3D solar cells could be integrated into solar roof tiles

Solar3D will examine the potential for its 3D solar cells to be used in solar roof tiles

Home owners looking to embrace solar but concerned about the effect slabs of solar panels will have on the look of their house may soon have an option that blends the old with the new. California-based company Solar3D has announced it is conducting a study to explore the potential for integrating its solar cells directly into roof tiles. While conventional solar cells aren’t really suitable for roof tiles due to their fixed orientation, Solar3D believes its 3D solar cell technology could make such a product feasible.

Citroen's 1955 DS set for reprise with DS6

Teaser shot from Citroen's Facebook page

Teaser shots have appeared on Citroen's Facebook page for a new as-yet-unnamed vehicle. The French giant has successfully reprised its successful DS name into a whole series - so far we have the DS3, DS4 and DS5.

Researcher spins spider silk into violin strings

By twisting thousands of strands together, a Japanese researcher has managed to form working violin strings from spider silk

Spider silk is turning out to be a remarkably versatile material. Aside from having a higher heat conductivity than any other organic matter and proteins for inserting genes into cells, strings from a spider have also been found to have a very high tensile strength. One researcher in Japan has studied this property of spider silk for decades, and recently unveiled a new application for it by weaving together thousands of strands of spider filaments and using them as violin strings.

The fold-up fishing hut with walls of ice

Unavailability is an achingly simple piece of design, functioning as a folding fishing hut with walls of ice

Simply called Unavailability, this achingly simple piece of design is a one-man wooden-framed fold-up fishing hut with chicken wire-mesh walls that can be packed with ice by the user to keep out the wind while letting in light.

Winner announced for 2012 Millenium Yacht Design Award

The Allochroous is the 'Dream Boat' winner of the 9th Millennium Yacht Design Award

The Allochroous is the Dream Boat category winner of the 9th Millennium Yacht Design Award (MYDA), an international competition for yacht designers around the world. Conceptualized by beginner entrants Ezgi Aksan and Ambra Ceronetti, Allochroous is a futuristic representation of what their dream yacht would be. Drawing upon innovative technologies, the key feature behind the concept is that the yacht is able to transform its functionality. The vision was to create a sustainable yacht that is ideal for enjoying a summer concert at sea.

Flat polymer sheets bend themselves into 3D shapes - just add water

Using a photolithography process, scientists have created flat polymer sheets that bend themselves into three-dimensional shapes when exposed to water

When the petal of a flower is being formed, its shape is achieved by cells in one area expanding more than cells in an adjacent area. This uneven expansion causes the material to buckle, creating the desired curves and creases. Scientists from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst have taken that same principle, and applied it to flat polymer gel sheets that fold themselves into three-dimensional shapes when exposed to water. Some day, such sheets could serve a number of useful purposes.

New software translates users' speech, using their own voice

New software developed by Microsoft is able to reproduce the user's speech in another language, using their own voice

For some time now, speech-recognition programs have existed that attempt to reproduce the user's spoken words in another language. Such "speech-to-speech" apps, however, provide their translations using a very flat, synthetic voice. Now, experimental new software developed by Microsoft is able not only to translate between 26 different languages, but it plays the translated speech back in the user's own voice - complete with the inflections they used when speaking in their own language. It looks like a real-life version of Star Trek's universal translator could soon be here.