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Editors Letter
Issue #96, November 2016
EDITORIAL
Editor Anthony Fordham afordham@nextmedia.com.au
Contributors Brooke Borel, Tom Clynes, Clay Dillow, Nicole Dyer,
Daniel Engber, Tom Foster, William Gurstelle, Lindsay Handmer, Mike Haney,
Joseph Hooper, Corinne Iozzio, Gregory Mone, Adam Piore, P.W. Singer, Erik
Sofge, Kalee Thompson, James Vlahos, Jacob Ward, Daniel Wilks
DESIGN
Group Art Director Malcolm Campbell
Art Director Danny McGonigle
ADVERTISING
Divisional Manager
Jim Preece jpreece@nextmedia.com.au
ph: 02 9901 6150
National Advertising Sales Manager
Lewis Preece lpreece@nextmedia.com.au
ph: 02 9901 6175
Production Manager Peter Ryman
Circulation Director Carole Jones
US EDITION
Articles Editor Kevin Gray
Managing Editor Jill C. Shomer
Senior Editor Sophie Bushwick
Technology Editor Xavier Harding
Assistant Editors Dave Gershgorn, Matt Giles
Editorial Assistant Grennan Milliken
Copy Chief Cindy Martin
Researchers Ambrose Martos, Erika Villani
Editorial Intern Annabel Edwards
ART AND PHOTOGRAPHY
Acting Design Director Chris Mueller
Photo Director Thomas Payne
Digital Associate Art Director Michael Moreno
Associate Art Director Russ Smith
Acting Production Manager Paul Catalano
POPSCI.COM
Online Director Carl Franzen
Senior Editor Paul Adams
Assistant Editors Sarah Fecht, Claire Maldarelli
Contributing Writers Kelsey D. Atherton,
Mary Beth Griggs,Alexandra Ossola
BONNIERS TECHNOLOGY GROUP
Group Editorial Director Anthony Licata
Group Publisher Gregory D Gatto
BONNIER
Chairman Tomas Franzen
Chief Executive Officer Eric Zinczenko
Chief Content Officer David Ritchie
Chief Operating Officer Lisa Earlywine
Senior Vice President, Digital Bruno Sousa
Vice President, Consumer Marketing John Reese
www.popsci.com.au
To subscribe, call 1300 361 146
or visit www.mymagazines.com.au
P O P S C I . C O M. AU
Contents
18
THE BEST OF
WHATS NEW
Our annual round up of the
innovations and technological
breakthroughs that have brought us a
little closer to living in the future...
NOV E M BER 2 0 1 6
For daily updates: www.popsci.com.au
06
10
08
12
14
74
17
77
Departments
MANUAL
NOW
82 Lab Rats
P OP SC I . C O M. AU
05
GOOGLE
ENTERS THE
SMARTPHONE
M A R K E T. . .
AGAIN
by
A nthony
F ordham
POPUL AR S CI E NCE
RELIABILITY WINS
THE PRIZE?
Toybox
by
Anthony
Fordham
AUTOPILOT
DEPENDENCE
Like GoPros anticipated
Karma drone, the Xplorer
V doesnt have the kind
of automatic collision
avoidance found in the
DJI Phantom 4. Some
observers call this a deal
breaker, which we think
highlights how dependent
were becoming on automatic systems. Quadcopters are already easy to
fly compared to a more
traditional helicopter,
and most of the popular
models before now have
had very little automation
beyond stability control
and autoland. That said,
as this market continues
to mature, you can expect
to see increasing amounts
of AI built into these little
aircraft. Thanks to mobile
data connectivity, future
drones will even keep
within CASA regulated
altitudes and will refuse to
fly into restricted airspace.
XIRO XPLORER V
Flight time: 25 minutes (ideal)
Speed: 28.8 km/h
Max altitude: 120 m
Camera: 3-axis, 1080p, 30fps
Battery: 5200mAh
Hovering accuracy: 0.5m vertical,
1.5m horizontal
Extras: Hard shell backpack
PRICE: $899
WEB: xirodrone.com
PO PUL AR S CI E NCE
www.heos.com.au
ANY ROOM OR EVERY ROOM
MULTIROOM
PORTABLE PLAYER
OF THE YEAR
HEOS 1
Refresh
DIY ELECTRONICS
GETS BLUETOOTH
(AND MORE)
by ANTH ON Y FO RD HA M
WE LOOKED AT LITTLEBITS
musician-focused synth kit
last issue, and mentioned that
other bundles in the innovative
startups catalogue are pitched
more to kids and schools,
tinkerers and prototypers.
Well, those inventors just
got a functionality boost with
version two of the popular
Gadgets and Gizmos kit. This
top-tier kit includes a lot of bits
including, now, two Bluetooth
modules for wireless control.
