Engadget RSS Feed http://www.engadget.com Engadget http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2013 AOL Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/ <![CDATA[Bing Maps revamped with ocean topography, updated satellite imagery]]> http://www.engadget.com/2013/03/01/bing-maps-update-satellite-images-ocean-topography/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2013/03/01/bing-maps-update-satellite-images-ocean-topography/ http://www.engadget.com/2013/03/01/bing-maps-update-satellite-images-ocean-topography/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments Bing Maps revamped with ocean topography, updated satellite imagery

Ballmer and Co. have loaded up Bing Maps with yet another batch of images, and though they're staying quiet about the update's file size this time, they say it includes 13,799,276 square kilometers of fresh high-res satellite shots and a better view of the ocean floor. Brand-new "straight down" photos give the base map a resolution of 15 meters per pixel, and the introduction of bathymetric imagery changes the ocean's hue depending on its depth. The refresh even contains fewer clouds, giving users a less obstructed view of Earth. Thanks to additional aerial photos covering 203,271 square kilometers, Microsoft's map service now covers the entirety of the US and 90 percent of Western Europe with pictures taken from aircraft. Armchair cartographers ready to explore the world remotely can find the revamped visuals already baked into Bing Maps online and within the service's Windows 8 app.

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Via: TechCrunch

Source: Bing Maps Blog

]]> BingBingMapsmapsmicrosoftoceanoceanfloorsatelliteimagerysatelliteimagesupdate Fri, 01 Mar 2013 01:29:00 -0500 21|20483943 <![CDATA[DARPA unveils plans for undersea payloads that surface on command]]> http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/15/darpa-dormant-undersea-upward-falling-payloads/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/15/darpa-dormant-undersea-upward-falling-payloads/ http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/15/darpa-dormant-undersea-upward-falling-payloads/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments DARPA unveils plans for undersea payloads that surface on command

DARPA already intends to set a drone ship out to sea, and now it's revealed plans for undersea payloads that lie dormant for years and launch themselves to the surface when remotely commanded. Dubbed Upward Falling Payloads, the containers will carry non-lethal cargo such as small UAVs or networking hardware, and take advantage of the "cheap stealth" their position underwater grants them. Since the vision is to have a fleet of UFPs spread throughout ocean floors, it'll help the Navy "get close to the areas we need to affect, or become widely distributed without delay," according to DARPA Program Manager Andy Coon. DARPA is aiming to tap engineering talent from telecom companies to the oil exploration industry in order to solve challenges such as communications used to wake up payload nodes and launching them to the surface. There's no word on when UFPs will begin lurking sea floors, but DARPA is already looking for proposals to help build them.

[Image credit: Alwbutler, Flickr]

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Via: Gizmag

Source: Darpa

]]> DARPAminipostNavyoceanpayloadseaUFPunderwaterUpwardFallingPayload Tue, 15 Jan 2013 06:12:00 -0500 21|20428923 <![CDATA[Liquid Robotics' Wave Glider breaks Guinness record, does it in the name of science]]> http://www.engadget.com/2012/12/05/liquid-robotics-wave-glider-guinness-record/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2012/12/05/liquid-robotics-wave-glider-guinness-record/ http://www.engadget.com/2012/12/05/liquid-robotics-wave-glider-guinness-record/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments Liquid Robotics' Wave Glider breaks Guinness record, does it in the name of science

Last fall, four autonomous Wave Gliders set out from San Francisco Bay to begin a two-fold mission: gather data about the oceans' depths and break records. The vessels, crafted by ocean data services provider Liquid Robotics, were launched in pairs, with one set headed for Australia and the other, Japan. Now one year later, the first of this fuel-less flotilla -- dubbed Papa Mau -- has completed its intended journey, reaching the land of Oz this past November 20th and beating out the remaining three Gliders at sea (one of which malfunctioned and had to be pulled from the water).

As the PacX project's team is quick to point out, the culmination of this record-breaking 9,000 mile trek was less about gaining a Guinness entry and more about generating publicity for the mass of hitherto unrecorded oceanic information. But though the initial run of the project is currently winding down, the outfit's SVP of Product Management Graham Hine expects further trips to Antarctica, the poles and the Northwest passage will follow at some point in the future. Without a doubt, the whole experiment's a master class in using the power of PR for the greater good, while giving marine biologists a treasure trove of useful data. Check out the source below for an expanded look at the project's roots and be sure to skip past the break for a video of the vessel's retrieval.

