STUFF: News, Technology, the cool and the plain weird

[MIKA27]

Wasps In Super Slow Motion Are 4,700 FPS Of Freaky

It’s a general rule that everything is better in slow motion, but at 4700 frames a second, wasps just go from “creepy” to “still creepy”.

The footage you see here is actually a .8 second clip by cinematographer Alan Teitel that’s been slowed down over 100 times.

You can see the individual flapping of each insectoid wing as the little suckers ferry droplets of water back to their nest to keep it cool. I’m sure it must take a really obscene amount of work to keep a 7m wasp nest cool. I don’t think any of us want to see that, in slow motion or otherwise.

[CanuckSARTech]

I cant wait for the new Superman Movie guys - Looks as epic as Christopher Nolans Batman.

Thanks for posting Steve.

I just saw it last night (along with the new/full trailer for the new Star Trek), in epic full-screen Imax-ness when I went to the show last night to see Oblivion (which was a great movie too, actually). But that Man of Steel trailer in full glory was amazing - really looking forward to this summer's movies!

[MIKA27]

Samsung Is Working On A Mind-Controlled Tablet Interface

Samsung’s got no shortage of alternate control methods up its sleeve. You’ve got your eye scroll and your air gestures, but how about full on mind-control? Samsung’s messing with it, but it probably won’t be coming to consumer devices very soon. Probably.

In conjunction with researchers at the University of Texas, Samsung has been whipping up a system that allows a user to control a Galaxy Note 10.1 with brain-power alone. It’s not quite stylish though; at the moment users have to wear a somewhat bulky and — let’s face it — ugly hood of EEG sensors. But as inconvenient as that may seem, Samsung’s prototype sensor hood is actually pretty advanced for its kind. It doesn’t require any wet connections or setup, so it can just be thrown on in a matter of seconds.

In concert with the specialised interface designed to accept brainwave commands, where users select aneyecon by staring at its flashing form, Samsung’s hood managed accuracy of about 80 to 95 per cent. The next step is to make the EEG hood a little less obnoxious so that it can be worn throughout the day. If it does get better, it’ll be targeted at the disable and not your average Joe.

[MIKA27]

The Crazy Accurate Thermal Images That Saw Dzokhar Tsarnaev Through A Boat Tarp

There was no small amount of technology that went into the capture of Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzokhar Tsarnaev, but perhaps none was more impressive than the helicopter-mounted, forward-looking infrared camera that confirmed once and for all that there was someone hiding in a boat in Watertown, Massachusetts. And that he was almost certainly Dzokhar Tsarnaev.

Here are the pictures that sky-high camera took, just released a few hours ago by the Massachusetts State Police. They’re incredible.

The shot above gives the cleanest look taken by state police’s Air Wing; you can see Tsarnaev legs extended almost to the wheel, and his right arm outstretched. The boat itself looks almost like an X-ray. And that’s no surprise, given the capabilities of the technology involved. Forward-looking infrared (FLIR) cameras are equipped with special sensors that can detect infrared radiation, such as that caused by a heat source. Specifically, in this case, caused by a heat source belonging to a human body.

Following are four additional pictures taken by the cops’ thermal eye in the sky, each showing off just how impressive — and invaluable — the technology was on a chillingly tense Friday night.

At 7:19 pm, the helicopter takes an early pass over the boat. From this angle, it’s difficult to tell what, if anything is inside.

In this shot, taken at 7:22 pm, a heat signature confirms that there’s a person under the tarp, and that he’s likely alive. That glowing object is Tsarnaev.

At 7:35, the camera is switched back to normal mode to monitor the removal of the tarp by the advance team.

Quick progress was made; by 7:36 the tarp was removed enough for an unobstructed at Tsarnaev.

Here’s a look at the helicopter the camera was attached to.

[MIKA27]

Just Imagine If This Crazy Confederate Helicopter Had Actually Been Able To Fly

Back in the 1860s, repeating rifles were a pretty new development. There was a still a lot of horse-riding and open field-fighting. And the Ashokan Farewell played under everything. But the south had a high tech trick under its sleeve. A good old-fashioned whirlybird.

Developed by engineer William C. Powers, who lived in Mobile Alabama, this 1860s beast was intended to fly over the Union Navy and give them a pummelling Confederate ships just couldn’t pull off. Like the concept of Da Vinci fame, the airship would have relied on Archimedean screws (four, in fact) to provide lift and thrust, with a rudder for steering.

