MIT and Harvard engineers develop face mask that detects COVID-19

Researchers from MIT and Harvard have demonstrated a cutting-edge biosensor technology by developing a face mask that can detect SARS-CoV-2 in a wearer’s breath within just 90 minutes. The sensor technology can be programmed to detect any kind of virus… Continue reading MIT and Harvard engineers develop face mask that detects COVID-19

Smart carpet tracks your movements for better exercise or gaming

Engineers at MIT’s CSAIL have developed a smart carpet that can accurately estimate a person’s movements or body pose without needing cameras. The system could be useful for exercise feedback, monitoring falls, or tracking for VR and gaming.Continue Re… Continue reading Smart carpet tracks your movements for better exercise or gaming

Ultralight armor material made of tiny carbon struts outperforms Kevlar

A light weight and slim form are two very desirable attributes when it comes to next-gen armor materials, and we’re seeing scientists make impressive gains in this area, inspired by everything from sea snails, to animal scales, to finely tuned foams. T… Continue reading Ultralight armor material made of tiny carbon struts outperforms Kevlar

Physicists induce motionless quantum state in largest object yet

“Stationary” has very different meanings at quantum and real-world scales – an object that looks perfectly still to us is actually made up of atoms that are buzzing and bouncing around. Now, scientists have managed to slow down the atoms almost to a co… Continue reading Physicists induce motionless quantum state in largest object yet

Two-faced carbon nanotube particles generate electricity in MIT device

Engineers at MIT have developed a device that generates electricity using a completely new mechanism. “Particles” made of carbon nanotubes are dunked in an organic solvent, which induces a current to potentially power small robots or drive chemical rea… Continue reading Two-faced carbon nanotube particles generate electricity in MIT device

MIT’s world-first digital fabric can collect, store and process data

While the fabrics we wear today might keep us warm and protect us from the elements, scientists continue to demonstrate how they might soon do far more than that. MIT scientist Yoel Fink has been at the cutting edge of this field for more than a decade… Continue reading MIT’s world-first digital fabric can collect, store and process data

MIT’s Digger Finger robot can sense items buried beneath the surface

Lately, we’ve seen some exciting advances in the development of robots that can interact with objects in interesting ways, ranging from grippers that work like elephant trunks to coil around odd items to others that use electroadhesion to grasp fragile… Continue reading MIT’s Digger Finger robot can sense items buried beneath the surface

Hackaday Links: May 23, 2021

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The epicenter of the Chinese electronics scene drew a lot of attention this week as a 70-story skyscraper started wobbling in exactly the way skyscrapers shouldn’t. The 1,000-ft (305-m) SEG …read more Continue reading Hackaday Links: May 23, 2021