Η ΓΝΩΣΗ ΤΗΣ ΣΤΟ ΣΧΟΛΕΙΟ ΚΑΙ ΠΕΡΑ ΑΠΟ ΑΥΤΟ
Just like fingerprints, your breathing patterns may be a unique identifying feature. Scientists have found they can identify people with 96.8% accuracy using only their breathing patterns. And it's not just simple identification, researchers say they can even predict Body Mass Index (BMI), state (sleeping or awake), and cognitive traits (anxiety or depression) from the way you breathe.
Tags: Breathing, Fingerprint, Health
Good things happen when German camper innovator Sunlight puts pens to work on a new concept camper van. The last time around, those things were the hammock-topped, wakeboard-winching 2019 Cliff 4x4 Adventure Van. This time, it's the all-new Volkswagen Ibex camper concept, an even grittier adventure van built to "outdrive the ordinary" and navigate through terra incognita to a grander grade of adventure. And it sounds like the production version won't be far behind.
Category: Campervans, Adventure Vehicles, Outdoors
Tags: Campervan, Concept Vehicle, Concept Cars, RV, Sunlight, Off-road, Camping, Outdoors and Camping
A novel weight loss drug in the same class as semaglutide has successfully met its targets in its largest clinical trial yet, with nearly 90% of participants losing at least 5% of their body weight. The results strengthen its case for US Food and Drug Administration approval.
Category: Obesity, Illnesses and conditions, Body & Mind
Tags: Peking University, Ozempic, Weight Loss, GLP-1 receptor agonists, clinical trials, Obesity, Diabetes, Health
Tesla is not usually a company that's associated with two wheels. But here’s a one-off where it is, kind of – with ex-Tesla engineers behind a new motorcycle called the Emara ADV. The electric moto comes from a relatively new company called Zeno from Bangalore, India.
Category: Motorcycles, Transport
Tags: Electric Motorcycles, Electric Vehicles, Tesla, India, Adventure Bikes, Off-road, urban transport
Obesity caused by a high-fat Western diet damages the pancreas, affecting insulin production and blood sugar control even after dietary changes and weight is lost. The new research suggests that early intervention is needed to stop obesity from causing permanent pancreatic damage.
Category: Wellness & Healthy Living, Body & Mind
Tags: Diet, Insulin, Pancreas, Obesity, Karolinska Institutet
The US Navy has tidied up after itself by, for the first time, launching and recovering a Yellow Moray Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (UUV) through the standard torpedo tube of a Virginia class nuclear attack submarine.
Category: Military, Technology
Tags: Underwater drones, Submarine, US Navy
Once famous for building the world's biggest and most powerful engines, Finnish company Wärtsilä is investing heavily in technology to clean up the notoriously difficult heavy marine sector. CEO Håkan Agnevall lays out a roadmap to zero carbon 2050.
Tags: Shipping, Climate Solutions: Shipping, Emissions, Ammonia, Methanol, Fuel efficiency, Clean+Fuel, Carbon capture
Researchers have analyzed clinical trial data and ranked 12 different non-drug physical therapy treatments for knee osteoarthritis, based on their effectiveness in reducing pain and stiffness, and improving physical function.
Category: Chronic Pain, Illnesses and conditions, Body & Mind
Tags: Osteoarthritis, Knee, Physical therapy, Pain
This week kicked off with a few announcements, bringing new options for those searching for compact gear. Sigma released the 17-40mm F1.8 DC Art, a lightweight and fast standard zoom for APS-C. The lens raised some questions about the speed of the lens, and frustration for Nikon users left out of the party. On the same day, OM System unveiled the OM-5 II, a Micro Four Thirds camera with an IP53 dust and water resistance rating, resulting in division about how significant the updates are.
The entire DPReview team had a chance to sit down and chat about this week's releases and the community's discussion around both. Plus, we were able to talk about something fresh off the press: Adobe's potentially powerful camera app for iPhones. You can check out our thoughts on the new gear and Adobe's app in the video below.
A small daily dose of kombucha made from black tea has been shown to meaningfully reshape the gut microbiome in adults – particularly those with obesity – without any dietary changes. And, importantly, the gut "makeover" boosts beneficial bacteria that play a big role in fighting inflammation and strengthening metabolic processes.