The idea was plagued with problems though, from the lack of a thorough understanding of aerodynamics to the absence of an engine powerful enough to take it off the ground. As such it never made it past model form. The National Air and Space Museum has more on the ‘copter, including some of the early plans. You now excused to go write your historical fiction.

[MIKA27]

Add Up To 16GB Of Storage To Your iPhone, iPad With iFlash Drive

One of the Apple’s more polarising design choices with its mobile devices is the lack of a slot for an microSD card or similar avenue for expanded storage. Yes, you could just buy a non-Apple tablet or phone, but if you’re just too attached to the hardware from the big white citrus, you should check out the iFlash Drive.

Simply put, it’s a flash drive that provides a USB and 30-pin / Lightning connector so you can plug it into your iPod touch, iPhone or iPad as well as a conventional PC.

There are, of course, a few conditions. To move data on or off your device, you’ll need to use an app provided by the manufacturer. As for reading the drive with your PC or Mac, it operates just like a regular thumb stick.

If you want to pick one up, you can head over to Photojojo, but the price might put you off. The 8GB, 30-pin version is $US99, while the 16GB with the Lightning connector is $US149.

The difference, other than size, appears to be a removable Lightning adaptor on the 16GB, so if you already have one, or are happy to pick one up, you can just go with the 8GB device if you don’t need the extra capacity.

[MIKA27]

A Knitted Boyfriend Is Even Sadder Than Being Alone (Warning - Creepy!)

If a girlfriend body pillow doesn’t ring your bell, don’t worry. There’s now a male alternative that includes all of its limbs and body parts — or at least most of them.

Created by artist Noortje de Keijzer as the perfect companion, the knitted beau can’t hold down a job, can’t really stand by itself, and probably won’t remember a single anniversary. But he’d be a damn good listener, a warm companion on cold nights, and in emergencies he can be cut open and worn as a sweater or pajamas. Who could ask for anything more in a partner? Ok, maybe all of the above minus all of the incredible creepiness of this creation.

[MIKA27]

This Is The World’s Most Complicated Timepiece

Modern digital watches can be beautifully engineered and designed items, but they will always lack the craftsmanship that their mechanical predecessors possess. This hand-wound masterpiece, declared “the most complicated watch in the world” by its maker, doesn’t do anything a digital watch couldn’t replicate but it does so with soul. It also costs $5 million, which makes for some very expensive soul.

The Patek Philippe Calibre 89 is a timepiece fit for a queen. With more than 30 complications, it’s the most complicated mechanical watch ever devised, and valued at about S6 million, it costs a king’s ransom — that is, if you’re even able to track one down. The Calibre 89 was built as a four-piece commemorative series of pocket watches — as in only four were ever made; white gold, yellow gold, rose gold and platinum — honouring the Patek Philippe company’s sesquicentennial anniversary in 1989.

Development of the Calibre 89 began nearly a decade earlier with the goal of making “the clock with the most complications in the world, containing all the traditional watchmaking techniques accumulated over one-and-a-half centuries,” according to the Swiss Broadcasting Corp. The project took nine engineers five years of research and another four of construction to finish. And in the early 1980s there was no such thing as AutoCAD so this watch was, in every sense, completely hand-crafted.

Each timepiece is about the size of a hockey puck — 3.5 inches wide, 1.5 inches thick — and weighs 1kg. That heft comes from the keyless three-barrel, double dial watch’s 1728 components including 24 hands, two dials, eight discs, a thermometer and star chart. In all, the 18-carat case houses some 33 complications — features beyond telling the time in hours, minutes and seconds. “It has pretty much all the complications that you can imagine for a mechanical watch,” says Jean-Michael Piguet, deputy curator of the International Watchmaking Museum, told the SBC. Here’s a partial list:

• Sidereal time
  
• Moon phase display
  
• Winding crown position indicator
  
• Century, decade, year, and month displays
  
• Leap Year Indicator
  
• Season
  
• Day of the month
  
• Day of the week
  
• 12-hour recorder
  
• Hour of second timezone
  
• Split second hand
  
• Power reserve
  
• Thermometer
  
• Date of Easter
  
• Time of sunrise and sunset
  
• Equation of time
  
• Star chart
  
• Sun hand
  
• Westminster chime on four gongs
  
• “Grande and Petite Sonnerie” alarm
  
• Going and striking train indicators
  
• Three-way setting indicator
  
• Tourbillon regulator
  

The company won’t say how much it sank into creating them but each watch is valued at roughly $6 million and the set was originally sold to an unnamed royal family. In 2004, however, the white gold model sold at the Antiquorum auction house for $5 million. Not bad for a watch that still needs its clockwork hand-wound daily.