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Via: CNet

Source: Liquid Robotics

]]> datadistanceguinnessguinness book of world recordsGuinnessBookOfWorldRecordsliquid roboticsLiquidRoboticsoceanopen waterOpenWaterpacxrecordresearchrobotrobotswave gliderWaveGliderworld recordWorldRecord Wed, 05 Dec 2012 15:38:00 -0500 21|20395072 <![CDATA[Scientists estimate at least one third of marine species remain unknown to humans]]> http://www.engadget.com/2012/11/19/scientists-third-of-marine-species-unkown/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2012/11/19/scientists-third-of-marine-species-unkown/ http://www.engadget.com/2012/11/19/scientists-third-of-marine-species-unkown/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments Scientists estimate at least one third of marine species remain unknown to humans

It's been said that we know more about space than we do about our own ocean, and now a group of scientists have quantified what sea creatures we may still not know of. After compiling an open access, online database of known marine species with the help of more than 270 experts, researchers estimate that the briny depths may be home to a total of one million species, with one third of them potentially remaining entirely unknown. Of the grand total, humans have described roughly 226,000 -- more than 20,00 of which in the past decade -- with another 65,000 tucked away in collections awaiting a write-up. Since previous estimates have been based on rates of species identification and other factors, these latest figures are considered more accurate. The effort's researchers hope that this data will be used as a reference for extinction rates and conservation. Hit the first source link below to dig through the compendium, aptly-named the World Register of Marine Species, for yourself.

[Image credit: NOAA's National Ocean Service, Flickr]

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Via: NZweek

Source: World Register of Marine Species, Current Biology

]]> MarineSpeciesminipostoceanopenaccessresearchscienceseaSeaCreaturesspeciesWorldRegisterOfMarineSpecies Mon, 19 Nov 2012 03:13:00 -0500 21|20382930 <![CDATA[Google Street View gets its first underwater panoramic images, ready for desk-based scuba expeditions (video)]]> http://www.engadget.com/2012/09/26/google-street-view-underwater/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2012/09/26/google-street-view-underwater/ http://www.engadget.com/2012/09/26/google-street-view-underwater/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments Google Street View gets its first underwater panoramic images, ready for desk-based scuba expeditions

After working on its sea legs for some time, Google Street View is ready to take users on virtual scuba expeditions through six living coral reefs with the first underwater panoramic images to hit the service. In partnership with The Catlin Seaview Survey, Mountain View created the on-rails snorkeling experiences using undersea pictures from Heron, Lady Elliot and Wilson Islands at the Great Barrier Reef, Molokini Crater and Hanauma Bay in Hawaii and the Apo Islands in the Philippines. Combined with views from Chichen Itza and Teotihuacan, the new underwater tours might make for a respectable, desk-based vacation. Interested in paddling through the briny depths? Head past the break for a short preview or hit the source links below to dive right in.

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Source: Google Lat-Long Blog, Google Street View

]]> barrier reefBarrierReefcoraldivingGoogleGoogle Lat LongGoogle MapsGoogle Street ViewGoogle Street View OceanGoogleLatLongGoogleMapsGoogleStreetViewGoogleStreetViewOceanoceanreefreefsscubascuba divingScubaDivingseasnorkelsnorkelingStreet ViewStreetViewunderwatervideo Wed, 26 Sep 2012 01:57:00 -0400 21|20333454 <![CDATA[Amazon's Bezos finds Apollo 11 rocket engines in ocean, contemplates shipping options]]> http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/29/amazons-bezos-finds-apollo-11-f1-rockets-in-ocean/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/29/amazons-bezos-finds-apollo-11-f1-rockets-in-ocean/ http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/29/amazons-bezos-finds-apollo-11-f1-rockets-in-ocean/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments Amazon's Bezos finds Apollo 11 rockets in ocean, contemplates shipping optionsYa' know, there's nothing like a little rocket engine hunting to save oneself from the doldrums of generating billions of dollars in revenue in the private sector. At least that appears to be the case for Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos, who spearheaded an ocean expedition to find the F-1 engines used in the Apollo 11 mission. Forget newer stuff like the GENIE, Vega and Slytherin's SuperDraco -- the classic F-1 is still the rocket engine that ignites Bezos' proverbial liquid fuel. Having found his prize resting 14,000 feet below the surface via deep sea sonar, Bezos' team is now trying to recover at least one of the engines. Bezos says NASA still retains ownership of the F-1s but he's hoping the agency will allow one of them to be displayed at the Museum of Flight in Amazon's home turf of Seattle if both are successfully retrieved. No word on whether the rocket engines will be delivered via Super Saver Shipping.

