Video: Deformable ring drone morphs into a rolling wheel to boost runtime

A new experimental drone can fly in the air as needed, then morph into a motorized wheel and roll on the ground to save energy. It could one day find use in applications such as searching disaster sites for victims trapped in the rubble.Continue Readin… Continue reading Video: Deformable ring drone morphs into a rolling wheel to boost runtime

Study suggests red netting is best at protecting crops from insects

When it comes to protecting crops via insect-blocking netting, you may think that the size of the holes in that netting is the most important factor. According to new research, however, the color of red netting makes an even bigger difference in effect… Continue reading Study suggests red netting is best at protecting crops from insects

Microneedle patches could soon be used to tattoo our pets

While it’s important for your dog or cat to have a form of ID in case they get lost, tags can fall off, and microchips can migrate out of place. Japanese scientists are developing an alternative, in the form of quick and painless tattoos.Continue Readi… Continue reading Microneedle patches could soon be used to tattoo our pets

Quantum batteries could charge by breaking our understanding of time

Causality is key to our experience of reality: dropping a glass, for example, causes it to smash, so it can’t smash before it’s dropped. But in the quantum world those rules don’t necessarily apply, and scientists have now demonstrated how that weirdne… Continue reading Quantum batteries could charge by breaking our understanding of time

Did the Local Void shoot a monster extreme-energy cosmic ray our way?

The Earth’s atmosphere has been blasted by the second strongest ultrahigh-energy cosmic ray (UHECR) to ever be observed. While its exact origins remain unknown, astrophysicists are pointing the finger at the Local Void, a fundamentally empty area of th… Continue reading Did the Local Void shoot a monster extreme-energy cosmic ray our way?

This sea worm’s butt detaches from its body to swim off in search of love

In one of the strangest paths to reproduction, this tiny Japanese sea worm actually grows a ‘mini-me’ at its rear end, which it then deploys so it can swim off on its own in search of similar autonomous tail of the opposite sex to spawn with. The worm,… Continue reading This sea worm’s butt detaches from its body to swim off in search of love

Impressive new plastic self-heals, can be recycled and feeds marine life

Japanese scientists have developed a new type of plastic that’s strong at room temperature, but can be easily broken down on demand into its base components. In seawater, it starts to break down into food for marine life, and just to top it off, it can… Continue reading Impressive new plastic self-heals, can be recycled and feeds marine life

“Starquakes” could be behind mysterious radio signals from space

Cosmic radio signals are beaming to Earth every day – and astronomers are stumped as to their origin. Now a new study finds evidence that these signals, known as fast radio bursts (FRBs), could be caused by “starquakes.”Continue ReadingCategory: Space,… Continue reading “Starquakes” could be behind mysterious radio signals from space

Millisign tech guides autonomous drones via battery-less ground tags

When it comes to precisely locating landing pads or other landmarks, autonomous drones rely largely on visual cues. So, what happens if it’s dark, rainy or foggy, and there’s no ground-based power for lights? Well, that’s where the Millisign system is … Continue reading Millisign tech guides autonomous drones via battery-less ground tags