moon

Wii virtual console releases for this week

Looks like the days of the triple-update are long gone as this week is another two-game showdown on the Virtual Console.

Harvest Moon (1997, SNES, 800 Wii points): What's considered to be a relatively rare title is no longer scarce as Harvest Moon makes its way to the virtual console today. The game is basically a farm simulator in which you must raise livestock and grow crops in addition to turning a run-down farm into a thriving success. Lords of Thunder (1993, Turbografx 16, 800 Wii points): Lords of Thunder is a side-scrolling shooter with a heavy-metal soundtrack. Blast … Read more

Six steps to clean lunar living

Astronauts will probably miss out on the luxurious quarters and gourmet meals planned for space tourists, but moon living may be cushier than expected.

Luna Gaia, a habitat designed by an international team of scientists, engineers and graduate students, provides up to a dozen astronauts with fresh vegetables, fish, spacious rooms and clean drinking water (albeit recycled from their own urine).

Read the full report at Popular Science: "The Green Side of the Moon"

Phones that are good enough to eat

In addition to the stereotypical diet of Red Bull and Cheetos, geeks have become known increasingly for having a collective sweet tooth: Specifically, this has often taken the form of gadget cakes. And now it's become clear that the phenomenon is an international one.

GeekSugar has come across some edible mobile phones from China, which are actually moon cakes--a traditional treat served for the fall Moon Festival.

It's interesting to note that these phone cakes are of a variety from Finland-based Nokia, one of the few handset makers not based in Asia. (This, by the way, is … Read more

3D scanning for every office party

We always assumed that the price of 3D scanning equipment was a bit out of reach for commoners like us, but maybe there's hope after all.

Epson's immodestly named "Perfection V200" not only handles the usual flat images, but its lid lifts 180 degrees to scan 3D objects as well in 4800-dpi resolution, according to CrunchGear. And at just $99, it won't break the budget when these machines are inevitably crushed at holiday office parties.

Astronaut describes Mars trip as 'one-way' ticket

Former astronaut Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin said that a planetary mission to Mars from a base on the moon will be the equivalent of a "one-way trip to the stars," according to a story this week from the EE Times.

Aldrin, who in 1969 was the second man on the moon, said that current technology and life support systems couldn't sustain a round-trip manned voyage to Mars. That said, Aldrin, 77, still wants to plan the mission, according to the interview.

Blast your best playlist into space

Mars needs women, and astronauts need your MP3s.

The European Space Agency (ESA) is holding a contest to send the best astronaut-friendly playlist into space.

ESA will put the winner's playlist onto an iPod, then deliver it via the Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV), an unmanned ship making its maiden voyage in the fall of 2007. If all goes well, the iPod will reach the astronauts aboard the International Space Station.

(Note to ESA: Don't forget to deliver an iPod charger.)

Unfortunately, you can only participate if you're under 18 and from one of the countries participating in … Read more

Solar wind-powered security camera

For those of you worried about intruders and global warming, Matsushita Electric (Panasonic to us North Americans) has come up with a security camera that runs on solar power or wind power. That way it works in rain or shine. This picture was taken at the company's Eco and UD house, an ecologically friendly home that it says can be commercially viable by 2010.

(Photo: Michael Kanellos/CNET Networks)