The first edition of the kit
had two WiFi bits, which were
actually a remote control radio
transmitter and receiver. It
was possible to select different
channels but overall options
10
by
AN TH ON Y
FO RD HA M
POPUL A R S CI E NCE
PRICE: $390
WEB: www.tnsconnect.com.au
AUDACIOUS ARDUINO
PRICE: $190
WEB: www.tnsconnect.com.au
The Comeback
C O M PACT
ANALOGUE
SYNTHS BRING
T H E B E AT B A C K
by Antho ny F or dh am
ANALOGUE SYNTHS?
12
POPUL A R S CI E NCE
solution around.
Speedlab
A U S S I E R & D C R E AT E S
TOUGH SIBLINGS
by Anthony Fordham
14
PO PUL A R S CI E NCE
Paradigm Shift
THE CAR
ENOUGH
DYSON W
CLEAN Y
by
A nthony
F ordham
16
POPUL A R S CI E NCE
The Upgrade
BY OUR DEEDS
WE SHALL
HONOUR HIM!
DYSONS HANDHELD VACS
left the competition literally in the
dust some time ago, harnessing
the companys so-called digital
motors to create batterypowered suction that rivals most
plug-ins. The V8 is quieter, more
powerful, collects more allergens,
has what Dyson calls a whole
machine filter, and runs for seven
minutes in super-suck mode.
Thats thanks to a nickelcobalt-aluminium battery (the
aluminium replaces manganese,
but otherwise this is still a
Lithium-ion battery). Seven
minutes might not sound that long,
but we usually find it enough to
give a wool living room rug a really
deep clean after a week of having a
putational Infrastructure
, and hosted
niversity
he Australian
borative
tegy, with
d through a
, Bureau of
Closing date
Enquiries
For further information about the
SRVLWLRQDQGIRUDFRQGHQWLDOGLVFXVVLRQ
please contact:
Clare Schnelle, Perrett Laver,
clare.schnelle@perrettlaver.com
or +61 2 8354 4004.
Alternatively, please visit
www.perrettlaver.com/candidates
and quote reference #2748.
Recruitment partner:
MO_HR16815
to lead
astructure
t and most
rmance
providing
ralian
overnment
INSIDE
H E A L TH
20
SECURITY
48
AUTO
26
HOME
52
E N T E RTAINMENT
32
GADGETS
58
A E R O SPACE
36
ENGINEERING
62
R E C R EATION
42
SOFTWARE
68
Illustration by SINELAB
18
PO PUL A R S CI E NCE
O F W H A TS N E W
AT POPULAR SCIENCE, WE SPEND A LOT OF TIME OBSESSING about
the future. What will it look like? How will we get there?
(And where the heck is that ying car already?) Our annual Best of Whats New awards, now in its 29th year,
doesnt have a ying car, but it does have 100 extraordinary innovationsgrounded in the here and nowthat make us feel pretty
good about where things are headed.
P OP SC I . C O M. AU
19
Finally, a Vaccine
for Dengue
20
POP U L A R S CI E NCE
H E A LT H
b y A L Y S S A F A V R E A U + C L A I R E MALDARELLI
21
P OP SC I . C O M. AU
A
WITHINGS THERMO
A Friendlier
Thermometer
B
BRAEBURN PHARMA.
PROBUPHINE IMPLANT
OLIVO LABS
SECOND SKIN
ABBOTT
ABSORB
CHILDRENS NATIONAL
MEDICAL CENTER STAR
ABBOTT
FREESTYLE LIBRE
Easy Opioid
Maintenance
Stick-On
Skincare
A Disappearing
Cardiac Stent
Most Dexterous
Robot Surgeon
Prickless
Glucose Test
Metal stentssmall
tubes that unclog and
heal blocked arteries
are a mainstay in cardiac
surgery. But because that
metal stays around
indefinitely, plaque can
rebuild around it. Absorb
is a fully bioabsorbable
stent that does the same
healing work, but it
dissolves when
itsfinished. Made of
polylactidea
biodegradable polymer
also used in dissolving
suturesthe device
proved to be on par with
its metal counterpart in
clinical trials.
D
ST. RENATUS KOVANAZE NASAL SPRAY
Needle-Free
Dentistry
E
NIMA
AMGEN
IMLYGIC
SHIFT LABS
DRIPASSIST
MIT
RAPID ZIKA TEST
Pocket Gluten
Detector
A Virus That
Fights Cancer
Simpler IV
Control
Low-Cost
Zika Test
In developing countries or
military outposts, nurses
often count IV fluids drop
by drop to ensure
medicine flows into a vein
at the proper rate.
Infusion pumps common
in hospitals are
expensive, large, and
require electricity. The
DripAssist is a strippeddown, compact infusion
monitor that runs on a
single AA battery.
