Engineering: Robotics Research Offbeat: Computers and Math Offbeat: General
Published

Printed robots with bones, ligaments, and tendons      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

For the first time, researchers have succeeded in printing a robotic hand with bones, ligaments and tendons made of different polymers using a new laser scanning technique. The new technology makes it possible to 3D print special plastics with elastic qualities in one go. This opens up completely new possibilities for the production of soft robotic structures.

Chemistry: Biochemistry Computer Science: Artificial Intelligence (AI) Computer Science: General Engineering: Robotics Research
Published

This 3D printer can watch itself fabricate objects      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Engineers have developed a high-throughput, multimaterial 3D inkjet printer that uses computer vision to rapidly and automatically control the amount of material being deposited during the printing process in real time. This enables the use of a wide range of materials for fabrication.

Computer Science: Artificial Intelligence (AI) Engineering: Robotics Research
Published

Individual back training machine developed      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

18 percent of reported sick leave relates to musculoskeletal ailments, in particular back-related disorders. The GyroTrainer is an intelligent training device that resembles a balance board. It uses artificial intelligence to adjust the difficulty level to the individual patient's current ability.

Anthropology: Early Humans Anthropology: General Archaeology: General Environmental: Ecosystems Offbeat: Earth and Climate Offbeat: General Offbeat: Paleontology and Archeology
Published

No scientific evidence for cognitively advanced behaviors and symbolism by Homo naledi      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A new study casts doubt on claims that Homo naledi, a small-brained hominin dating to between 335-241,000 years ago, deliberately buried their dead and produced rock art in Rising Star Cave, South Africa. Recent articles suggested the recent excavations at the Rising Star Cave system provided evidence of at least three burial features, two in the Dinaledi Chamber and a third in the Hill Antechamber cavity. The group of experts have now called for a deeper dig into the science behind the findings.

Computer Science: Artificial Intelligence (AI) Computer Science: General Engineering: Robotics Research
Published

Engineers are on a failure-finding mission      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Engineers developed a technique to quickly identify a range of potential failures in a system before they are deployed in the real world.

Computer Science: Artificial Intelligence (AI) Computer Science: General Engineering: Robotics Research Offbeat: Computers and Math Offbeat: General
Published

How human faces can teach androids to smile      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A research team used 125 physical markers to understand the detailed mechanics of 44 different human facial motions. The aim was to better understand how to convey emotions with artificial faces. Beyond helping with the design of robots and androids, this research can also benefit computer graphics, facial recognition, and medical diagnoses.

Anthropology: Early Humans Anthropology: General
Published

New research exposes early humans' ecological versatility      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A recent study sheds new light on the ecological adaptability of early humans at the time when they first expanded their range outside Africa, 2--1 million years ago.  

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Biotechnology Biology: General Biology: Marine Chemistry: Biochemistry Ecology: General Ecology: Research Ecology: Sea Life Engineering: Robotics Research Environmental: Ecosystems Environmental: Water Geoscience: Oceanography
Published

Device 'smells' seawater to discover, detect novel molecules      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Under the ocean's surface, marine organisms are constantly releasing invisible molecules. Some of the chemical clues reveal which creatures are nearby, while others could be used someday as medications. Now, researchers report a proof-of-concept device that 'sniffs' seawater, trapping dissolved compounds for analyses. The team showed that the system could easily concentrate molecules that are present in underwater caves and holds promise for drug discovery in fragile ecosystems, including coral reefs.

Anthropology: General
Published

Cultural artifacts serve as 'cognitive fossils,' helping uncover the psychology of the past      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

No two societies in history think exactly alike. In fact, the mindset of a given society throughout history can help historians unpack important clues about the effects of psychological shifts -- such as more social trust or more openness. Researchers explain how modern computing methods like text mining, face detection algorithms, and melodic extraction programs can enable large-scale analysis of cultural artifacts such as paintings, stories, or clothing to uncover this psychological data.

Chemistry: General Energy: Batteries Energy: Technology Engineering: Robotics Research
Published

Lightening the load: Researchers develop autonomous electrochemistry robot      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers have developed an automated laboratory robot to run complex electrochemical experiments and analyze data. The Electrolab will be used to explore next-generation energy storage materials and chemical reactions that promote alternative and sustainable energy.

Anthropology: Early Humans Anthropology: General Biology: Evolutionary Biology: General Ecology: Extinction Ecology: Nature Geoscience: Geography Paleontology: Fossils Paleontology: General
Published

Fossils tell tale of last primate to inhabit North America before humans      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Paleontologists have shed light on the long-standing saga of Ekgmowechashala, based on fossil teeth and jaws found in both Nebraska and China. Ekgmowechashala is the last primate found in the fossil record before humans. 

Anthropology: General Biology: Biochemistry Ecology: Extinction Paleontology: Fossils Paleontology: General
Published

Frogs were Florida's first-known vertebrates from the Caribbean      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A new fossil study shows that frogs from the genus Eleutherodactylus are geologically the oldest Caribbean vertebrates to be found in Florida. They made the journey 20 million years ago, when much of Florida was still underwater.

Anthropology: General Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Biotechnology Biology: Cell Biology Biology: Evolutionary Biology: General Biology: Genetics Biology: Zoology Ecology: Animals
Published

New secrets about cat evolution revealed      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

By comparing genomes of several cat species, the project has helped researchers understand why cat genomes tend to have fewer complex genetic variations (such as rearrangements of DNA segments) than other mammal groups, like primates. It also revealed new insights into which parts of cat DNA are most likely to evolve rapidly and how they play a role in species differentiation.

Chemistry: Biochemistry Engineering: Robotics Research
Published

Injectable tissue prosthesis to aid in damaged muscle/nerve regeneration      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers have made significant strides in biomaterial technology and rehabilitation medicine. They've developed a novel approach to healing muscle injury by employing 'injectable tissue prosthesis' in the form of conductive hydrogels and combining it with a robot-assisted rehabilitation system.

Chemistry: General Energy: Alternative Fuels Engineering: Robotics Research Environmental: General Geoscience: Geochemistry
Published

How robots can help find the solar energy of the future      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

To quickly and accurately characterize prospective materials for use in solar energy, researchers built an automated system to perform laboratory experiments and used machine learning to help analyze the data they recorded. Their goal is to identify semiconductor materials for use in photovoltaic solar energy, which are highly efficient and have low toxicity.

Chemistry: Biochemistry Computer Science: Artificial Intelligence (AI) Computer Science: Virtual Reality (VR) Engineering: Robotics Research Offbeat: Computers and Math Offbeat: General
Published

Robot stand-in mimics movements in VR      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers have developed a souped-up telepresence robot that responds automatically and in real-time to a remote user's movements and gestures made in virtual reality.

Computer Science: General Engineering: Robotics Research
Published

Energy-saving AI chip      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A computer scientist has developed an AI-ready architecture that is twice as powerful as comparable in-memory computing approaches. The researcher applies a new computational paradigm using special circuits known as ferroelectric field effect transistors (FeFETs). Within a few years, this could prove useful for generative AI, deep learning algorithms and robotic applications.