The China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology in Beijing designed the plane, and presented its ideas at the International Astronautical Congress in Guadalajara, Mexico last month. China's plane would be a vertical take-off and landing aircraft (pictured inset). The researchers presented two ideas. The first design weighs in at 10 tonnes and has a wingspan of 6 metres. The second design was for a scaled up 100-tonne version, with a 40 foot (12 metre) wingspan, could fly 20 people to 80 miles (130 km), giving 4 minutes of weightlessness (diagram pictured).
By viewing it over a number of years, a team at Nasa's Jet Propulsion Lab in California built up a longer term picture of the star systems activity
By viewing it over a number of years, a team at Nasa's Jet Propulsion Lab in California built up a longer term picture of the star systems activity
Mysterious 'UFO' filmed hovering over block of flats in Moscow as locals claim 'it's not the first sighting'
An extremely bright 'UFO' has been filmed hovering above a block of flats in Moscow as witnesses looked on. Russian officials have not commented on the unidentified flying object, but some viewers said it's not the first time it has been sighted. Local man Vasya Mirny said: 'You can see this UFO quite often in Moscow, I've seen it two times this year. They are even more frequent in other cities.'
'We might be at the end of the rainbow: Explorer who discovered pirate shipwreck says he's FOUND the ship's legendary treasure after searching for 30 years
The undersea explorer who discovered the Whydah Gally (pictured inset as a drawing and as a life-size replica, left), the first authenticated pirate shipwreck in North America, believes he's found where the ship's legendary treasure lies after more than 30 years of poking around the murky waters off Cape Cod. Barry Clifford says his expedition recently located a large metallic mass that he's convinced represents most if not all of the 400,000 coins and other riches believed to be contained on the ship. A bell once belonging to the ship (top right) and a bronze wheel wax (bottom right) were recovered from the ship's wreckage.
- Hubble spots burning plasma balls TWICE the size of Mars shooting out of a dying star
- Proxima b 'may well' harbour life: New study claims 'second Earth' just four light years away has oceans and a thin gassy atmosphere
- From Benbulbin to Pembrokeshire, stunning images reveal the beauty of Britain and Ireland's landscape
- Brazil's largest ever dinosaur is found: Fossils discovered in a cupboard after 60 years shed light on 82ft-long beast
- China to build the world's biggest space plane by 2020: Aircraft would take 20 tourists 80 miles above Earth
- The heartbreaking iPhone game designed by a father to re-enact the short life of Joel, his five-year-old son who died of brain cancer
- Is Microsoft set to take on the iMac? Invites arrive for mysterious event rumoured to see launch of all in one Surface desktop PC
- Netflix hit Stranger Things spooked the Department of Energy into admitting that it IS supporting research into the possibility of parallel universes
- What personality type are YOU? Researchers say 90% of people can be classified within just four groups (and 'envious' is the most common)
- Are YOU prepared for a zombie apocalypse? Expert reveals what you should do if disaster strikes
- Global system could help predict cataclysmic SUPERVOLCANO eruptions that could end life on Earth
- Is there life on Mars? Europe's alien-hunting lander prepares to touch down on the red planet
- The sky's the limit: Power station driven by KITES will be set up in Scotland to cut the cost of energy
- Mysterious 'UFO' filmed hovering over block of flats in Moscow as locals claim 'it's not the first sighting'
- Look up! The stunning Draconid meteor shower will light up the skies tonight and tomorrow
- Can dogs tell the time with their NOSES? Changes in scent may help canines keep track of passing hours
- Pensioner discovers bowl he had been using in his garden is really a 2,000-year-old precious Roman artefact
- Mark Zuckerberg reveals Virtual Reality Facebook: Billionaire CEO chats to his wife, checks on his dog and takes a family snap with a virtual selfie stick in blockbuster demo
- The human brains being grown OUTSIDE the body: Lab making miniature 'organs in a jar' is revealed
- World War Three will be 'extremely lethal and fast': US Army bosses reveal what could happen if the U.S. took on Russia or China
- Hurricane Matthew could hit Florida TWICE: Experts explain the science behind the storm's bizarre behaviour
- Never be bored at the airport again! Interactive map reveals free airline Wi-Fi passwords around the world
- Proxima b 'may well' harbour life: New study claims 'second Earth' just four light years away has oceans and a thin gassy atmosphere
- Shocking images show a Samsung Galaxy Note 7 burst into flames after pressure is applied to its battery
