Videos

Video: Collecting data in granular environments—turtle-inspired robot can swim untethered under the sand

By Lisa McDonald / August 16, 2023

Robots cannot move easily in granular environments, such as sand. Researchers at the University of California, San Diego, designed a robot inspired by sea turtle hatchlings that can swim untethered through sand. This robot could improve the ability of researchers to collect data in granular environments.

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Video: Augmented reality device offers real-time subtitles during everyday conversations

By Lisa McDonald / August 9, 2023

The expansion of real-time translation apps is bringing the benefits of subtitles to real-life conversations. In February 2023, the integration of these apps into everyday dialogue took a step forward with the beta release of a new product called TranscribeGlass, which attaches to your glasses and projects real-time captions in front of your eyes.

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Video: From neutrinos to asteroids, SCINEMA 2023 covers science from the smallest to largest of scales

By Lisa McDonald / August 2, 2023

SCINEMA is an international science film festival based in Australia. During the month of August, anyone around the world can register and watch the films for free through the festival’s website. This year’s entries cover an expansive range of topics, from cutting-edge cancer treatments to asteroid deflection plans.

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Video: Computer vision method demonstrates potential of rapid and automated quality control for cements

By Lisa McDonald / July 26, 2023

Testing the durability of building materials is typically a slow, tedious, and labor-intensive process. Researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign used computer vision to develop a fast and affordable method for testing cement durability, demonstrating the potential to improve quality control in the cement industry through automated methods.

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Video: Year-long simulated Mars mission taking place in 3D-printed concrete habitat

By Lisa McDonald / July 19, 2023

Materials are not the only challenge to carrying out a successful space mission—the toll on a crew’s cognitive and physical performance must also be anticipated. In June 2023, NASA announced the start of its first year-long simulated Mars surface mission, which will take place within a 3D-printed concrete habitat.

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Video: Proposed ban threatens budding agrivoltaic industry in the Netherlands

By Lisa McDonald / July 12, 2023

Despite the recorded benefits of co-locating solar panels and crops, the erroneous belief that photovoltaics and agriculture are an either/or situation remains a common perspective in governing bodies around the world. In the past month, two media announcements out of the Netherlands reveal how a proposed ban on solar deployments on agricultural land could severely hamper the country’s budding agrivoltaic industry.

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Video: Cadmium telluride solar technology gains momentum

By Lisa McDonald / July 5, 2023

Cadmium telluride solar cells are the second most common photovoltaic technology globally after crystalline silicon. Today’s CTT looks at recent funding initiatives and commercial expansions to accelerate the impact of this maturing technology.

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Video: ‘Dance Your Ph.D.’ contest winners dance their way through materials and AI research

By Lisa McDonald / June 21, 2023

Why write your way through a thesis when you can dance it? The winners of this year’s annual Dance Your Ph.D. contest run by AAAS and Science provide a fun way to learn about some emerging research areas, including metal-organic frameworks and artificial intelligence.

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Video: Scotland’s proposed container recycling scheme faces delays and controversy

By Lisa McDonald / June 14, 2023

Over the past few years, the Scotland government has worked to develop a deposit return scheme to increase recycling rates for drink containers in the country. However, implementation of the scheme has been delayed due to pushback from retailers and drinks companies. A recent decision by the U.K. government excluding glass from the scheme has now pushed back the launch date to October 2025.

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Video: Caltech announces first-ever wireless power transfer of space-based solar energy back to Earth

By Lisa McDonald / June 7, 2023

The idea of harvesting solar energy in outer space and beaming it back to Earth is a science-fiction concept that in recent decades gained real-world legs. Now, the California Institute of Technology announced that an experiment through its ongoing Space Solar Power Project beamed solar energy collected in space back to Earth for the first time.

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