Why robots struggle to understand human facial expressions
Artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly skilled at understanding the world around it, but new research suggests it still has a major weakness: reading human...
Thousands of future rocket launches could threaten Earth’s protective ozone shield
The global space industry is expanding rapidly, with thousands of new satellites expected to enter orbit in the coming years.
These spacecraft will support a...
Octopus-inspired robotic arm can feel and grasp objects underwater
Scientists in Italy have developed a remarkable robotic arm inspired by the octopus, one of the ocean’s most skilled and intelligent creatures.
The new device...
New $10 spectrometer chip could turn smartwatches into health monitors
Researchers at the University of Cambridge and startup company GlitterinTech have developed a tiny, low-cost device that could bring powerful chemical sensing capabilities to...
Could your online orders soon travel on crewless cargo ships?
A future where cargo ships travel across the sea with little or no crew on board is moving closer to reality.
Researchers and industry partners...
Scientists overcome key barrier to mass-producing ultra-thin semiconductors
Scientists have developed a new way to manufacture ultra-thin semiconductors that could help power the next generation of computers, smartphones, and other electronic devices.
Researchers...
Curbside parking is great for drivers—but terrible for everyone else: Could we get rid...
It may seem like it's impossible to find a car park on the street.
As a recent Grattan Institute report makes clear, Australia actually has...
New pilot plant can transform hard-to-recycle plastic waste into useful oil
A team of researchers at the University of Amsterdam has developed a new way to recycle mixed plastic waste that could help reduce the...
Tiny jumping spiders inspire a new ultra-low-power 3D camera
A tiny jumping spider has inspired a new type of 3D camera that uses very little power while still producing detailed depth maps in...
Why did the self-driving car crash? New AI tool may finally have the answer
As self-driving cars become more common on city streets, one important question remains difficult to answer: Why do they sometimes crash?
Now, researchers at King's...
Scientists Create AI That Can Invent New Battery Electrolytes
Artificial intelligence is helping scientists discover new medicines, create advanced materials, and now even design better batteries.
Researchers at the University of Chicago have developed...
AI May Predict Heart and Kidney Disease from Eye Scans
Eye exams are becoming much more powerful than many people realize. Modern eye clinics now use advanced imaging technology that allows doctors to look...
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AI and gene tools could treat heart disease much better
Heart disease is the number one cause of death in the world, despite big improvements in medical care.
One reason for this is that most...
Gene edit could get oil from plant leaves
Research has found a way to boost the production of triacylglycerol, the main component of vegetable oil, in plant leaves.
Vegetable oils are traditionally extracted...
Smartphone videos produce highly realistic 3D face reconstructions
Normally, it takes pricey equipment and expertise to create an accurate 3D reconstruction of someone's face that's realistic and doesn't look creepy.
Now, Carnegie Mellon...
Scientists find a greener way to make iron
Scientists at the University of Oregon are working on a greener way to make iron metal—a big step toward cleaning up the steel industry,...
New tool could help design futuristic turbines for jet engines
Will it be possible to design materials that are unfazed by extreme temperatures in the near future?
In a study published in the journal Nature...