[ad_1] The hands themselves are made out of custom auxetics (materials that get wider when stretched) that twist when cut. Each finger in the robot’s hand includes “left-handed” and “right-handed” auxetics that counter each other’s rotation, allowing for more dynamic movement than a typical robot hand without having to resort to the air pumps and […]
Category: Science
The reality of pollution kills your dream of a flying car
[ad_1] The researchers came to their conclusions through a physics-based model that reflects the “general trends” of the industry. It considers factors like weight, battery energy and the lift-to-drag ratio. This doesn’t mean you’ll never leave the ground. The economy tips in your favor beyond the 22-mile mark, since flying cars gain efficiency the longer […]
Digital music may not have saved the environment after all
[ad_1] The publicly available data leaves some questions. It’s not clear that the findings account for savings from reduced transportation costs, packaging and other savings that come when the music doesn’t have to physically travel somewhere. This also doesn’t account for multitasking. If you’re listening to music while you’re already at your computer, for instance, […]
Google forms an external council to foster ‘responsible’ AI
[ad_1] The current advisors include academics focused both on technical aspects of AI (such as computational mathematics and drones) as well as experts in ethics, privacy, and political policy. There’s also an international focus, with people ranging from as far afield as Hong Kong and South Africa. ATEAC will hold its first meeting in April, […]
NASA, ESA will study how artificial gravity can keep astronauts healthy
[ad_1] The scientists can tweak the intensity of the centrifugal force as well as decide whether to spin around a person’s head or chest, but it’s not clear just what will work. That’s partly what the experiment is for — they’ll have a better sense of what gravitational effects would be necessary to prevent muscles […]
Shrimp-inspired robot claw could punch through rock
[ad_1] The researchers started by creating a 3D-printed replica of the shrimp’s claw, which includes a top half that cocks back like a gun, and a plunger that smacks into a socket in the bottom half. The human-made version relies on a top half that spins quickly on a spring-loaded rod, producing the force needed […]
Neil deGrasse Tyson will continue with ‘Cosmos’ after investigation
[ad_1] The investigation started in December 2018 after Katelyn Allers and Ashley Watson came forward with allegations of inappropriate sexual behavior, including groping (described as “creepy” rather than assault) and attempts at persuasion. It also resurfaced an allegation of rape from Tchiya Amet in 2014. DeGrasse Tyson said he remembered the two newly disclosed incidents […]
Stanford study finds Apple Watch can detect irregular heart rhythms
[ad_1] Just 34 percent of those who received notifications and agreed to wear an ECG patch for a week showed irregularities, but that was expected when atrial fibrillation is intermittent. About 57 percent of those who saw warnings went to a doctor, Stanford added. Notably, the study only included Apple Watches from Series 3 and […]
MIT robot’s flytrap gripper can grab both fragile and heavy objects
[ad_1] The underlying gripper revolves around a 3D-printed origami structure made out of a plastic that folds on itself at high temperatures. It can effectively adapt to the shape of whatever it’s grabbing without compromising its strength. Vacuum power keeps objects firmly in place, while an airtight skin made from fabric or a rubber balloon […]
Sneaky deep sea robot will take pics of fish without spooking them
[ad_1] It crucially won’t need much human intervention. Mesobot uses stereo cameras to identify target animals and can follow them around on its own. A 12-megapixel camera can take both pictures and 4K video, while a particulate sampler could collect DNA traces floating in the water. It could also study water traits like salt levels […]