Meet the 9 Wikipedia bots that make the world’s largest encyclopedia possible
Wikipedia might be a utopian crowdsourcing example of how humans can come together to collaborate on something great, but it's bots that help the whole thing to work as well as it does. Meet the algorithms which enable the world's largest encyclopedia to function so effectively.
AR contact lenses are here to usher in the cyberpunk future of our dreams
Staring at your smartphone is no way to experience augmented reality. Mojo Vision is getting ready to change the AR game with the introduction of new augmented reality contact lenses. Here's what you can expect from them -- and why they're likely to be such a game-changer.
Nanox is basically the high-tech hospital bed from Star Trek
The Nanox Arc promises to make medical imaging technology available to people around the world at a significantly lower cost and with a much smaller footprint than current machines. Here's how it works -- and why its creators decided to use a design straight out of Star Trek for inspiration.
Here’s what all the movies set in 2020 predicted this year would be like
Life in the 2020s might be new to you and me, but it’s far from fresh territory for movies and TV. What did screenwriters think the world would be facing in the year 2020? Check out our rundown of the future that, well, is no longer quite as futuristic as it once appeared.
Clever wearable will let soldiers go gloveless in freezing conditions
The U.S. Army is busy working on new technology that will let soldiers go glove-free in cold conditions without feeling the chill. This is thanks to a pair of electrically heated armbands designed to be worn around the forearms. Here's how it works — and when it'll be ready to go.
Smart A.I. bodysuits could reveal when babies are developing mobility problems
Babies could soon have the option of wearing special high-tech artificial intelligence jumpsuits that alert doctors to any possible mobility issues they are developing. Here's how the tech works-- and how it was developed by researchers in Finland’s Helsinki Children’s Hospital.
A paralyzed man just broke a marathon world record with a robotic exoskeleton
Completing a marathon is an amazing achievement. Completing one wearing a robot exoskeleton, after suffering a spinal cord injury that left the wearer partially paralyzed, is nothing short of awe-inspiring. That’s what Adam Gorlitsky achieved when he completed the 2020 Charleston Marathon.
Liquid metal nanoparticles could tear apart superbugs like tiny Terminators
Could liquid metal be the answer to the major (and potentially deadly) problem of antibiotic resistance? Researchers in Australia certainly believe it can -- and they’ve got the magnetic nanoparticles to back up their theory. Here's what they have been hard at work developing.
This ingenious invention highlights mosquitoes so you can murder them faster
Few things are more frustrating than lying in a dark room, drifting off to sleep, when you’re jolted awake by the high-pitched whine of a mosquito, floating through the blackness with a taste for your blood. The Bzigo smart mosquito laser tracking system could help you.
Want to shake hands with the future? Check out this brain-controlled prosthetic
Shaking hands with BrainCo's artificial intelligence-powered prosthetic hand is like shaking hands with an exciting, optimistic version of the future. Here's what this amazing prosthesis is able to do, and how it promises to transform life for amputees all around the world.
Scientists want human trials for gene therapy that could help battle addiction
Could a form of gene therapy be useful in helping treat cocaine addiction, a form of addiction that proves highly resistant to alternative approaches, such as medical treatment and psychotherapy? That’s what researchers from the world-famous Mayo Clinic are hoping to prove.
New oxygen detection method may help space telescope spot extraterrestrial life
Want to maximize your shot of finding extraterrestrial life out there in the universe? A good way to start is to look for the presence of life-aiding oxygen on exoplanets. This new technique, for use in the upcoming James Webb Space Telescope, could help with that mission.
Samsung’s new food A.I. can suggest recipes based on what’s in your fridge
Imagine if, after a long day at work, your fridge could look to see what you’ve got in stock and then suggest a meal composed of those ingredients. That’s what Samsung has developed with a new personalized A.I. cooking experience feature for its fridges, shown off at CES.
Ingenious system cures lazy eye as your kid watches shows on Netflix
What if you were able to cure certain medical conditions by watching Netflix? That’s what digital healthcare company NovaSight has demonstrated with its new amblyopia treatment, currently on display at CES. Here's how it works -- and why it's way better than previous treatments.
Delta Airlines plans to equip employees with these powerful robotic exoskeletons
Whether it’s heavy luggage or fully aden planes that can weigh in excess of 100,000 pounds, working for an airline can involve shifting some pretty sizable weight. Could high-tech robot exosuits help make everything a little bit easier? Delta Air Lines plans to find out.
Neuro-symbolic A.I. is the future of artificial intelligence. Here’s how it works
At the start of a new decade, one of IBM's top researchers thinks artificial intelligence needs to change. Welcome to the world of neuro-symbolic A.I., a fresh approach that could keep advances coming for long into the 2020s. Here's how it works -- and why it could be so important.
New DNA computer can do some impressive square root calculations
Researchers at the University of Rochester in New York have developed a breakthrough DNA computer that’s capable of performing square root calculations of numbers all the way up to 900. Here's why that could turn out to be so useful for the future of computing as we know it.
