Technology

Smart-home speaker, VR system, chat service from Google

People rush to their seats after the gates opened to hear the keynote address of the Google I/O conference, Wednesday, May 18, 2016, in Mountain View, Calif. Google unveils its vision for phones, cars, virtual…

Alaska aquarium replaces fossil fuel with seawater system

In this May 2, 1998 file photo, people attend the official opening of the Alaska SeaLife Center, a wildlife hospital and research center on the shores of Resurrection Bay in Seward, Alaska. Since January 2016,…

Solar plane pilot hopes to link to Silicon Valley's spirit

The Solar Impulse 2 solar plane flies into the sunrise out of Kalaeloa Airport, Thursday, April 21, 2016, in Kapolei, Hawaii. The solar plane will fly a two-and-a-half day journey to Northern California. (AP Photo/Marco…

Ailing ecommerce site Groupon gets $250 mn infusion

Groupon went public in 2011 amid enthusiasm over its model of offering deals on a variety of products and services Groupon, the daily deals ecommerce operator which has been struggling since a hot public share…

CRISPR dispute raises bigger patent issues that we're not talking about

Scientists hail CRISPR/Cas9 as more accurate and efficient than other, now-traditional genetic engineering methods. As a result, CRISPR has generated worldwide debate about how it could accelerate the manipulation of plants, animals and even human…

Amazon, targeting smart homes, adds devices to 'Alexa' family

Amazon will sell the Amazon Tap, a $130 voice-activated portable speaker, and the Echo Dot, which can control light switches, thermostats and other connected devices by voice command Amazon unveiled two devices Thursday in the…

Alternative fuels need more than hype to drive transportation market

Dan Sperling, director of the Institute of Transportation Studies at UC Davis, stands beside his Toyota Mirai, a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle. Credit: UC Davis Hype followed by disappointment: That's been the general pattern over…

Protect your Chicago water heater against earthquakes? There's a better bet

California water heater secured against earthquake damage. Credit: seismic.ca.gov Chicago homeowners, take note: you'll get a better return on your investment if you buy a lottery ticket when the jackpot is high, rather than pay…

The big dig: A global software solution for road, water and sewer repairs

“In Canada, about 30 per cent of municipal infrastructure has been assessed as between fair and very poor.” Ever have your street repaved one year, only to have it torn up for sewage work shortly…