Attached near the bag
end of an IV tube, the
150-mm device monitors
flow for a fraction
of the cost of traditional
hospital pumps.
P OP SC I . C O M. AU
23
HEALTH
Our Bodies
Can Kill Cancer
CANCER CELLS SPREAD DUE TO THEIR INSIDIOUS ABILITY TO
24
PO PUL A R S CI E NCE
Illustration by K Y L E H I L T O N
KOENIGSEGG FREEVALVE
A
U
T
O
26
POP U L A R S CI E NCE
By CL I FF O RD A T IY EH
P OP SC I . C O M. AU
27
28
POP U L A R S CI E NCE
4MOMS SELF-INSTALLING
CAR SEAT
2017 CHEVROLET
BOLT EV
2017 AUDI
SQ7 TDI
AIRBUS APWORKS
LIGHT RIDER
Foolproof
Infant Seat
The EV for
Everyone
Full Turbo,
No Waiting
Affordable electric
vehicles have struggled
to break the 350-kmrange barrier. General
Motors (no, not Tesla) is
getting there first. It
all comes down to the
battery: The Bolts 288cell, 60-kilowatt-hour
lithium-ion powerhouse
is heavy in nickel, which
boosts energy density
and extends range to
380 km. Liberal use
of aluminium in the
hood, doors, tailgate,
and suspension keep
the car from getting
weighed down.
Powerful as it is, a
turbocharger lags
before kicking in; its
asleep until exhaust
builds up to spool its
turbine, blasting
pressurised air into the
engine. The Audi SQ7 TDI
uses a 7-kilowatt
electric motor to spin its
turbine. Inspired by
Formula 1, the system
hits 70,000 rpm in less
than 0.25 seconds. For
now, the electricpowered compressor
(EPC) is Europe-only.
We cant wait for it
to head down under.
3D Printed
Motorcycle
Helping offset the heavy
battery in the APWorks
Light Rider is a fully
3D-printed body.
The prototype bikes
skeletal aluminium frame
cuts the weight to a svelte
34kilos a 30 per cent
dip on conventional
manufacturing weight.
HERE
HD LIVE MAP
MCLAREN
570S
2017 MERCEDES-BENZ
E-CLASS
TESLA
AUTOPILOT
Lightest Feet
on a Car
The Most
Detailed Maps
Car
Talk
Your Robot
Driving Buddy
A Drivable
Supercar
P OP SC I . C O M. AU
29
DontBlamethe
Robots;BlameUs
THE SLACK CHANNEL AT THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIAS
AUTO
31
OSSIC X
The Sweet
Sound of
Virtual Reality
B Y X A V I E R H A R D I N G + ANDREA SMITH
32
POP U L A R S CI E NCE
ENTERTAINMENT
P OP SC I . C O M. AU
33
A
SAMSUNG 4K ULTRA HD BLU-RAY PLAYER
The First 4K
Blu-ray Player
ANKI
COZMO
LYTRO
CINEMA CAMERA
PARROT
DISCO
YAMAHA
TRANSACOUSTIC GUITAR
VR for Regular
People
The Smartest
Robot Pet
Green Screen,
Sans the Green
Easiest-Flying
Drone
Onboard
Axe Effects
Light-field cameras,
which allow users to
tweak parts of an
image into focus post
shot, are increasingly
common among
consumer cameras. The
755-megapixel Lytro
Cinema Camera brings
the tech to pro
filmmakers, making
postproduction effects
easier than ever. Among
the editing tricks it opens
up: shifting focus,
adjusting film speed, and
removing and replacing
any part of the
backgroundno green
screen required.
F
SONY PORTABLE ULTRA SHORT THROW PROJECTOR
Projection on
Any Surface
G
34
POP U L A R S CI E NCE
LG
SIGNATURE OLED TV
HELLO GAMES
NO MANS SKY
YAMAHA
YSP-5600
The Most
Colorful Picture
A Hemisphere
of Sound
Most home surround sound is twodi ensional, pinging audio front to back
and side to side. When it launched two
years ago, the Dolby Atmos audio
standard added height to the equation; this
year, Yamahas YSP-5600 became the
first to cram the spec into a single speaker.
The sound bars 32 forward-firing drivers are
joined by 12 upward-firing ones, which
ricochet sounds off the ceiling, like a
helicopter flying overhead or birds in a tree.
Or simply use the first 7.1.2 channel sound bar
to play your favorite tunes off Spotify,
Pandora, and more.
