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For years, wearable technology—from smartwatches to motion-capture suits used in movies—has relied on the idea that sensors must be tightly fitted to the human body. The assumption seemed simple: the closer a device is to the skin, the more accurate the data it collects. But new research from King's College London is turning that assumption on its head. According to a study published in Nature Communications , tracking human movement is actually more accurate when sensors are placed on loose, flowing clothing rather than tight body suits or straps . This surprising discovery could change the way we think about wearable devices, motion capture in film, medical monitoring, and even robotics. The Study: Loose Fabric as a Motion Amplifier The research team, led by Dr. Howard and Dr. Irene Di Giulio, tested a variety of fabrics on human and robotic subjects performing everyday movements. Sensors were placed on both tight-fitting suits and loose garments. The results were striking: loose...

 Imagine a robot that keeps working even when part of it fails—a robot that can literally share its energy, senses, and information with its broken parts to continue performing its tasks. Thanks to researchers at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), this vision is now a reality. Their breakthrough in modular robotics promises machines that are far more resilient than anything built before. Traditional robots are vulnerable. If a single component fails, the robot can stop working or perform poorly. This limitation is especially significant for robots made up of multiple units or “modules.” While multiple modules allow a robot to perform a wider variety of functions, they also create more points of failure. A broken part can disrupt the entire system. This has been one of the biggest challenges in robotic design: balancing functionality with reliability. But EPFL’s Reconfigurable Robotics Laboratory (RRL), led by Jamie Paik, has developed a solution that flips this pr...

On July 2, 2025, a groundbreaking discovery in the depths of space captured the attention of astronomers worldwide. China’s Einstein Probe (EP) space telescope detected an unusually bright X-ray source, whose brightness changed rapidly over a short period. This extraordinary signal stood out immediately from ordinary cosmic phenomena, prompting rapid follow-up observations by telescopes across the globe. The event, later designated EP250702a (also known as GRB 250702B), may represent a first-of-its-kind observation: an intermediate-mass black hole tearing apart a white dwarf star. If confirmed, this discovery would provide direct evidence of one of the universe’s most extreme processes—a black hole feeding on a dense star—and shed light on a long-mysterious population of black holes. A Cosmic Event Unlike Any Other The discovery was made possible by the Einstein Probe’s innovative design, featuring two complementary X-ray instruments. The first, the Wide-field X-ray Telescope (WXT), em...

In a quiet laboratory chamber, a tiny drama unfolds. A male fruit fly stretches out his wings and begins to vibrate them rapidly, producing a soft buzzing sound. To another fruit fly nearby, this is not noise—it is a carefully crafted love song. The female pauses, listening. For a moment, courtship seems successful. Then, without warning, a brief green flash of light cuts across the chamber. The male’s song stops instantly. His wings fold back against his body. The female, unimpressed by the sudden silence, turns away and walks off. The reason for this failed romance is not another rival fly or a mistake by the male. The culprit is an advanced artificial intelligence (AI) system that detected the very start of the courtship dance and instantly shut down the specific brain cells responsible for producing the song. This remarkable experiment, developed by scientists at Nagoya University , together with collaborators from Osaka University and Tohoku University , marks a major leap in neu...

As the world rapidly shifts toward clean energy, countries everywhere are investing heavily in solar panels, wind farms, and other renewable power sources. These technologies are crucial for reducing carbon emissions and fighting climate change. However, renewable energy has one major challenge: it is not always available when we need it. The sun does not shine at night, and the wind does not blow all the time. To truly rely on renewable energy, we must be able to store excess electricity produced during sunny or windy periods and use it later when demand is high. This is where advanced battery technologies come in. Among the many battery types being explored today, zinc–manganese (Zn–Mn) batteries are emerging as a promising option for large-scale, long-term energy storage. Recent research by scientists from the University of Waterloo, the University of California, and the DEVCOM Army Research Laboratory has introduced a major innovation that could solve some long-standing problems wi...

China has taken a dramatic and eye-catching step in the world of advanced technology by launching what it calls the world’s first free humanoid robot combat league. The initiative, officially named the Ultimate Robot Knockout Legend (UKRL) , was unveiled in Shenzhen and has already sparked global discussion about the future of robotics, artificial intelligence, and real-world machine testing. What makes this league especially unique is that participating teams will receive EngineAI’s advanced T800 humanoid robots completely free of cost , lowering barriers to innovation and experimentation. At a time when humanoid robots are mostly seen in laboratories, factories, or controlled demonstrations, China’s move introduces a bold new idea: testing robots through high-intensity, real-world combat scenarios. This approach blends technology, competition, and public engagement in a way rarely seen before. A League Like No Other The UKRL is being promoted as a pioneering platform where humanoid r...

Our universe is full of mysteries, and one of the most fascinating is how some stars end their lives in spectacular explosions called Type Ia supernovae (SNeIa). These cosmic fireworks are not only breathtaking but also crucial tools for astronomers to measure the universe. Yet, despite decades of study, one question remains: do these explosions happen spontaneously, or are they triggered by external forces? Recent research suggests an intriguing possibility—dark matter and primordial black holes might play a hidden role in lighting up these stellar catastrophes. White Dwarfs: Stars at the Edge To understand this story, we first need to look at white dwarfs. These are the remnants of stars like our Sun that have exhausted their fuel. What remains is a dense, compact object roughly the size of Earth but with the mass of the Sun. The core of a white dwarf is supported against gravity by electron degeneracy pressure, a quantum effect that prevents it from collapsing further. In some cases...