MIT’s new robot can play everyone’s favorite block-stacking game, Jenga
Researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have developed a robot which uses the latest machine learning computer vision to play everyone’s favorite tower-toppling game, Jenga. Here's how it works -- and why it could turn out to be surprisingly useful in the real world.
Drones dispense rat poison to help rid islands in Galapagos region of rodents
If you’re trying to get rats off an island without damaging the native animals or plants, what’s the best way to go about it? If you’re anything like the brains behind a recent initiative on Ecuador’s Galapagos archipelago, the answer is simple: Use rat poison-dispensing drones.
This self-healing coating erases scratches and cracks within seconds
Researchers at Northwestern University have developed a new novel coating material which can self-heal within seconds after being scratched, scraped, or cracked. Here's how it works -- and how it could be one day be used to protect valuable infrastructure from corrosion.
Watch this SpaceX ship come tantalizingly close to catching rocket parts
SpaceX has come tantalizingly close to catching a rocket nose cone in a giant net. The system, which uses a ship called Mr. Steven, is designed to save the nose cone from damage by keeping it out of the water when it returns to Earth. The team is now hoping to achieve its first successful catch next time around.
Artificial ‘superhuman’ skin could help burn victims, amputees ‘feel’ again
Researchers have developed a new kind of sensor designed to enable artificial skin to sense pressure, vibrations, and even magnetic fields. The technology developed by engineers, chemists, and biologists could help burn victims and amputees “feel” again through their prosthetic limbs.
Insoles claim to fight Parkinson’s symptoms by stimulating nerves in your feet
A shoe insole maker called Naboso Technology claims it can help improve balance and stability for people with Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and other neurological disorders by stimulating the nervous system through the bottom of the feet. Here's how its approach works.
FoosFit foosball trainer gives you a robot opponent to hone your skills against
Created by a crack team of foosball enthusiasts, FoosFit is the robot foosball trainer thatpromises to give you an intelligent opponent to practice your moves against. Here's how it works, and how you'll soon be able to get your hands on one to start honing your skills.
Genetically modified chickens lay eggs containing cancer-fighting proteins
By splicing a human gene into chicken DNA, researchers from the U.K.’s University of Edinburgh have discovered that chickens can be made to lay eggs which contain an elevated level of proteins used to treat cancer. Best of all, it's much cheaper than current ways of making the proteins.
Meet the Icon A5: a high-tech airplane that anyone can fly
Prior to hopping inside the Icon A5's cockpit, I had never set foot inside a single-engine aircraft -- let alone flown one. But thanks to some amazing design and technology, this plane is somehow so easy that I was able to fly it with just a few minutes of instruction
To help save the planet, big companies are testing a reusable packaging service
Working with some of the world's biggest brands, a new sustainable packaging delivery company called Loop wants to get us to reuse packaging rather than throw it away. Here's how they hope to do that -- and when you'll get to give its innovative, eco-friendly service a try.
Scientists use hot water to ‘drill’ a hole a mile deep in the Antarctic
A team of scientists and engineers from the British Antarctic Survey have successfully drilled a hole more than one mile deep in West Antarctic, hoping to uncover more information about the effect of climate change on the region. The deep hole was drilled using hot water.
Scientists identify key genes involved in salamander limb regeneration
In a huge step for regenerative medicine, scientists have sequenced the entire genome of the Axolotl, a giant Mexican salamander that can regenerate limbs on command, and discovered key genes responsible for the re-growing of lost body parts.
Crowdfunding campaign enables high-tech search for missing pro soccer player
A successful crowdfunding effort has helped launch a high-tech ocean search for the plane carrying professional soccer player Emiliano Sala and his pilot after it disappeared during a flight to the U.K. earlier this month. Blue Water Recoveries says there's an excellent chance it will find the plane.
Don’t worry about denting your yacht. Parking assist for boats is finally here
Docking a boat isn't easy. Flir Systems, a company specializes in imaging sensors, has developed an object-recognition tool which uses machine vision technology to help. If it senses an impending collision, it can leap into action to offer corrective steering capabilities.
MIT’s new laser audio system can deliver secret messages directly to your ears
Researchers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology have developed an invention that makes it possible to literally beam an audible message to a person across the room using a laser. Here's how it works -- and why it could one day potentially be a genuine life-saver.
Tentacle-like robotic vines exist. We’re not sure if we’re excited or terrified
Researchers from Italy’s Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia have developed the first tendril-like soft robot able to climb and curl like plants. The approach could one day be used to create futuristic wearable devices which can morph their shape depending on the situation.
In smart cities, 5G won’t just lessen congestion, it could save lives too
We all know 5G wireless networks are part of a smart city plan, but how will they benefit? When it comes to cars, it could help with congestion. For citizens, it could keep them safe and alive. We spoke with Qualcomm and Verizon during the 2019 CES on how they’re leading the effort.
