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Named, very technically, “Passenger Seat Arrangement For A Vehicle” the patent features not just rows but layers of seats. While primarily designed for airplanes, the patent helpfully notes that it is suitable for other means of passenger transport, like buses or trains. While most airplanes are already densely packed, the patent observes that wide-body airplanes (think Boeing Jumbo Jets or the Airbus 330 family) aren’t utilized to their full economic potential....

On Friday, NASA astronaut Anne McClain took one of the trio of Astrobees out for a spin. Bumble and its companion Honey both arrived on the ISS a month ago, and are currently going through a series of checks. Bumble passed the first hurdle when McClain manually flew it around the Japanese Experiment Module. Bumble took photos of the module which will be used to make a map for all the Astrobees, guiding them as they begin their tests there....

This publication has long considered Cape Wind, a 130-turbine project off the coast of Massachusetts, a frontrunner in the race to get America’s first offshore wind farm up and running. But during the past decade it’s met protests from residents worried about what the turbines might do to their coastal view. Earlier this year, Cape Wind ran aground again when two utilities withdrew commitments and the shipping terminal in New Bedford, Massachusetts terminated its lease with the company....

But on recent American Airlines flights between Dallas and Frankfurt, Germany, there were no paying customers, and thus no bags. These were flights solely for cargo—stuff like mail for the military and machine parts. The first mission took off for Frankfurt on March 20 with some 37,000 pounds of goods on board. When it returned to Dallas-Fort Worth, it was hauling 60,000 pounds. It’s not rare for American to carry cargo—but usually that freight coexists with passenger bags, in whatever space is available in the belly....

Given that she infects ant colonies with deadly pathogens and then studies how they respond, one might say that Nathalie Stroeymeyt, a senior lecturer in the school of biological sciences at the University of Bristol in the U.K., specializes in miniature pandemics. The tables turned on her, however, in March: COVID-19 swept through Britain, and Stroeymeyt was shut out of her ant epidemiology lab. The high-performance computers she uses to track ant behavior sat idle, and only a lab technician—deemed an essential worker—was permitted to tend to the lab’s hundreds of black garden ant colonies, each housed in its own plastic tub....

According to a study published today in Science, Greater Sac-winged pups babble just like human babies. Not only do the black-furred infants burble like us, but they possibly do so for the same reason: to learn how to talk. In fact, these tiny critters spend about 70 percent of their infancy prattling off nonsense as a way to practice syllable formation, says lead author Ahana Aurora Fernandez, a postdoc at the Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Research in Berlin....

“The hawks are our first line of deterrent, and by and large they do the job,” Wimbledon spokesman Johnny Perkins said. “But unfortunately there were one or two areas where the hawks didn’t deter the pigeons, so it was deemed necessary to take a harder approach.” Leaving the ethics of exterminating flying rodents to the experts, I offer our neighbors several pigeon-elimination options that do not require live ammunition. Here is the current state of the art:...

The other factor that necessitates the need for backup software is the physical lifespan of our storage devices. Both internal and external hard drives have limited life spans. These devices will cease to function at some point and if we’re not vigilant with backing up our data with a full redundancy plan, we put our data at risk. The best backup software will add an essential layer of security to your computer workflow without adding a ton of extra hassle or cost....

Simple connection: Esinkin Bluetooth Audio Adapter for Music StreamingEasy to use: COMSOON Bluetooth 5.0 ReceiverBest features: 1Mii B06 Plus Bluetooth Receiver Best Bluetooth receivers: Our picks Simple connection: Esinkin Bluetooth Audio Adapter for Music Streaming Simply connect this tiny adapter (about two inches in length and width and one inch high) to your powered speakers or stereo receiver and press a button to pair with your Bluetooth devices. It’s compatible with standard RCA or 3....

Best overall: Kidde Nighthawk Carbon Monoxide DetectorBest smoke and carbon monoxide detector: Kidde Smoke & Carbon Monoxide DetectorBest plug-in detector: First Alert CO615Best smart: Google Nest Protect Smoke and Carbon MonoxideBest budget: Kidde Carbon Monoxide Detector What is carbon monoxide? Carbon monoxide is an odorless, tasteless, poisonous gas that builds up when you burn fuel like gas, wood, or coal. If inhaled, carbon monoxide blocks your ability to absorb oxygen into your blood, and by extension vital organs including your heart and brain....

