Researchers Develop System Cat’s Eye-Inspired Vision for Autonomous Robotics

Optical simulation of the characteristics of the feline eye–inspired vision system

Feline-inspired vision technology enhances accuracy in challenging environments, paving the way for smarter, more efficient autonomous systems

Researchers have unveiled a vision system inspired by feline eyes to enhance object detection in various lighting conditions. Featuring a unique shape and reflective surface, the system reduces glare in bright environments and boosts sensitivity in low-light scenarios. By filtering unnecessary details, this technology significantly improves the performance of single-lens cameras, representing a notable advancement in robotic vision capabilities.

Autonomous systems like drones, self-driving cars, and robots are becoming more common in our daily lives...

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Scientists discover Unexpected Link between Genes involved in Human Brain Evolution and Developmental Disorders

Scientists discover unexpected link between genes involved in human brain evolution and developmental disorders
A dendrite—an extension of a neuron—from a 12-month-old human cerebral cortex neuron, grown from human stem cells and transplanted into a mouse cerebral cortex. Two human-specific genes, SRGAP2B and SRGAP2C, were turned off, causing the neuron’s synapses to mature faster. The number of small protrusions on the dendrite, called dendritic spines, resembles what is typically seen in a five to ten-year-old child. Credit: Baptiste Libé-Philippot, 2024

The human brain’s remarkably prolonged development is unique among mammals and is thought to contribute to our advanced learning abilities. Disruptions in this process may explain certain neurodevelopmental diseases.

Now, a team of researchers led by Prof...

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Ancient 3D Paper Art, Kirigami, could Reshape Modern Wireless Technology

Credit: Drexel University

The future of wireless technology—from charging devices to boosting communication signals—relies on the antennas that transmit electromagnetic waves becoming increasingly versatile, durable and easy to manufacture. Researchers at Drexel University and the University of British Columbia believe kirigami, the ancient Japanese art of cutting and folding paper to create intricate three-dimensional designs, could provide a model for manufacturing the next generation of antennas.

Recently published in the journal Nature Communications, research from the Drexel-UBC team showed how kirigami—a variation of origami—can transform a single sheet of acetate coated with conductive MXene ink into a flexible 3D microwave antenna whose transmission frequency can be adju...

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Asteroid-sample Return Mission Enables Researchers to Conduct Largest Geophysical Observation Campaign of its kind

2024-10-14
An animated OSIRIS-REx leaves the Bennu asteroid Credit: NASA

The OSIRIS-REx project made history last year as the first U.S. mission to bring back an asteroid sample from space—and with it came a treasure trove of data. An international collaboration, led by Sandia National Laboratories and including researchers at Los Alamos National Laboratory, has published a study in The Planetary Science Journal that reveals the preliminary findings from the capsule’s reentry.

The return of the OSIRIS-REx capsule was the largest geophysical observation campaign of its kind. “This project was a unique opportunity for us to observe the geophysical signals produced by a meter-sized object traveling at hypersonic speeds,” said Chris Carr, the lead author at Los Alamos National Lab...

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