[MIKA27]

Can You Really Call This Life-Size Iron Man MARK 42 Suit A Figure?

You can balk at the $US8500 price tag that Sideshow collectibles has slapped on this stunning life-size replica of the latest Iron Man armor, but like it or not, this is as close as you’re ever going to get to owning your own. Besides, the real version probably cost Tony Stark half a billion dollars to build, so this is a downright bargain.

Available sometime in the second quarter of the year, this meticulously detailed replica stands over 2m tall, and includes glowing eyes, arc reactor and palm repulser. It’s unfortunately not wearable, given it’s packed with electronics and supports so it can stand on its own, but it would certainly make for one hell of a paperweight on your desk. There are also rumours that Audi may sell a life-size version of the gorgeous R8 that Tony drives in the film, but pricing is expected to be well north of a hundred grand.

[MIKA27]

This Predator Helmet Can Make Even The Tiniest Vespa Badass

Motorcycle riders don’t get a lot of respect from other drivers on the road, but who’s going to dare cut you off when you’re cruising around looking like an intergalactic game hunter in this awesome Predator helmet. It’s built on an actual motorcycle helmet, so it’s properly safety rated with an enhanced, sculpted outer shell, a dreadlocks mullet, and even a tri-laser scope.

Optional add-ons include a carbon fibre outer shell, tiny metal spears on the ends of the dreadlocks, and even a hyper-realistic airbrushed finish. For $780 it guarantees even Vespa riders a modicum of respect on the road, just be on the look out for highway patrolmen covered in mud.

[MIKA27]

It’s Only Reasonable To Think That This Russian Volcano Looks Like Mordor

The Plosky Tolbachik volcano in Kamchatka, Russia is going kind of crazy this month. And Live Journal user Lusika33 has been following the eruptions from land and air. It’s pretty amazing to think that these rivers of lava are flowing right now.

[MIKA27]

Professionally Lighting Climbers On A Sheer Ice Wall Basically Guarantees Amazing Photos

Photographer Ray Demski recently decided to take climbers and a photography crew to a bridge in Avers, Switzerland, light an ice wall and then shoot the climbers once it got dark. The results are pretty awesome, which is not surprising, because this whole plan was…pretty awesome.

The project, called Ice Nights, was shot using three flash units powered by Broncolor Move 1200 L‘s on a Phase One IQ180 digital back with 645DF body. The crew set up throughout the day, placing flashes above and below the ice and positioning themselves on ropes for maximum control of the side lighting on the climbers, Alex Luger and Hanno Schluge. When it got dark they lit everything up and started climbing/shooting.

Oh, you know, just an average day on the ice wall.

[MIKA27]

Mercedes-Benz GLA Concept SUV to sport laser projector headlamps

Though Mercedes-Benz generally is associated with technology-laden luxury sedans, coupes, and convertibles, their new range of rugged SUVs seem to be equally appealing to technology and auto enthusiasts alike. They had earlier launched the G63 AMG 6x6 SUV, known to be the largest and most rugged option of it's kind to be road legal. Last year, they also put on display the Ener-G-Force concept SUV, which was another sample of their forte on the technological and designing front for automobiles. Being the perfectionists of car making, the new Mercedes-Benz GLA Concept SUV will be showcased at the upcoming Shanghai Auto Show, from April 21 to 29 this year. The reason why this new model is getting to be the 'tech-freaks' apple of the eye, are the special laser light headlamps which will also double up as projector beams much like the Daimler's Smart electric car introduced last year, which too comes with it’s own drive-in theater. Apart from the the muscle power that the 2.0-liter 4-cylinder will dish out on road, the additional hi-tech feature will be able to project media content on to a screen through the COMAND system, which is another of the Mercedes-Benz innovations for the GLA Concept SUV.

Mercedes is pitching the GLA Concept SUV has being an evolution of the brand in the SUV segment, on the roads to being 'coupe' like in it's form factor. Hence, the GLA Concept has been created as a compact SUV, which would urge it's drivers to forget the 'veryday' while driving this new vehicle. Like always, though the car has taken a step forward in technology add-ons, the main primary strength of the engine has not been compromised upon. Owners can glide via the 2.0-litre 4-cylinder engine, which churns out 208 HP of power. The transmission of this energy comes via the 7-speed dual clutch automatic transmission, which has been clubbed with the 4Matic all-wheel drive train.

