Lifeboat Foundation

Square Enix studio Luminous Productions has unveiled a new tech demo called “Back Stage” that shows how it uses ray-tracing tech. The demo is rendered in real-time.

Luminous Productions was established last year and staffed with former Final Fantasy XV staff. The game’s director Hajime Tabata initially headed up the studio. He has since left Square Enix.

As Siliconera points out, this tech demo shows off next-gen possibilities for its in-house Luminous Engine. Here, the real-time ray tracing shows the character’s face and emotions reflected in a realistic way that simply isn’t possible in previous real-time rending tech.

Optimists are more likely to live longer than those who have a more negative approach to life, a US study has found.

Positive people were more likely to live to the age of 85 or more.

The theory is that optimists may find it easier to control emotions and so be protected from the effects of stress.

Conceptual design report calls for a 100 km circular collider to study the Higgs boson in unprecedented detail.

A V12 engine and a supercapacitor make for a rowdy, electrified bull.

DESIGNS for the ‘first space hotel’ have been revealed and it’s as weird and futuristic as you would expect.

The orbiting space station is designed to accommodate 400 guests and has facilities that you find in top hotels such as restaurants, bars and a cinema.

The commercial space hotel has been designed by The Gateway Foundation.

Robert P. Crease enjoys Sean Carroll’s foray into a 60-year-old theory.

Tech prefers to be forward-facing. Like, obsessively so. What’s new? What’s next? We don’t even like to analyze and maintain what we’ve already made, let alone spend any time really looking back. After all, the interesting problems have already been solved… and where’s the money in it?

We can actually do both, and use the progress of technology to do a great service to the past. Bringing clarity, identity, context and even solving mysteries. Still usually no money in it, though.

What is supersymmetry? Physicist Lawrence Krauss helps you understand the theory that could solve many of the most troublesome problems in physics.

Are metamaterials the way of the future?