Biologists one step closer to neutralizing HIV

Researchers around the world have been studying a group of recently-identified antibodies capable of neutralizing most strains of HIV, with the hopes of developing a vaccine that produces antibodies with these same properties.

This illustration shows the crystal structure of the adeno-associated virus used to deliver antibodies against HIV.

(Credit: Alejandro Balazs/California Institute of Technology)

Now, biologists out of the California Institute of Technology--led by Nobel Laureate David Baltimore--are one step closer to a vaccine with their new method of delivering these antibodies to lab mice, thereby protecting them from HIV.

Their approach, calledVectored ImmunoProphylaxis(VIP) and outlined in today's online issue of Nature, turns the traditional vaccination method on its head.

For the most part, researchers have focused on designing substances that activate the immune system to do one of two things: block infection via antibodies, or attack infected cells via T cells. But the VIP approach provides protective antibodies from the start.

Police: Man viewed child porn on US flight

BOSTON (AP) — Police say a man who was viewing child pornography on a domestic airline flight from Salt Lake City toBoston has been arrested.

Massachusetts State Police say 47-year-old Grant Smith was sitting in first class Saturday afternoon when a fellow passenger saw thepornographic images on Smith's laptop and alerted the flight crew.

When the Delta flight landed at Boston Logan International Airportjust after 4 p.m., troopers interviewed Smith and subsequently arrested him.

Windowfarms lets apartment dwellers flex their green thumbs

Just because you live somewhere without a yard doesn't mean you can't have fresh herbs and colorful plants in your home. Windowfarms combines principles of hydroponics with vertical gardening to let green thumbs indulge their favorite pastime using a little bit of space near their windows.

The Home at the Top of a Volcano

It's not every day one stumbles across a UFO, never mind one you can live in, and certainly never mind one plopped firmly atop a volcano—er, volcanic cinder cone, to be precise. But lo' and behold this curiousdesert dwelling located between Vegas and Los Angeles in Newberry Springs, Calif. popped up on our radar screen.

2012 Subaru BRZ

Toyota and Subaru have always said they were going to unveil their collaborative vehicles at the same time, so after finally seeing the production version Toyota GT 86, the production version of the highly anticipated BRZsports car was given its time to shine. Next to the GT 86, the new BRZ will be making its world debut this week at the Tokyo Auto Show and will go on sale early next year.

Bridgestone Puncture-Proof Tires Were Possibly Designed With a Spirograph

By using an intricate resin spoke system, Bridgestone's new airless tire provides the same level of shock absorption as an inflated tire, without you having to worry about monitoring air pressure or changing a flat ever again.

The Marines’ New Target Dummies Ride Segways

For years, military live fire exercises have relied on either stationary or pop-out targets but they don’t really simulate enemy movements—they just sit there, waiting to be shot. These targets, newly developed for the U.S. Marine Corps don’t; they move, behave, and react just like real combatants. Well, combatants who ride Segway scooters.

Now Might Not Be the Best Time to Hire Pakistani Mercs

Call it a case of bad timing.

The State Department wants to hire “local guards” to protect its diplomats in Pakistan. Yes, now. Right after a U.S. military mission gone wrong killed 24 Pakistani soldiers, delivering another battering to an already fragile alliance.

High-tech fashion: 9 fully functional tech gifts you can wear

We know you can't embrace technology enough, and we wouldn't want you to be left behind this holiday season. Here's a list of some special items designed to make the tech life of your and yours a little easier, or at least more interesting. (Just a note: some of these items are custom made so you'll have to inquire for information on pricing and delivery.)

World's tiniest food truck serves up big flavor in Austin TX

Are you sick of all those big trendy food trucks blocking all of the good parking spots in your city? Then may I suggest the world's smallest food truck, built neatly inside a tiny Smart Car.

Tetra-Shed is the cubicle for only the coolest office drones

As Dilbert reminds us, the life of an office drone can be soul crushing, particularly if you aren't happy with the gig. But a new office cubicle solution may help to alleviate the pain, assuming your boss is willing to get this radical.

Robot Repair Shop offers a peek at the lab of your dreams

The makers of '50s sci-fi epic Forbidden Planet probably thought that robot repair shops would be common by now. Sadly they're not so common, but that doesn't stop the more imaginative among us from dreaming up a cool version of what could be.

