Sleep-tracking wristbands are so 2013. Smart pajamas are the way of the future
Researchers from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, have developed smart sleep-tracking pajamas, capable of monitoring all the details of your shut-eye. Here's how they work -- and why they may actually be able to improve both the quality and quantity of your sleep.
Genetically engineered bacteria could be the key to mass-produced spider silk
With its elasticity and super strength, spider silk could be useful for everything from bulletproof shields to ultrathin wound dressings. But how do you mass produce it? Researchers from Washington University in St. Louis think that they have found a way. Here's what they've done.
Robotic bees are set to invade the International Space Station
There'll be a couple of bees buzzing about the International Space Station in a few weeks' time. OK, they're not real bees, but instead "Astrobees.” Designed by NASA, the compact flying robots are capable of performing routine chores so the crew can focus more on its research activities.
Lab-grown food startup wants to make dairy mozzarella, no animals required
You've probably heard of lab-grown meat companies which produce meat without killing animals. But how about cow cheese produced without the cow? That's what a startup called New Culture wants to make a reality. In the process it could reinvent vegan cheese as we know it.
Check out this crazy shape-shifting airplane prototype from NASA and MIT
MIT and NASA are reinventing the airplane as we know it. Engineers from both institutions have teamed up to build a radically new type of airplane wing that's able to change shape during flight to meet the optimal parameters of whatever action it is performing at the time.
Amazon’s crazy delivery-drone blimp, as imagined by a video artist
If Amazon ever gets to build the extraordinary delivery-drone blimp that it featured in a patent filing a few years ago, then this video shows how it might look. The blimp would act as a floating warehouse with drones buzzing back and forth on delivery runs to nearby addresses. Well, that’s the idea at least.
Vending machine prints out free short stories for London commuters
A vending machine offering short stories by famous authors has launched in London. The free stories have been penned by writers past and present and take around one, three, or five minutes to read. Research suggests 36 percent of Brits have given up on at least one book in the last year because of a lack of time.
Finalists from NASA’s 3D-printed Mars home challenge are out of this world
NASA has selected three finalists in its 3D-Printed Habitat Challenge, an ongoing competition to design sustainable shelters for the moon or Mars. The goal is to build the structures out of recourses found on-site so that missions won’t have to carry excess resources with them.
Forget metal. When it comes to robots, the future is soft and squishy
Some of today's most exciting robots don't resemble the hard, metallic machines that science fiction promised us. Welcome to the rapidly evolving world of soft robots. Here's how they are helping to permanently change the face of robotics as we know it -- and what this means.
Brown thumb? Bloomengine takes the guesswork out of growing delicate plants
Bloomengine is a plant-growing chamber designed to take the guesswork out of growing delicate plants indoors. It features an LED light, automatic water, fan for ventilation, and even a camera to record progress. The device is expected to launch in July.
This smart pill will tattle to your doctor if you don’t take your meds
Patients defaulting on their medication is a constant headache for doctors. A new smart pill, called ID-Cap, promises to help by revealing exactly when a patient has taken their meds. Here's why that could turn out to be a major lifesaver for millions of people around the planet.
Microbes survive outside the International Space Station, might do same on Mars
A new study from researchers at the German Aerospace Center shows that some microbes (in particular, the “extremophiles,” or ones that live in extreme conditions) can inhabit the inhospitable environment of space outside the International Space Station (ISS). The study raises hope for life on Mars.
Burger King goes meatless with new Impossible Whopper option
Burger King is adding a meatless version of the Whopper to its menu. Starting with a test run in the St. Louis area, Burger King is introducing the new Impossible Whopper, a version of the classic Whopper that features the plant-based Impossible burger patty that has become a popular meat alternative.
Space debris from India’s anti-satellite missile test a threat to ISS, NASA says
Numerous pieces of debris resulting from India's recent anti-satellite missile test pose a threat to the safety of the International Space Station, a NASA official said on Monday. But India insisted the test was conducted in the safety of the lower atmosphere, with any debris likely to decay within a few weeks.
Can A.I. truly be creative? One brilliant Brit makes a compelling case
Marcus du Sautoy is a bestselling author and one of the U.K.’s leading mathematicians. In his latest book, The Creativity Code, he asks the question whether artificial intelligence can ever be truly creative. Here's what du Sautoy told us about one of A.I.'s biggest conundrums.
Self-driving apple harvesting robot suctions the fruit off trees
An autonomous tractor-style vehicle which can suction the apples right off apple trees could be the future of farming as we know it. Developed by the startup Abundant Robotics, this self-driving vehicle was recently deployed for the first time at an orchard in New Zealand.
Germany’s space agency wants to catch rockets in the sky after launch
SpaceX and Blue Origin land their rockets back on Earth shortly after launch, but Germany's space agency is developing an alternative rocket recovery system capable of catching the booster as it glides back to terra firma. The agency hopes the design, if successful, will slash the cost of future satellite launches.
Nonny de la Peña wants to put virtual reality within Reach
Immersive journalism uses virtual reality to put viewers inside true stories and up close and personal with the subjects. Nonny de la Peña is a pioneer of the medium and hopes to make it more accessible with Reach, her WebVR platform.
