Tractor-towed Vulcan automatically spots and pulls weeds

Nobody likes the idea of herbicides in their veggies, yet hiring workers to pick weeds by hand can be prohibitively expensive for farmers. The Vulcan farm implement offers an alternative, as it automatically spots and yanks out weeds while leaving crop… Continue reading Tractor-towed Vulcan automatically spots and pulls weeds

MIT’s X-AR system guides users to RFID-tagged hidden items

It can be frustrating when you’re searching for an object, knowing that you may have looked right where it is without realizing you’ve done so. A new augmented reality system could help, by showing users where specific items are … even if they’re hidde… Continue reading MIT’s X-AR system guides users to RFID-tagged hidden items

Liquid-pumping heart replicas could lead to better cardiac treatments

Before operating on someone, it would be very helpful if cardiac surgeons could examine a physical model of that specific individual’s heart. Well, they should soon be able to do so – and the model will actually pump liquid, just like the patient’s rea… Continue reading Liquid-pumping heart replicas could lead to better cardiac treatments

MIT team makes a case for direct carbon capture from seawater, not air

Pulling greenhouse gases out of water is an odd-sounding idea, but the oceans are the planet’s number one carbon sink, and direct air carbon capture has pretty serious problems: it costs a lot, and uses a lot of energy. According to IEA figures from 20… Continue reading MIT team makes a case for direct carbon capture from seawater, not air

Modular voxel tech could bring swimming robots into the mainstream

Bioinspired underwater robots that swim by undulating their bodies may be more energy-efficient than their rigid counterparts, but they’re also quite difficult to build. That could soon change however, thanks to a new modular robotics system.Continue R… Continue reading Modular voxel tech could bring swimming robots into the mainstream

Bottlebrush-shaped molecules carry drug combos to combat cancer

Scientists at MIT have developed bottlebrush-shaped molecules that can carry groups of different cancer drugs in just the right ratio. Tests in mice showed significantly improved outcomes compared to just giving the drugs loose.Continue ReadingCategory… Continue reading Bottlebrush-shaped molecules carry drug combos to combat cancer

Toroidal Propellers Make Drones Less Annoying

A black quadcopter sits on a grey surface. In place of traditional propellers are four figure eight propellers with sharp tips where the top and bottom of the eight would be.

Despite being integral to aviation for more than a century, propellers have changed remarkably little since the Wright Brothers. A team at MIT’s Lincoln Lab has developed a new propeller …read more Continue reading Toroidal Propellers Make Drones Less Annoying

Secret ingredient found to help ancient Roman concrete self-heal

Neglect a modern concrete structure for a few decades and it’ll start to fall apart – and yet, structures built by the ancient Romans are still standing strong after 2,000 years. Now, engineers have found an inclusion that helps ancient concrete self-h… Continue reading Secret ingredient found to help ancient Roman concrete self-heal