Computer system scrutinizes video footage to analyze animal behavior

Ordinarily, when studying the behavior of animals, scientists have to watch many hours of video footage of the creatures going about their daily lives. That may soon no longer be necessary, however, thanks to a new critter-watching computer system.Cont… Continue reading Computer system scrutinizes video footage to analyze animal behavior

Mitochondrial transplants between living cells could save dying organs

Mitochondria are known as the powerhouses of the cells, taking in glucose and oxygen and producing energy in return. But this central role in cellular function means when things go awry it can have serious consequences for organ function, particularly … Continue reading Mitochondrial transplants between living cells could save dying organs

Earth’s interior may be cooling down faster than we thought

The extremely hot interior of the Earth is slowly cooling down, but exactly how fast remains unknown. By studying how well a common deep-Earth mineral conducts heat, researchers from Carnegie and ETH Zurich have found that the planet’s interior may be … Continue reading Earth’s interior may be cooling down faster than we thought

Robots pitch in to build wooden hanging gardens in Switzerland

If you were building a complex wooden structure by hand, it would be quite difficult to lift the heavy wooden components, place them in precise alignment, then keep them aligned as they were glued together. That’s why a Swiss team is using robots to sh… Continue reading Robots pitch in to build wooden hanging gardens in Switzerland

Hopping, rolling, balancing Ascento robot now available in Pro form

It was just last year that we heard about the Ascento 2, a self-balancing, two-legged, wheeled, hopping robot. Well, as if it wasn’t already impressive enough, its designers have now unveiled the even more capable Ascento Pro.Continue ReadingCategory: … Continue reading Hopping, rolling, balancing Ascento robot now available in Pro form

Wheeled, legged quadruped robot is now set to stand and deliver

ETH Zurich’s ANYmal robot was already impressive back when it simply walked on four legs. It got more interesting when wheels were added to those legs, letting it both walk and roll. That wheeled version is now also able to stand up, and could soon be … Continue reading Wheeled, legged quadruped robot is now set to stand and deliver

Starfish larvae inspire vortex-powered microrobot

Nature is a never-ending source of inspiration for robots, whether it’s bees, bacteria, cockroaches, fish or even scallops. Now an unlikely new candidate has joined the list – starfish larvae, which use tiny hairs to create a vortex to propel themselve… Continue reading Starfish larvae inspire vortex-powered microrobot

Rooftop system converts CO2, water and sunlight into kerosene

Engineers at ETH Zurich have demonstrated a pilot system that can produce fuels from sunlight and air. The device captures carbon dioxide and water from the atmosphere and uses solar energy to convert it into syngas, which is then converted into liquid… Continue reading Rooftop system converts CO2, water and sunlight into kerosene