Japan Space Agency JAXA Confirms the Contents of Asteroid Mission “Treasure Box”

In 2018 and 2019, Japanese space agency JAXA’s space probe Hayabusa2 spent 16 months following the asteroid Ryugu—and touching down on its surface twice. Hayabusa2 landed in Australia this month and JAXA confirms that its “tamatebako” (or “treasure box”) contained not only dark debris and small rocks but also a gas sample—the first-ever gases captured from deep space. Read more about JAXA’s milestone findings at …

China’s Ningbo Fotile Kitchen Ware Co Reimagines the Dishwasher

With their Fotile 3-in-1 Sink Dishwasher, Chinese appliance company Ningbo Fotile Kitchen Ware Co embeds the unit right into the countertop, directly beside a complementary sink. Its name references the fact that the equipment doesn’t just wash dishes—it also safely cleans produce and seafood. One variation of the dishwasher features touch-sensitive controls on the lid, which were designed to respond to dry or wet hands. …

Nendo Designs a Smartphone that Folds Down to the Size of a Credit Card

With the Slide-Phone concept, Japanese design studio Nendo proposes a smart device that can fold down “like an inch-worn” to the size of a credit card (or 54 by 86 millimeters). Users slide the device’s OLED screen upward to reveal more functionality below—ultimately revealing the complete, seven-inch touchscreen. From its camera to its gaming capabilities, no modern convenience is lost. Though, the design inspiration certainly turns …