ENTERTAINMENT
B
SONY
PLAYSTATION VR
E
B
P OP SC I . C O M. AU
35
NASA JUNO
Journey to the
Center of a Gas Giant
36
PO P U L A R S CI E NCE
AEROSPACE
P OP SC I . C O M. AU
37
BIGELOW AEROSPACE
BIGELOW EXPANDABLE ACTIVITY MODULE (BEAM)
LOCKHEED MARTIN
SKUNK WORKS SPIDER
SPACEX
FALCON 9
Inatable
Space House
An AirshipFixing Robot
Rocket Sticks
the Sea Landing
Gliding to the
Edge of Space
A better understanding
of the stratosphere
could lead to improved
weather and climate
models. To gather data
without releasing engine
emissions that could
muddy air samples,
scientists are sending
the Perlan 2 glider. After
a test to reach 55,000
feet, they aim to sustain
flight at an altitude of
90,000 feet by 2017.
These findings could
also help Airbus design
aircraft that fly more
efficiently in thin air
like, say, in the
atmosphere of Mars.
In May, astronauts
attached the BEAM
habitat to the exterior of
the International Space
Station and then
expanded it. Made of an
internal skeleton and
layers of Kevlar-like
fabric, Bigelows pod is
small and lighteasy
packing for space trips.
38
POP U L A R S CI E NCE
D
PERLAN PROJECT INC
AIRBUS PERLAN MISSION II
ZAPATA INDUSTRIES
FLYBOARD AIR
AERION CORPORATION
FACEBOOK
AQUILA
GERMAN AEROSPACE
CENTRE HY4
DRAPER
MAJIC
High-Flying
Hoverboard
Supersonic
Returns
Internet
Via Drone
Hydrogen-Cell
Four-Seater
Astronaut
Jetpack
PHOTO
CREDI TS
SEE PAGE
87
AEROSPACE
1/ Quiet Cruise
When air molecules
slam into a supersonic
jet, they create a highpressure wake that
reaches the ground as a
startling ba-boom. By
slowing down its cruise
speed to Mach 1.2 (the
Concordes was Mach 2),
the AS2s wake will
dissipate before
it reaches civilisation.
By RYAN F. MANDELBAUM
40
POPUL A R S CI E NCE
3/ Pinch Point
The AS2s 50-metrelong fuselage pinches in
at the wings, creating an
elongated Coke-bottle
shape. This allows for
smoother airflow
around the body while
still providing room in
the cabin for passengers
and crew.
CO URTESY AERIO N
How to Go Sonic
Without a Boom
4/ Off-the-Shelf Engines
Instead of building expensive custom engines,
Aerion plans to adapt commercially available
ones for supersonic flight. The engineers will
reduce the diameter of the big engines fans so
their sound at takeoff and landing will meet
airport noise standardswithout losing the
power needed to achieve supersonic flight.
RECREATION
melt-then-freeze reaction;
melting disperses the ice, and
freezing against the textured
sole creates more surface area
for the lugs to grab onto.
Photograph by S A M K A P L A N
P OP SC I . C O M. AU
43
A
GIRO
AVANCE MIPS
The Safest
Ski Helmet
Two milliseconds is all it takes to injure
the brain in a collision. Giros Avance does
more than any other helmet to protect
our gray matter. The helmet utilises Multidirectional Impact Protection System
(MIPS), a burgeoning head-safety technology.
It allows the wearers head to
move inside a helmet like a ball in a socket.
An inner shell holds the head steady while
the outer shell rotates. This movement
deflects the forces that cause the worst
brain injuries. For extra measure, Giro
made the inner shell of premium foam to
protect against successive impacts.
B
ONCOURSE
GOGGLES
BSX
LVL
GPS for
Swimmers
Dehydration
Detector
Even professional
athletes are terrible at
staying hydrated. So BSX
created the wrist-worn
LVL, the first wearable to
measure hydration in real
time. Other wearables
make surface
measurements close to
the skin, but LVL uses
near-infrared light to
peer beneath it and
record changes in blood
colour, which are
indicative of hydration
levels. If the wearer is
dehydrated, it alerts
them with an on-screen
message. Drink up!
B
D
D
AXE ELEMENT HYPERWHIP BASEBALL BAT
Better Grip,
Faster Swing
Round bats with round handles are
as old as baseball. Now theres
a bat with a handle like an axe. Its
ovular shape provides a better grip,
and the tapered end protects from
injuries when clobbering fastball
after fastball. (Turn the page
to find out what a pro thinks.)
44
POP U L A R S CI E NCE
E
CALLAWAY
XR16 DRIVER
Aircraft-Grade
Golf Club
Callaway wanted a driver that could
slice through the air like a jet, so it
turned to Boeing. Tiny ridges on the
XR16s club head cut air resistance by
30 per cent over Callaways next-best
driver. Speed adds distance to drives.