The exterior shell of the Mercedes has never really failed to get attention, and the GLA Concept isn't any exceptional case. From the Alubeam paint finish, to the soft curvature of the 'dropping line' from the laser projector headlamps to the rear wheel arch, all add up to a flavor of sophistication which is unique to Mercedes-Benz, as they add an aerodynamic touch to the form factor. Other eye-catching clues would include the newly designed 'soft-touched' radiator grille which has 2 central bars with the steel 3-pointed star of Mercedes-Benz at the centre. At the rear end too, one would notice the distinct soft curves tail lamps and the tailgate, which comes with special warning lights during it's opening. The 2 exhaust pipes at the 2 corner of the rear bumper, add an aesthetic aggressive finesse to the design.

The biggest highlight so far, which is the laser projector headlamp set on the GLA Concept SUV, is controlled from the COMAND infotainment system, lodged on the central control panel of the luxury SUV. Apart from shedding light more efficiently, these lights would help convert an ordinary wall or opaque surface into a personal drive-in movie screen, when any media content is projected, from a hard drive, smartphone, tablet PC, or perhaps any external storage device which will work with the Plexi-Glass covered COMAND system on central console panel. What this also opens up for the driver, is the safety and utility feature of projecting the map directions on the road in front, instead of the driver having to look at his device and take eyes off the road. This takes care to ensure lesser road accidents, and uninterrupted traveling over longer distances.

Since the luxury factor can be never be forgone, the the GLA Concept also brings forth plenty of high end fabrication, seen in form of galvanized aluminum, and the rich brown leather upholstery which is seen the most prominently in the cabin space. With 65 m of leather stitching done for each cabinet space, one can well imagine the work that has gone into creating the cabin of this quality and aesthetics.

In order to be more intuitive, each area of the passenger space, including where one store away some luggage, has been given distinct ambient lighting. The air condition vents have been fitted with lighting which change color, as the temperature is set by the passenger. The other designing features such as the central console panel with the plexi-glass structure for the COMAND system, but none the less is equally praiseworthy of the intelligent play of galvanized aluminum, brown stitched leather, and gray leather paneling on different surfaces.

MIKA: I'm in love!

[MIKA27]

Archaeologists Unlock 1900-Year-Old Burial Chamber’s Secrets With Drones

Teotihuacan, an ancient, abandoned city about an hour north of Mexico City, was once one of the largest cities in the world. It collapsed in the centuries ago (thanks either to an internal uprising or foreign invaders, depending on who you ask), but it’s never been completely deserted, since the ruins have always been a magnet for squatters, archaeologists and hordes of tourists.

Yet there are still portions of Teotihuacan that remain untouched by today’s explorers, including a subterranean burial site that scientists estimate has spent the last 1900 years unseen by human eyes. Until now.

In 2003, scientists discovered a tunnel beneath Teotihuacan’s Temple of the Plumed Serpent. They speculated that the tunnel was a processional walkway leading to a warren of royal burial chambers, but couldn’t say for sure, since the opening to the tunnel was intentionally buried by the city’s last inhabitants. According to BLDGBLOG, archaeologists at Mexico’s National Anthropology and History Institute are now uncovering the mystery of the buried chambers without disturbing them — thanks to a diminutive robotic system designed to go where shimmying archaeologists cannot:

… A little wireless robot called Tlaloc II-TC will soon “investigate the far reaches of a tunnel found beneath the Temple of the Plumed Serpent at Teotihuacan,” entering a chamber “estimated to be 2,000 years old, and [that] may have been used as a place for royal ceremonies or burials.”

Tlaloque is actually a deployable collection of three different robotic systems. The largest, a Mars Rover-esque contraption, is in charge of transporting two smaller mechanisms through the rubble-filled tunnel. When it reaches the chambers, a second vehicle is programmed to unpack itself to take infrared scans of the space. Finally, a smaller, winged contraption will eventually be deployed to capture video footage. BLDGBLOG explains:

It gets even more interesting when we then read that there is yet another, “third part” of the ensemble, a “robot made with four propellers” that can “remain suspended in the air and take pictures with video cameras.”

It’s a drone, in other words — part of a whole family of proliferating machines — but, for now, it will only be “used outdoors due to currents of air in the tunnel.”