This startup wants to plant a billion trees with a swarm of seed-bombing drones
Every year, way more trees are cut down than are planted. Could drones help? Canadian company Flash Forest believe that they can — and it is looking to raise money on Kickstarter to make its ecological dream a reality. Here's what it is planning to do — and how you can help.
Brain-reading headphones are here to give you telekinetic control
Would you want to try out brain-reading headphones? Brain-computer interface company Neurable is building technology that lets you control machines with your mind. Here's what it's got planned next -- and why everyone should be excited about this paradigm shift in the making.
3D-printed replica of Michelangelo’s David statue is less than 1mm tall
Towering in at a colossal 17 feet tall, Michelangelo’s David statue is a spectacular work of art. Well, it turns out that it’s no less impressive when it’s under one millimeter in size -- as 3D printing experts from Switzerland recently demonstrated to jaw-dropping effect.
From pizza to transplant organs: What drones will be delivering in the 2020s
Whether it's your Friday takeout, transplant organs, or books from Amazon, drone deliveries are coming. As we enter the 2020s, here's a rundown of the most exciting drone delivery companies -- and what they're promising to be right to your front door (or wherever needed).
The new Earthshot Prize wants humanity’s best solutions for the climate crisis
Can humanity solve the problem of climate change in 10 years? Doing so will be, to put it mildly, a tall order — but that's exactly what the new Earthshot Prize hopes to do. David Attenborough calls it the most prestigious environment prize in history. And he's not kidding around.
A.I. headphones could warn distracted pedestrians when there’s traffic around
Headphones are great. They can also distract wearers from the world around them — which isn't exactly safe if they happen to be crossing busy streets. A new pair of prototype headphones could warn users of oncoming traffic, thanks to some artificial intelligence technology.
Geneinno S2 is an underwater scooter that propels you through the waves
Geneinno S2 is a portable sea scooter that promises to propel you through the waves at speed of up to 2.7 miles per hour, to depths of 30 meters, for up to 60 minutes at a time. And all in the form of a compact device that is barely larger than a 15-inch MacBook laptop.
Scientists may have figured out how to make future beer even greater
Getting the perfect head on a pint of beer might not be the most pressing problem the world faces in the closing days of 2019. Then again, we'd be lying if we said we weren't glad that this is something scientists are hard at work on. Here's what they have managed to develop.
Revisiting the rise of A.I.: How far has artificial intelligence come since 2010?
In terms of the number and scale of its success stories, the 2010s have a good claim for being the greatest 10 years in the history of artificial intelligence. What were the biggest advances in A.I. over the past decade? Digital Trends takes a trip down recent memory lane.
Want to lift 200 pounds without breaking a sweat? Strap into this exosuit
Sarcos Robotics has spent the past 20 years building the ultimate powered robot exosuit. Early next year, its Guardian XO wearable robot will ship to the first customers. Here's what the company has built -- and why CEO Ben Wolff thinks it will change the workplace as we know it.
FDA approves augmented reality surgery tool that gives surgeons ‘X-ray vision’
Augmented reality will soon be used to give surgeons a type of x-ray vision -- and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has just given it the green light. Augmedics' new Xvision Spine System lets surgeons visualize the 3D spinal anatomy of a patient while operating.
10 Incredible technologies that didn’t exist a decade ago
Technology sure has come a long way in the past decade. But what would you expect from the 10-year stretch that included the year Blade Runner was set in? Here's our rundown of the top 10 pieces of tech excited gadget-lovers got to try out for the first time in the 2010s.
Think your house is smart now? Here’s a peek at what it’ll be like with AR
Want to see how the world is going to look when augmented reality technology is everywhere? Researchers from the Future Interfaces Group at Carnegie Mellon University have created LightAnchors, a technology for marking up the real world in AR, to give us a sneak preview.
IBM’s new battery may outperform lithium-ion, and it doesn’t use conflict minerals
The heavy metals used to make modern batteries are an environmental and humanitarian nightmare. IBM is busy developing a novel battery technology which could eliminate the need for such materials altogether in battery production. And it has some impressive performance boosts, too.
Food startup is making meltable snacks for people with swallowing difficulties
Innovative foodie startup Savorease is creating savory, plant-based finger food which literally melts in the mouth, designed for people who are unable to swallow normally. Here's what it has created — and how it could potentially help 590 million people around the planet.
Liquid metal tendons could give robots the ability to heal themselves
Fans of Terminator 2's liquid metal T-1000 robot, pay attention: In Japan, roboticists have created a prototype robot leg with a metal tendon fuse that's able to repair fractures. How does it do this? Simple: By autonomously melting itself and then reforming as a single piece.
Alexa and Siri can’t understand the tone of your voice, but Oto can
Today's speech-recognition systems are able to tell what you're saying, but can't understand subtleties like tone of voice to indicate emotion. A new voice-intonation A.I. startup called Oto is using machine learning to develop such tools for use in tomorrow's call centers.