HYDRA-LIGHT PL-500
SALTWATER CHARGER
SHARKBANZ
WRISTBAND
Beachside
Phone Charger
Wearable Shark
Repellent
H
THE NORTH FACE
HYPERAIR GTX JACKET
No-Sweat
Rain Jacket
Waterproof jackets
might keep rain out, but
runners and cyclists still
end up soakedin sweat.
The North Face and
Gore-Tex have made an
ultralight waterproof
shell that breathes. The
fabric has a microgrid
backer that airs out
perspiration. As sweat
condenses, the grid lets
it out as vapour. It also
has a membrane thats
tight enough to make
sure water beads on the
outside. Once the storm
passes, the jacket can be
shoved into a pocket.
P OP SC I . C O M. AU
45
SOME OF MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALLS BEST HITTERS HAVE TOSSED ASIDE their
old sluggers for something called the Axe Bat. As the name implies,
its part axethanks to a contoured oval handle and an angled
knoband promises players a more natural grip, better bat control, more-powerful swings, and a reduced risk of hand injuries.
Chili Davis, the Boston Red Sox hitting coachwhose own 18-year
MLB career netted 350 homers and three World Series ringsset
the shift in motion when he brought one to spring training last year.
When Chili swings, players take note, and two Sox are now swatting
full-time with the axe. Davis tells us the new lumber has a strong
future in the batters box.
RECREATION
BatLike a
Lumberjack
46
POP U L A R S CI E NCE
Illustration b y K Y L E H I L T O N
,
Bush Heritage ConnectF
<*h,*h,,
h
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*,
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F
Sound+Image magazine on the Award-Winning Heritage II Connect
Features: <* h , F
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OPENWORKS ENGINEERING
SKYWALL 100
The Drone
Catcher
48
POP U L A R S CI E NCE
SECURITY
P OP SC I . C O M. AU
49
SECURITY
A
SCOTT SAFETY
SCOTT SIGHT
Fireghter
Super Vision
Hand-held thermal
cameras have guided
firefighters through
smoke-filled buildings
since the 90s. Scott Sight
moves the camera and
display into a face mask,
freeing first responders
hands for more important
things, like saving lives.
50
POP U L A R S CI E NCE
METASENSOR
SENSOR-1
Motion Sensors
for Your Stuff
The Militarys
First Drone Ship
KNIGHTSCOPE
K3
BROADBAND
DISCOVERY RONIN
RED BALLOON
SYMBIOTE DEFENSE
QUALCOMM
SNAPDRAGON SENSE ID
ROOST
SMART BATTERY
Autonomous
Robot Mall Cop
Eagle-Eyed
Checkpoint
Universal
Anti-Virus
Not Just a
Battery
Unhackable
Print Scanner
P OP SC I . C O M. AU
51
H
O
M
E
52
POP U L A R S CI E NCE
Light Hammer
Heavy Hitter
A
NWI CUBIT
Math-Whiz
Measuring Tool
B
BOSCH
REAXX
DEWALT
FLEXVOLT BATTERY
NELSON
SOLAR-ACTIVE FACADE
SHERWIN WILLIAMS
PAINT SHIELD
The Safest
Table Saw
A Battery for
Every Tool
Energy-Saving
House Exterior
Goodbye expensive
energy bills. Made of
wood and glass, Nelsons
home exterior can both
warm a home and cool it.
In winter, the suns rays
pass through a glass
facade and warm an
internal layer of louvered
wood, which traps the
heat to create a thermal
buffer against the
nighttime cold. In
summer, when the
sun is higher in the sky
its rays strike these
angled wooden slats,
which create a shading
effect for the home,
keeping it cool.
House Paint
That Kills Disease
F
SAMSUNG FAMILY HUB REFRIGERATOR
A Fridge That
Helps You Shop
As you travel home from a hard day. you cant recall if you ate
that last artisanal pudding. The Family Hub refrigerator has
three internal cameras that spy on your supplies (or lack
thereof). Tap an app, and theres a picture of your shelves.
EMBER
An Air Purifier
That Actually Purifies
Just-Right
Light
A Mug That
Brings the Heat
Temperature will
influence a coffees
flavour. A few degrees
off, and your precious
pour-over might as well
be a street-corner
bodega brew. The Ember
mug gets taste right
every time, because
phase-change materials
(a substance akin to
candle wax) embedded
in its walls deliver
precise temperature
controlfrom an
optimal 48 to 65
degreesset by a handy
dial on the base. Taste
that, bodega coffee man.
PO P U L A R S CI E NCE
LIGHTING SCIENCE
HEALTHE GENESIS
54
MOLEKULE
The Internet
of Meh
Netatmo
Welcome
This stationary camera
can spot burglars, but
records only if theyre
in front of it. Sorry,
no perp IDs: Its facial
recognition knows only
your family.
Delta
Leak Detector
Put this moisture
sensor where a leak
might occur (under
the sink?); itll ping
to validate your
dripping paranoia.
