Η ΓΝΩΣΗ ΤΗΣ ΣΤΟ ΣΧΟΛΕΙΟ ΚΑΙ ΠΕΡΑ ΑΠΟ ΑΥΤΟ
For years, we’ve admired plants for their ability to cleanse the air and help fight air pollution. However, our green ally might be contributing to air pollution in an unexpected way. While they may be just trying to fend off pests, this particular self-defense mechanism is also harming the environment.
Tags: Plants, Air pollution, Pests, Crops, Tree
Using new radiocarbon dating on ancient footprints found preserved in the gypsum-rich ground in White Sands, researchers have now confirmed that humans roamed North America 23,000 years ago. The finding solves a years-long debate questioning the age of these footprints.
Category: Science
Tags: Human, History, Archeology, Evolution
Researchers have discovered that newborns have high levels of the tau protein, which is elevated in older people with Alzheimer’s disease, but that it causes them no harm. The discovery opens the door to developing new ways of treating or preventing the neurodegenerative condition.
Category: Brain Health, Body & Mind
Tags: Tau protein, Alzheimer's disease, Tauopathy, University of Gothenburg
An exceptionally odd clean energy project backed by Bill Gates has broken ground near Rock River, Wyoming, where a wind turbine that turns convention on its head will get a chance to prove its remarkable claim: wind power at 1/3rd of the cost.
Category: Energy, Technology
Tags: Wind Power, Wind turbine, Clean Energy, Renewable Energy, Alternative Energy, Bill Gates
Figuring out your perfect travel photography setup is quite the balancing act, and often a constantly evolving task. It requires finding a sweet spot between portability (large gear isn't fun to lug around), versatility (travel can bring a wide range of photographic situations) and image quality. Here at DPReview, we are no strangers to travel, with all of us embarking on big trips fairly regularly for both work and vacation. That time spent traveling has allowed us to dial in our preferred cameras and lenses for trips. We're opening up our bags, giving you a glimpse into what we gear nerds like to take along (when we have a choice).
Dale BaskinFujifilm X100T | F3.2 | 1/340 sec | ISO 400 | Salvador da Bahia, Brazil
Photo: Dale Baskin
While I always choose the right tool for a specific job, I’ve learned to travel light when I don’t have demanding photo requirements. It wasn’t always that way.
In the past, I often took too much gear, driven by FOMO: a fear of missing out on a once-in-a-lifetime shot. I’d constantly worry about having the right lenses, a tripod, or accessories for every possible situation.
At some point, I realized I was putting more effort into carrying photo gear than enjoying the travel itself. For my next international trip, I took a risk, carrying only my newly acquired Fujifilm X100T. Were there times I wished for more or different gear? Absolutely. But I quickly stopped stressing about what I didn’t have and focused on getting creative with the camera in my hands. That creative challenge has become part of what I enjoy about travel.
Fujifilm X100T | F2.0 | 1/105 sec | ISO 3200 | Salvador da Bahia, BrazilA decade later, the X100 series is still my go-to travel kit, though I now use an X100V, and I’ll often carry Fujifilm’s 28mm equiv wide-angle adapter in case I want a wider perspective. Of course, if I’m going to photograph birds or shoot a wedding, I take the right tools for the job. But for personal travel, it’s usually just my X100V. Even then, I find myself reaching for my iPhone; for many personal memories and shareable moments, it’s the best tool for the job.
Richard ButlerSigma BF |Sigma 35mm F2 DG DN | F5.6 | 1/500 sec | ISO 250 | Little Britain, London
Photo: Richard Butler
Working for DPReview means I'm usually shooting sample images, even when I'm on vacation, so I don't have much choice over which camera I'm shooting with. However, there are combinations of cameras and lenses that I find myself really enjoying, and that I try to recreate on my trips, where possible. And these combinations have evolved over time.