Self-lacing Nikes can’t make you dunk, but they’ll still turn heads
You might not be able to own a flying car yet, but you can at least get some sci-fi footwear with Nike’s Adapt BB, a pair of self-lacing shoes that conform to the shape of your foot. We had a chance to try these self-lacing shoes on the court, and while they won’t turn you into Jayson Tatum, they are pretty cool.
Burnin’ through the sky: Queen’s Brian May creates stereoscopic image of asteroid
A particularly large boulder has been imaged on the surface of asteroid Bennu: a massive 170-foot long (52 meter) boulder sitting on the southern hemisphere of the asteroid. NASA has released a stereoscopic image of the boulder, which enables viewers to see the illusion of depth in the image.
See a cluster of cosmic wild ducks in flight in Hubble’s picture of the week
Hubble has provided another space picture for us to marvel at. The telescope has been imaging the Messier 11 cluster, a group of stars in the southern constellation of Scutum also known by another name: the Wild Duck Cluster, because the brightest stars look like a flock of ducks in flight.
That’s science! Mycologist colonizes marshmallow Peeps with fungi for Easter
Easter is coming, and that means chocolate eggs, candy bunnies, and of course marshmallow Peeps. But a scientist from West Virginia University has his own plan for the sweet marshmallow treats this Easter season - he's using Peeps for an experiment into the environmentally adaptive abilities of fungi.
Saturn’s rings deposit material onto its ravioli-shaped moons
A new study has investigated Saturn's tiny far-flung moons and the way that they interact with the rings. Five moons - Daphnis, Pan, Atlas, Prometheus, and Pandora - are nestled at the edge of the rings, and data collected by the Cassini spacecraft shows they are covered in dust and ice from the rings.
NASA’s planet-hunting satellite TESS locates its first exoplanet
NASA's planet-hunting satellite, TESS, was launched last year to search for exoplanets. The satellite will observe 400,000 stars and select a target from the new TESS Habitable Zone Star Catalog. The search is already paying off, as astronomers announce they have discovered a Saturn-sized planet.
Scientists to resume Nobel-winning hunt for gravitational waves
The hunt for gravitational waves is back on. After a series of upgrades, the National Science Foundation’s Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory will resume its search for ripples in space and time on April 1. LIGO is famous for the first direct detection of gravitational waves in 2015.
A tiny pebble could have caused the dramatic self-destruction of a 5-mile-long asteroid
The Hubble telescope has captured images of a self-destructing asteroid called 6478 Gault with a distinctive double tail. The two comet-like tails of debris are evidence of activity in the asteroid which is ejecting material into space, suggesting that Gault is breaking apart.
Unfriendly exoplanet is stormy, blistering hot, and full of carbon monoxide
The GRAVITY instrument on the Very Large Telescope Interferometer has observed its first exoplanet, HR8799e. GRAVITY analyzes the composition of planets using optical interferometry, where signals from different telescopes are combined to see objects in higher resolution that is possible with just one.
See baby stars being born in the beautiful Butterfly Nebula
NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope was launched in 2003 and was supposed to only be on its mission for two and a half years. But remarkably enough, 16 years later it is still going. Now astronomers have used its data to create this infrared image of a beautiful nebula that acts as a nursery for baby stars.
Curiosity data shows how asteroid impact could have made Mars habitable
A new study using data from the Curiosity rover has revealed clues that the planet may have been habitable thousands of years ago. The study used data from Curiosity's SAM instrument (Sample Analysis at Mars) which analyzed samples which were either drilled from bedrock or scooped up from the surface.
YouTube Poop is punk rock for the internet age, and you probably don’t get it
Ever heard of a YouTube Poop video? These weird, experimental pop culture montages are a kind of ground zero for modern internet meme culture. Turning 15 years old this year, is it time that we finally gave YouTube Poops the respect that their creators claim they deserve?
Step into the center of the galaxy with NASA’s 360-degree visualization
Have you ever wanted to take a supermassive black hole's view of the galaxy? Then you're in luck. Researchers at NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory have released a stunning, immersive video that let you view the Milky Way as if you were sitting right in the center of the galaxy.
A.I. analyzes video to detect signs of cerebral palsy in infants
An artificial intelligence algorithm capable of signaling early signs of neurodevelopment disorders in infants has been created by researchers in Finland and Italy. The research could improve early detection of neurodevelopment disorders such as cerebral palsy, so doctors can provide treatments sooner.
SpaceX’s hexagon heat shield tiles take on an industrial flamethrower
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk revealed details about the heat shield plans for the Starship spacecraft project. The company developed hexagonal heat shielding tiles to protect the Starship from the extreme temperatures that are generated by re-entering the Earth's atmosphere.
Samsung’s flower vase doubles as a throwable fire extinguisher
Samsung may be best known to the tech-loving community for its mobile devices, computers and televisions, but there are plenty of other products the South Korean giant makes. Its latest? A Samsung-branded flower vase which doubles as a handy throwable fire extinguisher.