World's first holographic flexible smartphone unveiled

On 5 May 2016, a group of researchers at the Human Media Lab at Queen’s University announced that they have developed the world’s first holographic flexible smartphone named HoloFlex. The device is capable of rendering 3D images with motion parallax and stereoscopy to multiple simultaneous users without head tracking or glasses.

Highlights:

•          The device features a 1920×1080 full high-definition Flexible Organic Light Emitting Diode touchscreen display.
•          Images are rendered into 12-pixel wide circular blocks rendering the full view of the 3D object from a particular viewpoint.
•          It produces 160×104 resolution image that allow users to inspect a 3D object by rotating the phone.
•          It is equipped with a bend sensor, which allows the user to bend the phone as a means of moving objects along the z-axis of the display.
•          It is powered by a 1.5 Ghz Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor and 2GB of memory.

4D tech offers hope for treating lung ailments

                Scientists have developed a four dimensional lung scanning technology that has the potential to transform treatment for people with lung disease. Developed at Monash University in Australia by Professor Andreas Fouras, the technology has been commercialized by his company 4Dx. Dr Rajeev Samarage , joint lead author from Monash’s Laboratory, said, “With this technology, not only will clinicians have a clearer image of what is happening in the patient’s lungs, but it is our aim to detect changes in lung function much earlier than in the past,” said Samarage. Fouras said the 4Dx pre-clinical scanner generates high-resolution images of lung-tissue motion and airflow throughout the lungs, which allows doctors to view and measure abnormal function in specific areas of the lung, before a disease progresses.

Nasa to launch a probe to study "Armageddon' asteroid

                NASA is planning to launch a probe to collect rock samples from an asteroid it fears could one day hit Earth. The asteroid, named Bennu, can be seen from Earth as it crosses the planet’s orbit every six years. Bennu, which is 500m in diameter at its equator and travels around the sun at 63,000mph, will pass between Earth and the moon in 2135. “That 2135 fly-by is going to tweak Bennu’s orbit, potentially putting it on course for the Earth later that century,” Dante Lauretta, professor of planetary science at Arizona University. “It may be destined to cause immense suffering and death,” he added. Mr. Lauretta, Nasa’s principal investigator in charge of the Osiris-Rex probe mission to Bennu, launching in September, said the probe will map the asteroid, pick up some rock samples and then head back to Earth. He said information on the asteroid’s size, mass and composition could be “vital data for future generations”. Osiris-Rex will arrive at Bennu in 2018 and will spend a year surveying the asteroid’s chemical makeup, mineralogy and geologic history. Information gathered during the observation will help scientists understand how its course is affected by absorbing and radiating sunlight as heat. The probe will then take a sample from the asteroid before heading back to Earth for 2023.

Lightest e-paraglider developed, weighs 49kg

                Scientists, including one of Indian origin, have successfully designed and built the world’s lightest electric paraglider trike, that can take off and land with wheels while carrying an adult pilot. The aircraft dubbed The Delta, has two rear-mounted propellers, horizontally arranged, each driven by a motor and is powered by lithium polymer batteries. It is the lightest aircraft that can take off and land with wheels while carrying an adult pilot and may provide a safe, clean and simple way to realize our dreams of flying.

                The Delta was built for the National Geographic Channel. “We had to find the lightest airfoil possible, a wing, blade or sail crucial for a flight, which we found in a conventional cloth paraglider,” said Rangaranjan Jegadeesan, of Design-Centric Programme at the National University of Singapore. “We had to find the lightest motor to provide enough thrust for The Delta to be airborne; and we had to build it so that it is light enough to fly yet sturdy enough to be safe,” said Jegadeesan.

                The Delta weighs 49kg, and is capable of carrying one person up to 75kg. It can fly up to a speed of 36km per hour under normal wind conditions, and has a typical flight time of 10 minutes on fully-charged batteries.