Toyota Fun-Vii concept is a giant touchscreen on wheels

If you didn't feel like any of those LA Auto Show concept cars were quite concept-y enough, Toyota has come out with something that should get those juices flowing: the Fun-Vii, which they're calling "a smartphone on four wheels."

Image of the Day: iPod's incredible evolution

On October 23, the iPod turned 10 years old. To celebrate this industry changing music player, let's take a moment to compare the very first iPod to Apple's most recent creation…amazing!

Delusional Ang Lee still insists The Hulk is a work of art

While discussing the Brad Pitt film The Tree of Life—and its special effects-laden sequences that connect the universe at large to the tiniest molecule—Oscar-winning director Ang Lee revealed that he wasn't too impressed. After all, he did the same thing with his take on Marvel's jolly green giant.

Spoiler alert: Casting company leaks Akira reboot synopsis

We know that Tron's Garret Hedlund is playing Kaneda in Warner's Americanized remake of the manga and anime classic Akira—and that names like Kristen Stewartand Ken Watanabe are being floated for other roles—but we've only just now got a real sense of how the story will change.

Look who may sink his teeth into Sookie when True Blood returns

Christopher Meloni is going to the dark side. The former Law & Order: SVU star is heading to HBO for a supernatural role—the actor might join those promiscuous vamps on the new season of True Blood.

Dual-screen smartphones gone wrong (roundup)

The concept of a dual-screen smartphone is relatively new, and a perfect storm of two schools of thought: if it can be done, it should; and: if one is good, two are better. Well, you can guess how that turned out.

It isn't that the attempt to enlarge the smartphone viewing space is inherently terrible; it's not. The idea of multiplying the screen real estate without multiplying the device's footprint is exactly the kind of technological envelope-pushing that could engender brainier, more powerful smartphones. It's just the implementation that's never found its sweet spot. Alas, take a look.

(Credit: CNET)

Samsung Continuum (Verizon) - November 2010
Samsung took its flagship Galaxy smartphone mold one step further.

Cool Privacy Monitor Hack - VERY COOL!

For those of you that have never seen this hack before, you should watch the video, it's pretty neat. Thanks to [H] reader "Heart Attack" for the link.

Holy Cow Kinect Video of the Day - VERY COOL!

At first, I had no idea what was happening in this video...until dude started digging around in the sandbox at the end. Wow! 

Toyota, Subaru squabble over credit for sports coupe

Giving credit where credit is due isn’t always easy when corporate egos are involved, a fact illustrated by recent dissension between joint venture partners Subaru and Toyota concerning who deserves more credit for the sports coupe project that resulted in the GT 86/BRZ twins.

Subaru’s Australian managing director, Nick Senior, has claimed that car’s sharp handling and sporty soul are attributable to Subaru.

Mazda could revise export plan

Mazda Chief Executive Officer Takashi Yamanouchi says the company could alter a plan to boost exports as sales in the United States remain relatively flat. Yamanouchi made his comments at the Tokyo Motor Show.

“We will keep our overall framework for our midterm plan, but we may change some parts,” Yamanouchi said. “We’re studying about whether to maintain our plan to raise our export ratio to 85 percent.” Mazda’s current export rate stands at 80 percent.

Honda CEO takes blame for floundering Civic

Honda’s top executive is taking the blame for the Civic’s poor performance in the United States market. Honda’s revised Civic compact launched here last April, but has only garnered luke-warm reviews and sales.

“The ultimate responsibility rests with me,” Honda CEO Takanobu Ito said on the sidelines of the Tokyo Motor Show. “We take inputs from the various markets with sincerity … and try to work out the best actions for what we have observed. Those decisions rest with me.”

Volkswagen to become world’s largest automaker this year?

Five years ago, Volkswagen AG announced its plans to become the world’s largest automaker by 2018. The announcement was received with skepticism by most in the auto industry, but Volkswagen carried on nonetheless.

Fast forward to the present and certain analysts say that Volkswagen is well-poised to take the number one spot this year. The German automaker’s projected sales for 2011 exceed 8 million vehicles.

Left Lane already reported on this matter last month, but new information regarding how the totals are calculated has recently come out.

