Toggle light / dark theme

Combining two different kinds of signals could help engineers build prosthetic limbs that better reproduce natural movements, according to a new study from the University of California, Davis. The work, published April 10 in PLOS One, shows that a combination of electromyography and force myography is more accurate at predicting hand movements than either method by itself.

Human cyborgs are individuals who integrate advanced technology into their bodies, enhancing their physical or cognitive abilities. This fusion of man and machine blurs the line between science fiction and reality, raising questions about the future of humanity, ethics, and the limits of human potential. From bionic limbs to brain-computer interfaces, cyborg technology is rapidly evolving, pushing us closer to a world where humans and machines become one.

Shocking transformation, futuristic nightmare, beyond human limits, man merges with machine, terrifying reality, future is now, ultimate evolution, secret experiments exposed, technology gone too far, sci-fi turns real, mind-blowing upgrade, science fiction no more, unstoppable machine man, breaking human boundaries, dark future ahead, human cyborgs, cyborg technology, cyborg implants, cyborg augmentation, cyborg evolution, cyborg future, cyborg innovations, cyborg advancements, cyborg ethics, cyborg integration, cyborg society, cyborg culture, cyborg development, cyborg research, cyborg science, cyborg engineering, cyborg design, cyborg applications, cyborg trends, cyborg news, cyborg updates, cyborg breakthroughs, cyborg discoveries, cyborg implants, bionic limbs, neural interfaces, prosthetic enhancements, biohacking, cybernetics, exoskeletons, brain-computer interfaces, robotic prosthetics, augmented humans, wearable technology, artificial organs, human augmentation, smart prosthetics, neuroprosthetics, biomechatronics, implantable devices, synthetic biology, transhumanism, bioengineering, nanotechnology, genetic engineering, bioinformatics, artificial intelligence, machine learning, robotics, automation, virtual reality, augmented reality, mixed reality, haptic feedback, sensory augmentation, cognitive enhancement, biofeedback, neurofeedback, brain mapping, neural networks, deep learning, biotechnology, regenerative medicine, tissue engineering, stem cells, gene therapy, personalized medicine, precision medicine, biomedical engineering, medical devices, health tech, digital health, telemedicine, eHealth, mHealth, health informatics, wearable sensors, fitness trackers, smartwatches, health monitoring, remote monitoring, patient engagement, health apps, health data, electronic health records, health analytics, health AI, medical robotics, surgical robots, rehabilitation robotics, assistive technology, disability tech, inclusive design, universal design, accessibility, adaptive technology, human-machine interaction, human-computer interaction, user experience, user interface, UX design, UI design, interaction design, design thinking, product design, industrial design, innovation, technology trends, future tech, emerging technologies, disruptive technologies, tech startups, tech entrepreneurship, venture capital, startup ecosystem, tech innovation, research and development, R&D, scientific research, science and technology, STEM, engineering, applied sciences, interdisciplinary research, academic research, scholarly articles, peer-reviewed journals, conferences, symposiums, workshops, seminars, webinars, online courses, e-learning, MOOCs, professional development, continuing education, certifications, credentials, skills development, career advancement, job market, employment trends, workforce development, labor market, gig economy, freelancing, remote work, telecommuting, digital nomads, coworking spaces, collaboration tools, project management, productivity tools, time management, work-life balance, mental health, wellness, self-care, mindfulness, meditation, stress management, resilience, personal growth, self-improvement, life coaching, goal setting, motivation, inspiration, success stories, case studies, testimonials, reviews, ratings, recommendations, referrals, networking, professional associations, industry groups, online communities, forums, discussion boards, social media, content creation, blogging, vlogging, podcasting, video production, photography, graphic design, animation, illustration, creative arts, performing arts, visual arts, music, literature, film, television, entertainment, media, journalism, news, reporting, storytelling, narrative, communication, public speaking, presentations, persuasion, negotiation, leadership, management, entrepreneurship, business, marketing, advertising, branding, public relations, sales, customer service, client relations, customer experience, market research, consumer behavior, demographics, psychographics, target audience, niche markets, segmentation, positioning, differentiation, competitive analysis, SWOT analysis, strategic planning, business development, growth strategies, scalability, sustainability, corporate social responsibility, ethics, compliance, governance, risk management, crisis management, change management, organizational behavior, corporate culture, diversity and inclusion, team building, collaboration, innovation management, knowledge management, intellectual property, patents, trademarks, copyrights.