Buying good and highly functional baby equipment can’t solve every issue a new parent faces (by the way, you’re not alone—you’re doing great), but you can solve at least one of the problems: stinky nurseries. The last thing you want when you’re already exhausted and feeling a bit crazy is to be confronted with the smell of what comes out of a baby. Did you know that babies can go through almost 10,000 diapers in 3 years?...

Best overall: Pioneer DJ DDJ-800Best for scratching: Rane One Best for beginners: Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol S2 MK3Best standalone system: Denon DJ Prime 4 Best compact controller: Numark DJ2GO2 TouchBest budget: Roland DJ-202 How we selected the best DJ controllers I have been a performing DJ for more than 15 years and have covered DJ gear (such as the Pioneer DJ XDJ-RX3) for DJ Tech Tools, Electronic Musician, Remix, Popular Science, and other outlets....

You can turn the hammer function off on many hammer drills, turning them into electric drivers. However, they’re often heavier and bulkier than their cousins, so many people prefer to own both tools. While both use standard types of bits to drill, hammer drills require a special carbide-tipped bit designed for masonry work. While hammer drills often cost more than electric drill/drivers, if you find yourself drilling a lot of holes into brick walls, or working with concrete or other stone surfaces, it’s an invaluable investment for your tool kit....

How we selected the best Nintendo Switch controllers We combined hands-on research with insights gathered from fellow gamers on staff and around the international community to deliver a list you can trust. Every one of these Nintendo Switch controllers come highly recommended from multiple playtesters or outlets and every one has spent some amount of time in my hot little hands to see if it passes the thumbs stress test....

The second-hand online market has come a long way from eBay (still an excellent choice, though). And with search tools and filters to help you pinpoint exactly what you’re looking for, thrifting has never been easier. Thrifting isn’t just good for your wallet. It’s a sustainable option that reduces waste and gives new life to perfectly good garments and products. Plus, with all the supply chain issues from the pandemic, you don’t have to wait months for quality furniture to arrive....

Compact, affordable indoor TV antennas have become a popular choice, allowing even apartment dwellers access to over-the-air (OTA) signals. However, traditional roof- or attic-mounted antennas still outperform their indoor counterparts, with the obvious physical advantage of being higher up and having less interference. If you own your home or otherwise have safe access to bolt down a larger, fixed antenna, you will absolutely get better performance and more bang for your buck, which could be essential if you’re in a rural area and need that extra juice to pull in distant signals clearly....

Best overall: Pedaltrain Classic JRBest value: Ghost Fire V-Baby 1Best small: Pedaltrain Nano+Best with power supply: Voodoo Lab Dingbat Medium PedalboardBest modular: Temple Audio DUO 24 How we selected the products A pedalboard is a creative tool, and as is true in most creative pursuits, finding the “best” pedalboard is a highly subjective experience that depends on the artist’s needs. With such a vast array of effects pedals available on the market—from the most basic tools like tuners and overdrive, to the most intricate harmonizers, filters, and oscillators—a pedalboard can truly be as simple or as complex as you want it to be....

On the other hand, serious quilters may seek out high-speed machines that produce only straight stitches for quilting. Additionally, they might select models that provide exceptionally large throat space and extended work tables to accommodate the bulky materials of large quilts. Here are our picks for the best sewing machines for quilting. Best overall: Singer Quantum Stylist 9960 Sewing MachineBest computerized: Brother HC1850 Sewing and Quilting MachineBest with a wide work table: Brother PQ1500SL Sewing and Quilting MachineBest with a large throat: Juki TL-2000Qi Sewing and Quilting MachineBest for free-motion sewing: Janome MC6650 Sewing and Quilting MachineBest budget: Brother XR3774 Sewing and Quilting Machine...

This 5.1 Dolby- and THX-certified speaker package is hard to beat, thanks to its one-size-fits all design and potent sound power. Featuring five dynamic satellite speakers, a subwoofer, and a compact control console—as well as a wireless remote—this set should bring big sounds into small and average-size rooms without much fuss. Its multiple inputs, including a basic headphone jack and digital optical and digital coaxial connections, mean it can pump out tunes from your television as easily as it can handle your cell phone or desktop computer....

Add in the fact that most only require a single USB cable to operate and USB microphones prove themselves to be unmatched tools for creating content with very limited equipment and a no-brainer for mobile content creation. Many USB microphones also contain built-in controls or come with companion software that allow users to process and compress their sound for production on the front end, which makes them a great solution for saving time during the editing process....