Tech Universe: Monday 16 May

CANYON BY JETPACK: The Grand Canyon's pretty spectacular, any way you look at it, but Yves Rossy got a close up view when he flew across it with a jetpack the other day. Launched from a helicopter, he flew for 8 minutes at around 300 Kph, before using a parachute to land. That would be quite a ride. More at PopSci and video on YouTube.

3D FUSION: EADS, a British aerospace company, are developing new 3D printing techniques for creating small parts for planes. They can create metal hinges, for example, that are as strong as conventional parts, but weigh half as much. They print them by using lasers to heat metal powders to form solid shapes. Stronger, cheaper and faster: a great goal. More at TechnologyReview.

JUMPING ELECTRONS: About one third of the solar energy that arrives on Earth is infrared, but solar panels can't collect that wavelength. A new technique embeds nano-sized antennae made of gold and titanium, and coated with tin oxide into solar panels. When infrared radiation hits the panel it creates a hot electron that jumps to the silicon and creates a current. What else aren't they catching yet? More at IO9.

INSIDER VIEW: Google's Street View is very handy, but, well, it only shows what's on the street. Google Business Photos will extend street view inside businesses, including in 7 centres in New Zealand. Businesses can request that one of Google's professional photographers take shots to be included with Google Places. Make sure to do the spring cleaning first. More at ArsTechnica.

ANOTHER SIDE TO TRANSISTORS: Intel is to start using its 3D Tri-Gate transistors in the Ivy Bridge chip. They're 3D because of a silicon fin that rises up vertically from the silicon substrate, allowing for more gates. The Tri-Gate transistors operate at lower voltage and are more energy efficient, while performing better than older model transistors. They're very suitable for handheld devices. It's all a matter of how you hold the gate. More at ScienceDaily.

- Miraz Jordan knowit.co.nz