A couple of years ago, we heard about a robotic device that was designed to draw blood samples. And while it had only been tested on artificial arms at the time, it’s now been successfully trialed on real live humans. Created by a team at New Jersey’s Rutgers University, the device is initially placed over a patient’s arm, after which […]
Blood Sampling Robots
Bicycles Handlebar Jack
While many people routinely turn their bike upside-down to perform repairs, doing so can damage handlebar-mounted components such as brake levers, shifters and e-bike screens. The Original Handlebar Jack is designed to protect those items, by keeping the bars off the ground. Invented by cyclist Andy Wilkoff, the Handlebar Jack system actually consists of two small jacks, 3D-printed out of […]
Control The Ipad With Your Eyes
Not everyone is able to use their gadgets via the usual taps and swipes, which is why extra accessibility add-ons are so important – such as a new eye-tracking system called Skyle, which works with the 12.9-inch Apple iPad Pro. The main part of Skyle is a case that the iPad Pro slots into. The case features a scanner using […]
Smart Bandages
Bacteria are fast evolving resistance to antibiotics, and it takes time to figure out if a particular infection is drug-resistant or not. Now, researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences have developed a smart bandage that changes color to signal the presence of either drug-resistant or drug-sensitive bacteria. It can then be triggered to release antibiotics or other chemicals to […]
Genetically Engineered Corn Grows Better In Colder Places
Despite the fact that corn is one of the world’s most commonly-grown crops, it’s still challenging to grow in northern regions, as it doesn’t tolerate cold temperatures well. That could be about to change, though, as scientists have developed a hardier strain. Led by Prof. David Stern, researchers at New York state’s Boyce Thompson Institute started by looking at a […]
Smart Wine Dispenser Serves At Right Temperature
It can be a hassle, getting your wine to the exact suggested serving temperature. The Albicchiere wine dispenser is designed to help, by both maintaining wine at a given temperature, and allowing it to last longer after being opened. Albicchiere users start by either pouring wine from a bottle into one of the system’s recyclable “smart” bags, or buying pre-bagged […]
Kinder & Gentler Alarm Tones Put More Pep In Your Step
It makes a certain amount of sense to think that a harsh, jarring alarm tone would be most effective at thoroughly waking a person up. According to a new study, though, a melodic tone may work best for minimizing morning grogginess. The phenomenon of still feeling sleepy after getting up is known as sleep inertia (SI). It can last for […]
Device Uses Light to Detect Bacteria
If bacterially-tainted food is present in a store or kitchen, then the sooner that authorities know, the better. That’s why scientists have created a device that detects harmful bacteria on the spot, instead of in the lab. The portable 3D-printed tool is being developed by a team led by Dr. Euiwon Bae and Prof. Bruce Applegate, at Indiana’s Purdue University. […]
Wearable Tech Measures Real Time Blood Pressure
For people living with conditions such as hypertension, knowing their blood pressure at all times certainly would be helpful. That’s where a non-invasive new wearable system is designed to come in. Currently, the standard method of measuring blood pressure involves utilizing an inflatable arm cuff – the device is officially known as a cuffed sphygmomanometer. While highly accurate, it certainly […]
MotionIQ Assesses & Advises Mountain Bike Suspension
Setting the preload, rebound and compression on a full-suspension mountain bike can be a daunting task, to the point that many cyclists simply stick with the factory presets. The MotionIQ system is designed to help, though, by assessing users’ rides in order to determine the best settings. Designed by California-based Motion Instruments, the system incorporates two sensing units – one […]