Computer Science: Artificial Intelligence (AI) Engineering: Robotics Research Environmental: Biodiversity Offbeat: Computers and Math Offbeat: Earth and Climate Offbeat: Plants and Animals
Published

A fairy-like robot flies by the power of wind and light      (via sciencedaily.com) 

The loss of pollinators, such as bees, is a huge challenge for global biodiversity and affects humanity by causing problems in food production. Researchers have now developed the first passively flying robot equipped with artificial muscle. Could this artificial fairy be utilized in pollination?

Geoscience: Geology Paleontology: Climate Paleontology: General
Published

Mercury helps to detail Earth's most massive extinction event      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Scientists are working to understand the cause and how the events of the LPME unfolded by focusing on mercury from Siberian volcanoes that ended up in sediments in Australia and South Africa.

Biology: Developmental Engineering: Robotics Research
Published

Artificial human skin paves the way to new skin cancer therapy      (via sciencedaily.com) 

In a new study, researchers have managed to curb skin cancer. The study was conducted on artificial human skin.

Paleontology: Climate
Published

Kill dates for re-exposed black mosses      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Scientists have used radiocarbon ages (kill dates) of previously ice-entombed dead black mosses to reveal that glaciers advanced during three distinct phases in the northern Antarctic Peninsula over the past 1,500 years.

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

Versatile robo-dog runs through the sandy beach at 3 meters per second      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Meet the new addition to the robo-dog family, 'RaiBo', that can run along the sandy beach without losing balance and walk through grassy fields and back on the hard-floored tracking fields all on its own -- no further tinkering necessary.

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

Person-shaped robot can liquify and escape jail, all with the power of magnets      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Inspired by sea cucumbers, engineers have designed miniature robots that rapidly and reversibly shift between liquid and solid states. On top of being able to shape-shift, the robots are magnetic and can conduct electricity. The researchers put the robots through an obstacle course of mobility and shape-morphing tests.

Biology: Evolutionary Geoscience: Environmental Issues Offbeat: Earth and Climate Offbeat: Paleontology and Archeology Offbeat: Plants and Animals Paleontology: Climate Paleontology: General
Published

What crocodile DNA reveals about the Ice Age      (via sciencedaily.com) 

What drives crocodile evolution? Is climate a major factor or changes in sea levels? Determined to find answers to these questions, researchers discovered that while changing temperatures and rainfall had little impact on the crocodiles' gene flow over the past three million years, changes to sea levels during the Ice Age had a different effect.

Energy: Technology Engineering: Robotics Research Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

Artificial photosynthesis uses sunlight to make biodegradable plastic      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Scientists have succeeded in synthesizing fumaric acid, a raw material for plastics, from CO2 powered by solar energy. Typically, fumaric acid is synthesized from petroleum as a raw material to make polybutylene succinate, a biodegradable plastic, but this research shows that it can be synthesized from CO2 and biomass-derived compounds using renewable energy.

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

Fish sensory organ key to improving navigational skills of underwater robots      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Scientists have been studying a fish sensory organ to understand cues for collective behavior which could be employed on underwater robots.

Engineering: Robotics Research Offbeat: Computers and Math
Published

Click beetle-inspired robots jump using elastic energy      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Researchers have made a significant leap forward in developing insect-sized jumping robots capable of performing tasks in the small spaces often found in mechanical, agricultural and search-and-rescue settings. A new study demonstrates a series of click beetle-sized robots small enough to fit into tight spaces, powerful enough to maneuver over obstacles and fast enough to match an insect's rapid escape time.

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

New soft robots poised to be more agile, controlled      (via sciencedaily.com) 

One of the virtues of untethered soft robots is their ability to mechanically adapt to their surroundings and tasks. Now they are poised to become even more agile and controlled.

Engineering: Robotics Research
Published

Squid tissues and chemistry combine for versatile hydrogels      (via sciencedaily.com) 

The natural abilities of squid tissues and the creativity of chemists combine to take hydrogel research in new directions.

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

'Smart' walking stick could help visually impaired with groceries, finding a seat      (via sciencedaily.com) 

For people who are blind or visually impaired, finding the right products in a crowded grocery store can be difficult without help. A team of computer scientists is trying to change that.

Engineering: Robotics Research
Published

How to push, wiggle, or drill an object through sand      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Researchers developed a faster and simpler way to model the forces needed to push, wiggle, and drill an object through soft, granular material in real-time. The methods could help engineers drive a rover over Martian soil, anchor a ship in rough seas, and walk a robot through sand and mud.

Paleontology: Climate Paleontology: General
Published

Malformed seashells, ancient sediment provide clues about Earth's past      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Shrunken seashells and unusually dark sediment cores have helped geoscientists better understand the chronology and character of events that led to Ocean Anoxic Event 2, nearly 100 million years ago.

Anthropology: Cultures Anthropology: General Paleontology: Climate
Published

In the Neanderthal site of Combe-Grenal, France, hunting strategies were unaffected by changing climate      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Neanderthals in Combe-Grenal (France) preferred to hunt in open environments, and their hunting strategies did not alter during periods of climatic change, according to a new study.

Engineering: Robotics Research Offbeat: Computers and Math
Published

Microelectronics give researchers a remote control for biological robots      (via sciencedaily.com) 

First, they walked. Then, they saw the light. Now, miniature biological robots have gained a new trick: remote control. The hybrid 'eBiobots' are the first to combine soft materials, living muscle and microelectronics, said researchers.

Environmental: Ecosystems Geoscience: Environmental Issues Paleontology: Climate
Published

Global warming reaches central Greenland      (via sciencedaily.com) 

A temperature reconstruction from ice cores of the past 1,000 years reveals that today's warming in central-north Greenland is surprisingly pronounced. The most recent decade surveyed in a study, the years 2001 to 2011, was the warmest in the past 1,000 years, and the region is now 1.5 °C warmer than during the 20th century, as researchers report. Using a set of ice cores unprecedented in length and quality, they reconstructed past temperatures in central-north Greenland and melting rates of the ice sheet.

Computer Science: Artificial Intelligence (AI) Engineering: Robotics Research Physics: Acoustics and Ultrasound
Published

A precision arm for miniature robots      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Until now, microscopic robotic systems have had to make do without arms. Now researchers have developed an ultrasonically actuated glass needle that can be attached to a robotic arm. This lets them pump and mix minuscule amounts of liquid and trap particles.

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

Feathered robotic wing paves way for flapping drones      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Birds fly more efficiently by folding their wings during the upstroke, according to a recent study. The results could mean that wing-folding is the next step in increasing the propulsive and aerodynamic efficiency of flapping drones.