The “Sperm Switch” Male Contraceptive

Aside from vasectomies, few viable male contraceptive options exist. The latest entrant into the market, called the Bimek SLV, is a proposed “sperm switch” created by German inventor Clemens Bimek. The small device works by attaching to the spermatic duct valve and can be switched to the “off” position to divert the flow of sperm back into the testicles upon ejaculation. According to Bimek, the …

Take a Ride in This Passenger-Ready Drone

At CES in Las Vegas, Chinese drone company Ehang unveiled a 500-lb quadcopter, called the Ehang 184, capable of transporting a human. The personal, pod-like drone employs four arms and eight propellers to transport a person (up to 220 lbs) at speeds reaching 62-miles-per-hour on a 23-minute trip. Navigation is controlled through an on-board app, which allows flyers to select their destination and then sit …

The New York Public Library’s Massive Online Data Dump

The New York Public Library has just released more than 180,000 photographs, postcards, maps and other items from its collection to the digital world. The information dump—spearheaded by the library’s in-house technology division, NYPL Labs—is an effort to see how the public can re-envision ways to use its trove of information. “We don’t just want to put stuff online and say, ‘Here it is,’ but …