A team from MIT's CSAIL has developed a system that uses artificial intelligence to analyze radio signals bouncing off people's bodies, allowing for dynamic stick figures to be created of their postures and movements. This technology could monitor diseases like Parkinson's and MS, as well as provide security for elderly people.
The CREDO Detector app allows users to contribute to the largest particle detector in history, exploring fundamental physics questions like dark matter and spacetime nature. By registering and initiating particle detection, users can gain co-authorship and membership in the international collaboration.
Saarland University researchers developed a light field camera system that captures images from multiple angles, allowing for new shots of movements and post-processing capabilities. The system uses 64 cameras and can shoot up to 40 frames per second, with the ability to selectively replace individual image areas.
Researchers designed an aerial robot that can alter its profile during flight to reduce its wingspan and navigate through narrow passages. The Quad-Morphing robot has two rotating arms equipped with propellers, allowing it to fly like a helicopter and adopt different arm orientations to traverse tight spaces.
The Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) has completed a lunar flyby, providing a gravity assist to help it reach its final working orbit. As part of camera commissioning, TESS snapped a two-second test exposure revealing over 200,000 stars in the southern constellation Centaurus.
MIT engineers create a new virtual-reality training system for drones, enabling vehicles to navigate through an empty physical space while 'seeing' a rich, virtual environment. The system, dubbed Flight Goggles, reduces the number of crashes that drones experience in actual training sessions.
A new camera system is tracking Antarctic penguin breeding and population dynamics, providing a low-cost window into the health of the ecosystem. The network includes 51 cameras across Antarctica's Peninsula and Islands, monitoring three species of penguins with high accuracy.
Researchers analyzed genetic material from organisms to assess dark diversity of sharks and found three times more species in wilderness areas than traditional visual methods. The results suggest a lower estimated dark diversity of sharks in the region, potentially impacting IUCN Red List classifications and aiding conservation efforts.
The U.S. Army Research Laboratory has developed an artificial intelligence technique that produces a visible face image from thermal images captured in low-light conditions. The technology leverages advanced domain adaptation techniques to enhance discriminability and recognition accuracy.
A team of UCSB physicists has created a device named DARKNESS, the first 10,000-pixel integral field spectrograph designed to overcome the limitations of traditional semiconductor detectors. This instrument enables direct imaging of planets around nearby stars and can detect fainter planets with higher contrast ratios.
Male Costa's hummingbirds perform a high-speed dive to the side of females, producing a unique 'tail song' that minimizes an audible Doppler sound. This strategic display allows males to control how females perceive their speed and potentially increase mating success.
The Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) will survey nearly the entire sky for signs of passing planets. The spacecraft aims to detect thousands of stars hosting transiting planets and measure the masses of at least 50 small planets less than four times that of Earth.
A team of researchers at MIT has shown that an FDA-approved dye can be used for short-wave infrared imaging, producing clearer images of blood vessels and other body tissues. This breakthrough could enable doctors to visualize these structures with greater accuracy, leading to improved diagnosis and research.
Researchers developed a surgical camera inspired by the morpho butterfly's eye to help surgeons detect cancerous tissue. The camera uses infrared signals to locate tumors and can be integrated with surgical goggles, making it more accessible and cost-effective than existing technologies.
Researchers developed a camera that provides surgeons with both traditional color images and near-infrared images to detect fluorescently labeled cancer cells. The new camera greatly improves upon existing cameras, offering high sensitivity even under bright surgical lighting.
Researchers at University of Illinois develop bio-inspired camera that uses polarization patterns to estimate sun's heading and elevation angle, allowing for accurate underwater GPS location. The technology has potential applications in marine navigation, pollution research, and studying migratory behavior of marine animals.
Researchers created a synthetic device mimicking cephalopod skin to evade infrared detection. The device can adapt its reflectivity in response to temperature changes, enabling effective camouflage.
The MIT system uses a time-of-flight camera to measure the arrival times of reflected light and estimates a gamma distribution to filter out fog reflections. It calculates a different gamma distribution for each pixel, handling variations in fog density, and produces images of objects at distances up to 57 centimeters.
COSMIC, a next-generation X-ray beamline, enables scientists to probe active chemistry and electronic properties at the nanoscale. It successfully demonstrated ptychographic computed tomography that mapped lithium-ion battery reactions in 3D.