A few years ago, I'd have opted for just a 35mm equiv prime and the smallest standard zoom I could lay my hands on, which typically meant the kit zoom for most systems. But I increasingly find I like to have an 85mm equiv prime with me, too, as I love having a good option for taking portraits when I see my friends and family. My two most recent trips saw me using a 24mm, 35mm, 90mm set of compact primes, and before that, a 24-80ish equiv F2.8 zoom, which fulfilled a similar role. There are pros and cons to both approaches.
Sigma BF |Sigma 24mm F3.5 DG DN | F8 | 1/200 sec | ISO 100 | Twickenham, London
Photo: Richard Butler
But while I've learned this is the range I like to use, I've also found that size is the most important criterion when I travel. That 24-80 equiv was an APS-C lens, meaning it was still comparatively small and light. When I've tried to take a full-frame 24-70mm F2.8, I've come back with almost no photos: the camera having stayed in the hotel room. It's the same story when I tried a three-prime set for medium format: I've got the photos from the occasions I specifically pushed myself to go out and shoot, but failed to capture any of the unexpected moments and incidental shots that would tell the real story of the experience.
Mitchell Clark Sony a7CR | Sony 16mm F1.8 G FE | F2.8 | 1/60 sec | ISO 500 | Paris, FranceLike Richard, my travel kit is generally dictated by what camera or lens I'm currently testing. However, if I'm reviewing a camera and get to choose a lens, I'll typically go for a fast, relatively wide-angle one. Those let me easily capture the people I'm traveling with and whatever sweeping vista we're in, and, in a pinch, can even be used for selfies.
However, I can only get away with that choice because I also take my own personal camera on every trip I take. I'm talking, of course, about the iPhone 15 Pro, which I specifically chose because of its 3x telephoto camera. While I'd prefer one of Apple's smaller, lighter and cheaper non-pro phones, the fact that their second camera is an ultrawide rather than a telephoto one is a dealbreaker for me; I've found a lot more situations where I can't physically get closer to something than ones where I couldn't back up a little.
iPhone 15 Pro | 77mm equiv. lens | F2.8 | 1/315 sec | ISO 25 | Las Vegas, USAIt's nothing like shooting with a dedicated camera, but if I need to take a picture of something quickly or something that's relatively far away, I'll reach for my phone every time...
Or, rather, I'll click the camera button, because it was probably already in my hand, acting as a GPS. I'm very good at getting lost in new places.
Mykim DangOverhead photo of Mykim Dang's travel cameras and storage solution.
Photo: Mykim Dang
I shoot more video than photos and am pretty obsessed with traveling as light as possible (when possible). This is a holdover from years of operating as a one-person team dealing with endless connections in different countries with changing rules and regulations. A checked bag is something I avoid at all costs.
Ricoh WG-80 | Sayulitas, Mexico
Photo: Mykim Dang
Most of my video work is focused on the outdoors and water-based activities. I tend to keep a few different cameras in my rotation for this reason. My main setup consists of a GoPro (still using the Hero 12 Black), a Sony ZV-1F, a Ricoh WG-80 and some sort of disposable camera. Between these 4 pieces of gear, I find a really nice rotation of video capture for in the water, underwater and on land. I love the variety of source material I have to work with in post. They are all very compact, lightweight and fun to use.
Abby Ferguson Photo: Abby FergusonEven though I travel and adventure a fair amount, I've never bought a dedicated travel setup. Instead, I've used whatever gear I already have, even if it isn't excessively travel-focused. For the past handful of years, that has meant taking my Sony a7 III on trips. Luckily, it offers a decent balance of size and quality.
Lens selection is a bit more complicated, though. My one travel-specific purchase was a compact 35mm F1.8, which I picked up for a work trip to IFA Berlin. It has consistently been included in my travel kit since then, and is often my only lens. When I want a bit more versatility, I will throw in my 24-70mm. Or, for some select trips, I've swapped out the standard zoom for a 135mm prime lens. It's definitely not the most practical (it's far from light and compact) or versatile, but I like the challenge and I enjoy the photos I get with it.
