Archive for the ‘Octopus’ Category

Because the Ocean isn’t Scary Enough…Robosquid

Thursday, January 15th, 2015

Robots. We just can’t stop building them even though countless movies tell us where it’s all headed. Not only can we not stop trying to emulate ourselves mechanically, a small portion of the robotics community can’t stop trying to emulate creatures from the animal world.

One of the latest creations by a group called FORTH (Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas) is a tiny little robot trying to emulate the natural actions of octopi and squid.

The video above showcases the features and development of the robot as it goes from having bare legs to more efficient webbed legs to carrying an object in a couple of its legs (check out the little yellow ball it’s carrying) to going for a swim out among more natural life in the actual ocean.

It’s fascinating and almost relaxing to watch as it pulses through the water.

Relaxing until someone attaches tiny laser-guided torpedoes to it.

[Spectrum IEEE]

Most Expensive Scoop of Ice Cream Glows Like a Jellyfish Because It’s Made With Jellyfish

Friday, November 8th, 2013

Is it just us or is it slightly weird that the inventor of an ice cream that seems to come straight from Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory would be named Charlie and sport a hat much like the legendary fictional candy crafter?

Charlie Francis, the owner of Bristol’s ‘Lick Me I’m Delicious’, has created an ice cream that glows using the parts of a jellyfish that produce its bioluminescence. Easily the most expensive ice cream ever created at around $225 a scoop, the ice cream glows when you lick it.

Currently the proteins needed to produce the glow are being created in a lab and not taken from the jellyfish themselves which is why you’ve got to be willing to skip a car payment for a scoop of the stuff.

First absinthe-flavored popsicles and now glowing, bioluminescent ice cream using jellyfish proteins. We’re not sure what’s next for ice cream but we sure like where it’s headed.

[I09]