Tokyo: Honda’s EV-STER next-gen electric small sports concept

Honda Motor Company is pulling out all the stops at the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show, debuting entirely new engine families, transmissions, hybrid tech – and now a sporty electric car concept.

This all-electric roadster goes by the name of EV-STER, which the automaker is referring to as a “next-generation electric small sports concept model,” boasting proper rear-wheel drive, just two seats and battery-only power.

'My Secret to Super Customer Service'

From a free lawnmower replacement and swankier hotel room to a coveted seat on another flight after a cancellation, these consumers have mastered the art of getting what they want from customer service reps.

It never hurts to ask

Name: Danny Kofke, 36
Occupation: Special education teacher and author
Location: Hoschton, Ga.

Courtesy: Danny Kofke

I subscribe to NFL Sunday Ticket on DirecTV. I saw an ad offering the extra SuperFan feature, which gets you games in high-definition for free if you sign up for Sunday Ticket. But current subscribers have to pay $99.

I called and said I'd like it for free too, because I'm a loyal customer. The rep told me the promotion was for new subscribers only, so I said I'd gladly cancel. After 15 minutes on hold, I got it for free, too. It never hurts to ask.

Suspected Craigslist Toll Now at 3 Dead, 1 Wounded

The discovery of two new bodies in shallow graves could bring to three the death toll from a Craigslistad that police say lured victims into a lethal robbery scheme in Ohio.

One of the bodies was identified today as Timothy Kern, 47, of Massillon, Ohio, who answered a Craigslist ad. Kern has not been seen in over a week, according to FBI spokeswoman Vicki Anderson.

The Summit County Medical Examiner's office announced Saturday that Kern died from gunshot wounds to the head, according to the AP.

A caller's tip on Friday morning led police to Kern's body buried in a shallow grave behind Rolling Acres Mall in Akron, Ohio.

Porsche Design Tower Set To Be Built In Miami

We all know that automakers have slowly begun to pay more attention to consumer goods as a way of branching out their business models, but in the case of Porsche Design - Porsche’s styling arm - they might have taken it to a whole new level by diving into real estate development.

Hero Marine Sues Defense Giant After Sniper Scope Fight

Marine Sgt. Dakota Meyer is perhaps this country’s best-recognized war hero, a man who risked his life over and over again to save his buddies from a Taliban ambush. That’s why he’s the only living Marine to be awarded the Medal of Honor — the nation’s highest award for valor — for his actions in Afghanistan or Iraq. It’s undoubtedly one reason why the defense giant BAE Systems hired Meyer after he left the Corps.

Then, BAE considered selling high-tech sniper rifle scopes to the Pakistani military. Meyer objected, given Islamabad’s um, unambiguous relationship with the terrorists and militants based in Pakistan. Then he quit. Suddenly, Meyer’s former bosses at BAE started calling the war hero “mentally unstable” and a drunk.

Air Force Tells Reporters: You’re Not Welcome at Our Drone Base Anymore

When the Air Force activated its first unmanned aircraft wing in 2007, the military invited journalists out to Creech Air Force Base in Nevada to come take a look at the robotic future taking off.

Today, that kind of openness would be unthinkable. The Air Force began to limit press access to Creech in 2009. In the last six months, they’ve closed it off almost entirely, turning down every American media request to visit the drone pilots. The only visit approved during that period was from a British outlet, involving Creech’s UK drone squadron, Air Force officials tell Danger Room.

Soft Robot Takes Big Steps For Robotics

You guys have to check out this creepy-cool soft robot I spotted on my buddy Jace's site. Here's a video of it in "action."

Could cyborg insects act as first responders?

The next time you feel like swatting a bug, consider whether it might be packing military sensors that are gathering data about its surroundings. And maybe you, too.

Researchers at the University of Michigan are working on ways to generate power from insects' kinetic motion and body heat while bugging the bugs as well.

Woman pepper sprays shoppers at Wal-Mart to grab Xbox 360

What would you do to ensure you get the best gaming deals on Black Friday? Would you pepper spray an entire Wal-Mart aisle to get those video games for your kids? One seriously messed up woman did — all for an Xbox 360.
Ahh, Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving when family and friends turn into deranged maniacs who will fight each other for a two dollar waffle maker. It's a terrifying experience if you ever get caught in the shopping war zones at retail stores (I'm so glad online shopping exists) and yet it's almost comical.

