Important Innovations Collection

Germany's Flying Taxi Startup Lilium Source:  Lilium Top Tesla Investor Takes a Stake Tesla's top external investor, Edinboro based Baillie Gifford, has taken a stake in the German air taxi startup Lilium.  The investment management firm has invested $35 million, which is a less than 5% stake, in Lilium which vows to be the global leader in the emerging air taxi industry. Flight Tested Lilium has a proven air taxi prototype.  Its 5 seat, passenger air taxi took a maiden flight in October 2019 and successfully took-off, flew and landed.  The Lilium Jet is an electric, vertical take off and landing vehicle (eVTOL).  It takes off and lands vertically like a helicopter.  The vehicle is powered by 36 electric jet engines placed in the wings. Competitive Racing for Market Launch With a fresh round of funding, Munich-based Lilium has a market valuation of more than $1 billion.  It is racing to bring the eVTOL flying taxi to market.  Compet...

The Nessie Monster May Be a Giant Eel Source:  Loch Ness, Scotland DNA Analysis of Loch Ness Water by New Zealand Geneticists and Scientists The famed Loch Ness Monster has been the stuff of fiction and news reports from observers for 16 centuries.  The mystery of Nessie dates back to 565 AD when St. Columba reportedly had an encounter with a monster on the River Ness.  It turns out that the monster may be fact and not fiction.  Scientists from New Zealand have done extensive analysis of DNA in Loch Ness's waters.  Their conclusion is the Loch Ness Monster may be a giant eel. New Science Detective Sherlock Holmes would love this. An animated version of  the Loch Ness Monster was featured in an episode of the Private Adventures of Sherlock Holmes.  Now 21st  century science is bearing down on the mystery. It looks like the Loch Ness Monster exists but it may be a huge eel.  Nessie The scientific team's focus is the l...

2000 Year Old Druid Woman from the Iron Age Source:  University of Dundee: Hilda's skull 3D Wax Reconstruction This is a remarkable example of 21st century technology - 3D reconstruction - bringing to life a Druid who lived 2,000 years ago in Scotland.  The face of one of Scotland's oldest Druids, nicknamed Hilda, has been reconstructed and revealed.  The reconstruction was done by a student at the University of Dundee, Karen Fleming.  Hilda's skull, held at the University of Edinburgh's Anatomical Museum, was precisely measured, modeled and converted into a 3D wax reconstruction.  It's a face that goes back to the Iron Age in Neolithic Scotland. Fascinating Science, Research & History The Druids are a group of Celtic pagans who have been long associated with Stonehenge.  Hilda was one of six "Druids of the Hebrides" presented 200 years ago to the Edinburgh Phrenological Society.  She is believed to have lived and died sometime betwee...