- Tech billionaires say we may be living in the MATRIX - and now they are funding research to help us escape
- Radical ion rocket engine that could 'get to Mars and back on one tank of fuel' set to be tested on the ISS
- The stoned age? 2,800-year-old skeleton is found with a CANNABIS burial shroud in Silk Road desert oasis
- The real life Inception: £245 headband claims to control your DREAMS and 'fulfill any fantasy'
- Humans will NEVER live past 125 years: The body cannot naturally pass beyond a certain life expectancy
- What personality type are YOU? Researchers say 90% of people can be classified within just four groups (and 'envious' is the most common)
- How humans got their hands: Researchers reveal genetic mutation left us with just five fingers - and say they are similar to fish fins
- Passwords used in the biggest ever cyberattack revealed - and '12345' and 'password' were top
- A cure for baldness? L'Oreal is working on 3D printed hair follicles that grow NEW strands
- Are YOU prepared for a zombie apocalypse? Expert reveals what you should do if disaster strikes
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The electric scarf which can heat and cool at push of button
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CES: Panasonic unveils 4K tech, new take vinyl turntable
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CES: LG unveils ultra-thin high-tech OLED TVs
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TV makers shift focus to display color and HDR tech at CES
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CES: Samsung unveils 'Family Hub' smart refrigerator
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NASA offers a sneak peak at the world's largest rocket at CES
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CES: 3D virtual dressing mirror allows to try before you buy
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CES: Faraday Future Electric Luxury car shown off
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LG, Samsung and Sony show off their latest TVs at CES
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Wearable translator aims to end language difficulties
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Foldable electric scooter aims to transform commuting
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Creators of 'stealth' Parrot Disco drone discuss invention
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Parrot unveils 50mph drone you can launch from your hand
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Daily Mail tries out portable, immersive Royole headset
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Parrot Pot can water your plants while you're away
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3D Rudder allows gamers to 'walk' in virtual reality worlds
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ZhorTech explains what the world's first smart shoe can do
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Wearable Zepp tech will help athletes improve technique
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Parrot unveils 50mph drone you can launch from your hand
Hurricane Matthew could hit Florida TWICE: Experts explain the science behind the storm's bizarre behaviour
Most hurricanes that hit the East Coast tend to move northwest around the Bermuda high. But Hurricane Matthew looks to be looping back around to hit Florida again. Fortunately, it is forecast to be much weaker - only tropical storm strength - as it approaches Florida again. Dr Chris Holloway, a researcher from the Department of Meteorology at the University of Reading, told MailOnline: 'The models are forecasting that the next trough [of low pressure] coming over the eastern US will be too weak and too far north to completely carry Matthew away.'
Please move, mum: Brave baby whale nudges her 'distressed' mother to freedom after she becomes stranded on a sandbar
Heartrending footage shows a mother and calf humpback whale swimming in shallow water off North Stradbroke Island in Queensland before the adult became stuck. The calf could be seen circling and nudging her 'distressed' mother, who was splashing her tail trying to free herself.
Radical ion rocket engine that could 'get to Mars and back on one tank of fuel' set to be tested on the ISS
It’s said that a radical ion engine known as the Neumann Drive could one day go to Mars and back on a single tank of fuel. Now, the technology which has demonstrated efficiency surpassing that of even Nasa’s top efforts is set to undergo testing on the International Space Station. The payload is expected to launch in 2018 and will operate in space for up to a year, allowing researchers to evaluate the system under real conditions. The system was developed by Dr Paddy Neumann, pictured on left, formerly a PhD student at the University of Sydney. On right, the illustration shows how an ion thruster works.
