pool.

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Then there are the engineering challenges of working in the water. "You've got rust, friction and you try not to drop the Allen keys," Blowers said.

This record has been accepted by the International Submarine Races -- home of human-powered submarine racing in the United States, which sponsors its own race, the next of which is scheduled for June 2013.

Photo: The Omer 8, which set the speed record (top). Credit: European International Submarine Races

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Super Snorkel Helps You Breathe Underwater

Powerbreather: Still in Development

Many people would love to learn how to swim, but the fear of water, or drowning, keeps them on dry land. A new breathing apparatus called the Powerbreather could help those people overcome their fear and take to the waves. 

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The device is a ring-shaped snorkel that lets swimmers take in air through a valve on top of the device behind the head and exhale into a valve over their mouth. The valves are designed to keep water and exhaled air out so that a swimmer is only taking in fresh air.

Flexible plastic helps the ring sit around the head securely and can be adjusted to fit different sizes. Geared more toward beginning swimmers, it’s doubtful that we’d see Michael Phelps sporting one of these at this year's Olympics, but it could be a good way to get people over their fear and introduce them to a sport they otherwise would’ve avoided.

via GearPatrol

Credit: Powerbreather

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