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]]> amazonapollo 11Apollo11bezosbezos expeditionsBezosExpeditionsengineengine recoveryexplorationf-1f-1 rocketF-1Rocketjeff bezosJeffBezosnasaoceanrecoveryrocketsalvageunderwater Thu, 29 Mar 2012 01:36:00 -0400 21|20203462 <![CDATA[Swimming robots break wave-powered distance record, don't even stop for high-fives]]> http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/15/swimming-robots-break-record/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/15/swimming-robots-break-record/ http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/15/swimming-robots-break-record/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments Remember those autonomous sea-faring robots we saw back in November? Well, it looks like their self-propelling paddles have slowly waded them into the record books. The bots have traveled a distance of 3,200 nautical miles (2,876 land miles), cutting the previous record of 2,500 adrift -- not bad considering there's no fuel involved. The quartet of data-hunting droids initially set off from San Francisco, before completing the first leg of their journey in Hawaii four months later. The quadrumvirate are now set to split, with two heading off to Japan, crossing the Mariana Trench (believed to be the deepest place on earth) while the other pair head south to Australia, with both duos aiming to reach their final destinations later this year.

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]]> datadistanceguinnessguinness book of world recordsGuinnessBookOfWorldRecordsliquid roboticsLiquidRoboticsoceanopen waterOpenWaterrecordresearchrobotrobotswave gliderWaveGliderworld recordWorldRecord Thu, 15 Mar 2012 18:47:00 -0400 21|20194167 <![CDATA[MIT software optimizes paths for automated undersea vehicles (video)]]> http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/12/mit-software-optimizes-paths-for-automated-undersea-vehicles/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/12/mit-software-optimizes-paths-for-automated-undersea-vehicles/ http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/12/mit-software-optimizes-paths-for-automated-undersea-vehicles/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments So, there's good news and bad news. The former is that MIT researchers have developed new software and methods that can predict optimal paths for automated underwater vehicles. The latter is that it's meant to be used for "swarms" of them, "moving all at once toward separate destinations." We hate to be the folks that keep harping on the inevitable, but teaching "swarms" of undersea robots how to effectively draw paths to the very creators that made them makes us... well, less that cozy. Paranoia aside, the Pierre Lermusiaux-led team has concocted a system that can provide paths optimized either for the shortest travel time or for the minimum use of energy, or to maximize the collection of data that is considered most important. The goal? To make the lives of gliders more efficient when engaged in "mapping and oceanographic research, military reconnaissance and harbor protection, or for deep-sea oil-well maintenance and emergency response." Oh, and did we mention that it can incorporate obstacle-avoidance functions for the sake of protection. Yeah. Death from above below.

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]]> AUVglidermilitarymitMSEASoceanPierre LermusiauxPierreLermusiauxresearchscienceuavunderwater vehicleUnderwaterVehicleuniversityvideowargadget Mon, 12 Mar 2012 04:39:00 -0400 21|20190813 <![CDATA[Fish are lazy, naive, easily led by robots (video)]]> http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/26/fish-are-lazy-naive-easily-led-by-robots/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/26/fish-are-lazy-naive-easily-led-by-robots/ http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/26/fish-are-lazy-naive-easily-led-by-robots/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments Robotic fish leads real fish on merry journeyWhat does a fish look for in a leader? No doubt a nice fishy smell is important, and maybe a sense of direction too, but the overriding factor happens to be something much simpler, and indeed simple enough for a robot to mimic. Our old friend Maurizio Porfiri and a colleague from New York's Polytechnic Institute have shown that a fish-bot will quickly attract live followers if it has a nice, fluid swimming motion. When the stroke is just right, real fish will pull up alongside and visibly relax their own motion to conserve energy, just like geese flying at the rear of a 'vee' formation. It's hoped that, in the future, robots might be used to guide endangered fish populations away from oil spills and other calamities, in much the same way as battery-powered leaders have guided humanity since the dawn of time (allegedly).

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]]> animalanimal behavioranimal behaviourAnimalBehaviorAnimalBehaviourcyborgengineeringfishJournal of the Royal Society InterfaceJournalOfTheRoyalSocietyInterfacemaurizio porfiriMaurizioPorfirioceanpanzer fishPolytechnic InstitutePolytechnicInstituteporfirirobotroboticrobotic fishRoboticFishschoolscienceseaswimswimmingvideowaterweirdzoology Sun, 26 Feb 2012 16:46:00 -0500 21|20179480 <![CDATA[Google dives deep to bring underwater photos of the Great Barrier Reef this September]]> http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/26/google-dives-deep-to-bring-underwater-photos-of-the-great-barrie/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/26/google-dives-deep-to-bring-underwater-photos-of-the-great-barrie/ http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/26/google-dives-deep-to-bring-underwater-photos-of-the-great-barrie/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments
Your next trip to the Great Barrier Reef could be from the comfort of your home now that Google's partnered with Catlin SeaView Survey, the University of Queensland's Global Change Institute and the Underwater Earth organization to document this amazing ecosystem. Equipped with a special underwater camera capable of withstanding depths of 328 feet, the survey aims to photograph 50,000 shots in 360-degree panoramic view and incorporate them into Google Earth and Google Maps. Dubbed "Google SeaView," it seeks to open opportunities for increased conservation as well as a free look for wanna-be world travelers who can't afford a plane ticket down under. As an added perk, the collected data may also be used to help future ship captains navigate through the treachery of the intricate coral highways. Check past the break for more info on the survey and plenty of footage teeming with aquatic wildlife.

