Whatever happened to ‘the German Beatles’?
(Polydor / Courtesy of faust-pages.com) The band was created by recording executives to rival the Fab Four – instead they produced some the 1970s oddest rock music. David Stubbs recounts the strange story of Faust. The late 1960s and early 1970s saw in West Germany the formation of an extraordinary handful of experimental groups, including […]
Emiliano Sala search: Who is David Mearns?
Roberto Ricciuti/Getty Images David Mearns is a renowned marine scientist and oceanographer David Mearns has become the face of the private search for the plane which was carrying Argentine footballer Emiliano Sala and pilot David Ibbotson. Mr Mearns stepped in to lead a privately-funded search, and located the wreckage within a couple of hours. But […]
Jellyfish blooms creating oceans of slime
(Copyright: Getty Images) In the last decade enormous plagues of jellyfish have been taking over the seas. And it is our fault. After an entertaining time seeking out octopus and cuttlefish among the rocky architecture at the bottom of the Mediterranean sea, my air ran low and it was time to surface. I noticed my […]
‘First 5G mobile net connection’ claimed by Qualcomm
Qualcomm Qualcomm has showcased 1Gbps mobile internet speeds using a 5G chip Qualcomm has demonstrated mobile internet speeds of 1Gbps using a 5G smartphone chip. The chipset manufacturer claims this is the first working 5G data connection on a mobile device. The fifth generation of the mobile network does not yet exist, but it promises […]
The next DIY tech revolution
Build-it-yourself computer kits spawned PCs and Bill Gates. With a new wave that encompasses 3D printers, drones and even biotech, what will be possible? In early December last year, first-time entrepreneur Alex Klein found himself stunned. After designing a $100 build-it-yourself computer kit called Kano, Klein and his colleagues had been trying to raise $100,000 […]
Surging Greens shake up German coalition politics
Getty Images The Greens’ leaders hope to translate regional gains into national success The talk in Darmstadt is of the “green wave”. One in three voters in this city near Frankfurt backed the Greens in the Hesse state election last month. In the city centre, workmen are setting up a Christmas market in freezing drizzle. […]
Norwich Printing Museum in a race against the clock to find home
Norwich Printing Museum Norwich Printing Museum has been looking for a new home since 2019 A museum is in a race against the clock to find a new permanent location before its lease expires. The Norwich Printing Museum has been given until October to find a new home as its temporary lease on Blickling Estate, […]
Can you cook fries in space?
(Thinkstock) Think reaching Mars is a challenge, how about cooking a decent meal on the way? Enter the weird science of cooking in space, starting with the humble chip. If humans ever voyage to a planet far bigger than Earth, the journey is sure to be arduous and full of danger. But there’s a consolation: […]
Gamification: Is it game over?
(Courtesy of Mykl Roventine on Flickr) Taking the rules of video games and applying them to everyday life was billed as the next big thing, something that would transform everything from dull office work to how we exercise. But can it really work? Brushed your teeth this morning? Congratulations, you get 20 points. Hit your […]
BBC iPlayer to stream matches in 4K HDR
BBC The BBC is promoting the trial as providing the “best ever picture quality” iPlayer has offered The BBC is to stream dozens of World Cup matches live in 4K resolution and high dynamic range colour (HDR) to UK-based audiences in June and July. It will mark the first time iPlayer has covered one of […]