With all the wild stuff going on in the ocean’s depths, corals and sponges don’t seem like the marine life that would be most fun to watch because—do they even move? Yes! They do! Slow Life reveals a super close-up, ultra-hi-res perspective on these delicate underwater systems in motion—and they’re gorgeous.
     |
You use Wi-Fi everyday, but have you heard of its cousin, Li-Fi? Devices that use blinking lights to transmit data could provide the wireless Internet of the future.
| |
I don’t have the brain capacity or the finger dexterity or the lung capacity to do any of these things because I am not a genius fish human. Kevin Hays, on the other hand, is probably a fish human. Powered by the brain of a computer. With the fingers of robots.
| |
Some shipwrecks are too costly or dangerous for humans to explore, but many underwater robots are too disruptive and unwieldy to serve as substitutes. The Tallinn Institute of Technology’s new U-CAT mapping robot solves that dilemma by imitating one of the ocean’s more graceful creatures: the sea turtle. The small machine uses flippers to get around instead of propellers, preventing it from kicking up silt (which would obscure its camera) and letting it turn on a dime. It’s also autonomous, which helps it venture deep into a wreck without worrying about cables. It’s sure to have a big impact on underwater archaeology, and you can see it in person if you swing by the London Science Museum between November 28th and December 1st. However, It will eventually map shipwrecks in the Baltic and Mediterranean Seas as part of the EU’s ARROWS Project, providing more detail than any diver could manage.
[Image credit: Tallin University of Technology, Flickr]
Via: Gizmag
I guess that if you’re not afraid of water, then underwater hotels can make for some fabulous sights. This new one will provide you with an amazing stay, thanks to being submerged more than 13 feet below the surface of the ocean.
The Manta Resort is an all-inclusive hotel room that is partially submerged. It has a rooftop terrace for basking in the sun and to stargaze at night, a landing deck at sea level that comes complete with a lounge and restroom, and an underwater hotel room surrounded by glass panes, allowing for a 360-degree view of the marine panorama.
From inside their room, guests can view marine life and coral reefs. Fish are supposed to sleep beside it, and there are spotlights to attract even more creatures.
Staying at the Manta Resort will cost you a pricey $1,500(USD) a night, but its a truly unique experience for the price.
[via designboom]
Have any interest in bringing an interchangeable-lens camera along on your next snorkeling adventure? You could pick up a pricey DSLR housing, sure, but you might want to consider Nikon’s new 1-Series AW1, the first digital device of its kind to score an integrated waterproof enclosure. An O-ring combines with a regular bayonet lens fitting to create a reassuringly tough seal that will survive down to a depth of 49 feet, at the expense of requiring just a little bit more time and physical effort to swap lenses. You’ll need to re-surface before attempting that, of course, and you’ll also have to make sure you’re using one of just two waterproof pieces of glass: either a 11-27.5mm f/3.5-5.6, which comes as part of the kit, or a wide 10mm f/2.8 lens that is sold separately. Regular 1-series lenses will still fit on the AW1, courtesy of a little accessory, but they won’t offer any of the ruggedness of the dedicated pair — which means you’ll miss out on the water-proofing, dust-proofing, freeze-proofing (to 14-degrees Fahrenheit) and shock-proofing (from a maximum drop of 6.6 feet).
Internally, the AW1 is similar to the CES-era J3. There’s the same 14.2-megapixel CX-format sensor and 6400 top ISO, along with 1080p video capture, but the new model adds thrill-seeker essentials like an altimeter, depth gauge, GPS, compass and an accelerometer-powered option for switching modes with one hand. Finally, at risks of startling the little fishes, there’s also pop-up flash that works underwater. All this will set you back $800 with the 11-27.5mm lens, when the AW1 ships next month, while the 10mm f/2.8 will be $200 more. Oh, and check out the hands-on video after the break to see how the AW1 fares in our own, hastily compiled durability test.
Update: As some particularly knowledgeable readers have spotted, the AW1 is the first digital waterproof ILC, but not the first if you count the celluloid Nikonos series. Thanks guys — the post has been tweaked.
Sharif Sakr contributed to this report.
%Gallery-slideshow85051%%Gallery-slideshow88714%
Even though Iran has backed away from from its threats to lace the Strait of Hormuz with mines, militaries around the world (the US included) continue to employ the devices in large numbers—as much as 200 times as often as any other kind of maritime weapon. So, to augment the DoD’s aging fleet of Avenger-class vessels and empower the new fleet of Littoral Combat Ships, Raytheon has developed the helicopter-launched Airborne Mine Neutralization System.
| |
Whether you’re hitting the pool, exploring the reefs, or enjoying a dip in the local swimmin’ hole, your desire to take photos doesn’t stop once the pants come off.
| |
By now we all should know the epic water bubble beauty that happens when you shoot a gun underwater. From your typical Glock
| |
You may remember our friend Destin at Smarter Every Day shooting an AK-47 underwater
| |
This is site is run by Sascha Endlicher, M.A., during ungodly late night hours. Wanna know more about him? Connect via Social Media by jumping to about.me/sascha.endlicher.