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]]> animalsaustraliaBeachCaptainCaptainsCatlinCatlin SeaView SurveyCatlinSeaviewSurveyconservancyconservationCoralcoral reefCoralReeffishGoogleGoogle EarthGoogle Mapsgoogle street viewGoogleEarthGreat Barrier ReefGreatBarrierReefmanta raymanta raysoceanOrganizationOrganizationsoutbackpanoramapanoramic cameraPanoramicCameraprojectQueenslandQueensland AustraliaSandSciencescience and technologysea turtlesea turtlesSeaTurtlesSeaviewsharksharksShipShipsstreet levelStreetLevelsurveyturtleturtlesunderwaterunderwater photographyvideowildlife Sun, 26 Feb 2012 06:24:00 -0500 21|20179142 <![CDATA[Canon EOS 1000D washes ashore in BC, Canada, SD card reveals it was lost at sea for over a year (update)]]> http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/27/canon-eos-1000d-washes-ashore-sd-card-reveals-it-was-lost-at-se/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/27/canon-eos-1000d-washes-ashore-sd-card-reveals-it-was-lost-at-se/ http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/27/canon-eos-1000d-washes-ashore-sd-card-reveals-it-was-lost-at-se/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments
What you're looking at was once a fully functional Canon EOS 1000D, now merely a relic of the sea (the Pacific Ocean, to be exact), which was recently posted on Google+. User Marcus Thompson, found the DSLR washed up near a wharf while on a diving job in Deep Bay British Columbia, Canada and decided to take it home to find out what could be salvaged. After removing and cleaning the SanDisk Extreme III SD card inside of it, he was successfully able to recover about 50 photos with EXIF data from August 2010, showcasing what's described to be a firefighter and his family on vacation. While he hasn't located the owner of the shooter turned coffee table decoration just yet, Marcus is currently asking the "Google+ hive mind" to help get the two reunited. If you're from BC area and want to help out -- or just curious to see this DSLR from more angles -- you'll find some pictures from the SD card and more information about the camera at the source link below.

Update (5:00PM): The original Google+ post was updated within the last hour, noting that the owner of the camera has indeed been identified!

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]]> british columbiaBritishColumbiacameracanoncanon dslrcanon eos1000dCanonDslrCanonEos1000ddigital cameraDigitalCameradslreos 1000dEos1000dkiss xsKissXslenslostMarcus ThompsonMarcusThompsonoceanopticspacific oceanPacificOceanrebel xsRebelXssandisksd cardSdCardwater Sun, 27 Nov 2011 15:28:00 -0500 21|20115038 <![CDATA[Wave Glider robots set out to explore the seven seas, break the Guinness record]]> http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/19/wave-glider-robots-set-out-to-explore-the-seven-seas-break-the/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/19/wave-glider-robots-set-out-to-explore-the-seven-seas-break-the/ http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/19/wave-glider-robots-set-out-to-explore-the-seven-seas-break-the/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments It's a bird, it's a plane, nope, it's Liquid Robotic's four Wave Gliders on a mission to snag the Guinness World Record for longest distance traveled on Earth by an automaton. Setting out today from the San Francisco Bay, the autonomous sea-faring crafts will travel far and wide to gather data about the world's oceans. Powered by the water's movement, the vessels are fuel-free, using "flapping" wings to move forward without human command. Tricked out with various solar-powered sensors, the robots can capture location, weather, temperature, wave height, barometric pressure and more throughout their travels. The 198.4 pound machines cost between $250,000 and $500,000 each depending on how many sensors are built-in -- a small price for scientists or commandeering pirates hoping to learn more about the 95 percent of ocean that has yet to be explored. Let's just hope they don't run into one of these guys.

