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'Thinner lenses, brighter colors': Metalens research clears 2 hurdles for AR·VR glasses

A research team at Pohang University of Science and Technology developed technologies for producing sharp full-color images using metalenses, addressing two major challenges: high optical performance and scalable manufacturing. The team solved the issue of achromatic performance by controlling the height of nanoscale pillars, enabling ...

SourcePohang University of Science & Technology (POSTECH)·JournalNature Communications·DateAug 19, 2026

JMIR News: Health tech industry trends and innovations

The health tech industry is evolving with AI-powered wearables that enable real-time data interpretation, reducing centralized infrastructure demands. Pharmaceutical AI tools like NoHarm automate reviews, freeing up resources for medication errors. These innovations transform healthcare, improving care and patient outcomes.

SourceJMIR Publications·JournalJournal of Medical Internet Research·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateJul 24, 2026

Proxemics and virtual reality: Study reveals how people regulate social distance in Italy and Japan

Researchers used virtual reality to measure interpersonal distance in Italian and Japanese participants, finding that cultural background and first impressions influence personal space. The study suggests that virtual environments can be used to standardize the appearance of agents and observe social behavior with high precision.

SourceIstituto Italiano di Tecnologia - IIT·JournalComputers in Human Behavior·TypeObservational study·DateJul 23, 2026

How virtual reality can transform behavioral science and enhance reproducibility

Researchers outline a future vision for VR research that prioritizes open science practices and technological accessibility. The Openverse protocol addresses interoperability, procedural standardization, and data sharing to improve VR study quality and address the reproducibility crisis.

SourceUniversity of California - Merced·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 14, 2026

Clinician support key to patient adoption of virtual reality therapies

A new study found that clinician support significantly increases patient adoption of virtual reality therapies, leading to better time-based adherence and technology acceptance. The research team evaluated three implementation environments, with provider-led support demonstrating the most favorable usability pattern.

SourceJMIR Publications·JournalJMIR XR and Spatial Computing·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJul 7, 2026

Virtual reality study with zebrafish shows surroundings influence developing biology of the eye

A virtual reality study with zebrafish shows that the environment experienced by young fish influences the shape and electrical activity of neurons in the eye. Fish growing up surrounded by horizontal stripes develop differently shaped neurons compared to those exposed to vertical stripes, which affects their behavior.

SourceKing's College London·JournalNeuron·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 23, 2026

Virtual-reality path integration for predicting risk of neurodegenerative diseases

Researchers found that impaired virtual reality path integration was closely tied to brain structure and biomarkers associated with neurodegeneration. This suggests that VR-based navigation errors may reveal hidden changes in the brain long before symptoms arise, making it a promising behavioral marker for preclinical Alzheimer's disease.

SourceFujita Health University·JournalAlzheimer s Research & Therapy·TypeObservational study·DateMay 27, 2026

Researchers find virtual reality intervention improves interactions between autistic individuals and police officers

A new virtual reality intervention improved interactions between autistic teens and adults with law enforcement officers, reducing fidgeting and increasing positive behavior. The study showed significant improvements in the virtual reality group compared to a video modeling intervention.

SourceChildren's Hospital of Philadelphia·JournalJournal of Autism and Developmental Disorders·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateMay 5, 2026

USF study finds kids don’t use augmented reality like adults, raising concerns for classrooms

A USF study finds that children ages 9 to 12 engage with AR headsets in a more exploratory and intuitive way than adults, highlighting a mismatch between adult-designed systems and child-centered design. This difference has implications for educational applications of AR, which may require more flexible and creative interaction methods.

SourceUniversity of South Florida·JournalACM SIGCHI Bulletin·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 23, 2026

Can hyper-real virtual worlds make us feel better?

A recent study from Murdoch University suggests that certain design elements in virtual reality environments can induce positive emotional states, including awe, joy, and calm. The research highlights the potential of virtual reality to be used for mental health and stress reduction, nature-based wellbeing, and education.

SourceMurdoch University·JournalInternational Journal of Human-Computer Interaction·TypeSystematic review·DateApr 12, 2026

Origami-inspired fabric makes one cloth act as many VR controllers

Researchers have developed a reconfigurable textile interface that supports flat touch, folded 3D manipulation, and shape-change commands. The 'one cloth, many states' framework reduces the need to swap props and recalibrate alignment, making it promising for constrained-space operation training and human-machine interaction scenarios.

SourceScience China Press·JournalNational Science Review·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 30, 2026

Wristband enables wearers to control a robotic hand with their own movements

Researchers at MIT have developed an ultrasound wristband that precisely tracks hand movements, allowing users to control a robotic hand or manipulate virtual objects. The device produces high-quality images of the wrist's muscles and tendons, which are then translated into specific hand positions, enabling precise movement control.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalNature Electronics·DateMar 25, 2026

Augmented reality job coaching boosts performance by 79% for people with disabilities

A new study found that augmented reality job coaching significantly improves job performance for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The AR-based application delivered real-time guidance, enabling participants to complete complex tasks with minimal external support. This innovative approach has the potential t...

SourceFlorida Atlantic University·JournalFocus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 11, 2026

Variety: Spice of life or risk factor for overeating?

A new study conducted by researchers at Penn State found that the presence of a higher variety of foods in a buffet increases both the weight and calories of food selected. Participants who visited buffets with more food options chose higher-calorie dense foods, leading to increased calorie consumption.

SourcePenn State·JournalAppetite·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 27, 2026

The brain uses eye movements to see in 3D

Researchers at the University of Rochester found that the brain analyzes global patterns of image motion caused by eye movements to understand how objects move and where they are located in 3D space. This discovery challenges conventional ideas that image motion produced by eye movements is visual noise to be subtracted off.

SourceUniversity of Rochester Medical Center·JournalNature Communications·DateFeb 5, 2026

Vision-impaired individuals estimate the arrival time of approaching vehicles surprisingly

A new international study found that people with central vision loss can judge the motion of vehicles almost as accurately as those with normal vision. When both visual and auditory information were available, the two groups showed comparable accuracy in estimating the arrival time of approaching vehicles. The research, published in PL...

The avatar in a wheelchair

Researchers investigate how people with disabilities feel when their avatars depict them the way they see themselves. Most participants reported positive feedback when their avatar reflected their disability, and many felt comfortable expressing their identity in virtual reality.

SourceMax Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems·JournalThe Journal of Strategic Information Systems·TypeObservational study·DateNov 25, 2025

Korean researchers’ single memristor replaces both the driving transistor and storage capacitor in micro-LED

A team of Korean researchers has successfully integrated a single memristor into micro-LED pixels, replacing the traditional driving transistor and storage capacitor. This innovation enables more efficient and easier-to-build displays with improved brightness and color accuracy.

SourceInternational Journal of Extreme Manufacturing·JournalInternational Journal of Extreme Manufacturing·DateNov 6, 2025

New study explores the use of VR in reducing stress in young adults with diabetes

Researchers at Wayne State University are exploring the feasibility and acceptability of virtual reality-based Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) as a tool to reduce stress in young adults with type 1 diabetes. The study aims to assess the effects of MBSR-VR on glycemic control, mindfulness, and psychological distress.