Technology

When it comes to solar power, solar cells and panels tend to get all the attention. But there's a different kind of solar power generator known as a STEG, and researchers have just figured out a way to improve its efficiency by a factor of 15.

A Netherlands-based family business took minimalism to the extreme in 2017 with a Kickstarter for the striking Wheel turntable. Now the third iteration has rolled out with a more refined look, direct drive, optical stylus and improved sound.

The prototype Royal Navy robotic submarine XV-Excalibur has provided a glimpse of the fleet of the future by patrolling the waters at HMNB Devonport in Plymouth, England while controlled from a command center in Australia 10,000 miles (16,000 km) away.

China's Wanbo has officially launched the Vali 1, a portable Full HD smart projector with an integrated gimbal stand that outshines its peers for "best-in-class sound and vision performance."

Hisense has officially launched the L9Q 4K Triple Laser UST projector that previewed at CES 2025. The high-class wall hugger puts out 5,000 lumens, runs Google TV and rocks pro-tuned sound. US pricing and full specs have now been confirmed.

Over the past wee while, immersive actioncam company Insta360 has been incubating a new camera-drone startup called Antigravity. Now the first flyer has been unveiled, a folding aerial adventurer capable of grabbing immersive 8K 360-degree footage.

DARPA's autonomous Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV), the USX-1 Defiant, took a major step toward operational status as a bottle of spirits was broken over its bow at the Everett Ship Repair in Everett, Washington on August 11, 2025.

Samsung teased a fresh take on backlit premium televisions at CES in January, with a 98-inch 8K LCD TV prototype featuring RGB microLED technology. Now the company has gone into production with a 115-inch 4K model – and it's coming to the US.

Instead of going to the trouble of building tiny robots from scratch, some scientists are now turning insects into remote-control cyborgs. A new "assembly line" could help, by converting cockroaches into cyborgs far faster than can be done by hand.

An internet era is coming to an end as AOL announces that it will shut down its dial-up service on September 20, 2025. The company says that the service, along with its associated software and AOL Shield browser, will no longer be supported.