| Read time: 3 minute(s)

Pompeii’s 2,300-year-old drains can be used even today! 

Pompeii’s ancient drainage system is in such good condition that it is set to be put back into active service, despite being built almost 2,300 years ago. A 1,500ft stretch of tunnels underneath some of the famed Italian city’s most iconic structures was originally built to drain water downhill away from Pompeii’s centre.  Analysis of […]
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Meet Vyom Mitra, ISRO’s ‘woman’ in space 

Indian space agency ISRO has unveiled a robot which will travel to space as part of its unmanned space mission to be launched this year as a prelude to the manned Gaganyaan mission. The half-humanoid robot, named ‘Vyom Mitra’ or a friend in the sky, is capable of conversing with astronauts, recognising them, and responding […]
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Make way for robot priest 

The world is going tech-friendly, then why should religion stay behind?  A 400-year-old temple in Japan is trying to rekindle interest in Buddhism with a robotic priest. The temple authorities believe the robot will change the face of the religion.  The android Kannon, based on the Buddhist deity of mercy, preaches sermons at Kodaiji temple […]
| Read time: 2 minute(s)

Talk to your robofriend in your language 

Do you want a robot who can speak in your mother tongue? Worry not. Because Samsung is planning to launch humanoids who can speak in Hindi, Marathi, Bhojpuri, or any language you want.  STAR Labs ‘artificial human’ project, Neon, is unlike any other artificial intelligence work. Neon is just a human companion that not only […]
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Fly and drive car is here!

The world’s first ‘fly and drive car’ was launched in Miami last week. And no, it doesn’t have a fancy name but yes it has some fancy price tag. The Pioneer Personal Air Landing Vehicle (PAL-V) costs around It’s about $599,000 (approximately Rs4,300,00,000). To date, 70 bookings have been made for this car but you […]
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Phone a frog!

We all know that climate change and loss of habitat are a threat to the existence of frogs.  But now scientists have developed a novel way to keep tabs on them in the wild — a “Frogphone.” The FrogPhone is the world’s first solar-powered remote survey device, relaying real-time data about the study site and […]
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First e-plane takes flight

The world’s first fully electric commercial aircraft has taken its inaugural test flight, taking off from the Canadian city of Vancouver and flying for 15 minutes. This aircraft which was designed in 1946 might become the first commercial electric plane. Vancouver-based Harbour Air took its “eBeaver” on a hop and showed the world a way […]
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Sundar Pichai is CEO of Google’s parent company

Sundar Pichai has been heading Google since 2015, but now he would also be the boss at its parent company. Pichai has been named the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Alphabet, which owns Google, and was founded by Larry Page and Sergey Brin. Both Page and Brin would be associated with Alphabet but would not […]
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Does astronauts’ blood flow backwards in space?

The US space agency NASA has observed a bizarre effect of human space flight: Blood going backwards in astronauts’ veins and clotting. An astronaut on the International Space Station (ISS) was carrying out an ultrasound on their body – guided by experts on the ground. An ultrasound is a scan to study inside the body. […]
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Play football with robots now

These ‘mini cheetahs’ are not just for routine work. The robots designed and made by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) showcased their football skills recently in a video released by the university. These four-legged android can now dribble a soccer ball, run and jump, not to forget the backflip.  Cheetah’s lead developer, Benjamin Katz, […]