Scientists solved the mystery of purple lights in the sky using data from citizen scientists, satellites and researchers. The discovery provides insight into Earth's magnetic field and its interaction with charged particles in space.
The Rice team designs a thin, wide-field microscope that surpasses traditional microscopes in resolution and field of view. FlatScope eliminates the need for lenses, allowing for micrometer resolution over several cubic millimeters.
Researchers developed low-cost, 3D printed hyperspectral imagers for drones, making them accessible for land and ocean mapping. The imagers provide data on terrain features and ocean color, with improved sensitivity in development.
Researchers use GIRI to deconstruct rock samples and create three-dimensional digital versions of fossils, allowing for accurate analysis without human bias. This technology has enabled scientists to reevaluate the role of ancient organisms in shaping early ecosystems.
Researchers create a new approach to machine learning using a single-layer neural network that can analyze images with limited training data. The algorithm, called MS-D, requires far fewer parameters than traditional methods and has the ability to learn from a remarkably small set of images.
A team of researchers at the University of Delaware is developing an augmented reality system that can spot explosive hazards precisely and from a safe distance. The technology uses traditional cameras, thermal infrared sensing, and ground penetrating radar to detect IEDs up to 30 meters away.
Scientists at Brown University have created a way for robots to learn high-level abstract representations of their surroundings, enabling them to plan and act more autonomously. By using machine learning algorithms, robots can distill complex sensory data into simple, text-based descriptions that facilitate planning and skill execution.
Researchers at Penn State have developed a new theory that uses gradient index materials and metasurface layers to improve optical lens performance. The new design reduces the need for multiple lenses, resulting in lighter and thinner optical systems.
The Star-Planet Activity Research CubeSat (SPARCS) mission aims to monitor the flares and sunspots of small, cool stars, known as M dwarfs, to assess their habitability for planets. The spacecraft will use ultraviolet-sensitive detectors to study how stellar activity affects planetary environments.
Researchers create a data-driven method to detect and track human movements with high accuracy, focusing on the entire body rather than just the core. The new technique uses a time-of-flight camera to scan the subject's range of view and identify five extreme points: head, hands, and feet.
Researchers developed a compact and inexpensive camera that produces high-resolution 3D images from a single 2D image. The DiffuserCam uses computational imaging to reconstruct 100 million voxels from a 1.3-megapixel image, with potential applications in brain research, self-driving cars, and machine learning.
Researchers have created a positioning system using cameras that can track the location of vehicles in underground tunnels with high accuracy. The technology increases efficiency and safety by allowing autonomous vehicles to operate without costly sensing or infrastructure modifications.
Researchers developed a deep learning tool to automatically analyze road behavior and create searchable databases. The system accurately labeled and tracked objects in traffic videos, identifying potential close encounters between vehicles and pedestrians.
The team is developing a new technique to use human actor movements to drive four-legged animal characters, making animations more realistic. The project involves collecting motion capture data from various dog breeds at the Bath Cats and Dogs Home.
MIT researchers discovered that under some conditions, melted metal particles can actually prevent them from sticking to a surface. Instead, the particles bounce away and leave behind a solid bond when they resolidify.
A new imaging machine developed at the University of Illinois estimates the number of kernels per ear and provides detailed information about each kernel's shape, size, and location. The technology has the potential to revolutionize plant breeding and genetic research by enabling high-throughput phenotyping.
The Zwicky Transient Facility's (ZTF) new survey camera captures hundreds of thousands of stars and galaxies in a single shot, taking its first image of the sky, dubbed 'first light.' ZTF aims to discover objects and events varying in brightness over time, including explosive supernovae, hungry black holes, and asteroids/comets.
Researchers found infrared imaging to be more accurate than tactile inspection in detecting defects in lead aprons used to shield patients from radiation exposure. The technology reduces ionizing radiation exposure for inspectors and can identify smaller holes that may be missed through visual inspection.
A new handheld spectrometer, compatible with smartphones, can acquire spectral images of everyday objects and biological samples. It has potential applications in remote medical diagnosis and environmental monitoring, and its compact design makes it easy to use.
Researchers at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center are developing a highly compact infrared microbolometer camera called ComCAM to study near primitive objects. The device has the potential to assist in the redirection or possible destruction of an asteroid on a collision course with Earth.
