Author - Marcílio Santos

World-First Space-Based Energy Grid Outlined by Star Catcher

Credit: PixabayFunding Secured for Ambitious Space-Based Energy GridStar Catcher Industries has secured US$12.25 million in seed funding for its ambitious plan to build the world’s first "space-based energy grid." The idea is that a network of satellites would gather energy from the Sun and beam it at high concentrations to other satellites in orbit.Collecting...

Seawater-Powered Hydrogen Reactor can Fuel a Submarine for 30 Days

MIT researchers Aly Kombargi (left) and Niko Tsakiris (right) with their new hydrogen reactorTony PulsoneMIT scientists have found an intriguing new method to produce hydrogen fuel using soda cans, seawater, and coffee grounds. They believe this chemical reaction could power engines or fuel cells in marine vehicles that use seawater.Hydrogen plays a crucial role...

Video: Offshore Wind Farm Charges Floating Boats in World First

Boats can charge without docking, making the new system truly groundbreaking.ParkwindIn the Belgian North Sea, maintenance vessels can now connect to an automatic cable at a wind farm to recharge their batteries. This groundbreaking system is the first of its kind and represents a significant advancement in maintaining the environmental friendliness of electric vessels.Belgium's...

Expired Medications Could Complicate Long Space Missions

Credit: PixabayMedications used by astronauts on the International Space Station may not be sufficient for a three-year trip to Mars. A new Duke Health study reveals that over half of the medicines, including pain relievers, antibiotics, allergy medicines, and sleep aids, would expire before the astronauts' return to Earth.Astronauts might have to rely on...

Disney Infuses Robot Movements with Beauty and Character

Disney's bipedal Star Wars robots move with personality at the core of their beingDisney ResearchDisney Research Hub has different priorities compared to other robot developers; its robots must move efficiently and effectively, but also with a lot of style and personality. This adorable biped, inspired by the BD-1 droid, exemplifies this approach.For those unfamiliar, BD-1 first...

AI Outperforms Humans in Most Performance Benchmarks

A comprehensive report has detailed the global impact of AI. Credit: PixabayStanford University's Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence (HAI) has published the seventh edition of its extensive AI Index report, authored by a diverse group of academic and industry specialists.This latest edition, more comprehensive than its predecessors, underscores the swift advancement and increasing relevance...

Scientists Demonstrate Brain Changes During Menstruation

Credit: DepositphotosThe fluctuating hormones of the menstrual cycle not only impact reproductive anatomy but also influence brain structure. A recent study sheds light on this brain remodeling process.A team of researchers led by neuroscientists Elizabeth Rizor and Viktoriya Babenko from the University of California Santa Barbara studied 30 menstruating women to track the...

Microsoft AI Turns a Single Photo into Realistic Talking Videos

The VASA-1 AI model can generate realistic talking head video footage from a single reference photo, which is lip-synced to an audio trackMicrosoft Research AsiaMicrosoft Research Asia has unveiled an AI model capable of producing incredibly lifelike deepfake videos using just a single image and an audio clip. This development raises concerns about the...

All-Terrain Exoskeleton: Your Superhuman E-Hiker

Recreational exoskeletons aim to do for hiking, climbing and running what ebikes have done for cycling, letting people rise above their physical limitationsDnsysIf you considered the Hypershell a one-off oddity, think again. More AI-powered outdoor exoskeletons are on the horizon, aimed at assisting casual adventurers in covering greater distances with ease and speed.Up next...

Spacex Third Flight Test of Starship

Credit: PixaobayWith the objective of testing different aspects of the rocket, SpaceX has launched for the 3rd time a flight test of Starship. This time, the stainless-steel rocket and its Super Heavy booster, which together stand 400 feet tall (122 meters) filled with more than 10 million pounds of liquid methane and liquid oxygen...