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If you’ve ever snacked on a rice cake, you may remember that the texture (and flavor) is pretty close to Styrofoam. It’s just that quality that made engineers think to use rice cakes as the wings of an edible lightweight drone. The craft’s wingspan of just over two feet provides about 300 calories, which could make a big difference to someone lost in the wilderness. And there’s still 80 grams left for the payload, which could include more food or about a third of a cup of water to wash down those rice cake wings.
In order to make the round rice cakes fit together, they were cut into hexagons with a laser cutter. The glue that holds them together also needs to be edible. The scientific team tested different adhesives made out of gelatin, chocolate, or cornstarch. They found that gelatin is the strongest option. The researchers next plan to experiment with making more parts of the drone edible. Using 3D-printed food could further lighten the craft.
The scientific team shared the research paper at a recent robotics conference. The design is part of the RoboFood project, a European initiative aiming to make edible robots. We learned about the tasty feat of engineering in IEEE Spectrum, which includes an Q&A with the project’s leader. It doesn’t answer a lingering question though. If you know where someone is well enough to fly a drone to them, why not just rescue them while you’re at it?
This is only one of the interesting search and rescue ideas we’ve come across recently. If you were lost or trapped, would you prefer a backpack-wearing rat, a lizard-shaped robot, or a rice cake drone come to your aid? If only those promises of drone-delivered burritos and pints of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream had come true, we wouldn’t have to resort to eating rice cakes.
Melissa is Nerdist’s science & technology staff writer. She also moderates “science of” panels at conventions and co-hosts Star Warsologies, a podcast about science and Star Wars. Follow her on Twitter @melissatruth.
The post You Can Eat This Rescue Drone’s Rice Cake Wings appeared first on Nerdist.
If you’ve ever snacked on a rice cake, you may remember that the texture (and flavor) is pretty close to Styrofoam. It’s just that quality that made engineers think to use rice cakes as the wings of an edible lightweight drone. The craft’s wingspan of just over two feet provides about 300 calories, which could make a big difference to someone lost in the wilderness. And there’s still 80 grams left for the payload, which could include more food or about a third of a cup of water to wash down those rice cake wings.
In order to make the round rice cakes fit together, they were cut into hexagons with a laser cutter. The glue that holds them together also needs to be edible. The scientific team tested different adhesives made out of gelatin, chocolate, or cornstarch. They found that gelatin is the strongest option. The researchers next plan to experiment with making more parts of the drone edible. Using 3D-printed food could further lighten the craft.
The scientific team shared the research paper at a recent robotics conference. The design is part of the RoboFood project, a European initiative aiming to make edible robots. We learned about the tasty feat of engineering in IEEE Spectrum, which includes an Q&A with the project’s leader. It doesn’t answer a lingering question though. If you know where someone is well enough to fly a drone to them, why not just rescue them while you’re at it?
This is only one of the interesting search and rescue ideas we’ve come across recently. If you were lost or trapped, would you prefer a backpack-wearing rat, a lizard-shaped robot, or a rice cake drone come to your aid? If only those promises of drone-delivered burritos and pints of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream had come true, we wouldn’t have to resort to eating rice cakes.
Melissa is Nerdist’s science & technology staff writer. She also moderates “science of” panels at conventions and co-hosts Star Warsologies, a podcast about science and Star Wars. Follow her on Twitter @melissatruth.
The post You Can Eat This Rescue Drone’s Rice Cake Wings appeared first on Nerdist.
Fans of Indiana Jones were shocked to read the news that Steven Spielberg bowed out of directing the fifth Indy movie. Instead, Logan’s James Mangold is helming the film. That means for the first time, both of Henry Jones Jr.’s creators won’t be at the helm. As of now, the only remaining member of the original Raiders of the Lost Ark creative team is Harrison Ford himself. We wish nothing but the best for Harrison in his sure-to-be final outing as the adventuring archaeologist. However, after this movie hits theaters, I think it’s high time for a new approach to Indiana Jones. Well, a new/old approach I should say. Because I believe it’s time for Indiana Jones to return to television, specifically on Disney+. Happily, Variety reports that may be in development. Sources told the outlet Disney “is actively looking to develop an Indiana Jones TV show for Disney+.” Here’s why it’s an excellent idea.
