Latest news with #lake
The Verge
9 hours ago
- General
- The Verge
Anker's new outdoor wireless speaker vibrates to shake off dust and sand
Anker's audio-focused Soundcore brand is introducing a new wireless Bluetooth speaker with rugged features designed to help it survive and thrive during a trip to the beach. The Boom 3i has an IP68 water and dustproof rating plus an additional protective coating that will keep it corrosion-free for up to two years if exposed to or even completely dunked in salt water, claims Anker. The Soundcore Boom 3i is currently available for purchase through the brand's Canadian online store for $189.99, which is about $139 when converted to US currency. The speaker isn't yet listed on the US version of the Soundcore website. The Boom 3i is not only completely waterproof, it also floats, but not just for the sake of making it easier to recover should it fall off a boat or dock. The Boom 3i is engineered so that its speakers are always pointing upwards and are fully functional while floating, so you can use it directly in the pool or while having a swim at the lake. If you're using it in a river with a fast moving current you may want to consider attaching something heavy to the speaker's detachable carrying strap to create a makeshift anchor. Being waterproof makes the speaker easy to clean when you get back from the beach, but for dislodging dust or sand stuck in the speaker grill, the Boom 3i has a Buzz Clean mode that makes it vibrate intensely to shake off dirt. It also includes a mode that leverages its 96db of sound output to play an emergency alarm should you find yourself in need of help, and it can double as a megaphone using Soundcore's mobile app and your phone as a mic. Battery life is rated at up to 16 hours with the volume at 50 percent and features like boosted bass and synchronized LED accent lighting turned off. If battery life is your priority in a wireless speaker, there are better options available. But if you want a speaker you won't have to worry about babying while you're out on an adventure, the Boom 3i seems tougher than most.
Asharq Al-Awsat
20 hours ago
- Science
- Asharq Al-Awsat
In Canada Lake, Robot Learns to Mine without Disrupting Marine Life
Three robotic arms extended under the water in a Canadian lake, delicately selecting pebbles from the bed, before storing them back inside the machine. The exercise was part of a series of tests the robot was undergoing before planned deployment in the ocean, where its operators hope the machine can transform the search for the world's most sought-after metals. The robot was made by Impossible Metals, a company founded in California in 2020, which says it is trying to develop technology that allows the seabed to be harvested with limited ecological disruption. Conventional underwater harvesting involves scooping up huge amounts of material in search of potato-sized things called poly-metallic nodules. These nodules contain nickel, copper, cobalt, or other metals needed for electric vehicle batteries, among other key products. Impossible Metals' co-founder Jason Gillham told AFP his company's robot looks for the nodules "in a selective way." The prototype, being tested in the province of Ontario, remains stationary in the water, hovering over the lake bottom. In a lab, company staff monitor the yellow robot on screens, using what looks like a video game console to direct its movements. Using lights, cameras and artificial intelligence, the robot tries to identify the sought-after nodules while leaving aquatic life, such as octopuses' eggs, coral, or sponges, undisturbed. - 'A bit like bulldozers' - In a first for the nascent sector, Impossible Metals has requested a permit from US President Donald Trump to use its robot in American waters around Samoa, in the Pacific. The company is hoping that its promise of limited ecological disruption will give it added appeal. Competitors, like The Metals Company, use giant machines that roll along the seabed and suck up the nodules, a highly controversial technique. Douglas McCauley, a marine biologist at the University of California, Santa Barbara, told AFP this method scoops up ocean floor using collectors or excavators, "a bit like bulldozers," he explained. Everything is then brought up to ships, where the nodules are separated from waste, which is tossed back into the ocean. This creates large plumes of sediment and toxins with a multitude of potential impacts, he said. A less invasive approach, like that advocated by Impossible Metals, would reduce the risk of environmental damage, McCauley explained. But he noted lighter-touch harvesting is not without risk. The nodules themselves also harbor living organisms, and removing them even with a selective technique, involves destroying the habitat, he said. Impossible Metals admits its technology cannot detect microscopic life, but the company claims to have a policy of leaving 60 percent of the nodules untouched. McCauley is unconvinced, explaining "ecosystems in the deep ocean are especially fragile and sensitive." "Life down there moves very slowly, so they reproduce very slowly, they grow very slowly." Duncan Currie of the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition said it was impossible to assess the impact of any deep sea harvesting. "We don't know enough yet either in terms of the biodiversity and the ecosystem down there," he told AFP. According to the international scientific initiative Ocean Census, only 250,000 species are known, out of the two million that are estimated to populate the oceans. - High demand - Mining is "always going to have some impact," said Impossible Metals chief executive and co-founder Oliver Gunasekara, who has spent most of his career in the semiconductor field. But, he added, "we need a lot more critical minerals, as we want to electrify everything." Illustrating the global rush toward underwater mining, Impossible Metals has raised US$15 million from investors to build and test a first series of its Eureka 3 robot in 2026. The commercial version will be the size of a shipping container and will expand from three to 16 arms, and its battery will grow from 14 to nearly 200 kilowatt-hours. The robot will be fully autonomous and self-propel, without cables or tethers to the surface, and be equipped with sensors. While awaiting the US green light, the company hopes to finalize its technology within two to three years, conduct ocean tests, build a fleet, and operate through partnerships elsewhere in the world.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Yahoo
