Good Thinking

Researchers at MIT have developed a new algorithm that takes stock of ocean conditions to determine in real-time where stranded items and people are likely to appear, which could give the efficiency of search and rescue operations a big boost.

Google researchers have come up with a textile-covered cable that can pause music playback on a smartphone with a tap, skip tracks with a double-tap and control volume with a twist.

Thomas Edison’s original patents surrounding the light bulb and an archive of 37 original British Patent Letters related to the incandescent lamp have been sold at auction for US$75,000.

Sargassum seaweed is growing out of control in many regions – it washes up on beaches in huge amounts. Utilizing a new technique, that rotting organic matter could soon be converted into biofuels and other products.

Given that solar panels lie in direct sunlight, it goes without saying that they can get pretty hot. Unfortunately, though, they also get less efficient as they heat up. That said, a new gel could help cool them … without using any electricity.

Off-grid light creator Deciwatt is back with a new manually powered light to illuminate spaces from remote villages to campsites. The NowLight includes a linkable multi-lamp design and single power source charged by hand, solar or mains power.

As most fans of the leathery fruit can attest, telling when an avocado is of perfect ripeness can be a guessing game, but a new testing technique could eliminate the margin for error by measuring the firmness of individual specimens using lasers.

Keeping a journal of what and when you eat is one of the standard ways of tracking your diet. That said, it's a rather inexact method, which is why scientists are creating an eyeglasses-based system that may do the job more accurately.

Point the average lighter down and fire it up and the flame will quickly rise and burn your thumb. But with a few simple adjustments, Dissim introduces a lighter that works as effectively upside down as it does right side up.

By converting liquid salt water – or tainted water – into steam, it's possible to obtain pure, clean drinking water. Doing so could soon be cheaper and easier than ever, thanks to a newly developed material.

In order to gauge the risk of mosquito-borne diseases, authorities typically monitor the numbers of specific mosquito types that are known to carry those illnesses. A new system makes it possible to do so remotely, and thus more effectively.

If you were heading into a burning building, you'd probably want someone else to know your location within it at all times. German scientists have developed a system that's said to serve that purpose, for use by firefighters and other rescue workers.