Pentax K1000 | SMC Pentax-M 50mm F2 | Flic Film Aurora 400 | Honolulu, Hawai'i
Photo: Abby Ferguson
Most recently, though, I've been more drawn to my Pentax K1000 film camera with a 50mm lens as my go-to travel camera. I was recently in Hawai'i for two weeks, and while I had my digital camera, I often only brought my film camera out with me. The size is right, and I love that it forces me to slow down and take in the scene more than I generally do with digital. It also doesn't separate me from what's going on as much, as I can't look at the rear display to check my shots. I take the shot and then move on, returning to enjoying my trip.
Matt Waller Photo: Matt WallerMy camera for a recent street photography trip to London was the OM System OM-5. This cute little guy could be effortlessly carried on long walking days and did absolutely everything a travel/street camera could be asked to do. Its weather sealing shrugged off my one day of London drizzle (with the new weather-sealed 25mm f1.8 prime aboard), the hand-held hi-res 50MP mode came in handy to target the Shard and its superb IBIS made long exposures in the night tunnels of Southwark a breeze.
OM System OM-5 | OM 25mm F1.8 II | F4.5 | 1/2000 sec | ISO 200 | London
Photo: Matt Waller
Yes, it's stuck at face/eye detect AF – which worked flawlessly on the streets. But its greatest power was the ability it gave me to carry a battery of superb little lenses: the 12mm F2 for cathedrals, 75mm F1.8 for occasional portraits, tiny Laowa 7.5mm F2 for skyscrapers – all in my coat pockets, no camera bag required.
We're currently a lot better at producing clean energy than storing it to use later. That poses a challenge in regions that have long stretches with low wind and sunlight, stressing power grids fed by renewable sources. Augwind Energy believes it might have a found a solution thousands of feet below the ground.
Category: Energy, Technology
Tags: Battery, Renewable Energy, Clean Energy, Cave
Many persistent sinus infections involve biofilms – colonies of bacteria that group together to resist efforts to kill them. Now, researchers have developed biofilm-blasting bots that could handily deal with these, and other, bacterial infections.
Category: Medical Devices, Medical Innovations, Body & Mind
Tags: Biofilm, Infections, Microbots, Robots, Magnetic field, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Antibacterial
Remarkable new findings about the sugar stores in neurons have unlocked an entire new method of treating Alzheimer's disease and other cognitive decline, and it goes a long way to explaining why there's a growing body of evidence linking GLP-1 weight loss drugs to protection from dementia.
Category: Alzheimer's & Dementia, Brain Health, Body & Mind
Tags: Buck Institute, Dementia, Alzheimer's disease, Brain, Neuroscience, GLP-1 receptor agonists, Glucose, neurons
A fungus that is thought to have claimed the lives of several excavators working on King Tutankhamun's burial site has had a serious image makeover, thanks to scientists discovering that it holds powerful cancer-fighting properties. It now opens the door to new and effective treatments for leukemia.
Category: Cancer, Illnesses and conditions, Body & Mind
Tags: University of Pennsylvania, Leukemia, Fungus, Drug development, Cancer, Disease
One of the most livable, high-functioning Australian hybrid caravans we've seen in years, the new Iconn E4 XK from Lifestyle Campers offers enough space for a family of five combined with a deluxe feature set. Its entire side wall is a massive gourmet kitchen that'll support a small army of overland chefs, and its floor plan is a spacious, flexible space that adapts to each individual buyer. Best of all, the 22.6-foot (6.9-m) hypercamper is already touring the Australian Outback and is on its way to the US.
Category: Camping Trailers, Adventure Vehicles, Outdoors
Tags: Caravan, trailers, Trailer, Off-road, Off-grid, Camping, Outdoors and Camping, RV
How do you relocate an entire 8,270-ton, 43,380-sq-ft (4,030 sq m), 100-year-old Shikumen brick building complex so you can build a multi-level subterranean shopping center, parking lot and subway connections under it? With robots, of course.
Category: Architecture, Technology
Tags: Robotic construction, China, Artificial Intelligence, Construction
Honey produced by some species of Australian stingless bees possesses impressive bacteria- and fungi-killing properties, according to new research. With problems of antimicrobial resistance, the golden syrup has the potential to be used alongside or in place of existing antibiotics.
