Offbeat

RetroEpic to sponsor an animal lover at TEARS Sleepathon

Like cats, or dogs? Or just feel that animals have a hard enough time living with us on this planet? Well, RetroEpic and TEARS…

Explaining LIGO: detecting colliding black holes and gravitational waves

Feature image: The LIGO Facility in Hanford, Washington As most of you have probably heard by now, two astonishing discoveries have recently been made…

Mario Kart 8 toys now included with SA Happy Meals

I’ve not ashamed to admit I watch out for McDonalds Happy Meal toys from the yellow and red restaurant. In previous years, we were…

Real-life giant robots hope to meet in Pacific Rim-like arena battle next year

Last Tuesday, a team of American engineers representing Boston-based MegaBots challenged Japan’s Suidobashi Heavy Industries to a real life battle of giant robots. Although a specific…

MIT builds ‘first ever’ cheetah-like running, jumping four-legged robot

This week MIT researchers released a video featuring the first ever four-legged robot that can identify and jump over obstacles while running. Thanks to…

Solar-powered Ecocapsules let you live off-the-grid anywhere in the world

Those days of situating a mobile home or trailer along the coast as the sole alternative to semi off-the-grid living are over. Thanks to…

Mind-controlled prostheses closer to reality thanks to Össur

Bionic limbs are not all that farfetched, and one company has now brought a workable example into reality. Developed by a company called Össur, its…

Injured turtle saved, given new jaw thanks to 3D printing technology

In Turkey, a sea turtle struck by tragedy when a boat propeller hacked off a part of its jaw has a new claim to…

This duo flies across Dubai’s skyline using jetpacks, wingsuits [video]

Where do I start? How do I explain this? There’s no easy way so I am just going to come out and say it….

10 movies that predicted and inspired the future of tech

Since the days of Jules Verne — author of Around the World in Eighty Days, and the like — science fiction has been trying…

Scientists beam energy through the air with pinpoint accuracy

Japanese scientists have achieved a breakthrough in wireless energy transfer, successfully transmitting 1.8 kilowatts of power through the air. Using microwaves, the energy traveled a distance…

New creepy telescopic contact lens will zoom with a wink of an eye

Swiss researchers have released a new contact lens prototype that contains tiny telescopes that interact with a pair of smart eyeglasses to enhance vision…

Boston Dynamics’ latest robot ‘Spot’ moves like Bambi

The robot apocalypse is (probably) coming, and no we’re not quite joking. Okay, perhaps we are, but consider how ridiculously slick and advanced robotic…

SYNEK craft beer dispenser officially launches for lovers of ice cold gold

A few months ago we profiled an awesome little startup clocking up donations on Kickstarter, called SYNEK. Remember it? It was responsible for joining…

Japanese bioprinting firms to manufacture ‘custom-made’ bone and tissue

Scientists representing Tokyo University, Japanese medical research firm NEXT 21 K.K and Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) have joined forces to advance the development…

These spinal cord implants feature stretchy silicon-like circuitry

As you near the age of 40, subtle signs of aging begin to reveal themselves: an aching back, sudden movements you once thought harmless…

New breakthrough in levitation allows for greater ease of movement

Levitating objects and yourself up off the ground is the fantasy of, well, damn near everyone. It’s an idea that has captivated the imagination…

Watch this six-legged robot crawl into your nightmare

Although we’ve seen all kinds of impressive advances in robotics this year, perhaps none inspire as much fascination, and creepiness, as Hector, a six-legged…

Christmas decorator uses the Force for epic ‘Star Wars’ light show [Video]

Getting into the holiday spirit? We sure are, and this guy definitely is too. Around this time of year, we usually see the overzealous…

DARPA creates first ever self-guiding bullets

Camouflaged snipers are some of the most feared soldiers on any battlefield. From great distances and behind unseen barriers, sniper units can take their…

The PR2 robot can fetch beer, play pool and fold your laundry

The benefits to be had from automating household tasks is the dream of, well, everyone. After a long week of work, wasting your precious…

Humanoid robots will someday fly our planes

Pibot is the first ever humanoid robot designed to fly a plane autonomously. Researchers at South Korea’s Advanced Institute of Science and Technology responsible for…

Hardware hack of the day: make ice-cold candy from fridges’ ice dispenser

We’ve seen some ridiculous hardware hacks on YouTube in the past, featuring mega-consoles and X-Men-inspired Wolverine claws but this is at least something that…

VR entertainment could be coming to a British Airways flight near you

Google updates Chrome OS with better navigation and audio control

YouTube to stop monetisation of ‘unfair’ manual copyright claims

Five SA fintechs that service the growing market of SME lending

AlphaCode awards R16m in grants, support services to eight black-owned SA fintechs

Seedstars calls on startups to apply to Tanzania accelerator and receive $25k each

Some older Nokia smartphones to receive an extra year of updates

The foldable Huawei Mate X is now delayed until November

Open-world Need for Speed Heat is launching in November

Audi’s new cars in Germany will count you down, pace you to green lights

Two Ford Focus trim levels also found to have lock issues

South Africa’s govt ministers really love German cars and big Toyotas report reveals