Engineers from Microsoft Research Asia are showing off VASA-1 an AI technology that can take a single photo and text input and produces a photorealistic talking head animation. Controls allow the user to adjust things like emotion, gaze direction, and head size. The intent is to generate lifelike virtual avatars, and not for impersonating real people.

If you attach different-weight objects to a string and hang them over a bar, the lighter object can prevent the heavier one from hitting the ground when dropped. As this happens, the rope spirals around the bar. Science teacher Bruce Yeany attached LEDs to the objects and captured long-exposure photos of this fascinating looping pendulum action.

Can’t get through the day without an espresso drink? The Nano portable espresso machine is small enough to carry in your backpack and makes hot drinks from Nespresso coffee capsules or ground coffee. It can brew up to 200 cups per charge when using hot water or 5 cups per charge with cold water. It’s also available as a gift set with a sturdy carrying case.

Filmmaker James Parris pokes fun at those 1950s and 1960s educational films with an etiquette lesson on how to properly use a sidewalk so you don’t bump into people walking in the opposite direction. But what do you do if there are three or more people coming at you, James?

Maram’s Platform legs are compatible with most standing desks. But they don’t just give your modern furniture a unique and more traditional look. By raising the legs and adding more rigidity, they also reduce wobble. You can choose from Victorian ash, American oak, or walnut wood, as well as four wax and oil finishes.

The United Kingdom produced some of the greatest punk rock bands of all time, from The Clash to The Sex Pistols to The Buzzcocks. BLOXSY put together this compilation of 12 potent electric guitar riffs from U.K. punk tracks, which will have you standing up and moshing at your desk.

The BANG!CASE’s best feature is nearly upstaged by its outlandish visual flourish. It has a shortcut button similar to the iPhone 15 Pro’s Action button, except it also works with the iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max. It lets you have quick access to up to three shortcuts or iOS settings at once, thanks to its single-tap, double-tap, and long-press options.

This six-slot tool roll from Olight is perfect for small EDC flashlights and other pocket tools. It holds closed with an elastic cord and can be hung up thanks to its snap-grommet holes. A waxed canvas exterior resists wear, while its soft velvet fabric protect items inside. It also comes in bundles with Olight’s i3E, IMini 2, Baton 3, and Arkfeld UV flashlights.

This incredible short film, directed and animated by Duncan Hatch, takes us on a surreal journey that travels from outer space to a cubicle farm to a colorful forest populated with weird creatures. Noah Kowalski’s sound design and Tom Ippolito’s music deliver a sense of immersion that is truly headphone-worthy.

VERO teamed up with the U.S. Forest Service to create a series of field watches inspired by the people who help protect our nation’s forests and grasslands. The series has four color schemes: Ranger, Hotshot, Airtanker, and Service Green. Each packs a Seiko kinetic movement, Super Luminova hands, and a stainless steel case with a ceramic coating.

The loud and long-lasting Bluetooth speaker is now in its fourth generation. The Soundboks 4 maxes out at a brain melting 126dB, is rated IP65 for water and dust resistance, and lasts up to 40 hours per charge. Its bass has been turned up even more, while still retaining clarity at max volume. It also has a new grill that snaps off for easy customization.

uvBeast makes the brightest ultraviolet flashlights we’ve seen. Their V3 light has three surface-mounted LEDs, which can project a UV beam 70 feet or more. Its light can be used for finding covered-up repairs and leaks, curing UV resins, and making phosphorescents glow brightly. It’s powered by two 18650 li-ion batteries.

There are lots of awful things that happen in the wasteland of Fallout, but it’s the gigantic mutant cockroaches that freak us out the most. With some sponsorship bucks from Prime Video, The Hacksmith set out to create a life-size robotic Radroach. Or five. Two of the remote-controlled creepy crawlers roll on wheels, and they’re all filled with nasty green goo.

Gerber improves campsite meal prep with their ComplEAT cutting board set. It includes bamboo and polypropylene cutting surfaces, which serve as the lid for a storage bin. Inside, you’ll find a removable tray with a 6″ chef knife and a 3.25″ paring knife tucked securely into place and enough room to carry additional items like Gerber’s ComplEAT utensils.

Overwhelmed by open world games? Fed up with first person shooters? Sick of soulslikes? Placid Plastic Duck Simulator is here for you. More of a semi-randomly generated video than a game, this relaxing indie hit sees different kinds of rubber ducks gradually converging at a seaside swimming pool. That’s it. Available for PC, Switch, PS5, PS4, and Xbox Series X/S.

The Insta360 X4 dual-lens action camera can take 360° videos at up to 8K at 30fps. Combine this with all of its user-friendly features, such as the selfie stick remover, image stabilization, and HDR mode, and you get a truly versatile outdoor shooter. It can also act as a 4K camera that can capture angles you simply cannot take on single lens cameras.

Like most longstanding structures, the New York City Subway is an urban Ship of Theseus, gradually expanded and reshaped over the last 120 years. This evolution inevitably led to several once coveted corridors and tunnels being rendered obsolete. It’s History takes us through some of these forgotten paths and the stories behind them.

It’s not been officially revealed as of yet, but an eagle-eyed shopper in Taipei spotted this box for LEGO ICONS set 10341, based on NASA’s Artemis Space Launch System. If the box art is to be believed, the 3601-piece set will let you build a detailed model of the rocket’s various components and its launch tower. Rumor has it the set will drop 5.15.24 for $259.99.

In Fallout, Walton Goggins portrays actor Cooper Howard and his post-apocalyptic incarnation, The Ghoul. This behind-the-scenes video shows the time and effort that goes into applying the prosthetics and makeup to bring his creepy and rogueish character to life, thanks to SFX makeup artist Jake Garber. P.S. Walton’s nose gets removed with CGI.

Robotics company Boston Dynamics just bid farewell to its oddly lovable ATLAS robot, only to reveal a new, more capable version of their humanoid droid. The new ATLAS can stand itself up from lying down and spin its arms, legs, and head around like some possessed demon. It’s awe-inspiring tech but also nightmare fuel.

Mind The Map discusses the fake bus stops outside several senior homes in Germany. Supposedly, they have prevented patients with dementia from wandering off and getting lost should they happen to escape. It seems like a simple ruse, but the longer we think about it, the more we are met by a novel’s worth of metaphors and meanings.

This tiny knife measures just 2.6″ long when closed, making it perfect for keychains. Its 3Cr13 steel blade is ideal for opening packages, cutting rope, breaking down boxes, and holds in place securely with a liner lock mechanism. Its handle is made from glass-reinforced nylon and has a built-in bottle opener at its back end.

We’ve seen time and time again that there are other ways to move around besides ordinary wheels. LEGO builder Dr. Engine put together vehicles that run on seven kinds of wheels to see how they performed against various obstacles, including a pile of tires, a staircase, and a hill covered with wood chips. It ends with a tug-of-war between the vehicles.