BLOOD IN THE LIGHT: Researchers at the Institute of Technology in Israel developed a device that shines a light on the skin. When pressed against the skin the device shines a spectrum of light across a blood vessel near the surface. Then the scattered light is analysed. What it shows are high-resolution images of red and white blood cells, all without actually cutting into the patient, drawing blood and waiting for test results. The portable device measures blood cells and calculates the volume of different cell types. It seems medicine is finding less and less reason to actually cut into a body for diagnosis. Kurzweil AI elaborates.
SHOPPING CAR: The Renault Twizy is a cute little urban electric 2-seater car, with a pricetag that isn't excessive. Doors are optional and the rented battery plugs into a normal outlet for charging. Top speed is 80 Kph and range 100 Km. If you go for the optional doors though, you still don't get windows. It offers more protection than a motorbike though. Red Ferret has more. Check out the video here.
CAR TRAIN: The Safe Road Trains for the Environment project had 4 vehicles drive in a road train on a public highway near Barcelona, Spain, for over 200 Km at speeds up to 85 Kph. It was a proof-of-concept trial where 3 Volvos followed a lead truck. The cars used cameras, radar and laser sensors to monitor the lead vehicle, travelling within 6 metres behind one another. That could be a pain
for someone wanting to overtake. Wired explains.
TUBES ON THE NET: Travelling on the Tube in London? You don't need to give up WiFi. 80 platforms, but not the trains themselves, are being wired up for the Olympics. So the Internet is a series of Tubes, after all. BBC shares more.
JAB PREDICTOR: It's no fun when a medic has to jab you half a dozen times to find the right place for the needle. The AxoTrack sterile procedure kit removes the guesswork. It uses sonograms and a virtual needle to pinpoint the exact path of a needle before it enters the body. The medic lines the needle up and a sonogram shows where it will go in the body. If it's not in the right place the medic can move it to a better location before actually jabbing you. That should save quite a few people from needless jabs. Visit Wired for further information.
