Important Innovations

Boston Dynamics' Atlas - Your Tough Companion at the Gym Humanoid Extraordinaire Boston Dynamics' humanoid robot Atlas is a multi-talented, multi-tasker.  His latest feat is to bound up multi layers of platform, shifting his weight from right foot to left and back to the right foot as it runs upstairs.  In other words, it can do parkour training, using exercise movements developed from military course training. Backflips Too Atlas can backflip, run through the snow without falling, bound up stairs.  It's athletic prowess is being constantly upgraded to manage its way in the world and assist humans as a humanoid robot walking, running and jumping among us. Exciting Future of Robotics Robotic technology is advancing leaps and bounds.  Robots are clearly a growing part of our future, whether on 2 legs like Atlas, 4 legs like Boston Dynamics' Spot Mini or flying through the air like DARPA's flying robotic insects.

Human Brain Cell Transplant Provides Incredible Detail on How Brain Operates Human Brain Cells Breakthrough Neuroscience by Imperial College London Scientists have created a window into the brain, which allows them to watch in real-time and with incredible details how human brain cells develop, connect and communicate with each other. The potential of their approach may result in better understanding of brain conditions like autism and provide eventual cures. Volunteer Donators Researchers from Imperial College London and the University of Cambridge transplanted human brain cells from volunteers into a mouse brain.  It allowed them to study the way human brain cells interact in a natural environment. Down Syndrome The team used the technique to model Down Syndrome using brain cells donated by 2 individuals with the condition.  They saw significant differences in the brain cells from those with Down Syndrome and those without it.  They noted the cells are not as active a

New Research:  Aerobics Improve Cognitive Performance Source:  Maryanne Kane's Photo of Katie Kane in Competition Running to Prime Your Mind Our brains are at their best when our bodies are in motion, like running, walking, biking rather than sedentary and sitting at a desk.  A new study by German scientists just confirmed it.  As a runner, I've always thought that I do my most deliberative thinking during a morning run.  Now science confirms it.  Wondered if as a jogger, biker, runner, walker and exerciser, you've had the same instincts?  Do you do your best thinking in motion?  Active Motion Works Scientists from Ludwig-Maximilian University in Germany took electroencephalogy brain readings on 24 participants when exercising and at rest.  They found that exercise and upright posture improved visual working memory (that's the ability to maintain visual info to do ongoing tasks) significantly over passive and seated positions. Counterintuitive From Cent

Infant's Brain Foreshadows the Adult's Emotional Control and Cognition UNC's Breakthrough Neuroscience Research Medical researchers at University of North Carolina Health Care have made a remarkable series of discoveries. Using MRI's, they've shown that the brain circuits needed for successful emotional regulation in adults emerge in babies one to two years old.  These brain circuits are the foundation of successful emotional development and IQ. Predictors of Future Behavior and IQ The growth rates of the emotion circuits in the brain during the child's second year "predict", according to the scientists, anxiety and emotional regulation at the age of four.  It also predicts the child's IQ at the age of 4.  Abnormal processing in the circuits is associated with depression, anxiety and schizophrenia in adults. From the MRI's of Babies The importance of these discoveries is the ability to foresee the individual's emotional contro

Potential Weapon Against Diabetes Diabetes Insulin Management Technology in Use Fasting Cuts Need for Insulin Medical findings reported in the BMJ Case Report document that planned intermittent fasting may help to reverse Type 2 Diabetes.  Three patients in the care of doctors who fasted were able to cut the need for insulin completely and quickly.  With planned, intermittent fasting their blood glucose levels were back in control. Diabetes is a Big Health Problem 1 in 10 people in the US and Canada have diabetes.  It costs the US economy alone $245 billion per year.  Drugs help patients control their diabetes but they don't stop the progression of the disease. Medical researchers have been searching for a cure for decades. First, Preliminary but Impressive Results on Fasting The findings are an informational study as only 3 patients, all men, are involved.  The men have Type 2 Diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.  Under their doctors' care, they

University of Californa - Berkeley Creates Solar Fuel from Gold + Bacteria Source:  University of California - Berkeley The Midas Touch University of California Berkeley researchers have just demonstrated a novel and efficient means of creating biofuels.  They've placed gold nanoclusters that absorb light into a bacterium.  A biohybrid results that produces a high yield of chemical products like biofuels.  It's a new source of sustainable energy. High Value Biohybrid The biohybrid captures sunlight and carbon dioxide to make chemicals useful both on earth and in space.  It's a breakthrough discovery and has just been published in the journal Nature Nanotechnology. Artificial Photosynthesis Producing Solar Fuels The bacterium is photosensitive and is named Moorella thermoacetica.  It has an appetite for gold.  The researchers feed it a nanocluster of 22 gold atoms.  The gold slips through the cell wall.  With great efficiency, it produces solar fuels through

