Float like a botterfly: This robotic punching bag will dodge your blows
BotBoxer claims to be the first robotic punching bag designed to simulate a real opponent. Unlike your conventional punching bag, BotBoxer can “see,” “feel,” and “react.” It can dodge your punches, nonverbally taunt you, and maybe even train you into becoming a better boxer.
With 64 microphones and one lens, this camera lets you film sound
Ever wanted an easy way to identify exactly where in a frame sound is coming from? “Soundcam is the first handheld camera that images sound and is affordable for everyone,” creator Maik Kuklinski told Digital Trends. Here's how it works, and how you can get your hands on one.
Wonder what the bottom of the ocean sounds like? Check out this livestream
Thanks to the likes of the Amazon Echo and Google Home, we’re used to the concept of always listening devices here in 2018. But an always listening device that’s located 3,000 feet beneath the ocean surface, 18 miles off the coast of California? Well, that’s a new one to us.
Blockchain-based GLN hopes to challenge Steam and Apple gaming platforms
Over the years, there have been many challenges seeking to take Steam's throne as the leader in PC gaming distribution. Now, a blockchain-based startup is hoping it can use the new technology to provide an alternative to Steam.
Social (Net)Work: Fake news spreads faster than truth, but bots aren’t to blame
A recent MIT study suggests that fake news spreads farther, faster and deeper than the real thing. Don’t point fingers just yet though -- data suggests the bots aren’t to blame.
Gaia’s awe-inspiring new ‘galactic census’ star map contains 1.7 billion stars
The European Space Agency has just released an eye-popping new star map from the Gaia space telescope, including a virtual reality tour of the Milky Way Galaxy and beyond. From star clusters to quasars to distant galaxies, this massive compilation of data will keep astronomers busy for years.
This conductive paint transforms regular walls into giant touchpads
Researchers from Carnegie Mellon University and Disney Research have found a way to use conductive paint and some low-cost electronics to transform regular, boring internal walls into smart infrastructure that are able to detect human touch. Here's why that's exciting.
Google co-founder’s letter focuses on the dangers and promises of A.I.
In this year's annual founders' letter, Google co-founder and current Alphabet president Sergey Brin discussed the promises and dangers of artificial intelligence. Brin discussed his view that the technology has the potential to change the world for the better if used responsibly.
NASA and ESA will team up to bring Martian soil samples back to Earth
In a quest that could finally settle the question of whether there was ever life on Mars, NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) are pooling their resources for a bold three-part mission to retrieve soils samples from the surface of the red planet, launch them into orbit, and return them to laboratories on Earth.
Who wouldn’t want a giant walking robot that transforms into a sports car?
A trio of Japanese companies has made many childhood dreams come true with a real-life transformer robot that morphs into a sleek sports car at the push of a button.
DNA link to Golden State Killer raises questions of privacy versus safety
Do you lose privacy rights when personal data is stored on an open platform? Authorities arrested a suspect in the Golden State Killer case based on DNA data a relative uploaded to GEDMatch, an open-source ancestry site. Investigators were able to search the DNA data without a warrant and linked it to the subject.
Study shows Google Assistant is smarter than its rivals
Amazon's Alexa and Microsoft's Cortana saw strong improvement over last year, but Google Assistant still leads the pack when it comes to A.I. Siri, on the other hand, did not fare so well.
What is vaping? A beginner’s guide to vaporizers and ecigs
Vaping can be complicated to say the least. Thankfully, our comprehensive guide can help you with choosing a mod and nicotine level, among other things.
Technology makes our lives easier, but is it at the cost of our humanity?
In a new book called Re-Engineer Humanity, Evan Selinger, professor of philosophy at the Rochester Institute of Technology, and Brett Frischmann, professor of law at Villanova University, argue that technology is causing humans to behave like mere machines.
When will your phone charge wirelessly in your pocket? We asked an expert
The idea that our smartphones might charge in our pockets, or smartwatches might charge up on our wrists, is appealing, but how close are we to a world without wires? True wireless charging is creeping closer, but there still some big barriers to overcome. We spoke to experts at Energous and Ossia to find out more.
Drug-infused 3D-printed dentures promise to bite back against infections
Thanks to researchers from the University at Buffalo’s School of Dental Medicine, dentures might be about to get a whole lot smarter. They have developed new 3D printed dentures containing microscopic capsules able to carry out a controlled release of medication. Here's how they work.
Glowing contact lenses could be the key to stopping diabetic blindness
Researchers from the California Institute of Technology have developed glowing contact lenses which could be used to help battle blindness in the hundreds of millions of people around the world who suffer from diabetes. Sound too good to be true? Here is how the smart lenses work.
