Add BrightSurf on Google Email

How thoughts could one day control electronic prostheses, wirelessly

A team of researchers at Stanford University has made a breakthrough in developing a wireless brain-computer interface that can accurately control electronic prostheses using thoughts. The new technology uses a tenth of the power required by current wire-enabled systems, making it safer and more natural for patients with paralysis or n...

SourceStanford University School of Engineering·JournalNature Biomedical Engineering·DateAug 4, 2020

Novel magnetic stirrer speaks to lab equipment

The Smart Stirrer, a novel magnetic stirrer, monitors multiple parameters such as color, transparency, conductivity, viscosity, and temperature wirelessly to enable real-time tracking of chemical reactions. This innovative device allows for automation, reproducibility, and safety in laboratory settings.

SourceUniversity of Warwick·JournalACS Sensors·DateAug 3, 2020

Digitizing chemistry with a smart stir bar

Researchers created an inexpensive smart stir bar that can automatically measure and transmit data on a solution's properties to a smartphone or computer. This device uses open-source software and low-cost components to detect parameters such as color, electrical conductivity, and viscosity.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalACS Sensors·DateJul 22, 2020

Augmented reality can improve online shopping, study finds

A recent study by Cornell University found that augmented reality (AR) technology can improve the online shopping experience by reducing returns and increasing consumer attitudes towards garments. While results were mixed, participants responded well to virtual try-on, with higher telepresence corresponding to more positive attitudes.

SourceCornell University·JournalJournal of Fashion Marketing and Management·DateMay 27, 2020

To err is human, to learn, divine

The human brain balances complexity and accuracy when processing patterns, with errors playing a crucial role in learning and cognition. The new model suggests that the brain constantly strives to represent things in simple terms, with participants showing quicker responses to sequences generated by modular networks.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania·JournalNature Communications·DateMay 8, 2020

AI -- a new tool for cardiac diagnostics

Researchers developed an AI tool to automatically diagnose atrial fibrillation and five common ECG abnormalities, comparable to human diagnosis. The AI was trained on a large database of manually diagnosed ECGs and shows great potential for improved cardiovascular care in low-income countries.

SourceUppsala University·JournalNature Communications·DateMay 5, 2020

Why smartphones are digital truth serum

A new study found that smartphones increase the willingness of people to disclose personal information online compared to desktop computers. The researchers suggest that smartphone users' comfort and familiarity with their devices lead to a 'safe zone' effect, making them more willing to open up about themselves.

SourceAmerican Marketing Association·JournalJournal of Marketing·DateMay 3, 2020

How the brain controls the voice

Researchers at Goethe University Frankfurt studied brain activity in Seba's short-tailed bats to understand how the brain controls vocalization. They identified a group of nerve cells creating a circuitry from the frontal lobe to the corpus striatum, which fires off rhythmic signals predicting echolocation or communication sounds.

SourceGoethe University Frankfurt·JournalPLOS Biology·DateMar 20, 2020

A flexible brain for AI

Scientists at Osaka University created a flexible computing device from field-programmable gate arrays, increasing circuit density by 12 times and reducing energy usage by 80%. This innovation may lead to custom machine learning hardware with enhanced performance and reduced electricity consumption.

Discovery of accurate and far more efficient algorithm for point set registration problems

A new algorithm has been discovered that can accurately register two point sets consisting of millions of points in a fraction of the time taken by conventional methods. The algorithm's accuracy is not compromised despite using approximations, and it has wide-ranging applications in computer graphics and computer vision.

SourceKanazawa University·JournalIEEE Transactions on Pattern Analysis and Machine Intelligence·DateMar 5, 2020

Cover of CHEOPS space telescope open

The CHEOPS space telescope has successfully opened its cover following a series of tests, enabling further activities including star and planet imaging. The first images are expected to be published within one or two weeks, allowing the team to assess the instrument's abilities.

An ultrafast microscope for the quantum world

Scientists have created a high-speed camera for the quantum world, enabling the precise tracking of electron movements at a resolution of a few hundred attoseconds. This microscope can be used to analyze processes in tiny electronic components and molecules, providing valuable insights for developing faster and more efficient electronics.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalScience·DateJan 29, 2020