Technology

The curse of Newton's law

Not pretty, but pretty effective.

A Canadian company is making stands that not only isolate speakers but ensure that any movement resulting from Newton's third law does not move them off axis – pleasing the fundamentalists.

How Uber uses psychological tricks to push its drivers' buttons

Because Uber mediates its drivers' entire work experience through an app, there are few limits to the elements it can gamify.

​Even as Uber talks up its determination to treat drivers more humanely, it is engaged in a behind-the-scenes experiment in behavioural science to manipulate them in the service of its corporate growth – an effort whose dimensions became evident in interviews with several dozen current and former Uber officials, drivers and social scientists, as well as a review of behavioural research.

Make eggplants, not explosives

An egglant, soon to be grown by robots.

Eddy, a robot measuring less than 30cm tall, could become the industry standard for commercial and amateur farmers who want to grow pesticide-free, water-efficient crops via hydraponics.

Aussie tech firm in electric aircraft race

Concept hybrid electric airliner from Airbus and EADs in competition with magniX.

With electric cars a growing reality on the ground, a small Aussie tech company has joined the global race to take the technology to the skies in electric-powered planes.