Genetically modified bacteria may be the key to plants that fertilize themselves
Scientists from Washington University in St. Louis have developed genetically engineered bacteria capable of pulling fertilizer out of thin air. Because bioavailable nitrogen is a critical nutrient for crop productivity, this could turn out to be an agricultural game-changer.
Gotta catch em all: Harvard’s undersea grabber is a Poké Ball for sea life
Harvard University’s new folding robot grabber is designed to be able to perform delicate feats, such as catching underwater creatures with ease -- and, crucially, without injuring them in the process. Here's how it works, and just what makes it so impressively innovative.
World’s first VR-augmented waterslide is totally unnecessary, but also amazing
An amusement park in Germany unveiled the world's first waterslide that requires riders to wear a virtual reality headset. The results sound unusual, but also kind of awesome at the same time. Here's what went into making this particular waterlogged VR dream a reality.
Rolls-Royce is creating a fleet of robotic snakes and beetles to repair planes
Want to know what the future of airplane engine maintenance is? According to researchers from Rolls-Royce it involves a combination of snake and swarms of insect-inspired robots, designed to crawl inside engines to carry out inspections and perform maintenance. Check out a preview.
New VR horror game gets scarier if your heart rate isn’t fast enough
In new VR game Bring to Light, players have the option of strapping on a heart rate monitor to help personalize the game’s fear factor. Get too comfortable with the experience, and the game’s A.I. will know to ramp up the terror. Because who wants a relaxing game experience, right?
Man vs. machine: An A.I. algorithm attempts to break a world speed record
A new machine learning algorithm created at Switzerland’s EPFL is being used to design what its creators hope is the world's fastest bicycle. The A.I.-designed vehicle will be put to the test later this year when it attempts the World Human-Powered Speed Challenge in Nevada.
New light-emitting implant zaps cancer tumors with incredible precision
Researchers from Japan's Waseda University have developed a light-emitting, NFC-powered implant which could help battle cancer in sensitive parts of the body by emitting light. Here's how it works, and what its creator plan to do to get it from the lab to real patients.
Nintendo Virtual Boy emulator lets you enjoy VR like it’s 1995 again
Compared with today's VR headsets, Nintendo’s ill-fated, red-tinted head-mounted Virtual Boy display now looks massively dated. However, thanks to modern Oculus Rift headsets, you can now relive it -- courtesy of an emulator that makes you believe it's 1995 all over again.
These 3D-printed houses could be one-tenth the price of regular homes
Could 3D printed houses be the way of the future? Researchers from Estonia have created a 3D printable concrete-style material that’s created from milled peat, oil shale ash, and silica nanoparticles. The results could reduce the construction costs of houses by around 10 times.
Spider silk could be used to create artificial skin to help heal wounds
From creating super-strong shields to forming microcapsules to deliver drugs inside the body, spider silk is pretty versatile stuff. The latest use for its unusual mix of strength and elasticity? Creating artificial skin and dressings for helping heal wounds. Here's how it works.
This 21-year-old’s 3D-printed aquatic jetpack makes scuba fins look prehistoric
For his final year Product Design class at university, Archie O’Brien built a 3D printed underwater jetpack, capable of propelling you through the waves in style. And very soon he hopes that he'll be able to sell you one. Here's everything you need to know about his awesome project.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Tear it up on Mars in ‘Red Rover,’ the driving sim built on NASA data
During the festive holiday season in 2016, Alan Chan spent his week’s vacation time off work exploring Mars. In virtual reality, at least. And thanks to his hard work, now you can too. Here's how one intrepid developer turned space images into our most immersive look at the Red Planet yet.
It sounds ridiculous, but these beaver bots are designed for disaster zones
Engineers will often look to the natural world to find solutions to problems. That is what a team at the University at Buffalo, New York recently did when it created a beaver-inspired robot which, believe it or not, could turn out to be a lifesaver in a disaster zone.
Scientists can 3D print human heart tissue now. The future is here
One day, 3D bioprinting will be used for printing out entire new organs to replace our old, knackered ones. This week, Chicago-based biotech startup Biolife4D announced a milestone on the road to this goal: Its ability to bioprint human cardiac tissue. Here's why that's important.
Watch this robot tiptoe over stepping stones with human-like grace and agility
Walking across irregularly spaced stepping stones is something even a small kid can manage. It turns out that it's pretty difficult for robots, though -- until now at least. Here's how researchers from the University of California, Berkeley, and Carnegie Mellon cracked it.
The future of surveillance: Watch this A.I. security camera spot a shoplifter
Want to stop shoplifting taking place? A.I. Guardman is a smart Japanese security camera which uses a pose detection system that's able to identify suspicious behavior. In the event that this kind of behavior is spotted, it sends an alert to the store owner’s smartphone.
This Minion-looking robot will nag you to improve your posture as you work
It turns out that even owning a standing desk is no guarantee that you're standing in a healthy way. Called Giiro, this Alexa-connected robot and smart mat will nag you about your posture as you work. Here's how you can get your hands on one -- for your own benefit, of course.