A robot called Stan aims to take the stress out of airport parking
Stan is an autonomous valet parking robot that not only saves drivers lots of time at an airport, but also helps parking lots to significantly increase capacity. A trial of the technology -- developed by Paris-based Stanley Robotics -- will take place this summer at Gatwick, one of the U.K.'s busiest airports.
Prepare for liftoff: Here are all the important upcoming SpaceX rocket launches
From ISS resupply missions to a host of communication and scientific satellite launches, SpaceX has a busy year ahead. Here are the major rocket launches to watch for.
Could space mice help us develop anti-aging treatments here on Earth?
The International Space Station will be playing host to a group of mice to see how a stint in microgravity affects the way they age. The experiment, called Rodent Research-8, uses mice to understand the physiological changes associated with aging that are caused by time spent in low gravity environments.
Flying observatory discovers role of stellar winds in star formation
Research using NASA’s Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) suggests the formation of stars can be regulated by stellar winds. Stellar winds blow away materials required to create new stars, preventing stars from being born close to other newborn stars in a process called feedback.
Where did Titan’s thick, nitrogen-rich atmosphere come from?
There's a mystery about Titan, Saturn's largest moon, that has been puzzling astronomers - where did its thick, nitrogen-rich atmosphere come from? Titan is the only moon in our Solar System to have such a thick atmosphere. A new study posits it is generated by the cooking of organic materials in the moon's core.
Are e-cigarettes safe? Here’s what the most recent science says
When they were introduced, e-cigarettes were widely regarded as safe and often advertised as a healthier alternative to cigarettes for people who are trying to kick the smoking habit. So how safe are these cigarette alternatives really? We went deep into the recent scientific literature to find out.
Could satellites be 3D-printed in order to reduce space junk?
Scientists are becoming increasingly concerned about space junk -- the detritus orbiting around our planet left over from artificially created space objects. Now a researcher at MIT's Media Lab has spoken out about how satellite design could be improved to reduce space junk and make construction cheaper.
Image shows the dramatic and beautiful last breath of a dying star
The European Southern Observatory has captured an image of a galactic phenomenon known as a planetary nebula. The beautiful colors of ESO 577-24 come from a shell of glowing ionized gas around the dying star and will last only a short time -- 10,000 years, which is extremely brief in cosmic terms.
NASA makes last ditch attempt to revive dormant Mars rover Opportunity
The Opportunity rover is solar-powered, and last year a dust storm blocked the sun's rays from recharging its batteries. The rover has not responded to contact from Earth over the last seven months, leading the NASA team to believe that it may no longer be able to continue its mission.
IBM’s latest A.I. can help doctors detect how quickly a disease is progressing
IBM has developed an A.I. that can be used to predict how a range of diseases -- including diabetes, Huntington’s, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s -- are likely to develop. The tool could one day be used by physicians to make more accurate diagnoses and design more effective treatments.
Tiny medical microrobots can shape-shift to navigate through your insides
Researchers from Switzerland have developed tiny, adaptable microrobots capable of changing their shape to better navigate around the inside of the human body. The hope is that these origami-inspired robots could one day be used for performing surgery or delivering drugs where required.
Boeing enters the autonomous flying taxi race with first successful test flight
Boeing has completed the first test flight for its very own vertical takeoff and landing electric air taxi. The test took place this week at an airport outside of Washington. No one was aboard for the flight, which involved hovering above the runway for less than a minute.
SpaceX’s prototype Mars Starship topples over in heavy winds
SpaceX's CEO Elon Musk confirmed that the company's prototype Mars Spaceship was damaged in a wind storm this week. This unfortunate accident may force the company to delay the Spaceship's upcoming test flights which were slated for sometime in the next four to eight weeks.
Science attempts to settle a long-running dispute among Brits
It's an issue about which every Brit has a strong opinion; one that can lead to lively conversations and even heated arguments. In a worst-case scenario, it can descend into a slanging match full of expletives. In a bid to settle the dispute once and for all, a BBC show recently called on a scientist.
Blue Origin’s latest mission shows how space tourism might look
Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin rocket company is aiming to launch a space tourism service, and on Wednesday its latest successful test mission gave us a look at how the thrilling 10-minute ride might look. The mission also carried with it eight NASA-sponsored R&D experiments that activated during the flight.
Did Newark airport incident really involve a drone? DJI isn’t so sure
New Jersey’s Newark Liberty International Airport was forced to suspend operations for a while on Tuesday after reports of drone sightings made by pilots on two incoming aircraft. But now questions are being raised over whether the objects, spotted at an altitude of around 3,500 feet, were in fact drones.
Amazon is building a fleet of autonomous robots to deliver packages to your door
Amazon has announced the launch of a new delivery robot service called Amazon Scout. To start with, a fleet of six of these robots will be deployed on a trial basis in a neighborhood in Snohomish County, Washington. Should all go well, other locations will presumably follow suit before too long.