Awair+
This climate-control
assistant tracks
temperature, humidity, CO2, volatile
organic compounds,
and dust in the air
and can adjust your
aircon accordingly.
Smart
CleverPet
Too busy to exercise
your portly pug?
This treat dispenser
withholds goodies
until he plays simple
games, like catching
a light flashing atop
the bowl.
Frivolity
Necessity
August
Smart Lock
Smart locks are
super-handy when
the kids are locked
out. And, to almost
no ones surprise,
theyre also
super-hackable.
ResetPlug
Did you try
rebooting it? When
the ResetPlug
notices your WiFi
network go down, it
proactively carries
out an IT guys go-to
solutionso you
dont have to.
Philips
Hue Lights
When youre too
sleepy, tipsy, or lazy
to get up to turn off
the lights, you can
just order Siri or
Alexa to do it.
Dumb
SmartMat
Pressure sensors in
this yoga mat track
your posture. Just a
guess, but checking
an app midpose
probably wont help.
HOME
Amazon Dash
These buttons order
stuff like soapor
Red Bullassuming
you think to hit em.
Nespresso Prodigo
Because pod coffee
apparently needs to
be easier, you can use
the Nespresso app to
brew your espresso
from bed.
By D A V E G E R S H G O R N
56
POP U L A R S CI E NCE
Thats right, you heard right, the Australian Popular Science app is out now!
Plus, you can check out our other great science title Australian Science Illustrated.
WHY GO APP?
GADGETS
GOOGLE PROJECT FI
58
POP U L A R S CI E NCE
Photograph by S A M K A P L A N
P OP SC I . C O M. AU
59
SECURIFI
ALMOND 3
MOTOROLA
MOTO Z
EORA
3D
ACER SWITCH
ALPHA 12
JIBO
Wi-Fi for
Huge Houses
Swappable
Phone Features
Portable 3D
Scanning
Liquid-Cooled
Laptop
Query-answering virtual
assistants are nothing
new. (Right, Siri?) But an
AI that can recognise
whos talking, swivel in
response, and emote
with abstract but
effective icons is rare.
Add on top of this the
ability to take messages,
video chat, shoot family
photos, and serve up
calendar reminders, and
you have Jibo. A
developers kit allows
third parties to create
skills for the 300-mm
feller. Welcome to the
era of the social robot.
GADGETS
A
B
F
PEBBLE
CORE
CANON
1DX MARK II
DOPPLER LABS
HERE ONE
SAMSUNG
GEAR ICON X
LENOVO
PHAB 2 PRO
Apps on
Your Keychain
FastSnapping 4K
A Volume
Knob for Life
In-Ear MP3
Player
A WorldAltering Phone
Recording 4K video
means filming at data
rates that stress most
memory cards. The 1DX
Mark II is Canons first
consumer camera that
keeps up. Support for the
new CFast 2.0 card
means capturing video at
a blazing 350MB/s.
Samsungs
wireless,
heart-monitoring
fitness earbuds
are a completely
self-contained
music system.
Four gigabytes of
onboard storage
hold your workout
playlistgo for a
run without your
smartphone.
Augmented-reality
apps have had a big year,
but as satisfying as it is
catching Pikachu,
experiences can fall
flat. The Phab 2 Pro
phone uses new software
from Google, called
Tango, to give AR extra
depth. Three imagers (a
16-megapixel sensor,
infrared sensor, and
fisheye lens) let your
phone create a 3D map of
the worldfor
apps that superimpose
engineering schematics
or video-game worlds
onto the actual one.
P OP SC I . C O M. AU
61
ALPTRANSIT GOTTHARD
GOTTHARD BASE TUNNEL
Tunnel Through
the Alps
62
POP U L A R S CI E NCE
ENGINEERING
P OP SC I . C O M. AU
63
A
TEB TECHNOLOGY TRANSIT ELEVATED BUS
Trafficstraddling bus
B
PENN STATE
CRISPR-CAS9 FOR FOOD
Shrooms with
Shelf Life
Up to 40 per cent of food
goes to waste, often due
to spoilage. A plant
pathologist at Penn State
used the versatile geneediting tool called
CRISPR- Cas9 to design a
button mushroom that
resists browning, might
have a longer shelf life,
and could ultimately cost
the same as regular old
mushrooms. Though the
product is not yet on sale,
the tech behind it skirted
USDA regulation last
spring, paving the way
for future gene-edited
groceries. Month old
tomatoes are the best!
C
COLUMBIA + UNIV. OF
ICELAND CARBFIX
A Speedy Way to
Store C02
Capturing carbon from
the atmosphere is an
alluring solution to our
climate woes, but we
need to figure out how to
store it quickly and
permanently. CarbFix
a system currently in
use at one power plant in
Icelanddissolves
greenhouse gases in
water, and then pumps
them into nearby basaltladen volcanic rock,
where both convert
into limestone within a
few years. The ocean
floor is rich in basalt,
so the method could
scale worldwide.
