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NASA taps 3-D printer firm for ‘Star Trek’-style food replicator

"U.S. space agency NASA has tapped 3-D printer firm Systems & Materials Research Corporation (SMRC) to create the first-ever 'Star Trek'-style food replicator using 3-D printing technology. According to Quartz, NASA gave the company a six month, $125,000 grant contract to focus on developing 3-D printers that use cartridges full of carbohydrates, protein powders and oils that can be combined in layers to produce food. Grocery stores could be gradually transformed to ultra-cheap cartridge retailers while non-nutrient edible products are phased out by market forces." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingNASA taps 3-D printer firm for ‘Star Trek’-style food replicator

Company develops new fiber-reinforced wood, concrete ink for 3D printing

"Emerging Objects has developed a wealth of new materials, such as paper (made from recycled newsprint) as well as a printable salt material. The company has also developed a cement polymer that can be reinforced with fiber, which means the objects can be stronger than standard concrete. Some other materials used for printing are nylon — so you can 3D-print your dog some new bones, presumably — acrylic, and wood (which is made from hard and soft recycled wood) which can also be fiber-reinforced in order to provide it with extra strength." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCompany develops new fiber-reinforced wood, concrete ink for 3D printing

‘Campaign to Stop Killer Robots’ calling for ban on ‘fully autonomous weapons’

"The idea of autonomous killer robots may seem like the stuff of science fiction, but human rights groups are already preparing for what appears to be the future of weaponry. The Campaign to Stop Killer Robots, a coalition of international groups, is preparing for a global summit in Geneva Switzerland on Wednesday, May 29 that will review a U.N. report on these types of weapons that was released earlier this week. The Campaign hopes to convince nations to sign on to an international ban on autonomous weapons." Continue reading →

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Federal appeals court rules bin Laden death photos can remain classified

"A US appeals court ruled Tuesday that the federal government is not required to release photos that were taken of Al Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden after he was killed by special forces. The Al-Qaeda leader was slain at his Pakistani compound in May 2011 by US Navy SEAL commandos, who took pictures of their target’s corpse in order to confirm the success of their mission. In a 14 page opinion, the judges wrote that The Central Intelligence Agency had refused to release the photos 'on the ground that the images were classified Top Secret. We affirm because the images were properly classified and hence are exempt from disclosure,' they ruled." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFederal appeals court rules bin Laden death photos can remain classified

Fort Hood shooting suspect paid $278,000 by Pentagon while in jail

"In a response to a Freedom of Information Act request filed by the station, the Defense Department confirmed that Nidal Hasan has continued to receive his usual salary while awaiting trial for an attack killing 13 service members and wounding 32 others due to a clause in the Military Code of Justice preventing his salary from being suspended unless he is proven guilty. Jury selection for Hasan’s trial is scheduled for May 29, with testimony set to begin on July 1. At the same time, the station reported that the Army has refused to classify the victims’ injuries as 'combat-related,' denying them wartime benefits accorded to service members and combat-related pay." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFort Hood shooting suspect paid $278,000 by Pentagon while in jail

Mob Steals $100,000 Worth Of Jewelry From Woman On Chicago’s Mag Mile

"A 69-year-old woman was confronted on the Magnificent Mile (Rahmaland's answer to NYC's Fifth Avenue) by a mob of young men on Wednesday, who proceeded to take $100,000 worth of jewelry she was wearing, reports CBS Chicago. A Chicago police source said the woman from the Rahmaland suburb of Homewood Flossmoor was accosted by 10 to 12 men while walking in the 700 block of North Michigan around noon in front of Saks Fifth Avenue. They threatened to beat her if she didn’t give them her purse and jewelry. She took off her jewelry, valued at around $100,000, and handed it to them." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMob Steals $100,000 Worth Of Jewelry From Woman On Chicago’s Mag Mile

Cannes Film Festival rocked as $1 million worth of red carpet ‘loaner’ jewels are stolen

"Jewellery worth more than $1 million due to be loaned to stars treading the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival was stolen in a pre-dawn heist on Friday but the coveted Palme d’Or trophy was safe, officials said. In a scenario itself worthy of a movie, thieves broke into the room of an American employee of Swiss bijoutier Chopard, ripped a safe off the wall and made off with the jewels, according to police reports. Last year, thieves made off with four watches worth 400,000 euros ($513,000) belonging to football stars Souleymane Diawara and Mamadou Niang who were in Cannes for the festival." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCannes Film Festival rocked as $1 million worth of red carpet ‘loaner’ jewels are stolen

In-Flight Thieves Targeting Airline Travelers’ Carry-On Bags

"Travel experts such as Hobica say theft on planes is a growing problem, with bags getting swiped, valuables stolen and pockets picked. Jewelry, money and medications are often the sought-after prizes. One of the reasons in-flight thefts are rising is because more travelers are trying to avoid checking their bags these days. 'People don’t want to pay the check-bag fee,' Hobica said, adding, 'They also know there can be a lot of theft from baggage handlers.' More passengers carrying on luggage means overhead bins are packed. Travelers often cannot use an overhead bin near their seats, putting their valuables out of sight." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingIn-Flight Thieves Targeting Airline Travelers’ Carry-On Bags

$625K in gold stolen at Miami International Airport

"A box containing $625,000 in gold arrived in Miami but disappeared about an hour and a half later, Miami-Dade police say. An American Airlines plane arrived at Miami International Airport from Guayaquil, Ecuador, and docked at Gate D3 at 4:42 a.m. Tuesday, according to a Miami-Dade Police Department incident report. A tug arrived at the plane from Gate D6, according to the report. It then drove away with the cart holding the plane's cargo at 5:22 a.m. Surveillance video showed the tug continue to D37 before it entered an alley and disappeared from the video. The cart was found in front of Gate D19 at 6:20 a.m. but without the box containing the gold." Continue reading →

Continue Reading$625K in gold stolen at Miami International Airport

As Thieves Troll Spanish Farmland, Villagers Begin Patrols

"Police officials say they have seen a steady rise in the crime rate in rural areas since 2009. Just about everything is a target. Three hundred onions one night. A rubber irrigation hose the next. In Albelda, thieves have taken diesel fuel, nail guns, electric clippers — even shampoo and soap that workers use. Elsewhere in Spain, particularly in coastal regions like Valencia where there is a lot of farming, villagers are organizing themselves into patrols, too. It is not a trend that police officials like much. But they understand it. In many areas, there are too few officers to cover acres and acres of farmland. And yet there are few useful alternatives to a watchful eye." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingAs Thieves Troll Spanish Farmland, Villagers Begin Patrols