NASA mission could detect alien life from a single cell as early as 2030

We might find alien life as soon as 2030, according to a new study. A lab experiment has shown that instruments on a spacecraft headed to one of the most promising worlds to find life are sensitive enough to detect a single living cell in a single ice … Continue reading NASA mission could detect alien life from a single cell as early as 2030

Thermal Earring feels its wearer’s heat – via their earlobe

If you want to continuously monitor your body temperature, and you already wear earrings all day long, why not just have those earrings do the job? That’s the thinking behind the Thermal Earring, which may someday be coming to an ear near you.Continue … Continue reading Thermal Earring feels its wearer’s heat – via their earlobe

Study provides first direct evidence explaining why we sleep

Researchers have combined physics and biology in a study that provides the first direct evidence explaining why we sleep. Viewing the brain like a biological computer whose resources are drained during waking, they demonstrated that sleep resets the br… Continue reading Study provides first direct evidence explaining why we sleep

All-seeing skin, detachable butts and zombies: Animal oddities of 2023

The animal kingdom has no shortage of weird and wonderful surprises, and this year biologists gave us some real treats to talk about at the dinner table. All walks of life, from microscopic bacteria to huge cetaceans have remarkable, varied adaptations… Continue reading All-seeing skin, detachable butts and zombies: Animal oddities of 2023

Sitting in traffic triggers a blood pressure surge that lasts 24 hours

Inching forward bumper to bumper on a highway when you’re on the way to an appointment, or worse, the airport, is enough to spike anyone’s blood pressure (BP). But researchers have found that a BP surge occurs independent of external stressors, and it … Continue reading Sitting in traffic triggers a blood pressure surge that lasts 24 hours

“Semantic hearing” headphone tech keeps certain sounds from being blocked

Noise-cancelling headphones are great for blocking out the loud talkers and chaotic coffee shops of the world, but what if there are certain sounds that you want to hear? That’s where the experimental new “semantic hearing” system could soon come in.Co… Continue reading “Semantic hearing” headphone tech keeps certain sounds from being blocked

Tiny energy-harvesting MilliMobile robot has no need for batteries

There are numerous situations in which a robot doesn’t need to move quickly, but it does need to cover long distances without having to recharge its batteries. The minuscule energy-harvesting MilliMobile robot was designed for just such scenarios.Conti… Continue reading Tiny energy-harvesting MilliMobile robot has no need for batteries

Autonomous audio robot swarm can mute conversations in chaotic rooms

UW researchers say they can now mute different parts of a noisy room, or isolate one conversation in a chaotic environment, thanks to a swarm of small audio robots that auto-position themselves to pinpoint and follow multiple moving sound sources.Conti… Continue reading Autonomous audio robot swarm can mute conversations in chaotic rooms

Leaf-inspired origami “microfliers” change shape to change flight

If you’re trying to distribute environmental sensors over a wide area by dropping them from a drone, you definitely don’t want them all landing in the same place. In order to keep that from happening, University of Washington scientists have created ti… Continue reading Leaf-inspired origami “microfliers” change shape to change flight

Tooth enamel stem cells could patch up cavities with “living fillings”

It’s a frustrating fact that our bodies can’t regenerate damaged tooth enamel, but scientists at the University of Washington (UW) have now grown mini teeth in the lab that secrete enamel-producing proteins. This could be the first step towards “living… Continue reading Tooth enamel stem cells could patch up cavities with “living fillings”