In order to showcase ultra-strong artificial muscles, Ray Baughman from the University of Texas at Dallas and his colleagues built a catapult.

The scientists published their findings in the journal Science. The device contains yarns similar in diameter to human hair, spun from carbon nanotubes and soaked in paraffin wax. When a current is passed through the yarn, the wax heats up and expands. As the yarn swells, its particular helical weave causes it to shorten, and the muscle contracts. As it cools, the yarn relaxes and returns to its original length. When coiled lightly or heated to high enough temperatures, wax-free yarns behave in the same fashion.

The torque produced by the twisting and untwisting of the yarns is sufficient to power a miniature catapult. The yarn can haul 200 times the weight that a natural muscle of the same size can, and generates more torque than a large electric motor if compared by weight. Currently, the available manufacturing techniques have limited the weight of the yarn. They can make yarn that lifts up 50 grams. That doesn’t sound like much, but researchers have shown the nanotube yarns lifting loads as much as 50,000 times greater than their own weight.

Could a tiny dose of gold restore sight? Researchers at Brown University have developed a groundbreaking retinal prosthesis using gold nanoparticles and infrared light to bypass damaged photoreceptors in retinal disorders like macular degeneration.

This minimally invasive method successfully activated the visual system in mice, offering promising early evidence for future clinical applications. Learn how this innovative fusion of nanotechnology and neuroscience could revolutionize treatment for millions suffering from vision loss.

#vision #visionloss #neuroscience #science

The development of increasingly sophisticated sensors can facilitate the advancement of various technologies, including robots, security systems, virtual reality (VR) equipment and sophisticated prosthetics. Multimodal tactile sensors, which can pick up different types of touch-related information (e.g., pressure, texture and type of material), are among the most promising for applications that can benefit from the artificial replication of the human sense of touch.

Year 2021 face_with_colon_three


Communication between brain activity and computers, known as brain-computer interface or BCI, has been used in clinical trials to monitor epilepsy and other brain disorders. BCI has also shown promise as a technology to enable a user to move a prosthesis simply by neural commands. Tapping into the basic BCI concept would make smart phones smarter than ever.

Research has zeroed in on retrofitting wireless earbuds to detect neural signals. The data would then be transmitted to a smartphone via Bluetooth. Software at the smartphone end would translate different brain wave patterns into commands. The emerging technology is called Ear EEG.

Rikky Muller, Assistant Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, has refined the physical comfort of EEG earbuds and has demonstrated their ability to detect and record brain activity. With support from the Bakar Fellowship Program, she is building out several applications to establish Ear EEG as a new platform technology to support consumer and health monitoring apps.

A new study by Brown University researchers suggests that gold nanoparticles—microscopic bits of gold thousands of times thinner than a human hair—might one day be used to help restore vision in people with macular degeneration and other retinal disorders.

In a study published in the journal ACS Nano, the research team showed that nanoparticles injected into the retina can successfully stimulate the visual system and restore vision in mice with retinal disorders. The findings suggest that a new type of visual prosthesis system in which nanoparticles, used in combination with a small laser device worn in a pair of glasses or goggles, might one day help people with retinal disorders to see again.

“This is a new type of retinal prosthesis that has the potential to restore vision lost to without requiring any kind of complicated surgery or ,” said Jiarui Nie, a postdoctoral researcher at the National Institutes of Health who led the research while completing her Ph.D. at Brown. “We believe this technique could potentially transform treatment paradigms for retinal degenerative conditions.”

The skin is the largest organ in the human body. It makes up around 15 percent of our body weight and protects us from pathogens, dehydration and temperature extremes. Skin diseases are therefore more than just unpleasant – they can quickly become dangerous for affected patients. Although conditions such as skin cancer, chronic wounds and autoimmune skin diseases are widespread, we often still don’t fully understand about why they develop and how we can treat them effectively.

To find answers to these questions, Empa researchers are working together with clinical partners on a model of human skin. The model will allow scientists to simulate skin diseases and thus better understand them. This is not a computer or plastic model. Rather, researchers from Empa’s Laboratory for Biomimetic Membranes and Textiles and its Laboratory for Biointerfaces aim to produce a living “artificial skin” that contains cells and emulates the layered and wrinkled structure of human skin. The project is part of the Swiss research initiative SKINTEGRITY.CH.

In order to recreate something as complex as skin, suitable building materials are needed. This is where Empa researchers have recently made progress: They have developed a hydrogel that meets the complex requirements while being easy to manufacture. The basis: gelatin from the skin of cold-water fish.