Category: Diet & Nutrition, Wellness & Healthy Living, Body & Mind
Tags: Microbes, Microbiome, Gut Bacteria, Gut health, Obesity, Fermentation, Bacteria, Weight Loss, metabolism, Insulin
It is no secret that the presence of humans has left visible scars on this planet. Be it edging out endangered species with our ever-expanding footprint, or the environmental pollution that comes as a result. One could say we have inextricably linked ourselves with pollution. It is in our drinking water, our soil, and our food. So it’s no surprise pollution has become synonymous with a range of medical issues, from hormone disruption to food sensitivities, and even cancer.
Tags: Bacteria, Geology, Water, Pollution, Michigan State University, Microbes
Maybe cars, trucks, and motorcycles aren't exciting enough, because Honda is moving into space vehicles. The company has announced that it has successfully flown a reusable rocket to an altitude of almost 300 m (1,000 ft) and then safely landed it.
Tags: Honda, Rocket, Test Flights
A single dose of psilocybin coupled with “talk therapy” can significantly reduce depression in people with cancer for up to two years, according to a new study. While the study has limitations, its findings demonstrate the potential of psychedelic therapy in the context of cancer treatment.
Category: Psychedelics, Medical Innovations, Body & Mind
Tags: psilocybin, Depression, Anxiety, Cancer
One of our favorite little multitools of 2024, The James Brand Warrick is a sleek and focused driver with a form that directly follows its function. Now it's gaining a little extra flash to match. The updated pocket tool features the same great stashable multi-bit driver design as the original, just dressed up in a vibrant F1-inspired color scheme guaranteed to stand out boldly against the steels, woods and micartas in your existing tool collection.
Category: Knives & Multitools, Gear, Outdoors
Tags: Multitools, EDC, Tools, The James Brand, Alpine, F1, Hydrogen
The ice that makes up glaciers isn't 100% solid – it's actually full of air bubbles, some of which formed centuries ago. Inspired by this fact, scientists have developed a method of using bubbles to store coded data in ice. The technology could actually have some practical applications.
Category: Science
Tags: Data Storage, Ice, Coding
Researchers from the University of Copenhagen have a compelling new data point to add to the nature vs. nurture debate about what shapes human behavior and traits. Data from a massive global survey they conducted shows a link between aversive societal conditions in a country, and the "dark" personality characteristics that people may develop.
Category: Mental Health, Brain Health, Body & Mind
Tags: Psychology, Society, Personality, University of Copenhagen
To find the right mix of metals for their green ammonia catalyst, scientists turned to AI. The result was a breakthrough that makes their technique of producing ammonia from air and water more efficient and much more accessible.
Category: Energy, Technology
Tags: Ammonia, Green+Energy, University of New South Wales, Agriculture, Alternative Energy
Smartphones have become quite capable, compact cameras that offer a lot of convenience. After all, most of us rarely go without our pocket-sized devices. While the cameras inside phones don't equal the quality possible from dedicated cameras in most circumstances, there are some easy tricks to help you maximize your phone camera's quality. Some of those tips are related to settings, but there are also more general things you can pay attention to to improve your results.
Keep your lenses cleanThe first – and easiest – way to improve image quality from your phone is to keep the lenses clean. A smudge on a lens can have a surprisingly large impact on the final image. Having a soft, clean cloth (such as a microfiber lens cloth) on hand (or the hem of a cotton shirt) to wipe down your lens will help you get sharper, clearer results.
Don't forget about compositionYour phone's grid can help you with composition.
Image: Finn Hafemann / E+ via Getty Images
Paying attention to composition – the way individual elements are arranged in a frame – is critical no matter what camera you're using. It's easy to forget that when picking up your phone to take a photo, but remembering to do so will always help you produce stronger images.
There are plenty of rules and tricks related to composition, the most common of which is the rule of thirds. Most camera apps offer optional composition grids to help frame your images according to those principles, if you want a gentle reminder.
While compositional rules are helpful, they are not a surefire way to create an interesting image. The key is to consider where you want the viewer to look and how you can guide their eyes there with elements in the scene. Slowing down and looking around the entire frame, including the edges, is always a good idea to ensure you create a thoughtful composition.
