| Japanese company takes pod concept mobile, keeps ants from your Grey Poupon (video) Jun 8th 2012, 09:03  The great outdoors not civilized enough? From the country with a dearth of space but no shortage of singular ideas comes the Zero Pod, letting you renounce the flimsy tent and enjoy nature in solid-framed style. Made up of "about 40 components," the structure can be placed on flat ground, steep hills, or even turned into a kit houseboat, judging by manufacturer DCW's video after the break. Claiming it can be assembled easily "by two women" in half an hour, with knock-down taking a bit longer, the company added that the pods could also be put together as modules for use as hotel annexes. We'll have to see about the price, but if the pod lets us be in nature while keeping it off us, we're not going to quibble about a few yen. Continue reading Japanese company takes pod concept mobile, keeps ants from your Grey Poupon (video) Japanese company takes pod concept mobile, keeps ants from your Grey Poupon (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 08 Jun 2012 05:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink |  DigInfo TV | Email this | Comments | | 2013 Chevy Volt stretches out the electric miles, works harder for the money Jun 8th 2012, 08:18  Every car gets a mid-life refresh to keep the customers flocking in, but a hybrid poses its own unique challenges: it has to give yet another reason to skip buying an (often cheaper) gas-only ride. Chevrolet's solution for the 2013 Volt is to keep drivers on electric power for longer. A slightly larger battery capacity with more real-world room lets the new Volt run for up to 38MPGe (up from 37) solely on its electric motor, 98MPGe (up from 94) if you have to draw on the fuel tank and 380 miles of range before you're looking for a plug or a gas station. If gas looks to be the only option for a long drive, an EV Hold Mode borrowed from the Volt's Opel Ampera cousin will keep the electricity in reserve until you're closer to a charging location. Hypermilers have some entertainment through a new center stack that merges GPS, satellite radio and USB media playback into a seven-inch touchscreen unit. They likewise get a lane departure warning system as well as uniform roof and trunk colors -- that signature, two-tone Volt look is going away. We're still waiting to see if prices have changed, but you can get the current scoop after the jump. Continue reading 2013 Chevy Volt stretches out the electric miles, works harder for the money 2013 Chevy Volt stretches out the electric miles, works harder for the money originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 08 Jun 2012 04:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink  Autoblog | | Email this | Comments | | Large Hadron Collider affected by full moon, ocean commiserates Jun 8th 2012, 07:57  Large Hadron Collider not running properly? If you've read the docs and restarted it, check for a full moon. After noticing fewer particle collisions while on her shift, Pauline Gagnon reached out to a control room operator who casually explained that they adjust beam alignment during full moons. Yes, the tide-producing orbit of Earth's satellite tugs the LHC's inner workings ever so slightly askew. Though minute, the changes add up over the collider's 27km circumference and are picked up by monitoring equipment sensitive enough to measure elementary particles. However, Luna isn't the only thing that affects the accelerator -- the water level in Lake Geneva and passing high-speed rail trains also do the trick. Will your hand react differently to the LHC's beam under a Harvest Moon? Probably not. In any case, hit the source for the scientific details. Large Hadron Collider affected by full moon, ocean commiserates originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 08 Jun 2012 03:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink Ars Technica | Quantum Diaries | Email this | Comments | |
