Science/Technology

Science Friday: Trek Song Shuttle Delay + Comet Close Encounter + Real Holograms + Brain Shock Smarts + more

This week in Science Friday wait for the space shuttle to eventually launch after yet another delay and learn whether the Star Trek theme song will make it into orbit, have a close encounter with a jet-spewing comet, send an SOS to Obi-Wan Kenobi, and electrocute your brain instead of studying for your next math test. All this and more plus our gadget of the week: a real working bionic eye.



Roberto Orci Reveals Star Trek Sequel Tidbit In NYT Article About iPad – Is T’Pring In Sequel?

One again Apple’s new iPad has crossed paths with Star Trek, this time revealing a tidbit about the upcoming sequel. Today the New York Times has an article about iPads being used in Hollywood, with an example of how Star Trek co-writer Roberto Orci used his in a meeting with the Star Trek ‘Supreme Court’, excerpt below.



Science Friday: Chilean Mine Rescue Science + NASA’s New Budget + Spaceship Two Takes Off + Google Car & Hydro Scooter

Celebrate with the newly rescued Chilean miners, watch the new NASA bill become law, build a base on the moon with Buzz Aldrin, and go for a ride in SpaceShipTwo on its first solo flight. All this and much more including Google’s self-driving car and our gadget of the week: the HydroBOB underwater scooter!


Science Saturday: Martian Plane + Toxic Sludge + Year of the Solar System + Self-tying Shoes + more

Welcome to another Science Friday Saturday! This week, run from a toxic red sludge in Hungary, celebrate the Year of the Solar System, explore the depths of the Earth in a volcano, and do a 450 MPH fly-over of Mars. All this and much more including our gadget of the week: Back to the Future-style auto-tying shoes and a gadget poll with some Star Trek tech!


Science Friday: Real Tractor Beam + Another Earth? + Ancient Whale + Jupiter Lights Up + Shirt in a Can

Wow, it’s been a while! A big welcome back to Science Friday, now broadcasting all the way from merry old England. This week we may have finally found another planet to live on, try out a real life tractor beam, discover a 3-million-year-old whale at the zoo, light up Jupiter’s atmosphere, and see the night sky pass overhead. All this and more, plus our gadget of the week: Shirt in a Can!



Check Out Prototype of Never-made Nokia Star Trek Phone [VIDEO + Pix]

Wouldn’t you like a mobile phone that was built to resemble a Star Trek communicator? Mobile phone maker Nokia, one of Paramount’s promotional partners for the 2009 Star Trek movie, actually built some prototypes of such a device. Below we have more details, video and photos of one of these very rare prototypes.



Science Saturday: Mars Hoax + New Solar System + Plastic Oil + Astronaut Simulator + Musical Ale

Your humble science writer is on the road again, but I’ve still got you covered with this late edition of Science Saturday! This week, don’t believe the Mars hoax, discover multi-planet solar systems, turn plastic back into oil, and feel like a real astronaut. All this and more plus our gadget of the week: Tuned Pale Ale.





Science Saturday: Beautiful Phytoplankton + Sunken Champagne + VULCAN diffractometer + Healing Nanites & Gel + Laser Backpack

Welcome back to Science Saturday! This week, take a look at a gorgeous phytoplankton bloom, partake in 200-year-old champagne, use a VULCAN to design a car, watch nanites fight cancer, and apply some goop to what ails you. All this and more, plus our gadget of the week: the 3D model creating laser backpack!



Science Friday: Real Mind Meld + Real Replicator + Real Enterprise + Real Cheap PADD + more

Welcome back to another fact-filled edition of Science Friday. This week, learn how even YOU can mind meld with your buddies, feast your eyes on the most accurate view of Mars ever, journey into space (almost) aboard the VSS Enterprise, and get a sneak peak at the next best thing to a real-life replicator. All this and more, plus our gadget of the week: India’s $35 iPad killer!


REVIEW: New Star Trek Captain’s Log iPhone App

Today Paramount Digital Entertainment announced their new iPhone application, Star Trek Captain’s Log. The new app is designed to look like a communicator from the new Star Trek movie, but instead of making calls with it, you use it to make create "captains logs" which you can share with your friends. I have been playing with this fun app for a few days – the TrekMovie review is below.


Science Friday: How Science Works Edition

Welcome to another edition of Science Friday. This week, we will take an interesting new look at the world of science. Instead of just reporting the news, I thought we’d dive into something deeper. In today’s edition, you’ll learn how a rocket launch works, why superconductors are useful, why fluorine is so cool, and why volcanoes blow up where they do. All this and more in today’s How Science Works edition!







Science Friday: Star Trek v Real Science + Martian Spirals + Asteroid Pieces + Gooey Refrigerator + more

Welcome back to another great Science Friday! This week: how different is sci-fi from real science? What do pieces of an actual asteroid look like? How do enigmatic Martian spirals form? And how do humans perceive themselves? Answers to these questions and more, plus our gadget of the week: the creepy, gel-filled refrigerator of the future!


VIDEO: See Leonard Nimoy As ‘The Terminator’ + more pix & vid of Nimoy, Saldana & Burton from E3

As reported earlier, Leonard Nimoy and Zoe Saldana were at the E3 gaming show to help introduce the Yoostar 2 Movie Karaoke Machine (and LeVar Burton dropped by too). We now have more video and photos from the event, including video of Nimoy inserting himself into a scene from The Terminator.


Nimoy & Saldana Help Announce Yoostar 2 Movie Karaoke – Put Yourself Into Scenes From Star Trek & More

Have you ever wanted to put yourself into a scene from Star Trek? Well soon you will be able to do just that with the Yoostar 2 Movie Karaoke Machine for XBox 360 and Playstation 3. Today Yoostar unveiled their new product with the help of Leonard Nimoy and Zoe Saldana at E3. Details below.



Science Friday: No Titan Life? + Bad Solar Weather + Real Holograms + Your Face In Space + more

Welcome back to another exciting installment of Science Friday! I’ll be your host as we decipher the newest findings for life (or not?) on Titan, watch the sun awaken into a dangerously active phase, control your computer in a new way, and see the power of individual brain cells. All this and much more, plus our gadget of the week: The consumer-ready, realistic 3D Hologram!


Steve Jobs Invokes Star Trek (Again) While Unveiling 4th Gen iPhone – But Where Is Star Trek Mobile Video Chat?

Back in January when Apple unveiled their highly-anticipated iPad, Star Trek was there, using the new movie to show off its multi-media capability. And today when Apple unveiled the 4th generation iPhone, Star Trek was again invoked, this time by CEO Steve Jobs himself when introducing the new video calling capability. This prompts the question: Is Star Trek actually behind the curve on this tech?