78-year-old man found dead on Langlade County lake after call for possible drowning
A 78-year-old man was found dead on a lake in northern Wisconsin's Langlade County the afternoon of May 24. The man was found after Langlade County sheriff's deputies were dispatched for a report of a possible drowning in the Town of Upham, according to a statement from the sheriff's office. The possible drowning on Pence Lake, located in the area between Antigo and Rhinelander, was reported to the Langlade County dispatch center about 1:44 p.m. The man's name and hometown were not released. The incident is under investigation. Alison Dirr can be reached at adirr@ This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: 78-year-old man found dead on Langlade County lake
The Review Geek
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Review Geek
Murderbot – Season 1 Episode 3 Recap & Review
Risk Assessment Episode 3 of Murderbot begins with Preservation Society preparing to head across to the adjacent lab. Before they leave, Mensah gently encourages Murderbot to lower his helmet down so he's shown as part of the team. On the ship, our titular character is too busy watching his sci-fi soap operas and he's not particularly happy about being constantly interrupted by the group trying to converse with him. This is particularly noticeable when Ratthi speaks to him, with Murderbot irritated by this whole ordeal. Back over at the Preservation Aux habitat, Bharadwaj is healing well but she's still traumatized by the experience. Gurathin offers some behaviour modules but she turns him down. Murderbot continues to keep an eye on the guy though as he sneaks into Mensah's room and smells her pillow, very evidently missing her. When the group find out that Murderbot has been reading their logs, Mensah approaches and tries to work out if he means them harm or not. Murderbot's long pause doesn't do his case any favours, especially his hilarious monologue about his disdain for humanity. His quips are the comedic glue that keep this episode ticking over, and eventually they do make it to the habitat. Landing on the perimeter, right by a lake, the group approach slowly. Our Murderbot takes the lead though, heading inside the base as the others don't really have military-grade weapons training here. Murderbot immediately finds the destroyed SecUnit we saw briefly at the end of the last episode. His curiosity gets the better of him, as he finds the entire team destroyed and killed. Mensah wants Murderbot to leave but radio interference causes their communication to cut out. Turns out this was Murderbot's doing, as he's not ready to leave just yet. It would appear one of the SecUnit's has gone rogue and killed the others, eventually leading to Murderbot taking the prone bot out before it can do any more damage. Checking over the body, Murderbot realizes that somebody has taken control of the SecUnit. But who? Well, the answer comes in the form of another Bot entering the room and firing at our titular character. The Episode Review So Murderbot returns with a great episode, sporting solid production values and a hilarious comedic tone. The episodes definitely feel a bit too short though and it's disappointing to find this one only clocking in at 22 minutes. The show is just starting to find its groove and ending these quick-bite episodes like this is in danger of losing the momentum as the weeks tick by. Even so though, the show has a lot to whet the appetite here. The characters are generally quite interesting and what's particularly ironic is how Murderbot is probably more human than he gives himself credit for, given his current motives and curiosity. Either way, we'll have to wait and see where this one goes next week. Previous Episode Next Episode Expect A Full Season Write-Up When This Season Concludes!
Irish Times
14-05-2025
- Irish Times
A Wonderful Life
I hear birds chirp as I open my eyes, a gentle breeze caresses my face. The sky is blue, free from clouds. I stretch my legs and prepare for my day ahead. Vibrant flowers surround me, swaying in the wind. Towering trees enclose the area; the bright, warm sun peeks through their leaves. Butterflies soar through the air, occasionally landing on the unusual, rich-coloured bushes and flowers. The gentle sway of the flora can be heard all around. Up in the trees, the birds thrive. Mothers feeding their newborns, others attempting to fly. Squirrels run about, their bushy tails weaving through branches. A feeling of peace encases the area. My stomach begins to rumble, its time to forage for food. I sniff around, looking for sweet delights. In the corner of my eye, I see deep purple berries. I dash over to them and inspect them. Slowly opening my mouth to bite into them, their flavours exploding in my mouth. They're the nicest berries I've ever eaten. I quickly devour them all. I hop about, taking in the smells and sounds around me. The day is hot, and my tongue is dry, I wander towards the glistening lake. Ducks glide on the clear water, ripples appearing as they move. I dip my mouth into the lake and begin to drink. I feel refreshed. READ MORE I look up to see the orange skies, it's almost time to sleep. I scan the area for a comfortable place to rest. I make my way over to a tree with a cavity in its base. I squeeze my way in, it's just big enough to fit me. I lay in a ball, looking out at the other animals, birds returning to their nests and squirrels climbing up their trees. The sun sets and my eyes begin to shut. What a wonderful day to be alive.