Findings:  Caltech Time Traveling Illusions Trick the Brain Source:  California Institute of Technology Rabbit Illuson How the Brain Retroactively Computes Rapid Audio & Visual Stimuli Researchers at California Institute of Technology have developed 2 new illusions to document time travelling.  The illusions, called The Rabbit Illusions as tracked above, reveal how the senses influence each other as they are received at rapid speed by the brain.  In particular, how sound can trigger and create visual illusions after the fact. Time Travel through "Postdiction" by the Brain With the onrush of sensory perceptions to the brain, the illusions occur so rapidly that they trigger a brain phenomenon called postdiction as opposed to prediction.  Postdiction happens when a stimulus that occurs later can retroactively affect our perception of an earlier event.  That's time-traveling at the pure scientific research level. Innovative and Breakthrough Neuroscience Th

Biodegradable, Wireless, Tiny Implants Courtesy:  Northwestern University - Bioelectric Medicine Pulses of Electricity to Accelerate Nerve Regeneration Northwestern University researchers and Washington University neurosurgeons have developed the first example of bioelectric medicine.  It's an implantable, biodegradable, wireless device.  It speeds nerve regeneration and improves healing by pulses of electricity targeted directly at the site. Size of a Dime The implant is tiny.  It's the size of a dime and has the thickness of a piece of paper.  It delivers pulses of electricity to damaged nerves.  In lab tests on post-operative animals, it proved very successful in accelerating the regeneration of nerves and enhancing the recovery of muscle strength and control. Naturally Disappears In a week or two, the implant biodegrades, is naturally absorbed into the body and totally disappears.  The next steps will be testing it on humans.  The research team believes that

Sustainable Breweries Source:  Stock Photo A Toast to a Cleaner Environment Beer, especially craft beers, are a growing, energy intensive industry.  The number of US breweries grew 200% in the past decade and production has increased 12% per year. Saving the Planet Per 6-Pack To cut greenhouse emissions and save energy, a growing number of breweries are investing in sustainable production technologies.  But will it pay off?  New research by Indiana University says yes it will.  A majority of US beer drinkers are willing to pay the extra cost.  In fact, according to the University's survey, 59% are willing to pay extra.  On average, sustainable beer production practices tack on an extra $1.30 per 6 pack. Sustainable Innovation Innovative, energy saving, sustainable practices now being implemented by a growing number of breweries include solar power, onsite wastewater treatment plants, insulated brewery vessels and recaptured steam from the brewing process.  Beer is one

Rutgers' New Coastal Research Numbers Courtesy NOAA Sea Level Rise Vision:  Parts of NJ and NYC with 8 foot sea rise by 2100. Lite blue permanently flooded; lite green very low lying  Climate Change's Big Impact on Global Coastal Communities Rising seas pose a rising risk to global coastal populations, ecosystems, economies and infrastructure around the world.  Researchers at Rutgers University have zeroed in on flooding in Atlantic City, New Jersey and Singapore in particular and have delivered an alarming set of projections if greenhouse gas emissions aren't reduced. Rising High Tides Here are the latest projections by scientists at Rutgers. There will be a global average sea level rise of up to 8 feet by 2100.  And the sea rise will hit another 50 feet by 2300 if greenhouse gas emissions aren't cut. Coastal Communities Globally at Big Risk 11% of the world's population now lives in areas that are less than 33 feet above sea level.  That means rising

Robots Navigating Like Humans Photo:  Courtesy of  MIT Going from A to B with a Motion Plan MIT researchers have developed a way to enable robots to navigate environments in the same way that humans do.  In simulations the robot moves through a crowded room by exploring the environment, observing what others are doing and exploring what it's learned from other situations. Robot with Hybrid Brain They've done this by combining a  planning algorithm with a neural network that learns to identify paths to best outcomes and uses the knowledge to guide the robots actions.   It's a novel motion planning model.  Until now, robots have struggled with navigational concepts. CSAIL & McGovern Brain Institute Research The MIT researchers are from the Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Lab and the McGovern Institute for brain, mind and machine research.  They just presented their discoveries to the International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Syst

Mining the Skies Source:  Planetary Resources Targeting Asteroids It may sound like Star Trek but some US companies, innovators and dreamers are looking skyward to a future of mining highly valuable minerals in space, along with human colonization of space.  A favorite mining target is asteroids known to be rich in high value metals like platinum. Planetary Resources Planetary Resources, based in Redmond, Washington, is an American company that has been advised by Google's Larry Page and film director James Cameron.  It's deeply involved in the world's first commercial deep space exploration mission.  It's targeting asteroid mining because the company believes that is the key first step to establishing the groundwork for human colonization of space. Satellite Probes Underway The company has launched satellite probes and has selected the most promising asteroid targets for water resources that they intend to mine. They say the first need is to unlock wat

Knowing What's Around the Corner Source:  Honda's Smart Intersection Display Smart Tech for Smarter, Safer Driving Audi and Honda are setting up and testing smart intersections in the US.  The approach involves display alerts on your dashboard and cameras positioned at intersections.  Audi's technology sends an alert to the driver warning that a light is going to turn red before you get through it.  Honda's sends an alert of an oncoming emergency vehicle, car or pedestrian that are not yet in sight. Audi's Pilot Program Audi is working in Washington, DC and Las Vegas to outfit intersections to work with Audi's countdown traffic lights system.  The system is designed to give the driver ample warning that they aren't going to make it through a light before it turns red. Honda's Pilot Program Honda has a Smart Intersection pilot program underway in Marysville, Ohio.  The system flashes a yellow image of an unseen vehicle on the HUD - he