Researchers use angular correlations of scattered X-rays to determine the 3D structure of biological objects, overcoming limitations of traditional X-ray methods. The breakthrough enables scientists to study molecular structure and dynamics previously impossible to observe.
A new virtual reality opera experience has been created using the latest motion capture technology, allowing viewers to interact with performances in 3D. The Magic Butterfly VR Experience combines high-quality imagery and sounds from Welsh National Opera's production of Madam Butterfly and The Magic Flute.
Researchers developed a machine to automate soybean quality evaluation during harvesting, providing real-time grain quality information. The system uses high-speed camera and computer program to analyze beans in real time, allowing operators to make adjustments as they go.
Researchers have demonstrated how aerial thermography is transforming archaeology by introducing a new realm of possibilities for collecting site data. The study showcases the potential of this methodology to reveal archaeological features, detect hidden structures, and analyze environmental conditions.
Researchers from the University of Zurich have developed a new camera system that allows drones to capture images in high-speed motion and low light, enabling autonomous flight. This technology can assist search and rescue teams in disaster areas where conventional drones are unable to operate.
A new tablet-based technology uses video monitoring to detect atrial fibrillation (afib), a condition that affects over 3 million Americans. The system, which requires no user action, will be compared to the gold standard ECG patch in a clinical trial to determine its accuracy.
The new 'science camera' system enables accurate measurements of optical absorption spectra of colored liquids or optically scattered spectra of solid objects. This technology has significant potential for developing countries where access to healthcare is limited.
The TerraSentia robot, developed by the University of Illinois, can autonomously count plants and measure stem width to estimate biomass. Early adopters will receive consulting services to teach their robot to detect additional traits that drive their business or research.
Researchers estimate that climate change increased overlap between sockeye salmon spawning and red elderberry ripening seasons on Kodiak Island, Alaska. This shift in food resources can alter food webs among Kodiak brown bears.
Researchers are developing software called ThermalTracker to automatically categorize birds and bats in thermal video. The system can help developers and regulators make informed decisions about siting and operating offshore wind projects, reducing uncertainty about potential impacts on wildlife.
TESS will survey stars up to 100 times brighter than Kepler, finding thousands of new exoplanets around bright nearby stars. The mission will provide ideal targets for follow-up observations with the James Webb Space Telescope.
The Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) will identify over 20,000 extrasolar planets, including Earth-sized and 'super Earth' planets. The satellite's four cameras have been mounted onto the camera plate and successfully demonstrated operation with the flight computer.
A smartphone app developed by computer scientists at the University of Waterloo uses an algorithm to direct users on camera positioning for optimal photos. The app, which has shown a 26% improvement in selfie quality, teaches users about composition principles and can be expanded to include additional factors.
A new system called Computational Zoom enables photographers to compose images post-capture by controlling object positions and sizes. This allows for novel image compositions, including automatically combining wide-angle and telephoto perspectives into a single multi-perspective image.
A team of astronomers detected a massive star's titanic explosion and measured its development and decay in unprecedented detail. The findings provide strong evidence for one of two competing models for how gamma-ray bursts produce their energy, with the data showing powerful magnetic fields confining and directing the radiation.
The Magic Bench enables users to see, hear, and feel animated characters in a shared 3D space. Researchers have created a platform that combines augmented and mixed reality for a seamless experience.
The new robot grows in one direction when material at the front everts, allowing it to move without body movement. It successfully navigated an obstacle course, lifted a 100-kilogram crate, and formed a free-standing structure.
A University of Houston researcher is developing a system that would allow security cameras to recognize and send an alert at the first sign of a threat to public safety. The project uses video analytics to build mathematical models that reflect human behavior and predict deviations from the norm.
Fire ants construct bell-shaped structures that aid in their survival by evenly distributing weight among group members. The towers gradually sink due to constant movement, with the ants continually rebuilding and replacing their surface.
A study by Massey University and the USGS found that Indiana bats that warm up together from hibernation have better survival rates against white-nose syndrome. Thermal surveillance cameras revealed that these bats rouse together every night, suggesting group arousals may be associated with disease survival.
Researchers discovered a new mechanism for processing color information in honeybees, which could improve color constancy in imaging systems. The study found that the bees' ocelli contain two color receptors that can detect ambient light color, allowing them to discount naturally colored illumination and perceive true colors.