MIT produces speaking, hearing fibres

With the help of fibre research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), fabrics of the future could both hear and make noises, reports CNet.

Yoel Fink, an assistant professor at MIT, and his colleagues developed fibres that are active where most are passive.

Through a new application of widely used technology called piezoelectrics, fibres can convert sound waves into an electrical signal and vice versa.

High Street retailer Next has been breaking online shopping regulations by failing to refund delivery charges for goods that have been purchased online, but then returned by customers, writes Computing.co.uk.

An investigation by the BBC revealed the retailer has been defying the terms of the Distance Selling Regulations, introduced in 2000, which protect online shoppers.

The regulations state customers are entitled to a full refund, including the initial delivery charge, if they return goods within seven days.

According to Gary McKinnon's mum, the Abu Hamza ruling may affect his case by removing one of the arguments against trying the self-admitted hacker in the UK, reveals The Register.

Last week, the European Court of Human Rights ruled to halt the extradition of Abu Hamza and Babar Ahmad and other Islamic militants to the US on human rights grounds.

Janis Sharp, McKinnon's mum, said the ruling helped clarify the status of her son's case by removing one of the arguments put forward by the previous government.

The UK Ministry of Defence has unveiled its prototype unmanned combat air vehicle, reports the BBC.

Taranis is a concept design for a long-range strike plane that has taken over three million man hours to produce.

Defence minister Gerald Howarth said it was a "truly trailblazing project" and featured "the best of our nation's advanced design and technology". The aircraft is due to begin flight trials early next year.