Meet the cannibalistic ‘cyberslug’ that just might make robots self-aware
In a recent study researchers have shown that a simulated sea slug, which they’ve taken to calling “Cyberslug,” can respond to environmental stimuli a lot like its real world counterparts.
Science of the Lambs: We can now grow human cells in sheep
N-Sky/Getty Images N-Sky/Getty Images Recommended Videos Strange creatures have emerged from Pablo Ross’s University of California, Davis lab. They’re neither strictly sheep nor fully human. Instead, they’re a bit of both. In a biotech breakthrough — the second of its kind in just over a year — Ross announced at the American Association for the […]
A.I. helps scientists inch closer to the ‘holy grail’ of computer graphics
Computer scientists devised a way to make some monster movies seem more realistic by improving the look of computer-generated fur.
Wind and solar could supply 80 percent of U.S. energy needs
If the United States were to focus its energy on renewable sources, it could reliably supply 80 percent of its electricity demand through solar and wind power, according to a new study.
Doomsday seed vault to get $13 million upgrade in face of climate change
The proposed plan includes construction of a new concrete access tunnel and a service building to protect emergency power and refrigeration units.
Want to do some science? Here’s a smartphone microscope you can 3D print
The 3D-printable microscope design can be attached to most smartphones to turn it into a fully functional microscope, strong enough to visualize specimens as small as a two-hundredth of a millimeter.
Bizarre laser treatment promises to zap away acne and skin disease
The Fluxmedicare device is made up of optical fibers fabric knitted into fabric, and leverages photonics to eradicate undesirable skin conditions with no side effects.
Robotic 3D printer uses augmented reality to fabricate designs as they’re created
The Robotic Modeling Assistant combines augmented reality (AR) with robotic modeling, allowing users to design primitive 3D models on one side of a platform while the robotic arm fabricates the object on the other.
LED-studded ‘electronic skin’ monitors your health, makes you look like a cyborg
A team of engineers from the University of Tokyo has developed an ultrathin, breathable, and stretchable display that can be worn directly on the skin.
Secrets behind cuttlefish’s camouflage could inspire shape-shifting structures
Researchers have begun to uncover the mysteries of the cuttlefish, having identified the neural circuits that give the creature its incredible shape-shifting abilities.
It doesn’t look like much, but this black box pulls energy out of thin air
Engineers from MIT have developed a small device that captures energy from fluctuations in air temperature.
Today, A.I. helps detect tiny earthquakes. Tomorrow, it might predict the big one
In a recent study, an A.I. system was shown to be more accurate than current methods at detecting earthquakes.
These $1 test strips detect fentanyl in street drugs, could curb overdoses
Researchers have shown that low-cost test strips can be used to detect fentanyl in street drugs, warning opioid abusers of its presence and potentially saving them from a fatal overdose.
Want your pet to age gracefully? Study finds tablet games can help
Researchers from the Clever Dog Lab at the University of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna have devised a high-tech way to keep dogs engaged into old age.
Watching this A.I. program build CAD models is a peek into the future of design
Many makers now have at their disposal an artificial intelligence tools that automates the design process for 3D-printable parts without manual 3D modeling.
Sharkskin helped Phelps swim faster — can it make drones fly better?
Researchers have turned to sharkskin to inspire designs for drones and planes to fly with better lift and less drag.
A.I. perfectly predicted last year’s Super Bowl score. What happens to betting?
Last year, an artificially intelligent swarm predicted the outcome of the Super Bowl. Before that, it guessed who would win the 2016 presidential election, as well as the Kentucky Derby superfecta. If A.I. can predict these seemingly random events, what does that mean for the future of sports betting?
Probiotics for plants? Here’s how AI-optimized bacteria could accelerate agriculture
Indigo Agriculture has a plan is to pump plants with a bunch of beneficial microbes to make the crops grow faster, stronger, and more productively. It’s a long shot, but it could give farmers access to crops that not only grow better in current climates, but are also better prepared for the impacts of climate change around the world.
The DroNet algorithm teaches drones to navigate city streets like cars
Researchers have developed a system that allows drones to navigate autonomously through streets by teaching the drones to act more like cars and bicycles.
Outrageously quick Milidelta robot moves too fast for your brain to comprehend
Researchers at Harvard University have developed a miniature robot designed like the popular, fast, and precise Delta robot.
How ‘speed breeding’ could supercharge farming to save us from starvation
A team of scientists recently published a paper detailing a new plant breeding technique that could revolutionize the way we grow crops -- so we got in touch with them to hear more.
Neuroscientists use electrical pulses to brain to curb Tourette syndrome tics
Researchers from around the world have teamed to study the effects of deep brain stimulation on Tourette syndrome patients.
New pressure sensor for medical uses dissolves in the patient’s body
Engineers have developed a biodegradable pressure sensor that could make certain medical procedures less invasive.
Implantable miniature robot helps correct defects in internal organs
A miniature robot that helps generate body tissue has been developed by a team of MDs and engineers at the Boston Children’s Hospital.
L’Oreal’s fingernail wearable tells users when they’ve had too much sun
The UV Sense fingernail wearable is simple enough to lack batteries and sophisticated enough to help wearers avoid skin cancer.
At long last, researchers develop a wearable fit for plants
Engineers have developed a wearable for plants, allowing growers to measure how their crops use water and hopefully make them more efficient.
The biggest, baddest, and most incredible scientific breakthroughs of 2017
2017 was a monumental year for science, so we rounded up some of the craziest achievements of the year for your perusal. Enjoy!
As sea levels rise, researchers use A.I. to monitor urban flooding
Researchers have shown how a technological trifecta — A.I., social media, and crowdsourced citizen science — can help monitor urban flooding.
Before ‘plantscrapers’ can grow food in the city, they’ll need to grow money
With the right infrastructure, major cities around the world may someday grow a fraction of their produce in towering “plantscrapers,” hybrid buildings that combine vertical farms with residential or business spaces.
Get with the Christmas spirit with computer carols from Alan Turing
Just in time for the holidays, computer scientists have released a renditions of iconic Christmas carols played on Turing’s computer.