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☆ Chinese researchers test robot ‘guide dogs’ to help the visually impaired
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-08 | by ( Story Reuters | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Shanghai — It’s less furry than a traditional companion, but a six-legged Chinese robot “guide dog” could one day help vision impaired people live with more independence, according to its research development team in Shanghai. The robot dog, which is currently being field-tested, is able to navigate its physical environment via cameras and sensors, including recognizing traffic light signals, which traditional guide dogs are unable to do. “If this robot guide dog comes onto the market and I could use it, at least it could solve some of my problems in traveling alone,” Li said. In China, there are just over 400 guide dogs for almost 20 million blind people, Gao said. “I think this could be a very large market, because there might be tens of millions of people in the world who need guide dogs.”

Persons: ”, Gao Feng, Jiao, Li Fei, Zhu Sibin, Li, Zhu, ” Li, Gao, “ Organizations: Shanghai, Jiao Tong University’s, of Mechanical Engineering, Jiao Tong University Locations: Shanghai, Australia, Britain, China, Labrador

☆ Scientists solved the 70-year-old mystery of an insect's invisibility coat that can manipulate light
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-15 | by ( Ellyn Lapointe | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

"This is really the first study to understand how the brochosome's complex geometry interacts with light," Wong said. After almost a decade of research, they managed to 3D print the world's first synthetic brochosomes. Wong's future research will partly focus on making smaller synthetic brochosomes to target the shorter end of the electromagnetic spectrum. Yaorusheng/Getty ImagesAlthough Wong's synthetic brochosomes mark a major step towards invisibility-cloaking technology, scientists are still decades away from bringing anything to market. "Depending on our imagination, I think there are many cool applications that can come out of brochosomes," Wong said.

Persons: —, Tak Sing Wong, aren't, Lin Wang, Wong Brochosomes, Wong, Wong's, brochosomes, Hao Xin Organizations: Service, Pennsylvania State University, Penn State, Business, University of Arizona, European Union Locations: brochosomes

☆ Archimedes’ death ray might have worked, teen science project suggests
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-08 | by ( Taylor Nicioli | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

But one fabled device has left scientists speculating on its existence for hundreds of years — the death ray. For his 2022 science project, Sener recreated the Archimedes screw, a device for raising and moving water. Sener found the death ray to be one of the more intriguing devices — sometimes referred to as the heat ray. Archimedes’ death ray is more commonly speculated to have been an array of several mirrors or polished shields. Sener’s mom, Melanie, was not surprised by her son’s choice in science project.

Persons: Archimedes, Brenden Sener, Sener, ” Sener, Melanie Sener, Cliff Ho, Ho, ”, “, Thomas Chondros, Melanie, … He’s Organizations: CNN, London Public, Canadian Science Fair, Sandia National Laboratories, US Department of, National Nuclear Security Administration, Greece’s University of Patras, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University Locations: Greece, London , Ontario, Syracuse, Albuquerque , New Mexico, Chondros

☆ Surgery in space: Tiny remotely operated robot completes first simulated procedure at the space station
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( Taylor Nicioli | Kristin Fisher | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —A tiny surgical robot in residence at the International Space Station completed its first surgery demo in zero gravity on Saturday, developers of the technology exclusively told CNN. A robotic tool built for spaceThe robot is only 2 pounds (0.9 kilogram), and its compact microwave-size design makes it a lightweight instrument fit for space travel. SpaceMIRA hitched a ride on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on January 30 from Florida’s Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and arrived at the space station on February 1. One of the challenges when attempting to control a robot in space from Earth is latency, or the time delay between when the command is sent and the robot receives it. “Five seconds would be an eternity in surgery, and a split second or a half a second is going to be significant.

