For Self-Help Robots, Looks Matter
The University of Cambridge did a study about robotic wellbeing coaches. And it turns out that if we want robots to help us help ourselves… they need to be cute.
For Safer Motorcycling, How About Pants With Airbags?
Motorcycles just don’t have many of the same safety advantages as cars and trucks. So a company in Sweden is taking one of those safety features and adding it to a rider’s outfit: introducing airbag pants!
Gaming Prosthetics Are Making Minecraft More Inclusive (Cool Weird Awesome 950)
Engineering students at Johns Hopkins University have been building adaptive controllers to make the Minecraft universe more accessible.
Hydrogel Sheets Could Clean Up Spills Quicker Than Ever Before
A lot of us turn to paper towels when there’s a mess to be addressed, but they could also be greener. Researchers are developing a reusable kitchen towel made of hydrogel.
Here’s Why There Aren’t B Batteries
Maybe you had to pick up some batteries for some of the presents you bought this month. When it comes to toys, we’ve got AA, AAA, C and D batteries… but not B! Why not?
Brushing Our Teeth With Help From Nanorobots
University of Pennsylvania researchers are developing a teeth cleaning system out of nanoparticles.
A Chess “Robot” Beat Grand Masters In The 18th Century – Sort Of
Today in 1854, the end of one of the great hoaxes of its day: a fire in a Philadelphia museum destroyed what people of that time thought was a super-intelligent chess robot.
A Typewriter Inventor Was Trying To Help A Blind Friend Send Letters
For National Typewriter Day, some of the stories that helped bring this device to life, including a guy in Italy who was trying to help a blind countess write letters.
The Smart Pacifier Is A High-Tech Wearable That Helps Keep Newborns Healthy
Washington State University has developed a high-tech wearable (I guess you call it a wearable?) to make it easier to take care of a very important test for some babies: a smart pacifier.
“Smart Work Zones” Can Keep Workers Safe On Roads And Highways
When there's road work to be done, crews put up cones, barrels and fences to keep workers safe. Now a "smart work" zone system being tested in Virginia could make those spaces even safer.