Find good lightGood, bright light is helpful for making any photo better.
Image: Mitchell Clark
While smartphone companies keep adding new tricks to improve low-light capabilities, the small sensors inherent to smartphones are generally quite lacking in dark situations. Because of that, photos taken in brightly lit situations will always give you the best results from your phone.
If there isn't enough natural light, you can also add artificial light. Many phone-specific lighting tools, from companies like SmallRig, Neewer, Lume Cube and Godox, are available these days. These tools can make adding additional light easier and produce better results than your phone's built-in flash.
Use a tripod in dim conditionsThere are lots of mini tripods available, such as this Peak Design option, which folds down flat.
Image: Abby Ferguson
A tripod can make all the difference if you're capturing photos in dim light. Alternatively, if you don't have a tripod on hand, look to your environment for stable surfaces to lean your phone against, such as a rock or light pole. The phone will compensate for the lower amounts of light by slowing the shutter speed, which makes it more likely you'll end up with blurry images. A sturdy surface stabilizes your phone during the exposure, so you are more likely to get sharp results even in low light.
Keep your subject's face towards the lightI got lucky with the light on this particular occasion, as it was shining perfectly on my dog's face.
Image: Abby Ferguson
Speaking of light, if you're taking portraits, one easy way to get better images is to ensure the sun isn't behind your subject. Backlighting is hard to work with, especially with phones. It also doesn't provide any flattering light on the person. Instead, when possible, turn your subject so they are facing the light, thus illuminating your subject so they are the star of the photo.
Add a lens Image: SandmarcYour phone's main camera offers the best quality, but you likely won't want that field of view for every photo. If you're looking to switch things up but need the higher quality of your main camera, opt for add-on lenses. These can unlock new capabilities like macro, ultra-wide, cinematic or telephoto views.
The key here is to get quality lenses, not bargain ones. Putting cheap glass (or plastic) in front of your camera will only reduce quality, which is the opposite of what you're after. Sandmarc, Moment, Beastgrip, PolarPro and SmallRig all make worthy options that will help you .
Use a telephoto lens for portraitsWhile we're on the topic of lenses, there's one type in particular that will help when creating portraits: a telephoto lens. Many phones have one built-in, or you can add one as mentioned above.
Telephoto lenses are often called portrait lenses for good reason. They typically result in distortion that is more pleasing to a person's face. They can also help you blur the background more naturally than using Portrait Mode, keeping the focus on your subject without an over-the-top processed look.
Final thoughts Photo: Abby FergusonYour phone is a camera you likely have with you all the time, so it makes sense to try to level up your smartphone photos. The most important thing to remember is that no amount of gear, accessories or settings can replace basic photography principles. Considering composition, lighting, color, etc., will help you get stronger images even with a basic phone. As with anything, practice and experimentation are crucial to improving.
This week, OM System announced the OM-5 II, a small, lightweight Four Thirds camera aimed at people looking to take pictures of their adventures. It features a familiar 20MP sensor, but now includes USB C for charging and a "CP" button that gives you quick access to its various computational photography features.
Those multi-shot modes are one of OM System's biggest selling points, as its cameras can combine several exposures in-camera to achieve a variety of effects, such as focus stacking, a virtual ND filter or higher resolution. The gallery includes a few examples, with notes about which mode was used.
If you want to learn more about the OM-5 II, check out our first look video, which explains what it is, how it's different from the original OM-5 and discusses the general state of the Micro Four Thirds system.
Please do not reproduce any of these images on a website or any newsletter/magazine without prior permission (see our copyright page). We make the originals available for private users to download to their own machines for personal examination or printing; we do so in good faith, so please don't abuse it.
Sample galleryThis widget is not optimized for RSS feed readers. Click here to open it in a new browser window / tab.A few years back, we covered a pop-up computer monitor that could fit in a small carry case between uses, and also serve as a pico projector. Now Texas-based Arovia has returned to Kickstarter with a larger version of the Splay screen, called the Max.
Category: Consumer Tech, Technology
Tags: Kickstarter, Display, HD, Projectors, Portable
