Η ΓΝΩΣΗ ΤΗΣ ΣΤΟ ΣΧΟΛΕΙΟ ΚΑΙ ΠΕΡΑ ΑΠΟ ΑΥΤΟ
We're a step closer to entering an operating theater without any human life besides ours, following the world's first surgery performed by a robot responding and learning in real time. Its precision and skill matched that of experienced surgeons.
Category: Robotics, Technology
Tags: Johns Hopkins University, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Robots, Surgery, GPT, Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence
Why settle for a robot when you can have a robot coyote? That seems to be the thinking of the US Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC), which is developing a cybernetic prairie predator to keep airfields clear of hazardous wildlife.
Category: Military, Technology
Picking up where traditional antibiotics are failing, two natural compounds have been shown effective in killing antibiotic-resistant bacteria in wastewater. The finding could point towards a natural way to defeat the increasingly undefeatable bugs.
Category: Wellness & Healthy Living, Body & Mind
Tags: Superbugs, Antibiotic-resistant bacteria, Antibiotic, Food, Utah State University
Designed to provide the range, speed and convenience that electric aircraft and boats lack, the otherworldly Viceroy seaglider developed by Rhode Island startup Regent has completed another major milestone. Just a few months after hitting the water for the first time, the dramatic gull-winged vessel emerged out of the water to demonstrate its foiling capabilities for the first time. Pretty soon, it will be taking to the air to put its range-boosting ground-effect technology to work.
Tags: Electric Vehicles, Electric Aircraft, Electric Boats, Ground Effect Vehicle, Hydrofoil
Canon has finally announced US availability and pricing details for the RF 75-300mm F4.0-5.6, a budget full-frame lens that it introduced earlier this year. When it initially launched in April, the company shared details about its global launch, but made no mention of the US market, potentially because it was waiting to see how tariffs would shake out.
The lens will cost $219 on its own, and will also be available as part of a "Double Zoom Lens Kit" for the EOS R100, which will include the camera, the RF 75-300mm, the RF-S 18-45mm F4.5-6.3 and a camera bag for $799. Both will be available sometime this month.
While the lens is technically new, it's essentially the same as the 26-year-old EF 75-300mm F4.0-5.6 III, just with a new mount. That lens has never been renowned for its image quality, but it does offer a lot of reach at a very accessible price.
Speaking of price, it appears that US tariffs haven't made a huge impact on this lens; the EF version has been sold at $199 since well before the tariffs, and the RF version's higher price could just as easily be chalked up to the new housing as the cost to import it.
Buy now:
Buy at B&H PhotoBuy at Canon Canon RF 75-300mm F4.0-5.6 specifications: Principal specificationsLens typeZoom lensMax Format size35mm FFFocal length75–300 mmImage stabilizationNoLens mountCanon RF, Canon RF-SApertureMaximum apertureF4–5.6Minimum apertureF32–45Aperture ringNoNumber of diaphragm blades7OpticsElements13Groups9FocusMinimum focus1.50 m (59.06″)Maximum magnification0.25×AutofocusYesMotor typeMicromotorFull time manualNoFocus methodExtending frontDistance scaleNoDoF scaleNoPhysicalWeight507 g (1.12 lb)Diameter71 mm (2.8″)Length146 mm (5.75″)MaterialsPlastic barrel, metal mountSealingNoColourBlackZoom methodRotary (extending)Power zoomNoZoom lockNoFilter thread58 mmHood product codeET-60Tripod collarNoOptional accessoriesSoft Case LP1019It can be quite the hassle, trying to measure curved surfaces with either a stiff metal tape measure or a floppy cloth one that won't stay in place. The Tiroler 2.0 offers a clever alternative, and it boasts several key improvements over the original model.
Category: Knives & Multitools, Gear, Outdoors
Tags: Kickstarter, Titanium, Measured
Shenzhen-based projector maker JMGO has a new family member. The PicoPlay brings the party to any indoor space with Full HD projection combined with a Bluetooth music speaker and ambient light show, in a form factor about the size of a travel mug and light enough for an easy carry at the wrist or in the backpack.
Category: Home Entertainment, Consumer Tech, Technology
Tags: Projectors, Compact, Portable, Google TV, Reviews, Pico projector, HD
Samsung has announced its latest folding smartphones, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7. Both have improvements over their predecessors, but the higher-end Z Fold has one that's especially exciting for people who like taking pictures: it adopts the main camera from the company's flagship S25 Ultra, which it says will capture "4x more detail" and produce "44% brighter" images than the camera in the previous Z Fold.
