Another Alzheimer’s Drug Fails, Disease Still Confounds Researchers
Humans are living longer, but for many, longevity doesn’t equal quality of life. Increasingly, the final years are marked by a steady cognitive decline where memory and... more
Orbital Trash a Problem With No Immediate Solution, Growing Exponentially
Artist's impression based on actual space debris data. Debris size is exaggerated compared to the size of the Earth.
Our technology can get us to space, but once there,... more
Are Fingerprints a Secure Way to Pay?
You may have heard Google wants to absorb your wallet into your smartphone. But these days, slimmer is better. So how about making the wallet disappear altogether?... more
Matternet Building Quadcopter Drone Network To Transport Supplies
Last summer, drones took to the skies over the Dominican Republic and Haiti. These flying bots weren’t on a military mission, nor were they conducting police... more
DARPA’s Robotic Hand Can Unlock and Open Your Door
Engineers often turn to nature for inspiration, but working from evolutionary blueprints isn’t always necessary. The Defense Advanced Projects Agency (DARPA) recently... more
Cara Face Recognition Transforms Standard Webcams Into Intelligent Sensors
The human face is a treasure trove of information. A millisecond after meeting someone, we’ve guessed their general age bracket, gender, mood, and more.
With tech... more
Moshe Vardi: Robots Could Put Humans Out of Work by 2045
Robots began replacing human brawn long ago—now they’re poised to replace human brains. Moshe Vardi, a computer science professor at Rice University, thinks that by... more
US Takes Gold in Bot Hockey at RoboGames 2013
Gentleman, some ground rules first. No caltrops, spike strips, cattle prods, or stun guns. No spears, hammers, saw blades, lasers, or flame weapons. We’ll play three... more
Video Shows Robo Raven Diving, Spiraling, Flipping—and Getting Attacked by a Hawk
Robo Raven is a truly clever robot flier—it can dive, spiral, even back flip. Although up close, Robo Raven's reflective body doesn’t look very hawk-like, its wing... more
Polytron, Maker of Switchable Privacy Glass Aims For Transparent Smartphone
Taiwan’s Polytron Techologies, a subsidiary of US firm Polytronix, wants to change the way we look at (and through) glass, one of mankind’s oldest inventions.... more
Hunters In Louisiana Build Thermal Camera Carrying Drone to Hunt Hogs
Drones are notorious for their grim military and law enforcement uses. But as the cost of UAV technology has plummeted in recent years, non-government use of DIY drones... more
Beyond Banks? Peer-to-Peer Lending Is On the Upswing, Google Dives In
Lending Club, the peer-to-peer loan firm, recently announced Google and Foundation Capital bought $125 million of the firm's shares on secondary markets (that is, from... more