Lucasfilm
Why Now Is the Time for a Disney+ Indy
From a studio standpoint, I could see why Disney and Lucasfilm be skittish about casting another actor to replace Harrison Ford. He’s one of the most iconic movie stars in Hollywood history, and Indiana Jones is arguably his most iconic role. Many people resisted seeing Solo in theaters, simply because having another actor as the big screen version of Han Solo seemed like sacrilege. I could see where the suits would be terrified of that same reaction happening again.
Lucasfilm
But what if a recast, younger Indy wasn’t for theatrical release? Because there’s already been another Indiana Jones before, in the 1992 TV series The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles. That show wasn’t exactly a high adventure series, and was more about Indy’s journey meeting various famous historical figures in the early 20th century. But having seen a younger Indy on the small screen before, it at least set the precedent. People might be more accepting of a different Dr. Jones if the medium is an all together different one. If it works, it breathes new life into the franchise. If it doesn’t, then the whole thing doesn’t tarnish the movie series. It’s a scenario in which you can’t really lose.
One Season, One MacGuffin
Lucasfilm
Imagine a big budget Indiana Jones steaming series, with the same care and big name creative involved as The Mandalorian recently had. It could feature a young Indy, only recently having become a professor. So perhaps late 1920s/early ‘30s. Everything before Raiders, but long after his teenage adventures in the ‘90s TV series. Each season, which would presumably be the standard 8-10 episodes, would feature one specific quest, for one specific Macguffin.
Season one of the series could be Indiana Jones and the Spear of Destiny, or Indiana Jones and the Lost City of Atlantis, and so on ans of forth. There is a metric ton of novels and comics which could serve as inspiration for these. And like the old serials which inspired Lucas and Spielberg, each episode could also end on a spectacular cliffhanger.
Lucasfilm
These potential seasons don’t have to tie explicitly into any of the pre-existing movies, but it would be fun to address certain things if they wanted to. How exactly did Indy’s relationship with Marion Ravenwood and her father go sour? How did Indy meet (and later adopt) Short Round? In Temple of Doom, the character of Wu Han says he “followed Indy on many adventures”. We get hints about those backstories in the movies, but a show could flesh out the details. Even if the show never addresses those things, we know there are still dozens of untold adventures that Indy had over the years. We haven’t even scratched the surface.
Why It’s Time for Harrison to Hang Up the Whip
Lucasfilm
While I wish for nothing but good things for the latest Indiana Jones adventure on the big screen, truth be told, the entire project as-is sounds destined to disappoint. When this film reaches theaters in 2021, Harrison Ford will be 78 years old. Not that I’m against the idea of an “Old Man Jones” as it were. I thought Ford was brilliant as an elderly Han Solo in The Force Awakens. But the part of Han Solo mainly has him flying spaceships and shooting blasters. Indiana Jones calls for fist fights, swinging on vines, and jumping on moving vehicles. That’s a wee bit harder to do when you’re pushing 80.
There’s also the time frame issue. The movies have so far moved along in real time. Last Crusade took place in 1938, and Kingdom of the Crystal Skull took place in 1957, exactly 19 years since the previous film. Which means that whatever the fifth film is, it will take place in or about the early ‘70s. Now, I love ‘70s period films to death, especially as a child of that time. But the era of high adventure pulp novels and Republic serials was roughly the ‘20s through the ‘40s. This is just Indy’s milieu. I’m not sure he fits in as a concept in the time of hippies and The Brady Bunch.
Lucasfilm
No one can ever take away Harrison Ford’s status as “the original Indy.” But just as James Bond eventually moved on from Sean Connery, it’s time for Indiana Jones to move beyond Ford. George Lucas and Steven Spielberg envisioned Indy as “the American 007” after all. This would be the most Bond-like thing to do for the character.