Persons: —, Shane Farritor, ” Farritor, SpaceMIRA, Farritor, Michael Jobst, ”, Jobst, ” Jobst, “, that’s Organizations: CNN, NASA, SpaceX, Florida’s Cape Canaveral Space Force, University of Nebraska Locations: Lincoln , Nebraska, Florida’s, Mississippi, MIRA

They're “the most potent greenhouse gases known to modern science,” as one research paper put it and they're growing fast. With the Environmental Protection Agency required to phase out one family of the chemicals 85% by 2036, the push is on to develop and spread cleaner alternatives. With more than 200 million gasoline cars in the U.S. alone, Groll said that amounts to approximately 100 million pounds of refrigerant leaking out into the atmosphere each year. The need to minimize refrigerant leaks has spurred a reuse and reclamation industry. ___Associated Press climate and environmental coverage receives support from several private foundations.

Persons: Jennifer Byrne, Byrne, ” Byrne, Eckhard Groll, Groll, Danielle Wright, “, let’s, ” Wright, Mike Armstrong, ”, Anthony Nash, ” Armstrong, Christopher Cappa, Davis, ” Cappa, Wright, Jarad Mason, Mason Organizations: PHILADELPHIA, Environmental Protection Agency, Purdue University, Supermarkets, Gas, University of California, Trane Technologies, Harvard University, AP Locations: West Philadelphia, U.S, Dallas , Texas, Toledo , Ohio, Punta Gorda , Florida, Americas, refrigerants

The Energy Department has announced a $325 million investment in new battery types that can help turn solar and wind energy into 24-hour power. Batteries are increasingly being used to store surplus renewable energy so that it can be used later, during times when there is no sunlight or wind. The department says the projects will protect more communities from blackouts and make energy more reliable and affordable. “Long-duration battery storage is like a rainy-day savings account for energy storage,” said Jodie Lutkenhaus, professor of chemical engineering at Texas A&M University. This one is led by the California Energy Commission in collaboration with Faraday Microgrids.

Persons: ”, Christopher Rahn, “, Jodie Lutkenhaus, ” Lutkenhaus, Amanda Smith, Faraday, Rejoule, Infrastructure David Crane, Elisabeth Moyer, ” Rahn Organizations: Energy Department, Pennsylvania State University, Texas, M University, “, Law, Xcel Energy, Energy, Children's, California Energy Commission, Smart Systems, EV, Canada . Energy, Infrastructure, University of Chicago, AP Locations: Lake, American, Minnesota, U.S, California , New York, Hawaii, Becker , Minnesota, Pueblo , Colorado, California's, Madera, Georgia , California, South Carolina, Louisiana, Petaluma , California, Santa Fe , New Mexico, Canada

☆ ‘Smart tattoos’ injected into the skin could someday monitor your health
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-26 | by ( Samantha Bresnahan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

"Smart tattoo" ink shows up here as the blue dots, activated by UV light during testing at Carson Bruns' lab in Boulder, Colorado. “We hope our results will ultimately inform Magic Ink and all tattoo ink manufacturers how to optimize the biocompatibility of their pigments in due time. A “check-engine light”Researchers say one advantage of smart tattoos over wearable technology such as smart watches or glucose monitors is that they can’t be hacked or run out of battery. A tattoo artist in London practices with smart ink developed by researcher Ali Yetisen on a piece of pig skin. He envisions a future where astronauts could utilize smart tattoos in space to gauge radiation exposure, for infectious disease detection in the general public or to help monitor chronic disease.

Persons: ”, Ali Yetisen, ” Yetisen, Yetisen, “, Carson Bruns, American Cancer Society . Bruns, Bruns, Jesse Butterfield, don’t, ” Bruns, Wearables, Dr, Daniel Kraft, Kraft, you’ll, CNN’s Michelle Cohan Organizations: CNN, Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London, Harvard Medical School, Harvard, MIT, American Cancer Society ., University of Colorado, FDA, Science Foundation Locations: University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder , Colorado, United States, Yetisen’s, London

The market for e-bike delivery has grown dramatically in the past few years. Here's how startups, delivery companies, and city governments are improving safety. The explosion of delivery startups and e-bikes in the past few years has led to a new type of boom: increasing battery fires. "E-bike batteries are made up of a bunch of small batteries stacked together," Charlie Welch, ZapBatt's cofounder and CEO, said. JOCOOther startups, such as Popwheels, are engineering safe batteries that are compatible with the e-bikes delivery drivers already own.