The team at the INAH have tested several iterations of Tlaloque, so there are a few preliminary reports of what’s actually inside the chambers — and it sounds amazingly spooky and cool. “Investigations [have verified] that the tunnel was constructed before the Feathered Serpent Temple and the Citadel, structures that were the scenario of rituals linked to original creation myths,” reported scientists in 2010. “[Meanwhile] the tunnel must have been related to the underworld concept.” According to a report in Provincia, images show a series of stone symbols lining the tunnel, which scientists believe was “subsequently collapsed in order to deposit something very important at the end the duct in the main chamber.”

This isn’t the first instance of “drone archaeology”. In 2011, scientists in East-Central Asia used a microdrone to generate an aerial map of Scythian burial grounds in the remote Altai Mountains. And in Peru last year, archaeologists used an unmanned aerial vehicle to survey the abandoned city of Mawchu Lllacta. Still, it’s remarkable to watch how archaeological discovery is evolving alongside drone technology.

As for what’s to come from beneath the temple at Teotihuacan, Provincia reports that the aerial drone is currently under testing.

That means we’ll likely get to see video of the chamber before long — and suddenly, a site that’s been closed to humans for nearly two millennia will be revealed to an audience of millions.

[MIKA27]

Batman Is Training Soldiers In Afghanistan

That Batman. What a hero. After solving the crime wave in Gotham City, he has decided to take his skillset where it’s really required: Afghanistan. Watch these hilarious troop training videos right this instant.

These videos are being produced by the US Army to teach soldiers stuff around bases in Afghanistan. The lessons are courtesy of Bagram Batman, and they’re amazing.

The first lesson focuses on remembering to carry your weapon with you at all times:

The second stresses that you shouldn’t listen to headphones while on the base, or Taylor Swift.

These videos are mostly just a chance to get Bagram Batman to say the words “swear to me” really loud. Either way, it’s effective.

[MIKA27]

This Glowing Orb Keeps Your Laptop Running Cool In Extreme Conditions

The easiest way to keep your laptop running at peak efficiency is to just keep it cool and comfortable. Its processor can get pretty toasty crammed in that ultra-thin housing, so Thermaltake’s created a miniature portable air conditioner called the GOrb II that promises to keep your system comfortably cool, even if you’re not.

Comprising a pair of fans sitting inside half-sphere housings that combine to form an easy-to-carry ball, the GOrb II steals power from one of your system’s USB ports. So while it may keep things cool, it will also be a drain on your laptop’s battery if a power outlet isn’t available. But don’t throw away that bag of ice cubes just yet, Thermaltake hasn’t announced pricing or availability but hopefully the GOrb II will drop before the summer months bring your laptop to a crawl. Thermaltake

[MIKA27]

Boston Police: Facial Recognition Didn’t Help Search For Bombers

While it’s undeniable that tech played a major part in helping hunt down the two Boston bombing suspects, it certainly wasn’t facial recognition that helped. Boston Police has admitted that its facial recognition system “did not identify” the suspects.

Speaking to the Washington Post, Boston Police Commissioner Edward Davis explained:

“The technology came up empty even though both Tsarnaevs’ images exist in official databases: Dzhokhar had a Massachusetts driver’s license; the brothers had legally immigrated; and Tamerlan had been the subject of some FBI investigation.”

Instead, the FBI were faced with a rather more boring task — and one agent watched the same segment of video 400 times. Four. Hundred. Times. Over time, watching and re-watching video allowed them to “build a narrative out of a random jumble of pictures from thousands of different phones and cameras,” according to the Post.

The official line on the Reddit contributions to the investigation is interesting too: the Post reports that “in addition to being almost universally wrong, the theories developed via social media complicated the official investigation, according to law enforcement officials”. Indeed, the official release of suspect photos on Thursday was an attempt to limit damage being done by internet theories.

Clearly, sometimes the old-fashioned techniques work best.