D
FOSTER + PARTNERS ZAYED NATIONAL MUSEUM
Underground
Oasis
E
B
GENSLER
SHANGHAI TOWER
HARVARD
ROBOTIC STINGRAY
Extra-Green
Skyscraper
The First
Cyborg Animal
THYSSENKRUPP
MULTI ELEVATOR
MIT + CALTECH
ADVANCED LIGO
Elevators That
Go in Any Direction
A Microphone
for the Universe
M. LUDVIK
SKYSLIDE
Next-Level
Waterpark
EarthquakeProof Glass
E
G
POP U L A R S CI E NCE
ENGINEERING
DoNotFear
Gene-EditedFood
The biggest
gg
mistake we
can make, as a
curious and
concerned
public, is to
p
vilify
y CRISPR
and the food it
makes.
We should
instead p
push
for informed,
science-based
evaluation.
B y JE N S C HW A RT Z
Illustration by MARC O G O R A N R O M A N O
P OP SC I . C O M. AU
67
68
POP U L A R S CI E NCE
SOFTWARE
MICROSOFT SKYPE TRANSLATOR
The End
of the
Language
Barrier
The Internet connected us
allbut what good is that
if we cant understand each
other? Skypes artificialintelligence-based Translator
is our digital Tower of Babel.
It lets us talk to anyone,
anywhere, regardless of
mother tongue. Made
available on Windows in late
2015, Translator uses layers of
machine-learning algorithms.
When a user speaks, the AI,
drawing on millions of speech
examples, analyses the words
and transcribes them into
text. The text is then scrubbed
of ums and word repetitions,
and run through a translator.
The AI is self-learning; the
more it hears a regional
accent or slang, the smarter
it gets and the better it
functions. Callers can receive
audio in eight languages and
see transcripts in more than
50. Can you hear us now?
69
SOFTWARE
A
GOOGLE
DAYDREAM LABS
INTELLIGENTX
BREWING COMPANY
WHATSAPP
ENCRYPTION
NUMINOUS GAMES
THAT DRAGON,CANCER
UNIV. OF WASHINGTON
DNA STORAGE
Creating
VR in VR
The First AI
Brewmaster
One Billion
Safer People
The Densest
Of Data
Daydream Labs
lets developers
animate and build
virtual reality not
on a flat computer
screen, but for the
first time inside VR
itself. They can
interact, socialise,
offer feedback, and
use hand controllers as their virtual
creations rise
up around them.
70
POP U L A R S CI E NCE
E
SNAPCHAT
LENSES
ARs Big
Moment
Augmented realitys most universale
seizure of the zeitgeist in 2016
wasnt through the monstercatching caper of Pokmon Go. It
was Snapchats Lensesobject
recognition and real-time special
effects that let you change your
on-screen eye colour, superimpose
faces, wear animal masks, and
place scenes around an image. So
many memes! How we LOLed...
PHOTO CREDITS
PAGE 20: CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: COURTESY BRAEBURN PHARMACEUTICALS; COURTESY ST. RENATUS; PHOTO BY SAM KAPLAN;
COURTESY ABBOTT (2); COURTESY MIT; PHOTO
BY SAM KAPLAN (2). PAGE 26: COURTESY
KOENIGSEGG. PAGE 28: CLOCKWISE FROM TOP
LEFT: COURTESY CHEVROLET; PHOTO BY SAM
KAPLAN; COURTESY 4 MOMS; COURTESY AUDI;
COURTESY CHEVROLET. PAGE 29: CLOCKWISE
FROM TOP LEFT: COURTESY FORD; COURTESY
MCLAREN; COURTESY MERCEDES-BENZ; COURTESY AIRBUS APWORKS. PAGE 32: CLOCKWISE
FROM TOP LEFT: COURTESY SAMSUNG; PHOTO
BY SAM KAPLAN; COURTESY SONY; COURTESY
YAMAHA; PHOTO BY SAM KAPLAN; COURTESY
YAMAHA; COURTESY LG; COURTESY HELLO
GAMES; COURTESY ANKI. PAGE 33: COURTESY
NASA. PAGE 36: CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT:
COURTESY BIGLOW AEROSPACE; COURTESY
SPACEX; COURTESY ZAPATA INDUSTRIES;
COURTESY LOCKHEED MARTIN SKUNKWORKS.
