A group of Japanese scientists appear to have created a real-life Wipeout track (albeit Scalextric-sized), using cutting-edge technology to take slot-car racing very much into the 21st century.
Using a liquid nitrogen-cooled superconductor and a row of magnets, the miniature ships 'hover' above the track thanks to the suitably sci fi-sounding state of 'quantum trapping'. It even 'hovers' upside down, allowing such appealing tricks as loop-the-loops and vertical walls of death and, with a gentle shove, permits virtually frictionless movement around the magnetic track. Brilliant.
'JIST's' Wipeout track...
The idea behind quantum levitation was demonstrated last year by Tel-Aviv University Superconductor Group, who showed off its effects during the Association of Science's annual conference in Maryland last year.
And the team behind the Wipeout project seem to have high hopes for the new technology, saying in this video that "with this new technology, we hope to revolutionize the world of motor transport; Maybe in a near future we could assist to a real Wipeout race."
But is it real?
Presumably because Britain's newspaper newsrooms are a natural breeding ground for joyless cynicism, the Daily Mail is keen to pour cold water on the idea of the Wipeout-in-miniature track. It suggests that although quantum levitation is a real phenomenon, the YouTube video might just be clever CGI trick that's part of a viral marketing campaign.
...and Tel-Aviv's version
It even quotes Gizmodo.co.uk's Sam Biddle as saying: "We can't find any 'JAPAN INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY.' Its YouTube channel only has one video upload - and a Gmail address. Plus, the fact that this is tied to a videogame screams viral ad."
All of which might well be true. But there is a Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, JAIST, which is hardly a million miles away from JIST, especially for a country that doesn't use the Roman alphabet as its principal means of communication.
And anyway, what would you rather were true? Real-life Wipeout using quantum levitation, or just another new computer game? Come on Daily Mail, Gizmodo - let a bit of credulous wonder into your life...
Although we must admit that with proper Wipeout logos in the video, and Wipeout 2048 due out soon for the new PlayStation Vita, you've got to say it's looking good for incredulity and cynicism...
The JIST might not exist, but the JAIST does. It looks like this
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