Google is to start building its own self-driving cars
The car will have a stop-go button but no controls, steering wheel or pedals.
Pictures of the Google vehicle show it looks like a city car with a “friendly” face, designed to make it seem non-threatening and help people accept self-driving technology.
http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-27587558
Virgin space flights cleared for US take-off
Richard Branson’s dream of commercial space flights took a step nearer reality after Virgin Galactic signed a deal with US aviation authorities to let it blast paying customers into space, the company said Thursday.
The agreement with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) sets out how routine space missions from the Spaceport America base in the US state of New Mexico will be coordinated with the normal air traffic control system.
Commercial flights are to begin by the end of this year and more than 600 people have already signed up at $250,000 each to take a trip on SpaceShipTwo.
http://phys.org/news/2014-05-virgin-space-flights-take-off.html
SpaceX Reveals Its New Dragon Space Capsule
lon Musk, CEO of the private space company SpaceX, unveiled the new Dragon V2, the company’s next-generation crewed space vehicle.
Another major difference is that the Dragon V2 is outfitted with eight SuperDraco thrusters (in four sets of two around the bottom of the capsule) that allow the capsule to return from space and land vertically on landing legs. It has a blunt back end that will act as a heat shield to slow the capsule initially as it re-enters our atmosphere, and then the rockets take over when it’s lower to the ground; there’s a parachute backup in case of any trouble with the thrusters. These thrusters allow the capsule to land essentially anywhere,“like a helicopter,” Musk said.
Google search result removal
Google says it is to comply with an EU ruling to remove search results about individuals that are “irrelevant” or outdated.
The company insists the ruling is troubling, however, and could be used by repressive governments.
But for people such as Brad from Derbyshire, having information taken down could, he hopes, change his life.
