We love biomimicry in robots, especially those that look and move like animals and insects. Now here’s an opportunity to build your own!
From Wired Top Stories: Kids Triumph Over Gloomy School Photographer in Clever Short Film
In the semi-viral, Webby-nominated short film “School Portrait,” a grumpy school-portrait photographer berates his lovable subjects with his cynical views of the world, sadistically trying to elicit frowns for his photos. It’s a simple concept, but the kids reactions make the film stand out.
from Wired Top Stories
From Gizmodo: OS X Bug Exposes Lion Log-In Details in Clear Text
From Autoblog: Motorsports: This is why LeMons is the best race series
Filed under: Motorsports, Humor, Specialty, Racing
This weekend, Audi marked the competition debut of its latest R18 race cars at the second round of the World Endurance Championship at Spa-Francorchamps. Yet the most spectacular race car running on any track this weekend was thousands of miles away at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway in the 24 Hours of Lemons “Loudon Annoying” event taking place at the very same time.
Yes, that’s a pop-up camper trailer that’s been converted into a race car by SpeedyCop. And there’s video of it after the jump. Now, before you click, see if you can guess what the car underneath is. (Hint, there’s another photo in the gallery that makes it very clear.) That answer is also posted after the break, and it makes the whole rig even more fantastic.
Thanks to our friend (and Consumer Reports hotshoe) Jake Fisher for the on-site photos!
from Autoblog
From Business and financial news – CNNMoney.com: Buffett and Munger won’t buy Facebook stock
Facebook kicks off its highly anticipated IPO road show Monday, but two men who won’t be taking the pitch — legendary investor Warren Buffett and his 88-year old co-pilot Charlie Munger.
From Wired Top Stories: Some Pilots Refuse to Fly as Stealth Jet’s Oxygen Problems Worsen
The Air Force’s F-22 Raptor stealth fighters and their faulty oxygen systems are choking their pilots. So now, Maj. Jeremy Gordon and Capt. Josh Wilson, both experienced Raptor fliers with the Virginia Air National Guard’s 192nd Fighter Wing, have refused to fly an airplane that they claim is fatally flawed.
from Wired Top Stories
From Engadget: XCOR Lynx propulsion tech tests well on motorcycle, suborbital trip still pricey
Before parting with $95,000 to secure a spot on the Lynx suborbital flight, you’d want to make sure the spacecraft was safe, right? XCOR doesn’t blame you: it recently tested out its piston pump technology on a Triumph Street Triple motorcycle with great results. Sure, it’s not the same as flying to the edge of space, but the Triumph has the same cylinder arrangement as the Lynx’s liquid oxygen and kerosene fuel pumps and develops a similar amount of horsepower. It’s also loads cheaper than testing in the laboratory. The bike took a 20-hour drive (the equivalent of 400 Lynx flights, according to XCOR) along Route 66 without the piston pump suffering any wear and tear. So if propulsion-related safety concerns — and not the depth of your wallet — were holding you back from nabbing a seat on the Lynx, you might feel a tad more inclined to whip out the plastic now. Head past the break for the full PR, plus a video of the piston-pumped Triumph in action.
from Engadget