Jim Henson’s Creature Shop + Tombot’s Robo-Dog Companion

On a mission to improve the quality of life for senior citizens dealing with loneliness and depression, Tombot’s robotic puppy—which has exceeded funding on Kickstarter—emulates real-life dog behaviors. With artistic design by Jim Henson’s Creature Shop, the robo-dog certainly looks the part. And, as it’s a responsibility-free pet, companionship is manageable. Tombot’s touch-sensitive pup isn’t the first in this category, but it is the most …

Supersonic Aircraft’s Shockwaves Shot by NASA

The first-ever images of two shockwaves interacting, taken by NASA, appeared online this week. These photos—shot using a 150-year-old German technique—are some of the first of supersonic flights in the air and not in a wind tunnel. Seeing how the shockwaves interact with one another and on their own, NASA may be able to reduce the noisiness of sonic booms—the result of pressure changes when …

Toyota’s Moon Rover

Traditionally limiting their endeavors to the Earth’s surface, Toyota now has plans to go to the moon. The Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency announced a partnership with the carmaker to place a self-driving rover on the moon in 2029. Using Toyota’s fuel-cell technology and solar power, the rover can transport two passengers over 10,000 kilometers. Though no astronauts will travel to the moon in the rover …