Author Archives: Shane McGlaun

Scientists from Flinders University in Australia working with a University from Canada have discovered what they say is the first fish specimen that has shined a light on what they term as a missing evolutionary link in the fish to tetrapod transition. The fossil is from an ancient species of fish called Elpistostege, and it was discovered in Miguasha, Canada. The team says that it yields insights into how the human hand evolved from fish fins.

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Continental has announced the launch of a new 3D display that needs no glasses aimed directly at the automotive market. The display is a volume-production part that uses autostereoscopic 3D technology that will be used in the HMC Genesis GV80 high-line variant. The display screen features three-dimensional scales, pointers, and objects. For instance, the screen could display a stop sign warning in the driver's line of sight.

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One big area of focus for robotics researchers is soft robots that are more appropriate for working directly with humans. Researchers from Stanford University have developed a new kind of soft robot that borrows features from traditional robotics while retaining the ability to move and change shape typically found in soft robots. The team says that a significant limitation of most soft robots that they require an attachment to an air compressor or have to be plugged into a wall keeping them from being able to move.

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NASA is currently operating 11 satellite missions that are monitoring the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets. NASA says that those missions show that the ice sheets are melting six times faster than they were in the 1990s. The space agency also notes that if the melting trend continues, the regions are on track to match worst-case scenarios of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change for sea-level rise by 2100.

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Hyundai has announced the debut of the 2021 Elantra and Elantra Hybrid in Hollywood. Both of the vehicles are four-door with coupe styling using what Hyundai calls its "Parametric Dynamics" design theme. The digital debut in the vehicles was broadcast around the world and highlighted the latest version of the popular compact sedan.

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Porsche is showing off technology for seats used in its vehicles that involves 3D printing. The process prints the central section of the seat, which is the seat and backrest cushions using 3D printing technology. Porsche says that customers will be able to choose between three firmness levels, including hard, medium, and soft for the comfort layer in the future.

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When most people think of Mercury, they think of a scorching planet, and that would be accurate. Daytime temperatures on Mercury can reach 400 degrees Celsius or 750 degrees Fahrenheit. However, a new study says that the extreme heat on the planet likely helps to make some of the ice that is found on its surface.

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For many car guys and gals of a certain age, the car that comes to mind when you think of James Bond isn't an Aston Martin, it's a Lotus Esprit. Roger Moore famously drove a Lotus Esprit as James Bond that turned into a submarine and made the car an icon in its day. The Lotus Esprit has been off the market for several years, but rumors suggest that Lotus is working to bring the car back.

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A new study from Duke University has found that chronic exposure to microplastic fibers can cause aneurysms, erosion of surface layers, and other serious damage to fish gills. The study also found that chronic exposure to microplastic fibers increase egg production in female fish, which the scientists say is a sign that chemicals in the fibers are acting as endocrine disruptors.

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A clinical trial for a vaccine that aims to protect against the coronavirus will see participants receive the first dose today. Information on the coronavirus trial comes from a government official. The trial is being funded by the National Institutes of Health and takes place at Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute in Seattle.

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A company called Apex Motors has announced a new electric supercar called the AP-0. The company says that the car is a celebration of the feeling of being behind the wheel and offers a more connected driving experience while embodying sustainability and technology. The car uses lots of high-tech material in its construction, including a carbon fiber tub with modular space frames and a center spine for maximum rigidity.

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Researchers from ETH Zürich have announced that they have leveraged machine learning to develop a low-cost tactile sensor. The sensor can measure force distribution in high resolution and with high accuracy. Those features enable the robot arm to grasp sensitive, fragile objects with more dexterity. Enabling robotic grippers to feel is very important to making them more efficient.

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