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Robots help shed light on how humans walk![]() Boston MA (SPX) May 25, 2017 Learning how to walk is difficult for toddlers to master; it's even harder for adults who are recovering from a stroke, traumatic brain injury, or other condition, requiring months of intensive, often frustrating physical therapy. With the recent boom of the robotic exoskeleton industry, more and more patients are being strapped into machines that apply forces to their legs as they walk, gently prodding them to modify their movements by lengthening their strides, straightening their hips, and bend ... read more  | 
 
AI wins as Google algorithm beats No. 1 Go playerShanghai (AFP) May 23, 2017 Google's computer algorithm AlphaGo narrowly beat the world's top-ranked player in the ancient Chinese board game of Go on Tuesday, reaffirming the arrival of what its developers tout as a ground-breaking new form of artificial intelligence. ... more  
Building a better 'bot': Artificial intelligence helps human groupsNew Haven CT (SPX) May 19, 2017 Artificial intelligence doesn't have to be super-sophisticated to make a difference in people's lives, according to a new Yale University study. Even "dumb AI" can help human groups. In a seri ... more  
3-D-printed, soft, four legged robot can walk on sand and stoneSan Diego CA (SPX) May 23, 2017 Engineers at the University of California San Diego have developed the first soft robot that is capable of walking on rough surfaces, such as sand and pebbles. The 3D-printed, four-legged robot can ... more  
Ready, Set, Go! Rematch of man vs machine in ancient gameShanghai (AFP) May 21, 2017 It's man vs machine this week as Google's artificial intelligence programme AlphaGo faces the world's top-ranked Go player in a contest expected to end in another victory for rapid advances in AI. ... more  | 
 
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Virtual top hats allow swarming robots to fly in tight formationAtlanta GA (SPX) May 18, 2017 Georgia Institute of Technology researchers have created a team of free-flying robots that obeys the two rules of the air: don't collide or undercut each other. They've also built autonomous blimps ... more  
West African girls show the way in Senegal tech battleDakar (AFP) May 20, 2017 West African schoolgirls, some not yet teenagers, have taken a starring role at an engineering competition in Senegal, busting stereotypes with robotics expertise and innovative projects for their communities. ... more  
Radio communications have surprising influence on Earth's near-space environmentWashington (UPI) May 17, 2017 Humans have a measurable effect on Earth's near-space environment, new research shows. ... more  
GE Appliances to get Google voice control optionWashington (AFP) May 17, 2017 GE Appliances announced a deal with Google Wednesday enabling the US tech giant's voice control home hub to be used for cooking, cleaning and other functions. ... more  
Live interactions with robots increase their perceived human likenessWashington DC (SPX) May 15, 2017 Most human interactions with robots come from behind a screen. Whether it's fiction or a real-life interaction, rarely are we put face to face with a robot. This poses a significant barrier when we ... more  
Robotic 'exoskeleton' prevents elderly falls: studyParis (AFP) May 11, 2017 Scientists unveiled a lightweight, robotic, outer "skeleton" Thursday that can detect when someone loses their balance, correct their gait, and prevent their fall. ... more  | 
![]() 3-D-printed 'bionic skin' could give robots the sense of touch  
Chefs, robotics engineers, sailboat racers team up to tackle lionfish problemWashington (UPI) May 9, 2017 Lionfish populations are rapidly expanding along the East Coast of the United States and in the Caribbean, decimating native species and depleting the ecological diversity surrounding already vulnerable coral reefs. ... more  
Amazon's new Alexa speaker has a screen tooWashington (AFP) May 9, 2017 Amazon on Tuesday unveiled the latest member of its family of devices powered by its Alexa digital assistant - this one with a touchscreen. ... more  
US Air Force Space Shuttle X-37B Finally UnmaskedSydney, Australia (SPX) May 08, 2017 The mysterious X-37B has ended its fourth mission, and for the first time on this flight, it has been officially unmasked. Gliding swiftly to a daylight landing at the Kennedy Space Centre after 718 ... more  
Computers learn to understand humans better by modelling themHelsinki, Finland (SPX) May 04, 2017 Computers are able to learn to explain the behavior of individuals by tracking their glances and movements. Researchers from Aalto University, University of Birmingham and University of Oslo p ... more  | 
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 Paris (ESA) May 22, 2017  
ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano last weekend helped to explore the caverns under Sicily using a drone that deliberately bumped into its surroundings in order to build a map. 
ESA has been testing equipment, techniques and working methods for missions with astronauts in inner space for many years. Delving inside Earth and exploring caves often parallels the exploration of outer space, from a la ... more Washington (UPI) May 23, 2017Northrop Grumman awarded contract for MQ-4C drone maintenance  Washington (UPI) May 17, 2017Drone to replace Israeli manned maritime patrol aircraft  Washington (UPI) May 17, 2017General Atomics receives MQ-9 contract  | 
 Dublin, Ireland (SPX) May 19, 2017  
Irish company Arralis, world leaders in building technology and products that are the future of global radar and wireless communications, are announcing the launch of their new Leonis Ka band chipset, which will complement their growing millimetre wave communications product portfolio. 
