Shotgun-wielding indoor drone could enter places too dangerous for human troops
The U.K.’s Ministry of Defence is developing twin shotgun-toting drones that are able to fly indoors, as well as identify targets using machine vision.
One answer to the plastic waste problem? Hungry, hungry enzymes
The world has a major problem when it comes to waste plastic. A new cocktail of plastic-munching enzymes could be one of the answers science is looking for.
Your A.I. smart assistant could one day tell if you’re lonely
A.I. assistants can answer questions, cue up songs, and make restaurant reservations. Could they also be used to diagnose loneliness?
Personal power generator harvests energy from the breeze you make when you walk
You won't be carrying around a wind turbine anytime soon. But this tiny device captures energy from the wind using the triboelectric effect.
Meet RXT-1, the robot punching bag that punches back
Want to fight a robot? Thanks to this Kickstarter campaign, now's the chance you've been waiting for.
A smartphone app for diagnosing autism could soon win FDA approval
App's creators hope that it could enable children with autism to be identified younger, thereby getting the help they need sooner.
Doctors could one day diagnose Alzheimer’s with a simple eye exam
Early diagnosis is crucial for treating neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. This new discovery could help.
Engineers may have solved the problem of artificial gravity for space habitats
How do you make artificial gravity work for future orbiting space habitats? Researchers from Texas A&M University shed some light on the answer in new research.
U.K. has plans to create aerial drone zone superhighways to contain UAV traffic
To help drones take the next step in mainstream adoption, the U.K. is in the process of establishing what could be the world’s first commercial drone corridor.
Chinese space-mining company plans to launch first test spacecraft this year
What do you do when you run out of assets to strip on Earth? Simple: You go into space and start mining there as well.
The key to building a habitat on Mars? Insect exoskeletons, apparently
Building material is a combination of Martian soil and chitin, a primary component in seashells, insect exoskeletons, and fungi walls.
Saving the planet with a fleet of seed-bombing A.I. reforestation drones
After a fresh round of funding, Dendra Systems is ready to unleash its drone reforestation squad on the world. But is it too little, too late?
A.I. could play a vital role in the birth of tomorrow’s IVF children
A new A.I. tool could help embryologists select the optimal embryo for IVF treatment. In doing so, it could help increase the chance of fertility success.
This fungus-based coffin doesn’t preserve your corpse. It decomposes it
Netherlands-based Loop has the most original startup concept of 2020: Decomposable coffins made out of fungi. Here's why that matters.
Cyborg-style smart contact lenses promise to correct vision problems
An artificial iris embedded in a smart contact lens features a tunable lens aperture, built-in RF antenna, and integrated, low-power LCD screen.
NASA wants to start a gold rush in space, so it’s putting a bounty on moon dirt
NASA is looking to recruit private companies to help it collect up space resources. And it’s starting with a request for moon dirt and rocks.
Muscular mice stay stacked even on the International Space Station
Do gene-edited mice retain their muscle bulk in space? It turns out the answer is yes -- and that bodes well for future astronauts.
Why your next leather jacket or bag could be made of fungus
Traditional leather or a plastic substitute iare out. Leather made of fungus materials is in -- if these researchers have their way.
Smart camouflage patch could conceal fighter jets from A.I. recognition tools
The technology is capable of consistently fooling a state-of-the-art, real-time object-detection system. Here's how it works.
Want to drive a giant, four-legged racing mech? This is your chance
If you've always dreamed of piloting a mech that looks like it marched right out of the world of StarCraft or Warhammer 40,000, this is your chance.
This tiny robot tank could one day help doctors explore your intestine
Developed by researchers at the University of Colorado, this tiny robot tank could carry out robo-colonoscopies to help doctors uncover problems in your guts.
Printable wood biopaste could be the sustainable future of 3D printing
Researchers may have found a way to make 3D printing a bit more environmentally friendly — by printing with a new wood-based biopaste material.
Stem-cell capsules could help people recover from heart damage
Stem cells have shown to be promising for helping with heart disease. These capsules could help make the treatment more effective.
Staggering implications: Smartphones may soon use our gait to see if we’re drunk
Researchers have developed software that harnesses a smartphone’s built-in accelerometer to determine whether or not a person is drunk.
Saatchi AR tool lets you test out paintings on your wall before you buy them
Saatchi Art, one of the world’s leading art galleries, has created a tool that lets customers view artworks in their homes before purchasing them online.
This clever new A.I. assistant will screen and block robocallers for you
Robocalls are a massive problem. Could the answer be ... more robots? Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology think so.
Locusts are swarming in record numbers this year, but scientists might have a fix
Could the same chemical released by locusts to prompt them to swarm also help to stop them? Researchers from China think so.
Kid-mounted cameras help A.I. learn to view the world through eyes of a child
Researchers trained an A.I. based on hours of footage taken from head-mounted cameras on kids. The goal: Learn to view the world like a child does.
A.I. can tell if you’re a good surgeon just by scanning your brain
Brain-NET, a new deep learning A.I., can accurately predict a surgeon’s certification scores based on their neuroimaging data.
This startup says it will be 3D-printing entire houses within a year
Is 3D printing the future of housebuilding? It certainly will be if new startup Mighty Buildings, which launched from stealth mode this week, has its way.
Earth’s oceans are full of old flip-flops. Scientists have a plan to fix that
Scientists at the University of California San Diego have come up with a more environmentally friendly alternative: Biodegradable flip-flops made of algae.
IBM and Michael J. Fox Foundation make a breakthrough in fighting Parkinson’s
Last year, Michael J. Fox teamed up with IBM to help find a cure to Parkinson's disease. Today, they announced their results so far.