All of this would keep the franchise viable long term. Believe me, Disney and Lucasfilm don’t want to make the property seem like one of Indy’s old relics – they want it to stay current. And by having it in a different medium with a new actor, it would be far less likely to ruffle the feathers of those who claim there can only ever be on big screen version of Indiana Jones. A younger Indiana Jones on Disney+ is the best “you can have your cake and eat it too” option for everyone.
Originally published February 27, 2020.
The post Why INDIANA JONES’ Future Should Be on Disney+ appeared first on Nerdist.
One of the most anticipated shows coming this fall is Netflix’s Wednesday, which chronicles the adolescent adventures of everyone’s favorite member of the Addams Family. The series will showcase the titular Wednesday Addams adjusting to her new “school for outcasts,” the Nevermore Academy. The new series is continuing the vibe of the brilliant ’90s Addams Family movies. And it also marks the return of director Tim Burton to his Gothic aesthetic. The Addams Family has always been well known for its theme music, and now, Burton and Danny Elfman have collaborated to bring you a whole new theme song and opening credit sequence.
We bet there are a whole lot of fun Easter eggs for fans to uncover in Wednesday‘s opening credits.
Behind the Scenes of Wednesday
Additionally, in a brand new look from Netflix, we go behind the cameras of the new Wednesday series. It features interviews with X star Jenna Ortega, our new Wednesday Addams, as well as Burton and the series’ writers. You can watch the full 3-minute featurette down below:
This sneak peek at the series gives us a better look at what the creators have in store. Showrunners Alfred Gough and Miles Millar make certain the audience knows “this isn’t a remake or a reboot. This is just a new chapter in Wednesday Addams’ life.” For the first time in the Addams franchise, Netflix’s Wednesday will show us what the Addams children look like as teens. Jenna Ortega explains all the preparation she went through to play Wednesday, including fencing and cello lessons twice a week.
It certainly looks like the Nevermore Academy is the dark and brooding cousin to Xavier’s School from X-Men. And as the former showrunners of Smallville, Gough and Millar know all about schools with unusual students. Unlike previous Addams Family projects, Wednesday will have a plot-driven throughline, all about our heroine solving a bizarre murder mystery.
Wednesday and Tim Burton
You can also check out this shorter featurette where Jenna Ortega, Catherine Zeta-Jones (Morticia Addams), and showrunners Alfred Gough and Miles Millar further discuss the genius that is Tim Burton.
The rest of the cast includes Gwendoline Christie (Principal Larissa Weems), Luis Guzmán (Gomez Addams), and Isaac Ordonez (Pugsley Addams), and original movie Wednesday herself, Christina Ricci as Marilyn Thornhill. Netflix’s Wednesday premieres on November 23.
Originally published on August 24, 2022.
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For a minute there, Westworld was the talk of the town. You couldn’t go five feet without hearing about the Evan Rachel Wood-led show. For many, it felt like a new incarnation of Lost. The show had twists and turns on twists and turns, and who doesn’t love a good mystery? But alas, in the midst of many upheavals around HBO, HBO Max, and Warner Bros. Discovery, HBO officially canceled Westworld. The show will end with season four and won’t make it to season five.
We first learned about the news from Variety. The publication reports a number of factors went into Westworld‘s cancellation. Among the variables that led to the ending of the now-canceled show are production costs, Westworld‘s sinking viewership, and the continued scrutiny that has come with Warner Bros. Discovery merger.
Warner Bros. Discovery has made many cuts to its programming already. Of course, the platform infamously canceled the movie Batgirl after having spent much money and time on it already. Other properties, such as Sesame Street saw the axe as well.
Westworld, of course, has had a spotty run. And even many of its fans have felt the story and characters have not always been top-tier. However, the sudden cancellation does not allow Westworld to wrap its story up in any meaningful way. Season four of the show finished airing on August 14.
It seems that for a show that has such a place in our pop-culture consciousness, a final season may have been in order. Over the course of its run, the show received nominations for 54 Emmys and took home a few wins. But, of course, that does not seem like it will be now. We will miss Dolores, the Man in Black, Charlotte, Maeve, and all the rest. Goodbye Westworld, now another cancellation for the pile.
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