Ka band antennas are 400% smaller than their Ku band rivals which opens up the consumer and connected veh ... more Cologne, Germany (SPX) May 25, 2017Physicists discover mechanism behind granular capillary effect  Berkeley CA (SPX) May 23, 2017HPC4MfG paper manufacturing project yields first results  Tokyo, Japan (SPX) May 22, 2017Unfolding the folding mechanism of ladybug wings  | 
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 Lausanne, Switzerland (SPX) May 18, 2017  
In a recent experiment at EPFL, a microwave resonator, a circuit that supports electric signals oscillating at a resonance frequency, is coupled to the vibrations of a metallic micro-drum. 
By actively cooling the mechanical motion close to the lowest energy allowed by quantum mechanics, the micro-drum can be turned into a quantum reservoir - an environment that can shape the states of the  ... moreUltrafast tunable semiconductor metamaterial created  Lausanne, Switzerland (SPX) May 24, 2017Using graphene to create quantum bits  Washington DC (SPX) May 22, 2017Managing stress helps transistor performance  | 
 Geneva (AFP) May 21, 2017  
 The Swiss voted Sunday in favour of a massive overhaul of the country's energy system by gradually replacing the power from its ageing nuclear reactors with renewable sources. 
A full 58.2 percent of Swiss voters supported the shift, according to a final tally after Sunday's referendum, with only four of the country's 26 cantons voting "no". 
The move has been in the making since shortly a ... more Paris, France (SPX) May 22, 2017Hungary: AREVA NP awarded contract for safety IC modernization at Paks Nuclear Power Plant  New Delhi (AFP) May 17, 2017India to build 10 domestic nuclear power reactors  Tokyo (AFP) May 17, 2017Japan restarts another reactor  | 
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 Brussels (AFP) May 24, 2017   NATO head Jens Stoltenberg said on Wednesday that the Manchester bombing shows the alliance must agree at a summit with US President Donald Trump to do more to combat terrorism. 
Terrorism will be top of the agenda at Thursday's meeting in Brussels which comes amid sharp divisions over joining the US-led coalition against the Islamic State group. 
"I expect NATO allies to step up and agree ... more Manila (AFP) May 24, 2017Duterte threatens martial law for all of Philippines  Washington (AFP) May 23, 2017US forces kill seven Al-Qaeda militants in Yemen raid: Pentagon  Iligan, Philippines (AFP) May 24, 2017Islamist militants take Catholic hostages in Philippines: Church  | 
 Beijing (AFP) May 22, 2017  
 China said it will further open up its oil and gas sector to private investment as it seeks to overhaul an industry still dominated by a handful of state-run firms.  
The plan comes as China, the world's biggest energy guzzler, attempts to ramp up domestic oil and gas production to boost its supply of the vital resources.  
The country is heavily reliant on energy imports as domestic produ ... more Sydney (AFP) May 11, 2017Australia power grid leased to local-foreign consortium   (UPI) May 10, 2017Poland central to EU energy diversification strategy  Washington (UPI) May 9, 2017Myanmar recovery linked to development of electrical grid  | 
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 Washington DC (SPX) May 25, 2017  
Lithium-oxygen systems could someday outperform today's lithium-ion batteries because of their potential for high energy density. However, a number of important issues, such as their poor electrochemical stability must be addressed before these systems can successfully compete with current rechargeable batteries. Today, in ACS Central Science, researchers report a new type of cathode, which coul ... more Beijing, China (SPX) May 22, 2017Advancing next-generation Stable, safe, smart, sustainable batteries  Kobe, Japan (SPX) May 22, 2017Photocatalyst makes hydrogen production 10 times more efficient  Plainsboro NJ (SPX) May 22, 2017Physicists discover that lithium oxide on tokamak walls can improve plasma performance  | 
 Washington DC (Sputnik) May 24, 2017  
A woman in the US state of California was arrested Tuesday for allegedly conspiring to smuggle space communications technology to China, the US Department of Justice said in a press release. 
"A Pomona woman was arrested this morning on federal charges that accuse her of conspiring to procure and illegally export sensitive space communications technology to her native China," the release st ... more Beijing (XNA) May 12, 2017A cabin on the moon? China hones the lunar lifestyle  Beijing (AFP) May 11, 2017China tests 'Lunar Palace' as it eyes moon mission  Beijing (XNA) May 01, 2017China to conduct several manned space flights around 2020  | 
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 Washington DC (SPX) May 24, 2017  DARPA has selected The Boeing Company to complete advanced design work for the Agency's Experimental Spaceplane (XS-1) program, which aims to build and fly the first of an entirely new class of hypersonic aircraft that would bolster national security by providing short-notice, low-cost access to space. 
