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Latest by Luke Dormehl

robot

Artificial robot muscle may look creepy, but it's incredibly versatile

Researchers from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology developed an incredibly versatile modular robotic artificial muscle.
robot

Awesome 3D-printed plant-carrying robot seeks out light to keep your plants healthy

A new 3D printed Kickstarter robot buggy transports plants around during the day in search of sunlight and water.
bin-e trash can

Space age Bin-e trash can scans, sorts, and compacts your rubbish automatically

The Bin-e trash can is making modern rubbish bins look like, well, trash by using a combination of smart sensors, algorithms, and more.
chess

AI researchers make $1 million challenge to anyone who can solve chess puzzle

Have a good mind for computational problem-solving? Want to earn $1 million? This chess competition may well be for you.
brain surgery

Man somehow plays sax solo following brain surgery, for science

Thanks to 3D-brain mapping, surgeons recently performed brain surgery on a musician, without harming the musical part of his brain.
game of thrones

An AI just beat George R.R. Martin to writing the latest ‘Game of Thrones’ novel

A software engineer and 'Game of Thrones' fan has trained an AI to predict events in the next novel in the series.
katana

Watch a rocket-propelled katana sword slice through a drone like hot butter

What happens when you pit a DJI Phantom drone against a rocket-powered Japanese katana sword? One intrepid YouTuber decided to find out.
trucks

Next year, convoys of self-driving trucks will be driving on U.K. roads

The U.K. government has announced that it is greenlighting a trial of self-driving convoys of trucks on public roads.
selfie

Mobile app can screen for pancreatic cancer when users snap a quick selfie

Researchers developed a smartphone app that is capable of screening for pancreatic cancer by asking users to snap a quick selfie.
first aid kit

Smart first-aid kit uses algorithms to explain how to prioritize emergencies

The Comprehensive Rescue System is an “intelligent” first-aid kit that uses a tablet and smart algorithms to help you deal with injuries.
U.K. Navy

Fish-inspired missiles and eel-like subs? U.K. Navy explores those possibilities

Engineers from the U.K. Navy have dedicated their expertise to imagining how submarines will look in 50 years time.
Yuneec drone

Yuneec’s latest UAV is the all-purpose camera drone you’ve been waiting for

Looking for a camera drone for everything from recording high-quality video to night vision? Yuneec's new H520 drone is here to help.
skeletons

3D-scanning project will document the skeletons of 20,000 vertebrates

OpenVertebrate is a 3D-scanning project with the goal of cataloging more than 20,000 animal skeletons over the next four years.
wooden watch

This DIY wooden watch is not the smartest, but it’s among the coolest

Created by Harvard student Harnek Gulati, the Wooden Word Watch is a wooden timepiece that tells the time by spelling it out to you.
MIT's RFID drones

MIT’s RFID drones could solve a multibillion-dollar problem — and find lost keys

MIT researchers want to solve the problem of misplaced items in warehouses or the home using a combination of drones and RFID tags.
quantum encryption

Security experts demonstrate 4D quantum encryption in action

Researchers just demonstrated that it's possible to use 4D quantum encryption to send messages through the air, even in a crowded city.
cerebral palsy exoskeleton

Robotic exoskeleton can improve how kids with cerebral palsy walk

Researchers from NIH have developed a robotic exoskeleton, designed to help kids with cerebral palsy improve their walking.
laser

Forget floss, this dental procedure rejuvenates your teeth with a laser

Gum disease has been linked with a host of nasty diseases. This innovative laser surgery, which removes damaged tissue, could help.
carbon nanotube yarn

Carbon nanotube yarn turns movement into electricity, no batteries required

A special ultra-thin yarn created from carbon nanotubes is able to efficiently convert mechanical energy into electrical energy.
Mars rover

Ever wanted to own a RC Mars rover? Thanks to this great Kickstarter, you can

If you've ever dreamed of having your own Mars rover, a new Kickstarter remote-controlled Earth rover may just be the answer to your prayers.
data

Molecular data storage could hold every movie ever made on a Rubik’s Cube

Researchers have demonstrated how molecules can store crazy amounts of data. The bad news? You need to keep it pretty darn cold.
antenna

Engineers just created a tiny antenna, which could be used for brain implants

Researchers have developed a new antenna hundreds of times smaller than current versions, which could help make brain implants a reality.
shaveman

Shaveman transforms any disposable razor into an electric shaver

Shaveman is a compact "razor vibration applicator" that promises to turn any disposable razor into an electric razor.
Rubber bands

Graphene-infused rubber bands are on their way, and they're unbelievably strong

One rubber band manufacturer is working on next-gen rubber bands 200x stronger than steel -- thanks to the wonder material graphene.
forklift

Self-driving forklift takes the human factor out of warehouse work

The autonomous Seegrid GP8 Series 6 forklift can pick up and move heavy loads, all without needing human assistance.
facial recognition

New subscription-based SkyHi flight app offers outrageously low airfares

A startup called SkyHi wants to apply the Netflix formula to air travel -- with the world’s first subscription platform for flights.
robot

MIT's new software lets anyone build a functioning 3D-printed robot

Researchers from MIT developed software called “Interactive Robogami,” allowing users to quickly design and 3D print robots.
face palm

Hiding behind your hands won’t stop next-gen facial recognition software

Facial recognition systems struggle to read faces that have been obscured by hands. Computer science researchers are here to help.
diamond rain

Scientists re-create the ‘diamond rain’ effect from Neptune and Uranus

The “diamond rain” which has been hypothesized as taking place on Neptune and Uranus has been replicated in a lab for the first time.
Empty toilet paper roll.

One of the ingredients in poop could make you fitter and healthier

It may sound counterintuitive at first, but exposure to one of the compounds found in poop could help make you healthier.
cubiio laser engraver kickstarter dsc 0566

Meet Cubiio, a laser engraver that can fit in your backpack

No self respecting “maker” studio should be without a laser engraver -- and new Kickstarter device Cubiio is here to help.
larvae

Grub’s up — startup thinks the next great sustainable food is … fly larvae?

New U.K.-based food startup Entocycle has a fresh idea for sustainable snacks: protein-packed black soldier fly larvae.
soccer ball

DribbleUp soccer ball isn’t only smarter than an average ball, it’s cheaper too

Now available on Kickstarter, DribbleUp's smart soccer ball and app combo promises to take your game to the next level.
dissolving milk pods sucrose capsule

Dissolving pods mean no splashes when you add cream to your coffee

Researchers from Germany have developed dissolving milk pods, ready to be dropped straight into your favorite hot beverage like a sugar cube.