Electronics

This DIY tracker counts burned calories better than a smartwatch

A system made with two inexpensive sensors is more accurate than smartwatches for tracking calories burned during activity, researchers report. And the instructions for making...

Electronic air cleaners could generate unintended pollutants, shows study

As the Covid-19 pandemic raged, news reports show that sales of electronic air cleaners have surged due to concerns about airborne disease transmission. But a...

Your fitness tracker can detect long COVID symptoms

In a new study from the Scripps Research Translational Institute, researchers found that fitness trackers such as Fitbits or the Apple Watch can help...

More smartphone data use is negatively affecting Wi-Fi performance, study finds

If service becomes slow when you’re trying to send a quick email on your smartphone, you might scroll through your network options and discover...

Scientists develop a sweat-proof electronic skin

MIT engineers and researchers in South Korea have developed a sweat-proof “electronic skin” — a conformable, sensor-embedded sticky patch that monitors a person’s health...

New soft electronics don’t break, even when punctured

Want a smartphone that stretches, takes damage, and still doesn't miss a call? A team of Virginia Tech researchers from the Department of Mechanical Engineering...

Scientists invent new technique to produce flexible electronics

Ultrathin, flexible computer circuits have been an engineering goal for years, but technical hurdles have prevented the degree of miniaturization necessary to achieve high...

Drone footage reveals social secrets of killer whales

Killer whales have complex social structures including close "friendships", according to a new study that used drones to film the animals. The findings show that...

Bird-like morphing wings could stabilize drones in flight

Researchers found that wings that can morph in continuous 3D shapes could help keep drones stable in gusts of wind and perhaps help them...

Your digital photos could be stored as DNA one day

On Earth right now, there are about 10 trillion gigabytes of digital data, and every day, humans produce emails, photos, tweets, and other digital...