Tech Universe: Wednesday 8 December

Swiss university, EPFL, has created a new camera, made up of a hundred tiny lenses arranged around a hemisphere. Photo / Supplied

EYE ON THE BALL: A fly's eye has hundreds of facets so it can see in all directions. Compare that to a regular camera with a flat and restricted field of view. A Swiss university, EPFL, has created a new camera, made up of a hundred tiny lenses arranged around a hemisphere. The camera and its processor can see 360 degrees in true 3D. It could be used to show soccer matches or other sports with an 'inside' view. Should we expect more '3D effects' plays in sports matches too? More at Gizmodo and video on YouTube.

SOLAR CYCLE: Kyocera's Solar Cycle Stations are 3-metre walls of solar cells that allow owners of battery powered bicycles in Japan to recharge their bikes. A connection to the grid means bike owners can still charge up, even if it's cloudy or at night. Imagine having these
around town. City Councils: take a look. More at EarthTechling.

LEAFY TOWER: Taichung in Taiwan is to have a 300 metre tall tower with an observation deck, a restaurant and office space. Ho hum. But the design is straight out of sci-fi. Various eco-features provide power and purify rainwater, but what's astonishing is large leaf-shaped observatories made from strong, lightweight material. They will carry up to 80 people up and down the outside of the building. Bizarre. Details at DiscoveryNews.

SHAPE SHIFTERS: A new carbon nanotube rubber from Japan can withstand extreme temperatures. It's viscoelastic, so whatever shape you coerce it into, it springs back to its original shape. Usually these materials shatter if they freeze, or melt if they get too hot, but the new material keeps its shape. This material could be used in shoes, car shock absorbers, or even in spacecraft. Bounce me to the moon.... More at DiscoveryNews.

AUTO AEROBATICS: University of Queensland trained a computer system to compare the blue of the sky with the red-green of the ground. The system measures and identifies the horizon using wide-angle cameras and allows planes to precisely and speedily guide themselves through extreme manoeuvres such as loops and barrel rolls. No word on handling under cloudy skies, or over the sea. More at ScienceAlert.

- Miraz Jordan knowit.co.nz