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]]> datadistanceguinnessguinness book of world recordsGuinnessBookOfWorldRecordsliquid roboticsLiquidRoboticsoceanopen waterOpenWaterrecordresearchrobotrobotswave gliderWaveGliderworld recordWorldRecord Sat, 19 Nov 2011 15:04:00 -0500 21|20110010 <![CDATA[Oscar winners crowd-sourcing the ocean with The Blu]]> http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/17/oscar-winners-crowd-sourcing-the-ocean-with-the-blu/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/17/oscar-winners-crowd-sourcing-the-ocean-with-the-blu/ http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/17/oscar-winners-crowd-sourcing-the-ocean-with-the-blu/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments Love the ocean, but hate holding your for breath for extended periods? Good news: a team of software engineers, composers, Oscar-winning animators and more have come together to recreate Davy Jones' locker in the cloud. Wemo Media is looking for a few thousand good artists for the project, to help create a massive simulation of life under the seas built on its Maker Platform. The project has been around for a bit, but is still in closed beta, making it a private development beach of sorts. You can watch an introductory video and request an invite at the source link below.

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]]> fishoceansimsimulationthe bluTheBluwemo mediaWemoMedia Sat, 17 Sep 2011 02:44:00 -0400 21|20044864 <![CDATA[Navy tests bacteria-powered hydrogen fuel cell, could start monitoring your underwater fight club]]> http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/07/navy-tests-bacteria-powered-hydrogen-fuel-cell-could-start-moni/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/07/navy-tests-bacteria-powered-hydrogen-fuel-cell-could-start-moni/ http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/07/navy-tests-bacteria-powered-hydrogen-fuel-cell-could-start-moni/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments Microbial fuel cells aren't exactly new, but microbial fuel cells scouring the ocean floor? Now that's an initiative we can get behind. The Naval Research Laboratory is currently toying around with a so-called Zero Power Ballast Control off the coast of Thailand, presumably looking for treasures dropped from the speedboat of one "Alan Garner." Purportedly, the newfangled hydrogen fuel cell relies on bacteria to provide variable buoyancy, which allows an autonomous ocean sensor to move up and down water columns with little to no effort. Furthermore, it's able to get its energy from microbial metabolism (yeah, we're talking about hot air), and while it's mostly being used to measure things like temperature and pressure, it could be repurposed for more seirous tasks -- like mine detection. There's no clear word yet on when America's Navy will have access to this stuff, but if we had to guess, they've probably be using it behind our backs for the better part of a score.

[Image courtesy of U.S. Navy Reserve / Tom Boyd]

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]]> autonomousBacteriabathythermographfuel cellFuelCellhydrogenhydrogen fuel cellHydrogenFuelCellmilitaryNaval Research LaboratoryNavalResearchLaboratorynavyoceanocean sensorOceanSensorsciencesensorsensorsusus militaryusaUsMilitarywaterZero Power Ballast ControlZeroPowerBallastControl Thu, 07 Jul 2011 20:29:00 -0400 21|19985993 <![CDATA[Scientists study orca ears, employ lasers to create hyper-sensitive underwater microphone]]> http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/27/scientists-study-orca-ears-employ-lasers-to-create-hyper-sensit/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/27/scientists-study-orca-ears-employ-lasers-to-create-hyper-sensit/ http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/27/scientists-study-orca-ears-employ-lasers-to-create-hyper-sensit/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments There are plenty of reasons to want to monitor what's going on in the ocean, from whale migration, to the recent stylistic resurgence of hot crustacean bands. There are certain inherent difficulties, however, in creating a powerful underwater microphone, namely all of that water you've got to contend with. A team of scientists has taken cues from the design of orca ears, in order to develop a powerful microphone that can work far beneath the waves. The researchers developed membranes 25 times thinner than plastic wrap, which fluctuate as sound is made. In order to operate at extreme depths, however, the microphone must fill with water to maintain a consistent pressure. So, how does one monitor the minute movements of a membrane hampered by the presence of water? Lasers, of course! The hydrophone can capture a 160-decibel range of sounds and operate at depths of 11,000 meters, where the pressure is around 1,100 times what we're used to on earth. So if the orcas themselves ever master the laser, at least we'll be able to hear them coming.

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]]> hyrdophonekiller whaleKillerWhalelasermicmicrophonenanotechnologyoceanOnur KilicOnurKilicorcapressurestanfordstanford universityStanfordUniversityunderwaterwaterwhale Mon, 27 Jun 2011 05:13:00 -0400 21|19976736 <![CDATA[Google opening seawater-cooled data center, finally glad it applied for that Wave trademark (video)]]> http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/24/google-opening-seawater-cooled-data-center-finally-glad-it-appl/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/24/google-opening-seawater-cooled-data-center-finally-glad-it-appl/ http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/24/google-opening-seawater-cooled-data-center-finally-glad-it-appl/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments
Google raised a few eyebrows when it purchased a Finnish paper mill back in 2009 -- what, the world, wondered, would the king of cloud services want with reams of tree guts? Space for a data center, of course -- and a seawater-cooled one at that. Google's Joe Kava told GigaOm that, when it launches in the fall, the center's temperature will be regulated by a quarter-mile of seawater tunnels inherited from the building's past tenants. One of the hardest parts of getting the system up and running has apparently been figuring out a way to clean corrosion from salt water without taking the system offline. Google's also working to limit the center's impact on the surrounding ecosystem, making sure that the water itself is cooled down before being pumped back out. Between this and those wind-powered data centers, it looks like Captain Planet's always got a cushy IT gig at Google to fall back on, should he ever fall on hard times.