Galaxy Z Fold 7Compared to more traditional smartphones, foldables often compromise on camera performance because of space constraints; each half of the phone is usually substantially thinner than the typical candybar phone.
That's especially true for the Z Fold 7, which has slimmed down substantially compared to its predecessor: it's now 8.9mm thick when closed, compared to 12.1mm, and weighs 215g instead of 239g. Theoretically, this should make it more comfortable to use the front "cover" screen, as it'll be closer to the experience of using a non-folding phone. That display has also gotten an upgrade: it's 6.5" instead of 6.3", and slightly higher resolution.
The Z Fold 7 has three rear cameras, and two selfie cameras.Despite the phone's thinness, the main camera has gotten some big improvements. The Z Fold 6 used the cameras from Samsung's mid-range S24+ flagship, which meant it's main camera was a 50MP Type 1/1.56 (50mm²) sensor behind an F1.8 lens. The Z Fold 7, meanwhile, gets the 200MP Type 1/1.3 (72mm²) sensor and F1.7 lens from Samsung's top-tier standard smartphone.
That means that, at least for the camera you're using most, you're not compromising by picking Samsung's foldable instead of its standard smartphone. That's good news for those who like big screens; the S25+ is no slouch with a 6.9" display, but that doesn't quite match the Z Fold 7's new 8" interior screen, which offers even more real estate than the 7.6" one found on its predecessor.
Of course, there are still trade-offs. For one, Samsung seems to have solved the space problem by just making the camera bump massive; YouTube reviewer MKBHD shows that the phone can't even come close to sitting flat on a table thanks to the protrusion. The phone's ultra-wide camera is also a downgrade compared to what you'd find on the S25 Ultra, and the Z Fold 7 doesn't have a "periscope" camera for even more zoom.
Galaxy Z Flip 7 Galaxy S25 Ultra Galaxy Z Flip 6 Main camera 200MP50MP
Type 1/1.56 (50mm²)
F1.8
50MP
Type 1/2.5 (25mm²)
F1.9
10MP
Type 1/3.94 (10mm²)
F2.4
Of course, cameras aren't the only thing Samsung changed this generation. The company says the Z Fold 7 has a thinner and lighter hinge, more durable glass for the cover display and a more powerful SOC with improvements to the tune of 38% in CPU and 26% in GPU compared to its predecessor. The selfie camera on the main screen is also now higher resolution, and provides a wider field of view.
Of course, none of this comes cheap. While the Z Fold series has always broken the bank, the latest iteration now starts at $1999 for a model with 256GB of storage, $100 more than its predecessor. You can pre-order it now, and it'll be available on July 25th.
Z Flip 7 Image: SamsungThe changes to Samsung's smaller, less expensive Z Flip phone are a bit more subtle. The main cameras – a wide 50MP Type 1/1.57 (50mm²) and ultra-wide 12MP Type 1/3.2 (15mm²) – are unchanged from its predecessor, and it's actually a gram heavier. However, for that minuscule increase in weight, you get a bigger battery and a much larger cover screen; 4.1" versus 3.4".
That front screen now basically runs edge-to-edge on the phone's front cover, and should be more responsive as it has a 120hz refresh rate, where the old one topped out at 60hz. It's also much brighter, peaking at 2600 nits instead of 1600.
The interior display is also a touch bigger at 6.9" versus 6.7". However, the biggest change is even deeper inside the phone: it now uses a Samsung-designed Exynos SOC, rather than a Qualcomm Snapdragon one. Historically, some Exynos-equipped models haven't performed as well compared to their Snapdragon counterparts, so it'll be interesting to see how the phone performs once reviewers get their hands on it.
Unlike the Z Fold, the Z Flip is the same price as its predecessor, starting at $1,099 for a 256GB model. It will also be available starting on July 25th.
Humans have been getting infected by ancient bacteria and viruses for at least 37,000 years. Now, for the first time, pathogen DNA has uncovered a pivotal disease "turning point" that happened 6,500 years ago, during which our biology and society created a perfect storm that would forever change our evolutionary path.
Category: Infectious Diseases, Illnesses and conditions, Body & Mind
Tags: Curtin University, University of Copenhagen, Disease, Evolution, Virus, Bacteria, DNA, The Immune System, Brain
We've put the Nikon Z5II through our studio scene as part of our upcoming review. And it's fair to say it doesn't present any major surprises. But we thought it's worth stepping back a bit to acknowledge what we perhaps risk taking for granted.
