Private listening audio tech works like projectable virtual headphones

Imagine being able to listen to music or other audio that no one else can hear, without having to wear headphones. Doing so is now possible via so-called "audible enclaves," which already exist in functional prototype form.

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Self-shading windows draw solely on the power of the pine cone

Pine cones are pretty smart for things with no brains, enough so that scientists have copied them to create a unique window shading system. The setup blocks sunlight in the summer and lets it through in the winter, without using any electricity.

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Cuneiform-like data storage tech boasts four times the density of binary

Cuneiform, the world's oldest form of writing, involved making indentations in clay tablets. Scientists have now developed a data storage system that's like cuneiform on steroids – and it's capable of storing more data than a typical hard disc drive.

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Revolutionary new wheelchair boasts hands-free backrest-based steering

Steering a wheelchair can be a strenuous, inefficient process, in that you have to brake with one rear wheel while pushing harder on the other. A clever new chair addresses that problem in a brilliant fashion, by using a moveable backrest to steer.

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Bio-inspired one-way-flow pipes handle liquid like sharks digest food

Ordinarily, if you want liquid to flow in only one direction through a pipe, that pipe has to have a flap-type valve – which could fail. Now, scientists have created a new type of more robust one-way-flow pipe, which was inspired by shark intestines.

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“World’s first fire-line-in-a-box” blows up to keep brush fires at bay

If you live on an acreage, there's a constant risk that your home may be consumed by a brush fire. That's where the Blaze Barrier comes in, as it forms a flame-activated fire-retardant boundary line around the user's house.

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Clever titanium gadget uses concentric rings to measure, add and multiply

Less than a year ago we told you about the Tiroler, a titanium ring that's a rather clever alternative to the boring ol' tape measure. Well, its makers are back with a new take on the concept, which also performs calculations.

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Desktop wind tunnel runs aerodynamic tests at small scale

Ever wonder how well your model cars would slice through the air if they were full-scale automobiles? Well, a little something known as the Windsible could tell ya (sort of), as it's touted as being the world's first consumer desktop wind tunnel.

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80-in-1 titanium multitool stack splits into magnetic utility cards

With a "more is more" approach to its latest offering on Kickstarter, London-based Gadget On has packed everything from a sundial clock to a SIM card ejector into its new TitanSpin multitool. And, oh yeah, the whole thing is also a fidget spinner.

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Video: Heat-gun-toting robot could create bespoke clothing on the cheap

Custom-fit clothing is usually quite expensive, but perhaps it doesn't have to be. MIT's 4D Knit Dress is an example of a new type of clothing that a robot could selectively shrink to fit the wearer, perhaps right in the store.

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