VRoxy system pushes telepresence beyond just looking and talking

When it comes right down to it, most telepresence robots are essentially just remote-control tablets that can be steered around a room. The VRoxy system is different in that its robot replicates the user’s movements, plus it auto-pilots itself to diffe… Continue reading VRoxy system pushes telepresence beyond just looking and talking

“Zombie shrimp”: How parasites hack host genes to do their bidding

The animal kingdom is home to all kinds of stories – adventures, romance, tragedy, and as it turns out, even horror stories. Scientists at Brown University have now uncovered a creepy new zombie story involving worms that propagate by hack their shrimp… Continue reading “Zombie shrimp”: How parasites hack host genes to do their bidding

Scientists copy krill to develop swarms of aquatic robots

While most of us may just think of krill as baleen whale food, the tiny crustaceans are also very adept swimmers … enough so that scientists have now developed a krill-inspired robotic platform in hopes of one day creating swarms of ocean-exploring swi… Continue reading Scientists copy krill to develop swarms of aquatic robots

Antarctica may be hiding thriving plankton blooms beneath its sea ice

Antarctica isn’t exactly the type of place you’d expect to be teeming with life, but a new study suggests the frigid environment at the end of the world may be a little more hospitable than it seems. Scientists studying sea ice in the region’s Southern… Continue reading Antarctica may be hiding thriving plankton blooms beneath its sea ice

Smart hydrogel dressing releases antibiotics when it detects bacteria

Scientists at Brown University have developed a new material that can release drugs only when pathogenic bacteria are around. When used as a bandage, the hydrogel could deliver medication on-demand when infection begins to take hold.Continue ReadingCat… Continue reading Smart hydrogel dressing releases antibiotics when it detects bacteria

Quasiparticles used to generate millions of truly random numbers a second

Random numbers are crucial for computing, but our current algorithms aren’t truly random. Researchers at Brown University have now found a way to tap into the fluctuations of quasiparticles to generate millions of truly random numbers per second.Contin… Continue reading Quasiparticles used to generate millions of truly random numbers a second

Next-gen battery electrolyte made from wood offers record conductivity

Today’s lithium batteries commonly use a liquid electrolyte to carry ions between the two electrodes, but scientists eyeing solid alternatives see some exciting opportunities ahead. Among them are the authors of a new study who have used cellulose deri… Continue reading Next-gen battery electrolyte made from wood offers record conductivity

Tiny implants could dramatically improve brain-computer interfaces

Whether they’re being used for research or for restoring lost capabilities to the disabled, brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) show a lot of promise. They could soon be much more effective, thanks to the development of tiny new sensors.Continue ReadingCa… Continue reading Tiny implants could dramatically improve brain-computer interfaces

BCI lets paralyzed users quickly type text, by imagining writing it

When someone is paralyzed from the neck down, it goes without saying that they can no longer write words out by hand. They can still think about doing so, though, and those thoughts could allow them to type out messages via a new brain-computer interfa… Continue reading BCI lets paralyzed users quickly type text, by imagining writing it