Tag: #161

Edible drones could provide emergency supplies to people and animals. Thanks to a startup in Switzerland, flying robots might also prove useful in a fire. Their particular drones, born out of a research project, are enclosed in a porous, heat-resistant plastic. An internal temperature management system cools and monitors the electronics. Therefore, the drones can use their integrated infrared...

Training AI systems requires less and less energy. At the same time modern AI tools are getting more efficient at creating deepfakes, making impersonations appear real. Now a German startup has developed an AI platform which detects manipulation in media data. The software, also hosted in Germany, combines different AI models. These check whether a face has been swapped,...

Tree bark can be an alternative to single-use plastic. Meanwhile a Finnish PhD student has alighted on pine bark as a filter for removing pharmaceutical residues from liquid waste. Treated wastewater often contains traces of medication such as blood pressure medicine or antidepressants. Antibiotics are particularly problematic as their presence helps pathogens develop resistance. The female researcher fortified the...

Cardamom provides protection against pathogens. And, as an Australia-based research team recently discovered, pathogens can also be held at bay using peppermint essential oil. This could be particularly important in the context of medical devices. In an initial test, plasma was used to apply an extremely thin film of peppermint oil to a urinary catheter. Enabling the oil molecules...

Both blood sugar and blood pressure can be measured by smartphone. Now a research team in Japan is using the devices to determine radiation levels on-site in the event of a catastrophe. The team’s mobile solution comprises a foldable scanner with integrated LED light and a radiochromic film (similar to those used in CT scanners). The film changes colour...

Spirit production provides furniture in Scotland. And as another Scottish startup discovered, whisky by-products can also help reduce overfishing. The team uses distillery waste water to manufacture Omega-3s. Wild fish are known to be a rich source of the fatty acids, but they actually acquire them by eating algae. The team used the waste from whisky distillation (including barley)...