Speechin necklace recognizes its wearer’s silently spoken words

If you were in a business meeting or a quiet library, it wouldn’t really be appropriate if you suddenly blurted out “Siri, check email.” That’s where the Speechin necklace is designed to come in, as it recognizes silent speech.Continue ReadingCategory:… Continue reading Speechin necklace recognizes its wearer’s silently spoken words→

Engineered yeast could improve the flavor of non-alcoholic beer

While non-alcoholic beer has some obvious advantages over its traditional counterpart, many people say that it just doesn’t taste as good. Danish scientists now claim to have overcome that problem, using genetically engineered baker’s yeast.Continue Re… Continue reading Engineered yeast could improve the flavor of non-alcoholic beer→

Bio-composite combines hardness of aluminum with toughness of bone

When it comes to plant-based materials, many people may picture something that’s “green” but not very robust. Such is not the case with a new MIT-designed composite, however, which is claimed to be as hard as aluminum and as tough as bone.Continue Read… Continue reading Bio-composite combines hardness of aluminum with toughness of bone→

Smartphone system measures clotting time of users’ blood samples

People who are using blood-thinning medications regularly have to check if their dosage needs adjusting. And while doing so currently involves lab tests or expensive home systems, a simple smartphone-based setup may soon be able to perform the task.Con… Continue reading Smartphone system measures clotting time of users’ blood samples→

Desaer ATL-100H hybrid aircraft mixes electric motors with turboprops

As is the case with cars, pure-electric aircraft may be the greenest way to go, but fuel/electric hybrids have a considerably longer range. Brazilian company Desaer’s ATL-100H will be just such a plane, utilizing both turboprop engines and electric mot… Continue reading Desaer ATL-100H hybrid aircraft mixes electric motors with turboprops→

Modular bottle holds both water and cycling gear at the same time

Not all cyclists enjoy having multi-tools, flat repair kits or CO2 cartridges crammed into their jersey pockets when they ride. That’s where the stache system comes in, as it allows such gear to be stored in a water bottle … which still also carries wa… Continue reading Modular bottle holds both water and cycling gear at the same time→

Sweat-analyzing smartwatch could warn wearers of elevated stress

It’s important for people with conditions such as depression and anxiety to know when they’re becoming stressed, so they can initiate coping strategies. An experimental new smartwatch could someday warn them, by detecting a stress hormone in their swea… Continue reading Sweat-analyzing smartwatch could warn wearers of elevated stress→

“Sonogenetics” could replace implants with ultrasound-activated cells

Currently, devices such as pacemakers and deep-brain-stimulating electrodes have to be surgically implanted within patients’ bodies. According to a new study, however, such implants may someday be replaced with cells that are activated by ultrasound.Co… Continue reading “Sonogenetics” could replace implants with ultrasound-activated cells→

Leaf-inspired bioplastic shrugs off liquids and biodegrades in soil

If you’re designing a plastic for applications such as food packaging, you want it to stay clean but you don’t want it to stick around for centuries once discarded. A new lotus-leaf-inspired material may fit that bill.Continue ReadingCategory: Material… Continue reading Leaf-inspired bioplastic shrugs off liquids and biodegrades in soil→

AI-enabled drones will tell human teams where to find marine debris

Marine debris is a huge problem, both when it’s floating at sea and when it gets washed up on the shore. In order to locate the latter for removal, scientists are now developing artificially intelligent drones which will spot human-made beach trash fro… Continue reading AI-enabled drones will tell human teams where to find marine debris→