Swimming can take a lot of muscle. But as MIT engineers have found, even a single layer of muscle cells can power through water if designed right. In a paper published Sept. 28 in the journal Advanced Functional Materials, the team presents a design for a thin, muscle-powered swimming robot. The “skeleton” of the aquabot is made from a film of gel about the length and width of a stick of gum. The two halves of the gel form the bot’s “fins.” Each fin is covered with a layer of live muscle cells much thinner than a single strand of hair. The cells are genetically engineered to twitch in response to light.Swimming can take a lot of muscle. But as MIT engineers have found, even a single layer of muscle cells can power through water if designed right. In a paper published Sept. 28 in the journal Advanced Functional Materials, the team presents a design for a thin, muscle-powered swimming robot. The “skeleton” of the aquabot is made from a film of gel about the length and width of a stick of gum. The two halves of the gel form the bot’s “fins.” Each fin is covered with a layer of live muscle cells much thinner than a single strand of hair. The cells are genetically engineered to twitch in response to light.[#item_full_content]
A Venus flytrap closes its leaves to trap prey when it senses a stimulus. Taking inspiration from this plant, KAIST researchers have combined the roles of skin that senses approaching objects and muscle that grasps them in a single soft material. When an electrically charged object comes near, ions inside the material move and produce an electrical signal.A Venus flytrap closes its leaves to trap prey when it senses a stimulus. Taking inspiration from this plant, KAIST researchers have combined the roles of skin that senses approaching objects and muscle that grasps them in a single soft material. When an electrically charged object comes near, ions inside the material move and produce an electrical signal.[#item_full_content]
As more people turn to LLMs for advice on interpersonal matters, the ethical foundations of the tools’ replies increasingly have the power to shape individual lives and, at scale, the social fabric itself.As more people turn to LLMs for advice on interpersonal matters, the ethical foundations of the tools’ replies increasingly have the power to shape individual lives and, at scale, the social fabric itself.Machine learning & AI[#item_full_content]
Recent advances in generative artificial intelligence (AI), particularly large language models, which underpin many contemporary AI systems, have made natural-language interaction with AI characters increasingly feasible.Recent advances in generative artificial intelligence (AI), particularly large language models, which underpin many contemporary AI systems, have made natural-language interaction with AI characters increasingly feasible.Machine learning & AI[#item_full_content]
Cameras have long been regarded as tools for capturing what the human eye can see. But that assumption may soon be challenged.Cameras have long been regarded as tools for capturing what the human eye can see. But that assumption may soon be challenged.Hi Tech & Innovation[#item_full_content]
Neuromorphic devices, which are designed to emulate aspects of biological neural networks, are promising candidates for low-power, intelligent sensing technologies, including wearable applications.Neuromorphic devices, which are designed to emulate aspects of biological neural networks, are promising candidates for low-power, intelligent sensing technologies, including wearable applications.Electronics & Semiconductors[#item_full_content]
AI-generated summaries are becoming increasingly prevalent—from news article previews to workplace meeting transcriptions to high-stakes settings like police body camera footage—despite studies showing that AI can generate misleading or inaccurate information.AI-generated summaries are becoming increasingly prevalent—from news article previews to workplace meeting transcriptions to high-stakes settings like police body camera footage—despite studies showing that AI can generate misleading or inaccurate information.Consumer & Gadgets[#item_full_content]
For many of us, “Let me just ask the chatbot” has become an everyday phrase. Where we used to turn to Google to find information, AI chatbots have become a common way to get answers to everything from what to make for dinner and how to word a difficult email to the boss to what it means when interest rates rise.For many of us, “Let me just ask the chatbot” has become an everyday phrase. Where we used to turn to Google to find information, AI chatbots have become a common way to get answers to everything from what to make for dinner and how to word a difficult email to the boss to what it means when interest rates rise.Internet[#item_full_content]
Researchers at the Institute of Information Security at Graz University of Technology (TU Graz) have uncovered security risks in the file notification systems of the widely used operating systems Windows, Linux, Android and macOS. Through side-channel attacks, attackers can track system-wide changes to files, keystrokes and visited websites, and spoof password prompts to intercept entries.Researchers at the Institute of Information Security at Graz University of Technology (TU Graz) have uncovered security risks in the file notification systems of the widely used operating systems Windows, Linux, Android and macOS. Through side-channel attacks, attackers can track system-wide changes to files, keystrokes and visited websites, and spoof password prompts to intercept entries.[#item_full_content]
Researchers in the Bio-Inspired Robotics Laboratory at Cambridge are exploring how soil behaves as an intelligent system. By studying its structure, chemistry and biological network of microbes and fungi, they aim to inspire new technologies in bio-inspired computing, precision agriculture and environmental sensing.Researchers in the Bio-Inspired Robotics Laboratory at Cambridge are exploring how soil behaves as an intelligent system. By studying its structure, chemistry and biological network of microbes and fungi, they aim to inspire new technologies in bio-inspired computing, precision agriculture and environmental sensing.[#item_full_content]