Persons: —, Uber, Ravindra Kempaiah, Michael Pecht, Brian O'Connor, O'Connor, Charlie Welch, ZapBatt's, Welch, Jonathan Cohen, Grubhub, Jonathan A, Cohen, David Hammer, Hammer, Baruch Herzfeld, they've, We've Organizations: Bloomberg, Zen Electronics, University of Maryland, Fire Protection Association, UL Solutions, US Consumer Product Safety Commission, UL Locations: New York City, New York, Halifax , Nova Scotia, China, Carlsbad , California, Brooklyn , New York

☆ To Help Cool a Hot Planet, the Whitest of White Coats
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( Cara Buckley | More About Cara Buckley | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

It is cool to the touch, even under a blazing sun, Dr. Ruan said. Unlike air-conditioners, the paint doesn’t need any energy to work, and it doesn’t warm the outside air. In 2021, Guinness declared it the whitest paint ever, and it’s since collected several awards. While the paint was originally envisioned for rooftops, manufacturers of clothes, shoes, cars, trucks and even spacecraft have come clamoring. Last year, Dr. Ruan and his team announced that they’d come up with a more lightweight version that could reflect heat from vehicles.

Persons: Xiulin Ruan, didn’t, Ruan, Guinness, they’d Organizations: Purdue University, Guinness World Records

☆ The Top Products to Deal With Poor Air Quality From Wildfire Smoke
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-23 | by ( Jon Bitner | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +7 min

From choosing the right air purifier to modifying your HVAC system, here’s some expert insight on how to handle excessive wildfire smoke. Wildfire smoke and your HVAC systemAir purifiers are one way to deal with wildfire smoke, but they’re not the only weapon in your smoke-fighting arsenal. Other ways to cope with wildfire smokeRunning your HVAC system and air purifier with the right filters is the key to coping with wildfire smoke. These work by surrounding a traditional box fan with air filters, turning it into a surprisingly great air purifier. Wildfire smoke can exacerbate seasonal allergies, though medications such as Claritin, Allegra, Zyrtec and Xyzal can help provide nearly immediate relief.

Persons: Jon, Karen Bartlett, Shelly Miller, they’re, Zachary Rubin, Miller, Corsi, Rosenthal, Rubin, Allegra, Zyrtec Organizations: School, Population, Public Health, University of British, University of Colorado, Products, CDC Locations: New York City, Los Angeles, University of British Columbia, University of Colorado Boulder

☆ AI could solve the engineering brain drain, a new study says
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-22 | by ( Aaron Mok | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

97% of the decision makers who responded to the survey say a shortage of mechanical engineering talent is on its way. "Unfortunately, there are not enough students graduating with engineering degrees to meet this growing demand," Evans told Insider over email. 97% of respondents believe AI will impact product development and manufacturing tasks like quality control and product design. 62% of decision makers say they are training their existing workers in AI tech to improve their workflows. Now, it's only a matter of time before the manufacturing industry adopts AI.

Persons: Fictiv, Dave Evans, Evans Organizations: Engineers

☆ Deadly Indian rail crash shifts focus from new trains to safety
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-03 | by ( Yp Rajesh | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

State monopoly Indian Railways runs the fourth largest train network in the world. It transports 13 million people every day and moved nearly 1.5 billion tonnes of freight in 2022. 'GOOD SAFETY RECORD'Indian Railways maintains that safety has always been a key focus, and points to its low accident rate over the years. “Some malfunction has happened and that the inquiry will reveal,” he said, referring to Friday’s crash. “This accident brings out the need to focus more on these aspects,” he said.

