Photo credit: University of Rochester photo / J. Adam Fenster
Solar power has always felt like a broken promise—it has a lot of potential but never quite delivers. A team from the University of Rochester, led by optics expert Chunlei Guo, may have just changed that. They’ve created solar thermoelectric generators (STEGs) using black metal that are 15 times more powerful than previous generations.
A keyboard is just a keyboard—rows of keys, maybe some backlighting, and a job: help you type. But every now and then a device comes along that challenges the ordinary, combines ideas in ways that make you stop and think what’s possible. That device is the KeyGo, a slim, foldable keyboard with a 12.8-inch touchscreen built right in.
Magnetic tape reels, once the foundation of music recording, are now collecting dust in forgotten basement corners, but in the hands of Japan’s Open Reel Ensemble, these relics become something extraordinary: the JIGAKKYU. This trio—Ei Wada, Haruka Yoshida, and Masaru Yoshida—have created an unconventional sound using bamboo bows and magnetic tape .
For $25.99, down from $39.99, the Anker 735 Nano II 65W GaN charger is a game-changer for anyone who’s ever tripped over a mess of cables and clunky power bricks while traveling. The charger is compatible with a wide range of devices, including iPhones (iPhone 16 and previous generations), Samsung Galaxy phones, Google Pixels, iPads, and even the Steam Deck.
Carrera, a German company that has been making slot car toys since the 1960s, has taken racing to a whole new level with Carrera Hybrid. This new system ditches the traditional grooved tracks for a free-roaming experience controlled by a smartphone app. Available in the US from September 1 for $199.99, the starter set includes 15 track pieces—straights and curves—along with two Porsche 911 GT3 R racers scaled at 1:50.
Photo credit: Android Authority
Google Translate has been the go-to tool for quick translations for a long time, bridging language gaps with a tap. Now it’s going into new territory, to teach you a language rather than just translate it. A recent hands-on look at an unreleased feature, uncovered through an APK teardown, shows Google is going to challenge Duolingo with a Practice mode.
Ivan Miranda’s latest project—a full sized kayak printed in under 24 hours—takes additive manufacturing to new heights. Using a custom built 3D printer with a treadmill as the print bed, he aimed to print a functional watercraft faster than most people can assemble a piece of IKEA furniture.