PAGE 38: CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: COURTESY AERION; COURTESY FACEBOOK; COURTESY GERMAN AEROSPACE CENTER. PAGE 44:
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: PHOTO BY SAM
KAPLAN; COURTESY ONCOURSE; COURTESY
AXE; COURTESY BSX. PAGE 45: CLOCKWISE
FROM TOP LEFT: PHOTO BY SAM KAPLAN;
COURTSEY SHARKBANZ; COURTESY CALLAWAY; COURTESY HYDRA-LIGHT. PAGE 48:
P OP SC I . C O M. AU
71
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b
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Popular Science,
47.
$
t
s
ju
is
n
o
ti
ip
r
c
s
b
u
s
A 6 month
72
POP U L A R S CI E NCE
by A N TH O NY F O RD H A M
Powered by R
Kickstarter su
A DIY
Arca
Ma
includes a 3W stereo amplier
and connections for volume
buttons and a typical set of
arcade controls. Joystick and
buttons are wired directly to the
Picade board, and the board itself
connects to the Pi via USB and
acts like a keyboard. Users can
congure what each button and
joystick axis does via software.
Because the board includes
an amp and speaker connectors,
it makes getting sound out of
an arcade project much easier.
Simply connect the Picade
boards 3.5mm audio-in to the
Raspberry Pis audio-out, easy!
Pimoroni sells the Picade
as a kit, but you do need to
be somewhat familiar with
these kinds of projects to put it
together. Instructions are not
included in the box, but there is
a sheet that directs you to some
handy YouTube videos. Heres
how we did it.
HOW TO BUILD IT
PI NOT
INCLUDED
PICADE CABINET
Manual
Meet a Maker
76
POPUL A R S CI E NCE
3D PRINTED?
YOU MEAN
LASTER
SINTERED!
Because this is 2016,
naturally theres a
3D-printed element
in the Wand+. The
mount that holds the
cartridge is made from
laser-sintered titanium, which means its
built by fusing powder
with a laser rather than
cutting it out from a
larger block of metal.
Brown says this allows
him to make a stronger,
lighter but more
complex mount, at a
lower price. For more
details, visit:
designbuildlisten.com
Clever Thinking
Prototype
Your
Project...
With A
Mobile?
MULTIPLE PERSONALITIES
These Personality Boards are example MDK Mods that show whats possible.
DISPLAY adds a second LCD
display to show notifications
or whatever else the developer
wants. This round display is from
the Moto 360 smartwatch.
TEMPERATURE SENSOR
Uses a basic thermistor to
detect ambient temperature,
but the point of this card is to
show how custom sensors
can be implemented.
by
Anthony
Fordham
P OP SC I . C O M. AU
77
Archives
November 1986
Early Adventures in
Smartcard Technology
by
ANTHON Y
FORDHA M
78 PO PUL A R S CI E NCE
By G. BERTON LATAMORE
Photo By Burt Plokin
Thes e d ays , th e
Raspberry Pi Ze ro
i s actua lly s ma lle r
than a credit card
P OP S C I . C O M. AU
79
Then
Retro Invasion
The
Gyrobus
Who wouldnt want to commute while sitting on
a two-tonne disc spinning at 900km/h?
CONSIDER THE THANKLESS
task of the mid-20th-century
town planner. You must,
especially in Europe, design
your city such that hundreds
of thousands of people can
move around it every day, but of
course there is no money to do
this. Budgets
are tight. Fancy
by
overhead
ANTHON Y
electric wires
FORDHA M
80 PO PUL A R S CI E NCE
on a network of overhead
electric wires. And since this
was the 1940s, the concept
of lithium-ion batteries or
hydrogen fuel cells or even LPG
was beyond the wildest dreams
of science fiction authors.
Come Back DJ
Your Record Is
Scratched
Bill Shock
IN 1970, WE BACKED
FLYWHEEL, BIG TIME
This rather doubtful-looking diagram
comes from our August 1970 issue, where
the awesomely-named Alden P Armagnac
waxed lyrical about the potential benefits
of a flywheel system that could propel a
450kg car to 100km/h in just 15 seconds!
Its not like this flywheel would have to
be stupid-huge like in the Gyrobus, either.
Just 750mm in diameter and weighing only
100kg. Of course, it would have to spin at
23,700rpm. And that means an outer-edge
speed of 3218km/h or, as military pilots
would put it, Mach 2.6. I wonder what it
would have SOUNDED like?
P OP S C I . C O M. AU
81
Labrats
STO RY BY
Subject Zero
The Greatest
Show On Earth*
82 POPUL A R S CI E NCE
NEXT
ISSUE!
Issue #97
December
2016. On
sale 1st
December
2016.
WHY ELON
MUSK IS GOING
TO MARS
// Von Neumann
Drive // How
AI will FIND
ALIENS //
Smartwatches
Dissected
+ MORE!
COM.AU
OXFORD
RD STREET
E LEEDERVILLE
E E