This camera eliminates the ocean waves so scientists can study coral
Scientists could study coral without the deep sea dive -- if they could see through the ocean waves. Fluid Cam is a camera that eliminates the waves so scientists can through the water to study coral. With the team now building an A.I., Fluid Cam could help offer a quick assessment of coral reef health.
The ‘Am I Stoned?’ app gives a new definition to your ‘high’ score
Want a quick and easy way to know how impaired your senses might be after a session with Mary Jane? The University of Chicago's 'Am I Stoned?' app promises to do exactly that with an assortment of reflex-testing games. It's not available for download just yet, however.
This robot eel glides through saltwater without making a sound
Engineers and marine biologists from the University of California have created an eel robot that swims silently through saltwater -- using the same rhythmic, ribbon-like motions as its natural counterpart. It could one day be used for (slightly creepy) underwater exploration.
New startup promises ‘world’s first’ CRISPR-powered disease detection
A startup called Mammoth Biosciences promises to offer unprecedented disease diagnostics, using CRISPR to detect biomarkers associated with any disease. The startup has branded itself as the world’s first CRISPR-powered diagnostic platform, offering high-tech disease detection via at-home tests.
Adidas AM4NYC runners are templates for shoe design in the future
Fresh from Adidas' automated Speedfactory comes the AM4NYC. The shoes are design for urban running, using research data and made in Atlanta by robots. Is this the future of custom shoe manufacturing?
A new system could bring life-sized holograms to a meeting near you
Researchers recently unveiled the TeleHuman 2, a system they’re boasting as the “first truly holographic video conferencing system.” It's designed to bring video conferences to life, enabling people to pick up on the subtle body language that is often essential to communication.
Ingenious digital swear jar uses voice recognition to penalize you for bad words
Want to stop *@$%ing swearing so much? Then get yourself a swear jar. Want to stop *@$%ing swearing so much, while also getting a unique new gadget for the home? Then get yourself a smart swear jar. At least, that’s the premise behind a somewhat unusual new gadget called JarGone.
CRISPR could one day help conservationists save our ocean’s coral
In a recent study by an international team, scientists demonstrated for the first time that the groundbreaking gene-editing tool CRISPR-Cas9 can be successfully used on coral. The breakthrough suggests that CRISPR could offer a boost for conservationists trying to save these ancient animals.
To catch an online predator: New A.I. scours chatrooms looking for sex offenders
Researchers from Purdue University have created a new weapon in the war against sex offenders preying on unwitting child victims online. Their new Chat Analysis Triage Tool (CATT) algorithm is designed to help law enforcement more easily discover instances of grooming online.
A.I. outperforms astronomers, predicts whether exoplanets will survive
At its core, the search for exoplanets is the search for habitable exoplanets and AI may now help make that hunt easier. Using machine learning algorithms, the researchers were able to calculate how well exoplanets could survive in stable orbits, outperforming scientists who made a career out of stuff like this.
Pepper the robot’s latest gig is at the Smithsonian
Pepper's latest gig is at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. And there won't be just one or two of them helping out. The museum, research, and education complex is hiring 25 of the diminutive droids to assist at several of its locations, with visitors encouraged to interact with the friendly robot.
Graphene-reinforced concrete offers a stronger, more durable option
In a recent study, researchers describe how the composite material, fortified by graphene, is at least two times as strong and four times more water-resistant than conventional concrete and could make future construction more sustainable and environmentally friendly.
Could this easy-to-learn tactile typeface replace braille?
Braille, which has been around for nearly 200 years, promises to make life easier for millions of people with visual impairments. Unfortunately, it can be very difficult to learn, taking months to master. Now, a new tactile font called ELIA Frames can reportedly be learned in just a few hours.
Smartwatch prototype uses laser projection to turn your arm into a touchscreen
Carnegie Mellon researchers have developed a prototype for a next-gen smartwatch that vastly increases its capacitive touch surface area by projecting a touchscreen onto a user's arm. The results increase the available touch display by more than five times that of a typical smartwatch.
Use this Rubik’s Cube-style device to create ultra-secure computer passwords
Even with all the high-profile hacks that have been in the news, lots of people continue to fail to keep themselves protected online by using passwords that are not secure. Fortunately, a new Kickstarter campaign is here to help -- courtesy of a Rubik's Cube-style device for generating secure passwords.
Airbus’ latest A350 aircraft to break record for longest commercial flight
Airbus has started testing an aircraft that can fly more than 20 hours without needing to refuel. The A350-900 XWB will go into service for Singapore Airlines next year, flying passengers between Singapore and New York City on a 19-hour trip — nearly an hour longer than the longest current flight.
Battery-free high-definition video streaming is on the way
Researchers at the University of Washington have developed a technique which makes HD video streaming possible using low- or no-power devices such as smart glasses. It uses up to 10,000 times less power than existing devices and promises to make battery-free HD video streaming a reality.