A petri dish filled with dead bacteria isn’t typically a reason to celebrate—but for Stanford researcher Brian Hie, it marked a breakthrough in his quest to engineer synthetic life. The killer was a bacteriophage, a virus that targets and destroys bacteria while leaving human cells unharmed. These viruses have evolved over millions of years to […]
AI-Created Viruses are Multiplying and Destroying Bacteria Read More »
Generative AI can also produce robot actions—the core idea behind DeepMind’s Gemini Robotics project. The team has unveiled two new models that work together to let robots “think” before they act. Simulated reasoning has improved language models, and that advance may soon reach robotics. DeepMind argues that generative AI is critical for robots because it
DeepMind Unveils its First Thinking Robot AI Read More »
Quantum Motion has developed a machine that is now housed at the National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC) in Oxfordshire. Researchers there will explore its potential for solving real-world challenges, such as drug discovery. A Comprehensive Quantum Computing System Built on Scalable Silicon CMOS Technology A full-stack quantum computer is an all-in-one system integrating a Quantum
The First Quantum Computer Constructed with Silicon Chip Technology Read More »
Subthreshold depression (StD) is a milder form of depression that doesn’t meet the criteria for a clinical diagnosis, yet serves as an early warning sign of potential future mental health problems. It’s like standing at the brink of more severe depression. Individuals with depression often display reduced facial expressions, and previous studies have used facial
AI Identifies Subtle Indicators of Depression in Students’ Facial Expressions Read More »
The authors, the wellness industry, and the journal publisher BMJ Group have been set back after they retracted a widely publicized study that helped fuel the rise of the apple cider vinegar (ACV) trend. Researchers found that the study, which suggested that consuming one to two teaspoons of ACV daily could lead to significant weight
Debate Over Apple Cider Vinegar Casts Doubt On its Weight-Loss Benefits Read More »
In 2021, Chinese scientists developed the RoboFalcon, a bird-inspired flapping-wing robot featuring a new mechanism that powered bat-like morphing wings for flight. Although effective at cruising speeds, the robot was unable to fly at lower speeds or take off independently. The same research team has now refined their design, unveiling RoboFalcon 2.0 in Science Advances.
Bird-Like Robot with Novel Wings Achieves Self-Takeoff and Slow Flight Read More »
KAIST’s humanoid robot demonstrates world-class mobility, reaching 12 km/h with excellent stability and performing complex moves like the duckwalk and moonwalk, marking it as a next-generation platform for industrial use. Development of a Human-Like Lower-Body Platform for Next-Generation Humanoids Professor Park Hae-won’s team at KAIST’s HuboLab has developed the lower-body platform for a next-generation humanoid
Advanced Humanoid Robot Performs the Moonwalk Read More »
There is limited scientific evidence backing the U.S. government’s recent decisions to issue warnings about the use of a common painkiller during pregnancy and to expedite approval of an experimental drug for autism. On Monday, the U.S. government revealed two autism-related measures. First, it plans to update warning labels on the widely used painkiller paracetamol
What We Know and Don’t About Painkillers and Autism Read More »
Robots may be becoming more intelligent, but to genuinely assist people in everyday life, they must also develop greater empathy — the ability to detect and respond to human emotions as they happen. Why Emotional Intelligence Matters in Human-Robot Interaction Intelligence alone isn’t enough when interacting with humans in real-world settings; understanding context, mood, and
Building Robots that Adjust Based On Your Feelings Read More »
These interactions with a social robot provided caregivers with something they deeply miss. In a quiet room at the University of Cambridge, something remarkable took place—not through technology or programming, but through simple conversation. A group of informal caregivers, emotionally drained from supporting their loved ones, discovered a sense of comfort not from therapy or
Interacting with Robots can Reduce Feelings of Loneliness for Caregivers Read More »