The program aims to achieve a capability well out of reach today-launches to low Earth o ... more Logan, UT (SPX) May 24, 2017SDL-Supported SmallSat Launched from International Space Station  Miami (AFP) May 23, 2017'Victory' for US astronauts on critical spacewalk to replace power box  Washington DC (SPX) May 24, 2017NASA Acting Administrator Statement on Fiscal Year 2018 Budget Proposal  | 
 Paris (ESA) May 25, 2017  
The inquiry into the crash-landing of the ExoMars Schiaparelli module has concluded that conflicting information in the onboard computer caused the descent sequence to end prematurely. 
The Schiaparelli entry, descent and landing demonstrator module separated from its mothership, the Trace Gas Orbiter, as planned on 16 October last year, and coasted towards Mars for three days. 
Much o ... more Honolulu HI (SPX) May 22, 2017HI-SEAS Mission V Mars simulation marks midway point  Washington DC (SPX) May 19, 2017Deciphering the fluid floorplan of a planet  Washington DC (SPX) May 17, 2017How hard did it rain on Mars  | 
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 Washington DC (SPX) May 24, 2017  
Plasma propulsion is an important and efficient technology used to control spacecraft for Earth observation, communications and fundamental exploration of outer space. 
Plasma propulsion systems use electric power to ionize propellant gas and transform it into the fourth state of matter, known as plasma. Electrically charged ions and electrons are accelerated in an exhaust beam to generate  ... more Wellington (AFP) May 25, 2017Successful launch puts New Zealand in space race  Sochi (Sputnik) May 24, 2017Russia to create new Super-Heavy Class rocket after 2025  Seattle WA (SPX) May 18, 2017Spaceflight buys Electron Rocket from Rocket Lab  | 
 Hobart, Australia (SPX) May 23, 2017  
The beaches of one of the world's most remote islands have been found to be polluted with the highest density of plastic debris reported anywhere on the planet, in a study published in the prestigious US scientific journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 
Despite being uninhabited and located more than 5000 kilometres from the nearest major population centre, Henderson Isla ... more Beijing, China (SPX) May 19, 2017Ozone and haze pollution weakens land carbon uptake in China  Surrey, UK (SPX) May 18, 2017Cities need to 'green up' to reduce the impact of air pollution  Hanoi (AFP) May 15, 2017Vietnam arrests activist as MP resigns over mass fish deaths  | 
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 Kuala Lumpur (AFP) May 24, 2017  
 Chinese auto giant Geely on Wednesday stepped up its global expansion drive with a 49.9 percent stake in Malaysia's troubled Proton as well as a 51 percent share in British sports car brand Lotus. 
The deal would allow the automaker to "strengthen our global footprint and develop a beachhead in Southeast Asia," a region of more than 650 million people, Geely Holding executive vice president D ... more Beijing (AFP) May 23, 2017China scrambles to tame bike chaos  Hong Kong (AFP) May 23, 2017Hong Kong police arrest 21 Uber drivers in sting  Shanghai (AFP) May 22, 2017China's JAC says electric car tie-up with VW approved  | 
 Cleveland OH (SPX) May 18, 2017  
Mastering the intricacies of controlling matter at the nanoscale level is part of a revolutionary quest to apply nanotechnology to benefit industrial processes. A key element of that technology is the use of carbon nanotubes. Carbon nanotubes are small hollow tubes with diameters of 0.7 to 50 nanometers and lengths generally in the tens of microns. While ultra-small, carbon nanotubes offer big-t ... more Stanford CA (SPX) May 24, 2017Stanford scientists use nanotechnology to boost the performance of key industrial catalyst  Chicago IL (SPX) May 24, 2017Researchers create first significant examples of optical crystallography for nanomaterials  Nuremberg, Germany (SPX) May 23, 2017Molecular Lego for nanoelectronics  | 
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 Dublin, Ireland (SPX) May 19, 2017  
Irish company Arralis, world leaders in building technology and products that are the future of global radar and wireless communications, are announcing the launch of their new Leonis Ka band chipset, which will complement their growing millimetre wave communications product portfolio. 
Ka band antennas are 400% smaller than their Ku band rivals which opens up the consumer and connected veh ... more Cologne, Germany (SPX) May 25, 2017Physicists discover mechanism behind granular capillary effect  Berkeley CA (SPX) May 23, 2017HPC4MfG paper manufacturing project yields first results  Tokyo, Japan (SPX) May 22, 2017Unfolding the folding mechanism of ladybug wings  | 
 Washington (UPI) May 23, 2017  
 According to a new study, a popular artificial sweetener could double as a pesticide and birth control for insects. 
 In recent experiment, scientists used erythritol - the sugar alcohol in Truvia - to kill newly hatched fly larvae. Researchers also measured diminished egg production among flies feeding off of the sugar substitute. 
 "Erythritol has potential to be deployed in a wi ... more La Jolla CA (SPX) May 25, 2017Helping plants pump iron  Urbana IL (SPX) May 23, 2017Blue and purple corn: Not just for tortilla chips anymore  Washington DC (SPX) May 22, 2017Diverse rotations and poultry litter improves soybean yield  | 
 
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