Thrill-inducing sculpture blending aesthetics and utility: The Waterfall Swing
In the realm of technology, innovation is never in short supply. Here's a selection of recent developments that are making waves across the globe:
The Waterfall Swing: A Dry Ride Through a Wall of Water
Andrew Witte, Andrew Ratcliff, Ian Charnas, and Mike O'Toole have created an interactive sculpture that pushes the boundaries of water features. The Waterfall Swing, similar to the Rain Curtain Water Feature, uses advanced technology to allow riders to pass through a wall of water without getting wet.
The system is designed to recirculate water, which is controlled by a computer that tracks the swing's motion. This allows the computer to predict exactly when and where the rider will pass through the water wall, and solenoid valves at the top of the water feature are used to create temporary openings in the water wall at the right time.
The Waterfall Swing, made of steel, is currently touring the United States, providing a thrill of only narrowly escaping getting wet.
Robotic Surgery Breakthrough
In a world first, a robotic neck incision replaced a heart valve with no chest opening. This groundbreaking procedure marks a significant step forward in minimally invasive surgery.
China's Stealth Drone Success
China claims to have fixed a design flaw that killed the US Navy's dreams for a stealth drone. This development could potentially reshape the landscape of military technology.
Quantum Battery Breakthrough
A diamond-based quantum battery has been developed, which resists self-discharge and could unlock longer energy storage. This advancement could have far-reaching implications for various industries, including renewable energy and electric vehicles.
Antimatter Qubit and NASA's Longer Space Missions
The first antimatter qubit was created, and an antiproton stayed coherent for nearly a minute. This breakthrough could pave the way for more advanced quantum computing and potentially improve technology used in NASA's space missions.
Americium-241 could soon replace plutonium fuel in NASA's longest space missions, offering a safer and more sustainable power source.
Other Notable Developments
- The world's first two-ton vertical takeoff aircraft received flight clearance in China.
- Starlink went dark globally, and Elon Musk vowed a remedy after a rare satellite outage.
- Students 3D-printed a hybrid drone that can fly, swim, and resurface in seconds.
- Japan's new solar film aims to power rooftops ruled out by heavy panel weight.
- The US tests a heliostat-based system to detect asteroids without using telescopes.
- Over $1B in smuggled NVIDIA chips were sold in China after April's US crackdown.
- An EV battery printing breakthrough could double life while retaining 81.5% charge.
- A breakthrough 'secret alloy' helps the US slash nuclear waste disposal time by 20+ years.
- The US' super laser program to defend against missiles faces a sudden pause before completion.
- A new Wi-Fi fingerprint tech tracks your body without a device, phone, or camera.
- Nuclear reactors may revive the ancient dream of turning mercury into gold.
- Tests linked to space-based interceptors could help down hypersonic threats.
Meanwhile, the issue of plastic pollution in the Atlantic Ocean remains a pressing concern, with 27 million tons of plastic having piled up and proving difficult to clean up.
On a lighter note, a YouTuber built a bike using a 200-year-old engine that works without gas or battery. And a Russian plane with 49 passengers crashed near China's border, with no survivors reported.
- In the realm of robotics, a groundbreaking surgery was performed using a robotic neck incision, marking a significant leap in minimally invasive procedures.
- The Waterfall Swing, an interactive sculpture, is pushing the boundaries of water features, allowing riders to pass through a wall of water without getting wet, using advanced technology.
- China's military technology may be reshaped by their claimed success in fixing a design flaw that once hindered the US Navy's stealth drone.
- Innovations in technology are not limited to medicine and engineering; a diamond-based quantum battery has been developed, which resists self-discharge and could unlock longer energy storage.
- The fusion of technology and fashion-and-beauty continues to grow, as a YouTuber built a bike using a 200-year-old engine, demonstrating the versatility of traditional machinery in modern lifestyles.