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]]> coolingdatadata centerDataCenterenvironmentfinlandgooglegoogle data centerGoogleDataCentergreenoceanpaper millPaperMillsalt waterSaltWatervideowater Tue, 24 May 2011 19:14:00 -0400 21|19949015 <![CDATA[Ocean Empire LSV is the self-sufficient superyacht for the super-rich]]> http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/18/ocean-empire-lsv-is-the-self-sufficient-superyacht-for-the-super/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/18/ocean-empire-lsv-is-the-self-sufficient-superyacht-for-the-super/ http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/18/ocean-empire-lsv-is-the-self-sufficient-superyacht-for-the-super/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments It looks like your luxury extra-national seafaring utopia just got one step closer to reality. The Ocean Empire Life Support Vessel is a 144-foot Catamaran Superyacht manufactured by Sauter Carbon Offset Design, and it features not only "all of the hotel amenities of a luxury global voyager" but two hydroponic farms and fishing facilities and three sustainable power sources: a 400 square meter 70kw solar array, an auxiliary 80 square meter (200kw) automated SkySail that drives the ship to 18+ knots and charges her battery systems, and a Motion Damping Regeneration (MDR) system developed with Maurer Sohnes Gmbh that can produce up to 50kw of electricity as it steadies the ship on rolling seas. How much will it cost you to take yourself, nine of your closest friends, and a crew of eight to the sea -- and remain there indefinitely? About $17 million. Hit the source link to order a couple for yourself. The vessel is built to order and you can have it ready to go in about eighteen months. At least it's cheaper than Saddam's yacht!

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]]> carbon offsetCarbonOffsetend of the worldEndOfTheWorldgreenloadedluxuryMDRMotion Damping RegenerationMotionDampingRegenerationoceanOcean EmpireOcean Empire Life Support VesselOcean Empire LSVOceanEmpireOceanEmpireLifeSupportVesselOceanEmpireLsvrichSauter Carbon Offset DesignSauterCarbonOffsetDesignseaskysailsolar powerSolarPowersuperyachtsustainablewaterworldwind powerWindPoweryacht Tue, 18 Jan 2011 18:36:00 -0500 21|19805076 <![CDATA[DMC's 5-inch Copia color e-reader landing this fall for $99, others to follow]]> http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/30/dmcs-5-inch-copia-color-e-reader-landing-pre-holidays-for-99/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/30/dmcs-5-inch-copia-color-e-reader-landing-pre-holidays-for-99/ http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/30/dmcs-5-inch-copia-color-e-reader-landing-pre-holidays-for-99/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments It's fairly safe to say that DMC Worldwide's Copia e-reader family won't exactly make that estimated Spring 2010 ship date, but a new report over at The Wall Street Journal is cluing us in on a bit of a revised outlook. As of now, the first Copia suite of e-readers will "hit stores this fall in time for the holiday season," a suite that'll presumably include the 5-inch color (LCD) Wave 5 for $99, a 7-inch Wave 7 for $129, a 10-inch Ocean Color for $299 and a pair of E Ink-based options for $49 (Tidal) / $159 (Tidal WiFi). It doesn't seem as if the two Waves will include any sort of wireless connectivity, and given the LCD display, we're sure that battery life will be nowhere near as good as the marginally-more-expensive Kindle. That said, the user interface does look rather striking from afar, and if these manage to slip a bit further in price before that magical day in December, you could very well see a rush to stuff stockings with a member of this here family. Give those links below a poke if you're on the prowl for more detailed specifications.

