Caltech engineers have developed a multimodal robot system — a humanoid robot with a transforming drone that launches off its back. Sitting on the back of the humanoid robot, a Unitree G1 machine, the drone, called M4, can transform — switching between driving and flight modes. We’re not talking Optimus Prime or Megatron here; instead, … Read more
Flying car races are no longer science fiction following the first-ever Jetson Air Games event — which Jetson, the organizers, have described as “Formula One of the skies.” The event featured pilots flying four Jetson One vehicles, dubbed a “racing car for the sky” by the company that made them, each vying to cross the … Read more
A surgically implanted chip and augmented-reality glasses are helping some people who have lost sight to read again. In a small trial, about 80% of people who had lost vision due to age-related macular degeneration (AMD) were able to read letters and words a year after receiving the treatment, according to a study published Monday … Read more
Scientists have incorporated key computing components into a single, flexible fiber that you can run through your washing machine. The researchers hope to one day weave together many of these fibers into a cohesive “fiber computing” network — in other words, items of clothing with smart capabilities. Smart textiles, also known as smart fabrics or … Read more
Scientists have created the first artificial tongue that can sense and identify flavors entirely in liquid environments — mimicking how human taste buds work. The achievement, described July 15 in the journal PNAS, could lead to automated systems for food safety and early detection of diseases via chemical analysis, the researchers say. The technology could … Read more
Google has harnessed motion sensors on more than 2 billion smartphones to create an earthquake early-warning system that’s as effective as standard seismometers, a new study reveals. Between 2021 and 2024, the company’s Android Earthquake Alerts (AEA) system captured more than 11,000 quakes through smartphone accelerometers and issued more than 1,200 alerts to Android users … Read more
Scientists have developed a new kind of “electronic ink” that can be used to print electronic circuits capable of switching between rigid and soft states when heated. The technology could pave the way for next-generation electronic devices that change shape or stiffness depending on how and where they’re used, from medical implants that soften inside … Read more
A British firm has received approval to mass-produce an ultra-high-power-density electric vehicle (EV) battery that can be fully recharged in just 18 seconds. The RML Group was granted Conformity of Production certification for its VarEVolt battery on June 2. This government approval signifies that the firm can mass-produce the powerful batteries for EV manufacturers. The … Read more
Scientists have created night-vision contact lenses that they claim can grant people “super-vision.” The lenses — which use nanoparticles to absorb low-frequency light before emitting it in the visible spectrum — enable wearers to see infrared wavelengths that are otherwise invisible to the human eye. And unlike traditional night-vision goggles, these lenses don’t require a … Read more
Scientists say they’ve created a battery that can stretch and bend without losing power. The discovery paves the way for wearable technology, smart medical devices, and robots with human-like movements. “The texture is a bit like toothpaste,” senior author Aiman Rahmanudin, an assistant professor at Linköping University in Sweden, said in a statement. “The material … Read more
