Black Metal Solar Power Thermoelectric Generators STEG
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.

Carrera Hybrid Slot Cars
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.

Google Translate Language Learning Duolingo
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.