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]]> cheapcolor e readercolor e-readercolor ereaderColorE-readerColorEreaderDMC WorldwideDmcWorldwidee booke book readere bookse readere readerse-booke-book readerE-bookReadere-bookse-readere-readersEBookReaderOceanocean colorOceanColortidalwave 5wave 7Wave5Wave7 Fri, 30 Jul 2010 10:06:00 -0400 21|19574790 <![CDATA[Artist builds a hole in the ocean, hopes BP doesn't screw it up]]> http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/26/artist-builds-a-hole-in-the-ocean-hopes-bp-doesnt-screw-it-up/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/26/artist-builds-a-hole-in-the-ocean-hopes-bp-doesnt-screw-it-up/ http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/26/artist-builds-a-hole-in-the-ocean-hopes-bp-doesnt-screw-it-up/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments
It's easy to get somewhat weepy and introspective when talking about the ocean. After all, it's not only from whence we came -- it's the setting of one of the greatest films ever made. Surfers get their kicks there, Ayn Rand freaks dream of moving there so they can live lives of greed unfettered by democracy, and now a British artist named Andrew Friend has built a device that will allow you to disappear there. From the artist's website:
This device offers the individual opportunity for a safe, temporary disappearance, experiencing an isolation seldom found on land. The occupier of the device is absorbed into the chasm, disappearing from view beneath the water's surface. The device examines the relationship between the known above, and the unknown / imagined world below sea level.
Disappearing (At Sea) is part of a larger work called Fantastic, a series of projects that allow the user to experience "extraordinary, unlikely, desirable (or not), confusing, or uncanny" experiences. Heady stuff, for sure! Hit the source link to get struck by lightning or become invisible. Or, if you'd rather not (and we don't blame you) get a look at an artist's sketch after the break.

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]]> andrew friendAndrewFriendartdesigndisappeardisappearingdisappearing at seaDisappearingAtSeafantasticocean Sat, 26 Jun 2010 20:10:00 -0400 21|19532291 <![CDATA[Poseidon floating power plant features wind turbines, location for Waterworld II]]> http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/29/poseidon-floating-power-plant-features-wind-turbines-location-f/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/29/poseidon-floating-power-plant-features-wind-turbines-location-f/ http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/29/poseidon-floating-power-plant-features-wind-turbines-location-f/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments
We've seen plenty of attempts to harness the movement of the sea for power, including underwater turbines and Searaser pumps, but those technologies are sadly unreliable. Denmark's Floating Power Plant has thought of that, however -- ingeniously outfitting its 350-ton Poseidon platform with wind turbines as well as the underwater variety, so it can harvest energy even when the sea is calm. As stability is a major concern, the company took design cues from oil rigs, so this bad boy should hopefully stay right-side-up even in the most perfect of storms. According to Inhabitat, the company is pegging energy costs between 10 and 15 Euro cents per kilowatt hour -- competitive for the continent. This thing is currently stationed off the coast of Lolland in Denmark, although with any luck they'll be all over the world soon enough, at which point we will use them as bases from which to launch our futuristic, dystopian undersea armies.

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]]> electricityfloating power plantFloatingPowerPlantgreen energyGreenEnergyoceanposeidonpowr plantPowrPlantunderwater turbineUnderwaterTurbinewind farmWindFarm Thu, 29 Apr 2010 15:25:00 -0400 21|19457383 <![CDATA[Copia promises to blend e-books and social networking into set of new readers]]> http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/06/copia-promises-to-blend-e-books-and-social-networking-into-set-o/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/06/copia-promises-to-blend-e-books-and-social-networking-into-set-o/ http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/06/copia-promises-to-blend-e-books-and-social-networking-into-set-o/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments Brace yourself, more e-readers on your way! First up the open platform: DMC Worldwide announces Copia, a social networking / e-book store hybrid that's gearing up hit private beta status this month and public beta in March. With that out of the way, let's talk hardware. Lower on the list of gear is the keyboard-laden Tidal with a 6-inch, 600 x 800 screen and 2GB internal storage. Just above that is the Tidal Touch with a 9-inch, 768 x 1024 screen, earphone / mic jack, 4GB internal upgradeable to microSD. And then we've got Ocean, which comes in 6-inch (600 x 800 pixels) and 9-inch (768 x 1024 pixels) variants and both feature capacitive touchscreens, 802.11b/g WiFi, tilt sensors, 4GB internal storage expandable via microSD, and some form of earphone / mic jack. Both Tidal Touch and Ocean 9 have optional 3G connectivity (that in the process halves internal storage to 2GB and nixing the microSD slot). Prices reportedly range between two and three Benjamins and will hit availability status online in April, followed by retail in June. Presser? You guessed right, it's after the break.