[MIKA27]

Thor: The Dark World Trailer Lands With Mjölnir’s Thunder…

Phase two of Marvel’s plan to take over the cinematic universe is truly underway. Iron Man 3 hits Aussie screens tomorrow (stay tuned for Luke’s review on Thursday), and now the first trailer for October’s Thor sequel has arrived. And it looks like Natalie Portman is having a pretty rough day…

I wasn’t hugely into the Thor comics, but the first movie pleasantly surprised me. Not sure how I feel about part two yet…but I’ve been getting into History Channel’s Vikings of late, so I’m kinda into the Nordic thing at the moment…

[MIKA27]

Earbuds Under $50 That Actually Have A Hope Of Sounding Good

Apple EarPods — or whatever crap headphones came with your phone — aren’t the best way to listen to music, but nice gear is expensive. You can’t blame people for not wanting to spend a lot of money on something they’re just going to lose or destroy. Well, here’s a $40 alternative to garbage that’s almost certain to sound pretty good.

Why am I so confident that Sol Republic’s new Jax in-ear headphones will sound better than other stuff in its price range? Since its first over-ear headphones came out a couple of years ago, Sol Republic has built its reputation on solid, aesthetically handsome gear that’s cheaper than the competition’s offering.

The buds have a newly designed drivers, tangle free cables, and your standard three-button remote. While they’re not as striking to look at as other Sol Republic stuff, they’ve got an admirable minimalism — hopefully Sol Republic making sure the guts sound great. [Sol Republic]

[MIKA27]

Blind The Boogeyman With This Quad Beam Light Cannon

Similar to the megapixel arms race that digital camera manufacturers got caught up in, torch makers are instead hell bent on coaxing as many lumens from a handheld torch as they can. Even if it means massaging the definition of a compact torch like NiteCore has done with its portly TM26.

Made from aerospace-grade aluminium alloy, the TM26 weighs in at just over 425g, without the array of batteries needed to power it. And as you can see, with four separate LED housings the torch more than fills your hand. The girth is worth it though, as the TM26 can blast an impressive 3500 lumens which is roughly equivalent to what a conference room video projector can kick out.

And even though it uses LEDs the $390 TM26 still gets hot enough to require onboard electronics that prevent it from overheating, and an OLED display that shows how warm it’s getting, but also which of its eight brightness modes it’s set at. It even boasts an impressive 1000-hour runtime on a set of four lithium-ion batteries, which is great because a replacement set will cost you $55.

I'm sure Smithy will buy one simply as it looks a hell of alot like a star Wars light sabre.

[MIKA27]

Look At SpaceShipTwo’s Rocket On Fire

In case you missed it earlier today, Virgin Galactic successfully performed its first rocket-powered test flight of the SpaceShipTwo. In other words, space tourism is nigh.

Earlier this month, Virgin Chairman Richard Branson announced at the launch of Virgin America’s new route through Newark that his other flying endeavour would be hitting a huge milestone this month: Its first rocket-powered test flight.

In late February, Virgin successfully tested the very rocket that would power its first rocket-powered test flight.

While neither account has specified that this test is, in fact, of the rocket-powered variety, Galactic PR did confirm to me earlier this month that the test would take place before the end of the month, and, well, it’s the end of the month. Not to mention all the buzz on Twitter from various Virgin groups and notable individuals, I think it’s safe to say that this is the day the whole team at Galactic and space travelling enthusiasts have been looking forward to for some time.

And here’s your first shot of SpaceShipTwo firing its rocket.

This morning’s test took off at 7.02am local time from Spaceport America in New Mexico. Branson had this to say via a press release:

“The first powered flight of Virgin Spaceship Enterprise was without any doubt, our single most important flight test to date,” said Virgin Galactic Founder Sir Richard Branson, who was on the ground in Mojave to witness the occasion. “For the first time, we were able to prove the key components of the system, fully integrated and in flight. Today’s supersonic success opens the way for a rapid expansion of the spaceship’s powered flight envelope, with a very realistic goal of full space flight by the year’s end. We saw history in the making today and I couldn’t be more proud of everyone involved.”

According to the release, SS2 was released from WK2 45 minutes into the flight at about 47,000 feet. Once all systems were go, aviator Mark Stucky and his co-pilot Mike Alsbury flipped the switch for a 16-second burn that took SS2 up to 55,000 feet. In the process, SS2 reached Mach 1.2 going supersonic.

“The rocket motor ignition went as planned, with the expected burn duration, good engine performance and solid vehicle handling qualities throughout,” said Virgin Galactic President and CEO George Whitesides. “The successful outcome of this test marks a pivotal point for our program. We will now embark on a handful of similar-powered flight tests, and then make our first test flight to space.”

Virgin is expected to make its first full space flight before the end of the year.