From Benbulbin to Pembrokeshire, stunning images reveal the beauty of Britain and Ireland's landscape
The Geological Society ran a photography competition under the theme 'Earth Science in Action.' The winners include photos from (pictured clockwise from top left) the Isle of Skye, Pembrokeshire, Sussex, Edinburgh, Moray, and Portknockie. First place in the competition went to Tim Hoe for 'Doors Portrait II: Reveal', depicting some stunning geology on the Pembrokeshire coastline (pictured top middle).
Mark Zuckerberg reveals Virtual Reality Facebook: Billionaire CEO chats to his wife, checks on his dog and takes a family snap with virtual selfie stick in blockbuster demo
Mark Zuckerberg showed off the firm's first social software for the Oculus Rift headset at the Oculus Connect conference in San Francisco, after complaining it made him look like Justin Timberlake. It allows people to join the same virtual space, and do everything from watch a video to be transported to the surface of Mars.
That's one way to get the girl: Bizarre courtship display makes hummingbirds appear to have the head of a purple octopus
The male costa's hummingbird's mating dance is a spirited dance. He gyrates his body around in order to show off its shimmery green back in every angle of the sun's light. And for the grand finale, he flexes the feathers of his mantle until they become a glowing mask of violet (left) - which also resembles metallic octopus.
Can YOU spot what's wrong in this photo of three girls on a bench? Once you see it, you'll wonder how you ever missed it
A seemingly mundane image of three women sitting on a park bench has left the internet in a state of confusion, as on closer examination there's something very unusual about the photo. The image, which recently resurfaced online after originally being shared on Imgur, is the latest in a long line of optical illusions to confuse people, but once you've solved it, you'll wonder how you didn't get it straight away.
Touchdown! Blue Origin passes its 'toughest test yet' as in-flight escape pod blasts off (and even Jeff Bezos is suprised)
Blue Origin and Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos streamed the dangerous launch from the launch site in West Texas. The company intentionally triggered an escape in flight at the most stressful point of the flight.The rocket launched (shown left) and the crew capsule ejected from the booster (shown second from left), falling to the ground slowly with parachutes (second from right). The booster then successfully landed too (pictured right), meaning the test was more successful than the crew had hoped.
America's next tank unveiled (and it looks familiar): Bradley design first developed in the 1950s set for hi-tech overhaul
BAE Systems has unveiled its prototype for the massive tank that could one day replace the Bradley Fighting Vehicle. The Next Generation Bradley was debuted at the Association of the United States Army annual meeting in Washington, revealing improvements in space, electrical power, and force protection. This new concept is a high-tech upgrade to the decades old design, incorporating targeting sensors and network connectivity and allowing for the addition of future technologies as these systems continue to grow.
Something fishy? Man finds gruesome remains that look like a 'dead mermaid' on deserted beach
A man has posted footage of what he says looks like a 'dead mermaid' washed up on a beach near Great Yarmouth in Norfolk. The images have since gone viral, with many people actually believing it is a mermaid, while others say it's a decomposing seal or a great Halloween prop with garbage bags used to create the 'tail'.
Move over James Bond: Pilot takes to the skies in Britain's first jetpack flight - and says you could own one in just three years
Pilot David Mayman flew his personal JB-10 JetPack (pictured to left) across the River Thames in London (pictured bottom left and right) in a four minute flight as he and his colleagues announced plans to develop a commercial version. They have set up a company that hopes to develop an electric version of the jetpack, which they say will be available by 2019. The JB-10 features two turbo jet engines that run on aviation fuel. It can reach 60mph and can lift 350lbs.
Panasonic reveals the 'invisible' TV: Prototype OLED screen turns into transparent glass when not in use
Panasonic has been working to make its transparent television completely invisible. The firm recently revealed a new version that uses an OLED screen instead of a LED, and now when the set is in transparent mode, it is completely undetectable. This suggests the firm is one step closer to rid the world of monstrosities that hang in our living rooms.
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British photographers Fiona Rogers and Anup Shah captured apes in Indonesia and Borneo - and highlighted how human our evolutionary cousins are.