Gallery: Copia promises to blend e-books and social networking into set of new readers

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]]> cesces 2010Ces2010copacopiadmcdmc worldwideDmcWorldwidedmcwwe booke book readere readere-booke-book readerE-bookReadere-readerEBookEBookReaderEReaderoceanocean 6ocean 9ocean 9 3gOcean6Ocean9Ocean93gopen platformOpenPlatformplatformtidaltidal touchtidal touch 3gTidalTouchTidalTouch3g Wed, 06 Jan 2010 09:47:00 -0500 21|19304608 <![CDATA[Rutgers' underwater roboglider crosses the Atlantic, claims to be on business trip]]> http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/10/rutgers-underwater-roboglider-crosses-the-atlantic-claims-to-b/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/10/rutgers-underwater-roboglider-crosses-the-atlantic-claims-to-b/ http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/10/rutgers-underwater-roboglider-crosses-the-atlantic-claims-to-b/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments The so-called Scarlet Knight robot has this week completed a 225-day journey from the shores of New Jersey to the sandy beaches of Baiona in Spain -- fittingly the same port Christopher Columbus returned to after his first visit to the Americas -- aided only by a battery, ocean currents and its innate intelligence. Built by Rutgers University, the youthful robotic trailblazer performed a number of data gathering tasks as it went along, furnishing climate change researchers with more info on temperature levels, water salination and currents within the Atlantic Ocean. Now that it has been handed back to the US, the machine will be put up on display in the Smithsonian, so if you want a peek at the future of globetrotting that'll be the place to go.

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]]> atlanticatlantic crossingatlantic oceanAtlanticCrossingAtlanticOceanclimate changeClimateChangeenvironmentenvironment monitoringEnvironmentMonitoringglider recallGliderRecallmonitoringoceanocean currentsOceanCurrentsrobotrutgersRutgers UniversityRutgersUniversityscarlet knightScarletKnightsmithsonianspaintemperaturetemperature trackerTemperatureTrackerunderwaterunderwater gliderUnderwaterGliderusa Thu, 10 Dec 2009 07:28:00 -0500 21|19272948 <![CDATA[Seiko Ocean Theater alarm clock brings the life aquatic to your bedroom]]> http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/12/seiko-ocean-theater-alarm-clock-brings-the-life-aquatic-to-your/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/12/seiko-ocean-theater-alarm-clock-brings-the-life-aquatic-to-your/ http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/12/seiko-ocean-theater-alarm-clock-brings-the-life-aquatic-to-your/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments If you're anything like us, you're terrified of whales for pretty much no reason. Seiko's newest alarm clock -- the Ocean Theater -- probably isn't for you then. Fair enough, but plenty of people are not maladjusted, and we're willing to admit that it's pretty cool, even if it's terrifying. The clock, which responds to touch, can project various marine life upon your walls, and we imagine it'll be a huge hit with children. As you'll see in the video after the break, if this thing works as advertised, it's really rather impressive. The Ocean Theater also doubles as an iPod dock, and will be available from Japan Trends; it's up for pre-order now and runs $235. Like we said, definitely check out the video after the break.

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]]> alarmalarmclockalarmsdisplaysdockfiishipod dockIpodDockmarinelifeoceanocean lifeOceanLifeprojectorprojectorsseasealifesharksunderthesea Thu, 12 Nov 2009 04:59:00 -0500 21|19233977 <![CDATA[Samsung announces Bada mobile OS, SDK sets sail in December]]> http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/10/samsung-announces-bada-mobile-os-sdk-sets-sail-in-december/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/10/samsung-announces-bada-mobile-os-sdk-sets-sail-in-december/ http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/10/samsung-announces-bada-mobile-os-sdk-sets-sail-in-december/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments Because what the world needs now is yet another mobile operating system, Samsung has announced its foray into the field with Bada. Not much to reveal at this point other than some key PR speak: the name means "ocean" in Korean, the company's committed to "a variety of open platforms" in mobile industry and it plans this to be easy to integrate / customize based on carrier's experience. All real news should be coming sometime in December, when Sammy is saying it'll have a London launch event and reveal the SDK. Full presser after the break.

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]]> badamobilemobile osMobileOsoceanoperating systemOperatingSystemosplatformsamsung Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:21:00 -0500 21|19230015 <![CDATA[Samsung announces Bada mobile OS, SDK sets sail in December]]> http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/10/samsung-announces-bada-mobile-os-sdk-sets-sail-in-december/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/10/samsung-announces-bada-mobile-os-sdk-sets-sail-in-december/ http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/10/samsung-announces-bada-mobile-os-sdk-sets-sail-in-december/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments Because what the world needs now is yet another mobile operating system, Samsung has announced its foray into the field with Bada. Not much to reveal at this point other than some key PR speak: the name means "ocean" in Korean, the company's committed to "a variety of open platforms" in mobile industry and it plans this to be easy to integrate / customize based on carrier's experience. All real news should be coming sometime in December, when Sammy is saying it'll have a London launch event and reveal the SDK. Full presser after the break.

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]]> badamobilemobile osMobileOsoceanoperating systemOperatingSystemosplatformsamsung Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:21:00 -0500 21|19230009