When scientists sequenced the Neanderthal genome in 2010, they learned that Neanderthals interbred with human ancestors before mysteriously going extinct. As a result, many people alive today share up to 4% of their DNA with Neanderthals. This genetic breakthrough yielded powerful new information about the evolutionary history of Neanderthals and Homo sapiens, but it also … 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
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
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
Holograms that can be physically manipulated have made their way out of science fiction and into real life thanks to a breakthrough in mixed reality technology. In a new study uploaded March 6 to the HAL open archive, scientists explored how three-dimensional holograms could be grabbed and poked using elastic materials as a key component … Read more
A new kind of road-legal flying car is now a step closer to hitting the roads, and skies, after its maker Alef Aeronautics signed an agreement with aerospace companies PUCARA Aero and MYC to build it. The Alef Model A is designed to work as both a road vehicle and aircraft, with its aim being … Read more
A Norwegian robotics firm has unveiled a knitted-nylon-covered humanoid robot designed to complete household chores. “Neo Gamma,” built by robotics company 1X, is a bipedal android equipped to perform everyday tasks such as vacuuming, tidying clothes and making coffee. In a promotional video released Feb 21. On YouTube, the machine is shown serving tea, fixing … Read more
