Discovery explains how unkillable tardigrades survive without water

Scientists studying the biology of the tardigrade have filled in important new details around how the tiny aquatic creature can survive the harshest of conditions. The discovery centers on a newfound mechanism that kicks into gear as dehydration sets i… Continue reading Discovery explains how unkillable tardigrades survive without water

Whisker-cams unravel the mystery of how seals feed in the dark

Using their sonar system, toothed whales are able to zero in on prey in the pitch black conditions of the deep sea. Seals lack such a system, but still catch prey in the same sunless conditions. New research now shows how their whiskers allow them to d… Continue reading Whisker-cams unravel the mystery of how seals feed in the dark

Scientists cover robotic finger with living skin made from human cells

We’ve been hearing a lot about synthetic skins designed for robotic hands, which would give the devices more human-like qualities. Well, scientists in Japan have gone a step further, by covering a robotic finger in a self-healing skin made from live hu… Continue reading Scientists cover robotic finger with living skin made from human cells

Teflon-like desalination membrane purifies water fast and friction-free

Engineers at the University of Tokyo have developed a new type of desalination membrane that they claim is faster, and requires less pressure and energy than existing tech. The new membrane is made up of a series of nanoscale tubes lined with a Teflon-… Continue reading Teflon-like desalination membrane purifies water fast and friction-free

Cosmic timekeeping tech works underground or underwater

The movements of the Sun, Moon and stars have long been used to keep track of time, and now engineers from the University of Tokyo have proposed a new way to use the cosmos to precisely track time, using showers of particles from cosmic rays.Continue R… Continue reading Cosmic timekeeping tech works underground or underwater

Tannic acid utilized to “stain” odor-eliminating silver onto clothing

Red wine and chocolate are notorious for staining clothes, thanks to the tannic acid that they and other substances contain. Scientists at the University of Tokyo have now used that acid in a textile coating which keeps clothes from stinking, and that … Continue reading Tannic acid utilized to “stain” odor-eliminating silver onto clothing

Green new concrete recycles building waste and captured CO2

Concrete is the most widely used building material in the world, but it comes at a huge environmental cost. Engineers in Japan have developed a new technique to make concrete by recycling waste concrete and combining it with captured carbon dioxide.Con… Continue reading Green new concrete recycles building waste and captured CO2

Wireless charging room takes plugs out of the picture

Plugging a phone in at night could one day seem quaint – eventually widespread wireless charging could keep our devices juiced up indefinitely. A new breakthrough has been made in that direction, as researchers in Japan have developed a system that can… Continue reading Wireless charging room takes plugs out of the picture

Genetically modified rice used for edible, easily stored cholera vaccine

Japanese researchers have developed a new type of cholera vaccine by genetically modifying rice to carry a non-toxic cholera antigen. The vaccine needs no refrigeration with the rice simply ground into a powder, mixed with water and consumed.Continue R… Continue reading Genetically modified rice used for edible, easily stored cholera vaccine

Food scraps recycled into materials stronger than concrete, yet edible

It sounds like the premise of a comedy sketch, but researchers at the Institute of Industrial Science at the University of Tokyo led by Yuya Sakai have developed a way to recycle food scraps into construction materials that are stronger than concrete, … Continue reading Food scraps recycled into materials stronger than concrete, yet edible