Most of us rely on a quick sniff test to decide whether slightly expired milk or a week-old takeaway is still safe to eat. While the human nose is often reliable, it isn’t foolproof. Every year, millions of people in the U.S. become ill from foodborne pathogens that grow in spoiled or improperly cooked food. […]
An electronic “nose” can detect when food has spoiled Read More »
They can mix cocktails, run marathons, and fold laundry, but despite marketing claims, humanoid robots are still far from reliably handling many different tasks on demand. The difference was clear at the Robotics Summit in Boston in late May, where glossy marketing materials told one story while the engineers building the robots described another reality.
Robots can mix drinks and run marathons but still struggle to multitask Read More »
The rapid increase in global data production is fueling the need for more advanced storage technologies. Synthetic DNA offers a promising solution because of its extremely high data density, long-term stability, and its natural role as the fundamental molecule of life. TextaDNA introduces an alternative to traditional memory systems by embedding information-encoding oligonucleotides into flexible
The TextaDNA project is improving DNA-based data storage by using polymer fibers Read More »
Researchers at Eindhoven University of Technology in the Netherlands are developing AquaWomb, an artificial womb for extremely premature babies (under 28 weeks). It uses synthetic amniotic fluid and an artificial placenta to support development outside the body. Clinical trials are still about 5–6 years away, and the project raises major ethical and social questions. Babies
Researchers have identified a previously unknown sensory pathway that connects fine hairs to itch perception, uncovering an unexpected biological mechanism that may play a role in chronic itch disorders and offer new opportunities for treatment. An itch may feel straightforward, but scientists are discovering that the sensation is much more intricate than it seems. Researchers
A Little-Known Hair Type Could Help Ease Chronic Itch Read More »
A new detector-based approach explains how gravitational waves can be measured in a universe that is constantly changing. Imagine trying to measure ripples on a pond while the pond itself is slowly changing shape. That is the difficulty scientists face when studying gravitational waves not as isolated signals from colliding black holes, but as part
Humanoid robots learning tasks like grasping a cup now have a new instructor: a person wearing an ultrasound wristband that records the movement of muscles, tendons, and ligaments beneath the skin. MIT System Improves Robotic Dexterity Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) created a system to capture human hand movements, with the goal
MIT researchers use AI to convert hand gestures into data for training robots Read More »
Operating a robotic arm, prosthetic hand, or rehabilitation device is more challenging than it may seem. Picking up an egg requires precise force—too little and it slips, too much and it cracks. For prosthetic users or stroke patients, this precision is difficult due to limited or absent visual and tactile feedback. Without sufficient sensory information,
Simple Color Indicator Makes Prosthetic Devices Easier to Master Read More »
A technology that until recently sounded like science fiction is rapidly moving toward real-world application. Researchers in Europe have shown that Wi-Fi router signals can identify individuals with surprisingly high accuracy, without cameras, wearables, phones, or user input. Their findings indicate that the human body constantly disturbs radio waves as they move through indoor spaces.
A new study suggests Wi-Fi routers may scan human bodies to accurately identify people Read More »
While many countries still face oil supply disruptions, China has pursued a different aviation path. On April 4, 2026, an unmanned 16,500-pound cargo aircraft took off from Zhuzhou, Hunan, powered by the AEP100—a megawatt-class hydrogen turboprop engine developed by the Aero Engine Corporation of China. Although brief, the flight was significant. The aircraft reached about
China tests an 8-ton hydrogen cargo plane, advancing clean heavy-lift aviation Read More »