Replace Your IR Remote with a Web Browser

While more and more consumer products are rushing to include WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity, the simplicity and reliability of infrared has kept it in the game in the game far longer than many might have thought. Despite being thinner and sleeker, the IR remote control that comes with your brand …read more

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Hubble’s stunning new snaps of Jupiter reveal fresh storms brewing

It’s human nature to be transfixed by clouds and all the strange shapes they swirl into, but we don’t have to be limited to Earthly skies. Jupiter offers some of the best cloud-watching in the solar system, and new Hubble images remind us why, revealin… Continue reading Hubble’s stunning new snaps of Jupiter reveal fresh storms brewing

Stadium-sized balloon to carry NASA telescope to the edge of space

Balloons may seem like an outdated mode of transportation, but for high-flying scientific instruments they’re making a comeback. NASA has unveiled ASTHROS, a new infrared telescope that will be carried to the edge of space by a balloon the size of a fo… Continue reading Stadium-sized balloon to carry NASA telescope to the edge of space

The WISE in NEOWISE: How a Hibernating Satellite Awoke to Discover the Comet

Over the last few weeks the media has been full of talk about NEOWISE, one of the brightest and most spectacular comets to ever pass through our solar system that you can still see if you hurry. While the excitement over this interstellar traveler is more than justified, it’s also …read more

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Hubble and ALMA mosaic captures stellar fireworks of star formation

Astronomers are celebrating the 4th of July weekend in their own trademark fashion – by releasing a new image of some cosmic fireworks. The spectacular shot is made up of a mosaic of radio and infrared images, showing a cluster of young stars exploding… Continue reading Hubble and ALMA mosaic captures stellar fireworks of star formation

Graphene-based textile cools in the heat and warms in the cold

Scientists at the University of Manchester have developed a new type of smart textile that could make its way into adaptive clothing that keeps the wearer cool in warm weather, and vice versa. The material achieves this through the use of graphene whic… Continue reading Graphene-based textile cools in the heat and warms in the cold

Teardown: The Writer Word Processor

For modern students, the spiral notebook has given way to the laptop and the pocket calculator has been supplanted by the smart phone. We’re not just talking about high school and college, either. Today, the education of even grade school children is intrinsically linked with technology. While some might question …read more

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Celebrating Spitzer: 16 years of incredible infrared space photography

NASA finally retired the Spitzer Space Telescope on January 30 this year, after 16 years of scanning the skies in infrared. In that time the observatory has been responsible for some of the most stunning space photos ever taken, so to celebrate its lif… Continue reading Celebrating Spitzer: 16 years of incredible infrared space photography

NASA farewells Spitzer Space Telescope with final mosaic image

The Spitzer Space Telescope was finally decommissioned on January 30 this year, after more than 16 years in operation. Now NASA has released the infrared observatory’s last-ever mosaic image, giving us a glimpse into how Spitzer’s vision works and reve… Continue reading NASA farewells Spitzer Space Telescope with final mosaic image

Study finds dogs’ noses can detect heat like an infrared sensor

It is well known that dogs boast an incredible sense of smell, but new research has uncovered another way our for-legged friends use their famous noses to find their way around. Scientists have discovered what they describe as an “entirely new sense” i… Continue reading Study finds dogs’ noses can detect heat like an infrared sensor