Persons: Long, Narendra Modi's, Modi, Prakash Kumar Sen, ” Sen, Sen, ”, ” Srinand Jha, ” Jha, Mark Potter Organizations: Indian Railways, India, Kirodimal Institute of Technology, Workers, International Railway Journal, YP, Thomson Locations: DELHI, Odisha ., India

☆ Trapped by War, Saved by 2 Students With a Taxi
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( Declan Walsh | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

In the first days of Sudan’s war, the two university students felt helpless. On the fifth day, April 19, the phone rang: Someone needed a taxi. A senior United Nations official, a woman in her 40s, was trapped inside her home in an upscale neighborhood, the caller explained. The students, Hassan Tibwa and Sami al-Gada, in their final year of mechanical engineering, had a side gig driving a taxi. Mr. Tibwa phoned the woman.

☆ Should you warm your car up in the winter before driving? I spoke with more than 30 mechanics and couldn't get a straight answer.
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-29 | by ( Jessica Orwig | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Car manufacturers don't have consistent advice on how long you should idle your car in the cold. Generally speaking, idling your car for about 30 seconds when it's cold can help it run smoothly. Others like Ford and Chevrolet recommended idling for no more than 30 seconds after starting. How much time is where mechanics diverge on the subject, but around 30 seconds is the general consensus for modern engines. What I can say is if you idle much longer than 30-60 seconds, you're just wasting gas and money.

☆ More than half of German companies report labour shortages
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The proportion of companies facing difficulties hiring was at its highest ever level, the DIHK found in its survey of 22,000 companies, with 53% reporting shortages. The labour market's resilience did not mean companies were doing well, he added. Staff shortages, high energy prices and the shift towards climate neutrality were a "dangerous mix" that could lead firms to move production abroad. The survey found that 67% of electrical equipment manufacturers were unable to fill vacancies and 67% of mechanical engineering companies. In carmaking, 65% of companies reported labour shortages.

☆ Luck, Tesla design likely saved family that plunged off cliff, experts say
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-06 | by ( Tim Stelloh | Tim Stelloh Is A Breaking News Reporter For Nbc News Digital. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +5 min

Four people were rescued after a Tesla plunged over a cliff in Calif., on Monday. Patel, a 41-year-old woman and two children ages 4 and 7 — both of whom were in car seats — were also in the SUV, California Highway Patrol spokesman Mark Andrews said. Nor is it clear what driving mode Patel was using before the SUV careened off the cliff, the California Highway Patrol said. “In my 35 years of working on vehicle safety, I’ve never had an automaker say, 'Look at this crash test we’re doing for extra credit,'” he said. Helicopters were dispatched, and the family was hoisted from the vehicle using rescue baskets, he said.

☆ Being in a Tesla helped save the 4 people who plunged 250 feet off a cliff, expert says. That and a lot of luck.
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-04 | by ( Marianne Guenot | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Four people emerged almost unscathed from a car crash off a 250-foot cliff on Monday. Professor Jahan Rasty cited several Tesla safety features that likely helped. If too much of a moving car's energy is suddenly directed into people's bodies, they will die. Car safety design is all about dissipating that energy away from the passengers. Tesla roofs "are about 30% stronger in terms of crash resistance" than a regular car, Rasty said.

[1/3] A general view of hydrogen electrolysis plant called 'REFHYNE', one of the world's first green hydrogen plants, during a launch event at Shell's Rhineland refinery in Wesseling near Cologne, Germany, July 2, 2021. REUTERS/Thilo SchmuelgenLONDON, Dec 22 (Reuters) - The green hydrogen express is gathering pace, but it may have a worrying problem with leaks. At least four studies published this year say hydrogen loses its environmental edge when it seeps into the atmosphere. The United States included billions of dollars of green hydrogen tax credits in its Inflation Reduction Act and the European Union approved 5.2 billion euros ($5.5 billion) in subsidies for green hydrogen projects in September. While potential leakages of hydrogen are not expected to be on a scale that could derail all green hydrogen plans, any seepage would erode its climate benefits, they say.

Apple filed two patents in Singapore early in 2020, relating to drones and their control systems. Their filing out of the US and delayed publication suggests Apple may be trying to keep them quiet. The giant had previously filed two other patent applications, indicating some effort had been made to keep the project quiet. It can delay the date that a patent application is made public, and it can submit the application in another country. Both of these patents were originally filed in Singapore, according to Patently Apple.

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