Category: Wellness & Healthy Living, Body & Mind
Tags: Honey, Bees, Antimicrobial, University of Sydney
Electric-hybrid aircraft have taken another step from the exotic to the practical with VoltAero unveiling the production model of its Cassio 330 five-seat regional passenger aircraft that combines quiet efficiency with the most spacious cabin in its class.
As construction continues on Bentley's car-elevating skyscraper in Miami, Florida, the British luxury automaker has taken the wraps off its penthouse suite and put it up for sale. The plush residence goes big on comfort and amenities – though has a price tag to match.
Category: Architecture, Technology
Tags: Bentley, Miami, Building and Construction, Skyscrapers, Luxury
Here's a rather novel way to keep trash out of landfills: engineering biologists at the University of Edinburgh have developed a way to turn the common plastic used for disposable bottles into the popular painkiller paracetamol. All it takes is a bit of bacteria and time to ferment the treated waste.
The first robot I remember is Rosie from The Jetsons, soon followed by the urbane C-3PO and his faithful sidekick R2-D2 in The Empire Strikes Back. But my first disembodied AI was Joshua, the computer in WarGames who tried to start a nuclear war – until it learned about mutually assured destruction and chose to play chess instead.
Category: AI & Humanoids, Technology
Tags: LLM (Large Language Model), Robots, Soft Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, Intelligence, Human Enhancement, Future Robot, Features
Pretty though it is, the thing that really caught our eye about Fujifilm's recently announced X-E5 wasn't a design flourish or aesthetic detail, it was the fact that the company has been taking note of how its users are actually using their cameras.
The film recipe concept, using tweaked versions of the brand's film simulations to give bigger vibes and more expressive looks, is an entirely grassroots development. Up until now, users had had to use the cameras' custom settings banks to capture these recipes, but with the X-E5, there's a dedicated system specifically to do so.
And, intriguingly, Fujifilm has adopted the term 'recipe' directly from its community.
While there are some photographers who'd rather start with a completely blank canvas in a way that a LUT-based system allows, the option to riff on existing, attractive color modes, created by engineers with lots of built-up experience in the field, has its own appeal.
Now let's hope Fujifilm extends a similar capability to its other current cameras, with one of those firmware updates that inspired the appropriation of the term 'kaizen' in the first place.
Dutch e-mobility outfit Urban Arrow has announced the US launch of its latest front-loader cargo ebike, one that the company says is a viable alternative to the family's second car for the school run or weekly shop.
Tags: cargo bike, ebikes, Pedal-assisted, Bosch
The moon rises over Cerro Fitz Roy and the Fitz Roy massif in Patagonia along the border between Argentina and Chile. I captured this photo during a solo trek through Patagonia, and to this day, I'm amazed that there were basically no other people there. I can't imagine that would be true today.
Canon EOS Rebel XT | Sigma 18-50mm F2.8 EX DC Macro | F5.6 | 1/160 sec | ISO 200
Photo: Dale Baskin
The theme for our July Editors' photo challenge is "Landscape Showcase."
This is your chance to show us your favorite landscape photos! From grand vistas to creative close-ups, we want to see your most stunning landscape shots. We know there are some talented landscape photographers here on DPReview, and we can't wait to see your stunning images.
This challenge is also open to stitched panoramas.
Photos can be submitted between Sunday, July 6, and Saturday, July 12 (GMT). It is open to photos taken at any time.
Important: Images MUST include a title and a caption of at least 25 words to be eligible. We need to be able to share the story behind your photo. We will consider both photos and captions when selecting our winners, so make sure to tell us that story!
Visit the challenge page to read the full rules and to submit your photos for consideration as soon as the challenge opens.
The evolutionary ladder is meant to be climbed one rung at a time with an organism shedding some traits and gaining others on the way up. However, in a very surprising twist, some tomatoes on the Galapagos islands are inching back down the ladder.
Tags: Plants, Evolution, UC Riverside, Genetics
