Scientists gave gerbils a futuristic ear implant that lets them hear light
Researchers at Germany’s University Medical Center Göttingen have demonstrated a technique that involves using flashes of light to restore hearing in gerbils. It could one day be used to create more effective cochlear implants for human patients. Here's how the tech works.
A new digital picture frame is nearly indistinguishable from a real canvas
Digital picture frames are pretty old news now. But a new Kickstarter campaign has our attention -- with a promise of a digital display which uses ambient light sensors and some smart tech to look indistinguishable from an actual framed work of art. You get a massive library of images, too.
Blue Origin eyes a date for the sale of tourist spaceflight tickets
Blue Origin is moving toward the day when it'll begin taking paying customers to the edge of space. With successful testing of its Blue Shepard reusable rocket continuing, a company executive has revealed that it plans to start taking bookings for the experience next year. The price, however, is yet to be set.
Thanks to CERN, your next X-ray scan could be in full color
Your next X-ray could be a whole lot more colorful -- and you’ve got Europe’s CERN physics lab and a New Zealand startup to thank for it. Their color X-ray scanner not only produces pretty pictures, but they're images which could just save your life one day. Here's why.
Oscar the A.I. trash can sorts your garbage and recyclables
Autonomous, an ergonomic office furniture company, announced a Kickstarter campaign for Oscar, a smart home appliance. The AI-based device sorts recyclables and garbage. Environmentally-conscious owners will get help sorting trash the device recognizes successfully and assist with additional training.
Beat the heat with this super-cool personal air conditioning unit
Taking the form of a 7-Eleven Big Gulp cup, the Airwirl is actually a personal AC device that is small enough to fit in a cup holder and big enough to pack a punch of hot or cool air into your face, providing much-needed relief when temperatures reach certain extremes.
NASA wants help coming up with ways to get rid of astronauts’ space trash
You may not know it, but NASA may be searching for a person just like you… to help take out its trash. Or, to be more accurate, the space agency is looking for outside organizations to help it come up with new ways to dispose of astronauts' garbage for future long space missions.
Solar-powered nanoscale coating could defrost frozen car windows
Hate defrosting your frozen windshield in the winter? Of course you do. Fortunately, so do researchers at ETH in Switzerland -- and they've got the knowledge of solar-powered, nanoscale technology to help come up with a solution. Here's how their new glass coating works.
The Brava Smart Oven cooks with light (and costs about $1,000)
Cooking with fire was so 600,000 years ago. These days, you're cooking with light. At least, that is, if you're cooking with Brava and its new Pure Light Cooking technology, a new culinary methodology that harnesses light as an energy source to help you prepare delicious (and nutritious) meals.
Monoprice Maker Select Mini V2 review
Monoprice’s original Maker Select Mini 3D printer was a huge hit with the 3D printing community, and the second generation brings some small but important improvements to the table.
December space launch could make Israel fourth country to land on moon
Israel could be the fourth country to land on the Moon -- should an unmanned spacecraft in December go according to plan, at least. The launch is a collaboration between Israel Aerospace Industries and the nonprofit organization SpaceIL. It will take place from Cape Canaveral, Florida.
FDA approves freeze-dried blood plasma for use by U.S. troops
The FDA has approved an experimental freeze-dried blood plasma for use by U.S. troops, even though it’s not approved for wider use by the population at large. The advantage of the freeze-dried plasma is that it doesn’t need to be refrigerated and can also be delivered more quickly.
These living solar cells make energy, even in bad weather
Researchers from the University of British Columbia (UBC) have demonstrated how solar cells made of living organisms can generate energy even with limited sunlight. Known as “biogenic” solar cells, these cells could offer an alternative to synthetic cells currently used in conventional solar panels
Cornell’s popcorn-powered robots are far more practical than they sound
Popcorn is tasty, goes well with your favorite Saturday night movie and… could help power future robots? At least, that's the unorthodox conclusion from researchers at Cornell University, who have demonstrated how it's possible to use nothing more than popping kernels to make a robot move.
Yale scientists edit genetic diseases out of mice before birth; humans are next
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University and Yale University have demonstrated how gene editing can be used to treat genetic conditions during fetal development. The results could help treat the millions of children who are born each year with severe genetic disorders or birth defects.
Need validation in your life? This gleeful clapping robot will provide it
Ever wish that your every move could be gleefully applauded like you're the main character in a sitcom? A new robot called Big Clapper promises to fill that validation-seeking role in your life. Here's how you can get your hands on this oddball creation -- yours for just $4,500.
This A.I. goes against the grain, cleans noisy images with a single shot
Noise obscures details in images taken at high ISOs -- but new research suggests artificial intelligence may be able to take care of that noise. A new paper from NVIDIA, Aalto and MIT demonstrates software that's capable of removing the noise from an image without a reference photo.