The Nikon Z5II is the company's entry-level full-frame mirrorless camera. Its launch price of $1699, body only, means it's not quite as inexpensive as the original Z5, but there are still only four full-frame digital cameras that have been launched for a lower price, so it's not uncompetitive.
But, whereas the original Z5 used a relatively elderly sensor to differentiate it from the higher-end Z6 II, the Z5II uses the same sensor as the more expensive Zf. And, while it's not the newest chip on the block, it's still being introduced in new models from Sigma and Panasonic, so shouldn't be considered unacceptably out-of-date.
Studio test scene Image ComparisonThis widget is not optimized for RSS feed readers. Click here to open it in a new browser window / tab.The test scene throws up no surprises at all: detail capture is consistent with other 24MP full-frame cameras, as is noise performance at high ISO. Default JPEG color is the usual Nikon response: on the punchy side of accurate, which is a result a lot of people like.
JPEG sharpening pulls out a lot of fine detail, though false color isn't as well suppressed as in the Canon's files. Noise reduction smoothes away a little more detail than its peers, but overall, the results are very solid.
This is a well-known sensor, so the results aren't surprising, but until recently, you had to spend a fair amount more than this to get the same combination of IQ, handling and autofocus performance.
The world's largest 3D-printed construction project is currently underway in Qatar. The effort involves printing a pair of schools, each of which smashes current records for a 3D-printed building.
Category: Architecture, Technology
Tags: Building and Construction, 3D Printing, School, Qatar
Ask anyone in the USA, and they’ll tell you that hippy-dippy, Tesla-lovin' California is the most EV-friendly state. But what if I told you it’s not even in the top 10?
Category: Automotive, Transport
Tags: Electric Vehicles, Tesla Motors, California, EV Charging
A single, freely available, noninvasive brain scan done in just a few minutes during midlife can predict what chronic diseases are most likely to appear in the future, empowering people to make diet and lifestyle changes that mitigate their risk even decades before symptoms begin to show. Getting the jump on degenerative conditions like Alzheimer's disease could have a huge impact on health outcomes later in life.
Category: Alzheimer's & Dementia, Brain Health, Body & Mind
Tags: Harvard, Duke University, University of Otago, Alzheimer's disease, Dementia, Age-Related, Aging, Aging population
If you're hoping that we can avoid the attention of alien civilizations by lying low, it's a bit late now. A new study released by the Royal Astronomical Society indicates that our radar systems are already screaming our location to ET eavesdroppers.
Tags: Royal Astronomical Society, SETI, Radar, University of Manchester
Choosing a type of exercise that matches your personality might mean you’re happier working out and achieve better results, according to a new study. The research highlights the benefits of a “psychologically personalized” approach to fitness.
Category: Wellness & Healthy Living, Body & Mind
Tags: Exercise, Personality, Fitness, University College London
Remember the movie The Wizard (1989), when Lucas shows off his Nintendo Power Glove and says, "I love the Power Glove. It's so bad." English is weird; "Bad" meant good in the late 1980s. Today, "sick" means really cool. Other today-words that come to mind to review the Hoverair would be "slaps", and "fire," none of which actually sound like a good thing ... where was I going with this?
Category: Drones, Consumer Tech, Technology
Tags: DJI Innovations, Micro drones, drones, Drone cinematography, Camera drone, Reviews
Different yet familiar, the new Trailster Truck Camper from Arizona's Unplug Outdoor Company is yet another spin on the pickup camping topper, a particularly low profile, lightweight spin. The Trailster stands at cab height on the bed like a heavy-duty expedition-grade cap, but rather than the simple fixed body of other caps, it features an integrated fold-out tent ready to sleep the overland crew.
Category: Pickup Campers, Adventure Vehicles, Outdoors
Tags: Truck, Pickup, Camping, roof-top tent, Outdoors and Camping, Off-road, RV
If you were a lowlife scumbag looking for someone to attack (bear with us here), you would likely avoid anyone who was wearing prominent front and rear video cameras. Well, that's exactly what the Urban Eyes vest brings to runners and other solo adventurers.
US President Donald Trump has signaled his intent to move forward with new tariffs that will go into effect on August 1st, impacting imports from several countries. As reported by the Associated Press, Trump announced the tariffs by posting copies of letters addressed to leaders of several countries, including Japan and Thailand – where many camera and lens manufacturers build products – on social media.
According to the letters, imports from Japan to the US will face tariffs of 25% and imports from Thailand will face tariffs of 36%.