[MIKA27]

Monster Machines: New Flying Petrol Station Will Be Open 24/7 Anywhere In The World

KC-135 Statofortress tanker planes have been refuelling fighter craft in-flight for more than 60 years. While such longevity is commendable, the US military’s fleet of mid-air refuellers is in desperate need of an update. And that’s where this new flying petrol station comes in.

The Boeing KC-46A is a derivative of the Boeing 767-200 built at Boeing’s Everett, WA facility and converted to military use at another Boeing facility in Puget Sound. The KC-46 program has been a long time coming. Congress and the military have wrangled over funding for the project for more than a decade, finally agreeing to an initial investment of $US3.5 billion in 2011 for Boeing’s design. The aerospace company has until 2017 to deliver the first 18 tankers with the remaining 161 due in 2028. In all, explains Maj Gen John Thompson, program executive officer and program director for the KC-46, the deal is “worth about $US32 billion in then-year dollars, goes from about two years ago out into the 2020s and is something that they will be able to leverage into a very important weapon system for the United States Air Force for decades to come. Absolutely, it is a win-win.”

The KC-46A will offer greatly-improved performance and capabilities than it sexagenarian predecessor. The new plane measures 50m in length with a 48m wingspan. It’s powered by a pair of Pratt & Whitney PW4062 turbofan engines, each providing 28,700 kg/f of thrust to get the plane — and the 96,000kg of fuel it carries — off the ground and keep it aloft for a range of more than 6000 nautical miles.

The plane’s crew of three (two pilots and a boom operator) operate within a large glass cockpit augmented with banks of monitors providing critical mission information. The pilots use a bank of 15-inch displays to check flight and weather data while the refuelling operator will be afforded a set of 24-inch 3D displays giving him a panoramic 185-degree field of view.

Designed to support and refuel any fixed-wing receiver capable aircraft for the US Air Force, Navy and Marines, the plane is typically equipped with either a 4500-litres-per-minute centreline boom or 1500-litres-per-minute centreline drogue system. It can also carry a pair of 1500-litres-per-minute Wing Air Refuelling Pods to pull crazy stunts like this. What’s more, the KC-46A can itself receive in-flight refuelling, allowing it to remain aloft practically indefinitely.

In addition to fuel, the KC-46A can carry up to 114 people, 18 standard military cargo pallets, or 58 patients (24 litters, 34 ambulatory). Across the board — fuel, passengers and cargo — the KC-46A carries more than the plane it will eventually recapitalise.

[MIKA27]

Saturn’s Harrowing Hurricane Is Even More Terrifying In Technicolor

Not too long ago, NASA’s Cassini spacecraft managed to get some awesome photos of Saturn’s 360,000km polar hurricane. It looked pretty intense in black and white, but this new coloured version is one blood-red beauty.

Cassini shot the picture with special spectral filters that can detect the subtleties of wavelengths of near-infrared light. NASA then false-coloured the vortex based on those tiny changes, invisible to the human eye. The result is this stunner, where the deep reds represent lower clouds, and the greens are ones that sit a bit higher.

Cassini showed up at Saturn in 2004, but pictures like this have only been possible recently now that Saturn’s north pole is finally getting some sunlight. Makes the Weather Channel’s Tweet Tornado look like a breeze.

[MIKA27]

Pacific Rim’s Latest Trailer Is Even Better Than The First

When we first saw Guillermo del Toro’s Pacific Rim back in December, it was just a tease filled with robots, creatures, loud noises and explosions. And now we have a little more insight into both the mechs and creatures from a new trailer cut with scenes from Con-exclusive footage.

Pacific Rim drops in cinemas on July 11.

[MIKA27]

9/11 Plane Part Found In New York City

The NYPD is saying that a 1.5m long aeroplane part of a 9/11 plane has been found in an alley near the World Trade centre. The landing gear part was found three blocks from Ground Zero. It’s incredible given that it’s been more than 11 years since the tragic event of September 11.

NYPD Deputy Commissioner Paul Browne said:

A part of a landing gear, apparently from one of the commercial airliners destroyed on September 11, 2001, has been discovered wedged between the rear of 51 Park Place and the rear of the building behind it, 50 Murray Street, in lower Manhattan. The NYPD is securing the location as it would a crime scene, documenting it photographically and restricting access until the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner completes its health and safety evaluation protocol, after which a decision will be made concerning sifting the soil for possible human remains.

Browne also said that the plane part won’t be immediately removed though he did confirm that its Boeing identification number is “clearly visible”. This is the narrow alley where the part was found: