Topic description and stories

Sensors printed on human fingers

Imperceptible sensors made from ‘electronic spider silk’ can be printed directly on human skin

24 May 2024

Researchers have developed a method to make adaptive and eco-friendly sensors that can be directly and imperceptibly printed onto a wide range of...

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Two people working on circuit boards in an office

Major investment in doctoral training announced

12 Mar 2024

Sixty-five Centres for Doctoral Training – which will train more than 4000 doctoral students across the UK – have been announced by Science...

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A block of silica aerogel being held in a person's hand

Sensors made from ‘frozen smoke’ can detect toxic formaldehyde in homes and offices

09 Feb 2024

Researchers have developed a sensor made from ‘frozen smoke’ that uses artificial intelligence techniques to detect formaldehyde in real time at...

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Robot braille reader

Robot trained to read braille at twice the speed of humans

29 Jan 2024

Researchers have developed a robotic sensor that incorporates artificial intelligence techniques to read braille at speeds roughly double that of...

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Robot hand picking up a plastic ball

It’s all in the wrist: energy-efficient robot hand learns how not to drop the ball

12 Apr 2023

Researchers have designed a low-cost, energy-efficient robotic hand that can grasp a range of objects – and not drop them – using just the movement...

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On-chip spectrometer on a fingertip

Artificial intelligence powers record-breaking all-in-one miniature spectrometers

20 Oct 2022

Using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to replace optical and mechanical components, researchers have designed a tiny spectrometer that breaks all...

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Self-healing materials for robotics made from ‘jelly’ and salt

18 Feb 2022

Researchers have developed self-healing, biodegradable, 3D-printed materials that could be used in the development of realistic artificial hands and...

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Nano-antennas convert invisible infrared into visible light

Colour-changing magnifying glass gives clear view of infrared light

02 Dec 2021

By trapping light into tiny crevices of gold, researchers have coaxed molecules to convert invisible infrared into visible light, creating new low-...

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Artist's impression of touchscreen sensor

Smartphone screens effective sensors for soil or water contamination

22 Jul 2021

The touchscreen technology used in billions of smartphones and tablets could also be used as a powerful sensor, without the need for any...

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Growing Underground

29 Mar 2021

In the heart of London there is a farm like no other. It's subterranean, sustainable and energy smart. It also has a digital twin looking out for its...

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Fibre sensor attached to face covering

3D-printed ‘invisible’ fibres can sense breath, sound, and biological cells

30 Sep 2020

From capturing your breath to guiding biological cell movements, 3D printing of tiny, transparent conducting fibres could be used to make devices...

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Predictive touch system

AI-based ‘no-touch touchscreen’ could reduce risk of pathogen spread from surfaces

23 Jul 2020

A ‘no-touch touchscreen’ developed for use in cars could also have widespread applications in a post-COVID-19 world, by reducing the risk of...

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