The new tariffs aren't entirely unexpected. The Trump administration initially announced tariffs aimed at numerous countries back on April 2nd, including 24% on Japanese goods and 36% on imports from Thailand. However, it subsequently placed a 90-day pause on full tariff amounts on April 9th, setting a universal baseline tariff of 10%.
On Monday, US President Donald Trump posted copies of letters to leaders of several countries to Truth Social announcing new tariffs to go into effect on August 1st, including this letter to Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru.As a result, US consumers have experienced increased prices on some camera products, with companies like Sigma, Canon, Nikon and Sony raising prices accordingly over the past few months.
The new August 1st deadline effectively adds three additional weeks to the 90-day pause announced in April, though given the unpredictability we've seen until now, it's possible that things could change again before the new tariffs go into effect. If not, US consumers could experience additional price hikes on many photography products due to the additional tariffs.
It's important to note that not all cameras and lenses are produced in these countries. Many companies have moved a significant portion of manufacturing to other Asian countries in recent years, including China, which is experiencing its own trade conflict with the US. Notably, Tamron began operating a new factory in Vietnam in February. Last week, the Trump administration announced a new trade deal to charge 20% tariffs on imports from that country, less than the 46% tariffs originally announced in April.
Amazon Prime Day is officially underway through July 11, and with it comes discounts of all sorts. Those sales include a selection of cameras and lenses, so if you're looking to upgrade your kit, pick up a new camera or expand your lens selection, now is a good time to do so.
Unfortunately, most camera brands recently increased prices in the US because of tariffs, and, as a result, many of the Prime Day deals are just a dip back to pre-tariff pricing. But that's still better than nothing, and it would be smart to buy now before prices go back up. Additionally, if there were better deals on other websites, we've linked to those instead. We'll also be updating this throughout the week, so be sure to check back to see what's new.
Sony cameras and lensesSony has the most gear on sale this Prime Day. This isn't an exhaustive list, with many additional models on sale. All of the camera and lens deals are also live on Sony's website, so you can check them out there, too. Some of the items below are older generation models, but they are still worth picking up in our opinion.
Sony a1 $5398 (was $5900)
Sony a7R V $3798 (was $4200)
Sony a7R IV $2998 (was $3400)
Sony a7S III $3498 (was $3800)
Sony a7 IV $2198 (was $2700)
Sony a7C II $2198 (was $2400)
Sony a6700 $1398 (was $1500)
Sony ZV-E10 II $1000 at Sony (was $1100)
Sony 24-50mm F2.8 G $1098 (was $1200)
Sony 20-70mm F4 G $1098 (was $1200)
Sony 24-70 mm F2.8 GM $1598 (was $1698)
Sony 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS $1048 (was $2150)
Canon cameras and lensesCanon's deals aren't specifically labeled as Prime Day ones, but there are still some deals worth checking out. Unfortunately, it's a very short list.
Canon EOS R5 II $3999 (was $4299)
Canon EOS R6 Mark II $1899 (was $1999)
Canon EOS R7 $1499 (was $1599)
Canon EOS R10 $949 (was $1049)
Canon EOS RP + RF24-105mm Lens F4-7.1 is STM Lens $999 (was $1399)
Canon RF135mm F1.8 L is USM $1799 at B&H (Was $2299)
Nikon cameras and lensesNikon also has very limited items on sale right now, unfortunately. But we've done some digging to find out what deals there are. Like the other brands, most of these prices are simply back to pre-tariff prices, though.
Nikon Z8 $3697 (was $4000)
Nikon Z6 III $2197 (was $2500)
Nikon Z7 II $1947 at B&H (was $2297)
Nikon NIKKOR Z 14-24mm f/2.8 S $2047 at B&H (was $2497)
Instant camerasInstant cameras can be a fun change of pace. Polaroid currently has its offerings on sale, including some bundles with film.
Polaroid Now 2nd Generation I-Type Instant Camera + Film Bundle $115 (was $150)
Polaroid Now+ Generation 2 - Camera + Film Bundle $145 (was $175)
Polaroid Now+ 3rd Generation I-Type Instant Film Camera $120 (was $140)
Polaroid Now 3rd Generation I-Type Instant Film Camera $102 (was $120)
Action camerasIf you're looking to document your adventures this summer, an action camera may be the way to go. Luckily, some of the best out there are on sale during Prime Day.
DJI Osmo Action 4 Essential Combo $199 (was $289)
GoPro HERO13 Black Action Bundle $329 (was $500)
Insta360 X4 Standard Bundle $349 (was $500)