Don't try bribing these robot prison guards

Inmates at a prison in South Korea will probably think twice about trying to escape after robots join guard duty on the cell block.

Beginning next March, three guard robots will be on alert for dangerous behavior at the prison in Pohang, according to a Yonhap News report.

Motorola to launch Droid 4 in December?

Less than six months after launching the Droid 3, Motorola is apparently ready to give us its successor.

The Droid 4 will launch December 8, according to purported promotional materials obtained by Droid Life, which reports it has confirmed that employee training is already in progress at some Verizon Wireless stores.

Half-Life: Origins Live-Action Short

The opening in-game cinematic for Valve's Half-Life is among the most memorable sequences ever created in a videogame, setting the stage for one of the most beloved titles -- and franchises -- of all-time. What would that scene look like if it really were a film? The team at InfectiousDesigner (Beyond Black Mesa) decided to find out. The result is Half-Life: Origins. See the short for yourself below:

Camera lost at sea returned with the help of social networking

Just how tough is your average DSLR memory card? Apparently tough enough to survive a year at the bottom of the ocean. Naturalist and aspiring photographer Markus Thompson was scuba diving in Deep Bay near Vancouver, British Columbia, when he found a Canon EOS 1000D. Curious, he brought it to the surface and took out the SD card, and was actually able to recover about 50 photos.

We Flash Back to the Very First Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show

The Angels have landed: Yes, the annual panty-parade extravaganza that is the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show returns to CBS this week, with performances by musical luminaries like Kanye West and Jay-Z, Maroon 5, and Nicki Minaj. But the show wasn't always such a huge production. Today, we flash back to 1995, when Bill Clinton was still in his first term, current Angel Candice Swanepoel was all of six years old (yikes), and the very first Victoria's Secret Fashion Show was unveiled. We dug up some video of that inaugural show -- and trust us, things were very different back then.

Man builds girlfriend $125 iPad

We are great supporters of love here at Technically Incorrect.

Which is why this tale of amorous electronic ingenuity far beyond using pepper spray on Black Friday, brings us to a state close to stinging tears of wonderment.

The way China Daily hums it, Wei Xinlong, a college student at the Northeast Normal University in Changchun, really wanted to make his girlfriend, Sun Shasha, very happy.

He knew she would love to be in possession of the world's No. 1 passion possession, the iPad. However, he didn't have the money to effect that love. So he set about building an iPad from scratch.

So imagine something that looks a little like this, but thicker and with rhinestones.

(Credit: CC Pedro Eugenio Artunes/Flickr)

Man with jetpack races actual jets

Anyone glancing up at the skies over the Swiss Alps recently might have caught a glimpse of something quite odd: a bloke with a jet-powered rucksack flying alongside some fighter jets. No, seriously.

Yves Rossy, the Swiss inventor and pilot known affectionately as the Jetman, has donned his strap-on wing suit once again, and this time he's flown in formation alongside two L-39C Albatros jets from the Breitling Jet Team, the world's largest professional civilian aerobatics squad.

Don't fret if you weren't there -- the entire event was caught on camera. The resulting video, which can be seen above, starts with Rossy, in his Brietling-branded jet wing, clambering on to the side of a helicopter. Once at an altitude of, ooh, say, extremely blinkin' high, Rossy lets go of the chopper, fires up the four jets attached to his wings, and cruises in formation with the two Albatros jets. VIDEO

9 Gadgets That Prove You’re a Hard-Core Early Adopter

The early adopter: Part trailblazer, part pollyanna, he’s never met an unproven technology he didn’t like. He doesn’t just want the best gear, he wants to believe. He wants to believe that new tech is the best tech, and that products simply wouldn’t be released if they weren’t ready for prime time.

In many cases, the early adopter has the right instincts, but pulls the trigger too soon. He buys consumer electronics premised on solid ideas, but handicapped by immature execution — like a good portion of the nine historical curiosities I present here. Not all of the following technologies were flops, but every single one required a brazen leap of faith.He’s an optimist. He’s a betting man. He’s pulling out his wallet, and going all-in.

Think you have better examples of early-adopter folly? Let us know in the comments section of this article, and we’ll use your best suggestions in an upcoming list.