Street sweeper tests real-world feasibility of hydrogen-powered vehicles

The hydrogen-powered CityCat H2 that is being trialed on the streets of Basel, Switzerland

For the past couple of years, a street cleaning vehicle has been washing, brushing and vacuuming the streets of Basel in northwest Switzerland. While there's nothing unusual about that, what is noteworthy is that the vehicle, known as the CityCat H2, is powered completely by hydrogen. The street sweeper is part of a project to practically test the feasibility of hydrogen-powered vehicles under real-world conditions and the results from the trial indicate that, although hydrogen-powered vehicles can save energy, are environmentally friendly, and technically feasible, the prices of fuel cells, pressurized storage tanks and electric drives must all drop significantly before such vehicles are cost-effective.

Multi-word pass-phrases not so secure after all?

New research from Cambridge University suggests pass-phrases may be vulnerable to dictionary-style attacks

It's a meme that's been doing the rounds on the internet in recent years: multi-word pass-phrases are as secure as long strings of gibberish but with the added benefit of being easy to remember. But research from Cambridge University suggests that this may not be the case. Pass-phrases comprised of dictionary words may not be as vulnerable as individual passwords, but they may still succumb to dictionary attacks, the research finds.

Sony's ICD-TX50 - the slimmest of its slimline voice recorders

With its ICD-TX50, Sony has introduced what it's calling its slimmest ever voice recorder

With its ICD-TX50, Sony has introduced what it's calling its slimmest ever voice recorder. The quarter-inch (6.4mm) device weighs 1.8 ounces (50 g) - combined with its 4 GB memory (plus microSD) the ICD-TX50 should double as a rather nifty lightweight MP3 player. But the device reserves its most impressive specs for the all-important dictaphone functionality.

Moby1 expedition trailers take camping off-road

Moby1 is offering a new take on the traditional teardrop trailer, offering a range of compact models that are specifically designed for off-road touring

Moby1 is offering a new take on the traditional teardrop trailer, with a range of compact models that are specifically designed for off-road touring. These teardrop trailers are not only lightweight, but also offer campers extra cargo space, a flexible load-carrying platform, a meal preparation area and cooking station, and a standard mattress. Teardrops were most popular during the 30s through to the 50s, but slowly faded out of fashion as campers grew larger and RVs became super-sized. With current fuel prices, however, the teardrop trailer is starting to make more sense for the environmentally-conscious camper.

Scientists working at creating allergy-free eggs

The hypoallergenic egg team: Tim Doran (left), Cenk Suphioglu and Pathum Dhanapala

Of all the childhood allergies, an allergic reaction to eggs is one of the most common. Typically, reactions can include wheezing, nausea, headache, stomach ache, and hives. In extreme cases, however, anaphylactic shock can result, which can itself sometimes lead to death. Eggs are difficult to avoid, too - they find their way into many foods that might not seem particularly "eggy," and are even used in flu vaccines. Needless to say, for some time now, scientists have been working on making eggs safe for everyone. A team from Australia's Deakin University is now claiming that they're well on the way to producing not just hypoallergenic eggs, but the chickens that lay them.

Gizmon iCA is an iPhone case for classic camera buffs

The Gizmon iCA Military Edition iPhone case

There's no arguing that the Japanese love their cameras, particularly classic cameras. There's also no arguing that the Japanese love their iPhones. What could be cooler than combining the two, and creating an iPhone case that looks like a classic Leica? That's exactly what Japanese classic camera importer Adplus has done with its Gizmon iCA. Now, it's introducing an all-black "military" version - available for order worldwide in a few days. These covers don't just look good, either.

Airhead insert increases helmet ventilation, eliminates "helmet hair"

The Airhead fits neatly inside the helmet

The Airhead is a simple accessory designed to fit inside a helmet and increase air circulation, keeping you cooler. By limiting your head heat and perspiration, Airhead also promises to combat "helmet hair."