Airbus to build Mars rover to get first soil samples back to Earth
Getting soil samples from Mars back to Earth would give scientists a big chance to learn a lot more about the red planet. NASA and its European counterpart, ESA, recently announced the intention to embark on such a project, and this week asked Airbus to build a "fetch" rover to help retrieve the samples.
Harvard’s latest robot can walk on water. Your move, Jesus
Researchers at Harvard have built an insect-inspired robot that is able to walk on (and under) water as well as it can on land. Here's how it works -- and why swarms of similar robots could one day be used to carry out search and rescue missions in challenging environments.
MIT’s zero-gravity musical instrument provides a soundtrack for space travel
What will provide the soundtrack to our future space exploration? Quite possibly MIT Media Labs' Telemetron, the first electronic musical instrument to be designed specifically to be performed in zero-gravity environments. Check it out in all its oddball futuristic glory.
What is Ethereum?
New cryptocurrencies are sprouting out of thin air all of the time, but only a few have had a lasting impact. Ethereum is one such cryptocurrency, despite only being a couple of years old. It's one of the most valuable and has enabled the creation of many others. What is Ethereum? It's one of the most exciting cryptocurrencies.
Hot dog? There’s finally a wearable that protects your pooch from heat stroke
Giving a wearable device to a dog sounds excessive, but this temperature-monitoring harness could actually save your pooch's life. “We actually lost a family dog due to heat stroke, which is why we started to develop this in the first place,” creator Matthew Edwards told us.
Northern white rhinos could be saved from extinction by a lab-grown embryo
A few months ago, the last male northern white rhino died, and with him went hopes of preserving the critically endangered species. But now, it seems as though the fate of the rhino may not be so grim after all. Scientists have recently revealed that they have managed to grow embryos containing his DNA.
Futuristic bandage can monitor wounds and deliver drug treatment
Researchers have developed a smart bandage that's capable of monitoring a wound and delivering periodical drug treatments. It could someday help transform medical treatment, enabling a doctor to more closely monitor her patient’s condition, while more actively treating the condition.
MIT’s Cheetah 3 robot doesn’t need sight to navigate stairs
By developing the Cheetah 3 to get around without cameras, its engineers hope to create a robot that can “feel” its way through a room, no matter how dark an environment may be. In the real world, this ability could make the robot suited for reconnaissance and search and rescue missions.
School shooters leave clues. Could A.I. spot the next one before it’s too late?
Educators and security experts are using artificial intelligence to sift through big data, to look for warning signs in kids who may be at risk of committed future violent acts.
Virgin Galactic wants to launch space tourism flights from an Italian spaceport
Virgin Galactic has inked a deal with two of Italy's largest aerospace firms to build a spaceport there. It'll act as a launch site for suborbital space tourism flights that Virgin Galactic wants to begin in the next 12 months. Initial flights, however, will likely launch from its spaceport in New Mexico.
When we run out of room for data, scientists want to store it in DNA
Here in 2018, we're generating data faster than we're creating ways to store it. Could encoding data in DNA be a viable long-term storage option? A startup created by two MIT graduates believes that the answer is an unequivocal yes. Here's how their unique solution could change everything.
From translating hearing aids to sign-language gloves, amazing assistive tech
Think that assistive technology for the deaf community is all about your run-of-the-mill hearing aids here in 2018? Think again! From signing robot arms to mind-reading hearing aids, the next few years are going to be pretty darn amazing for accessibility tech if this list is anything to go by.
This crash-tastic video shows why rocket launches aren’t easy
Japanese rocket company Interstellar Technologies has been inspired by the likes of SpaceX and Blue Origin, but its efforts have proved disappointing. Two launches have resulted in two rocket failures, the latest of which created a large fireball that you can now watch from multiple angles in a new video.
7 times Honda’s iconic Asimo robot blew us away (and 1 side-splitting fail)
Asimo is gone, but it won't be forgotten. Honda's talented bipedal bot dazzled and delighted us over the years, and was ahead of its time in many respects. So, as a tribute, we've compiled a collection of some memorable Asimo moments from 2000 when it made its very first appearance.
CanguRo robot is part transport, part best friend
CanguRo is a robot on wheels that cleverly transforms between an autonomous assistant and a self-driving mobility vehicle. The three-wheeler can follow you places, carry heavy loads, and also drive you about. And when the team provides it with speech capabilities, you'll be able to chat to it, too.
Watch Airbus give its whale-shaped Beluga plane a cute makeover
Airbus let 20,000 of its employees choose the livery for the latest version of its massive Beluga aircraft, and they voted for the cutest — and most appropriate — design ever. The BelugaXL is a so-called "super transporter" that enables Airbus to transport large aircraft components from suppliers to to its assembly plants.
Tesla Powerwalls keep Vermonters comfortable and safe during heat wave
Vermont's Green Mountain Power electric utility uses nearly 500 Tesla Powerwall energy storage units in residents' homes for extra power during peak periods in the summer heat wave. GMP subsidizes the home units for customers and in return, the utility can access the power to supply the overall electrical grid.