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Categories: Ecology: Invasive Species, Engineering: Robotics Research
Published Why insects navigate more efficiently than robots
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Engineers have studied how insects navigate, for the purpose of developing energy-efficient robots.
Published Alien invasion: Non-native earthworms threaten ecosystems
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Analysis reveals imported earthworm species have colonized large swaths of North America, and represent a largely overlooked threat to native ecosystems. The researchers warn of the need to better understand and manage the invaders in our midst.
Published 3D printed nanocellulose upscaled for green architectural applications
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source For the first time, a hydrogel material made of nanocellulose and algae has been tested as an alternative, greener architectural material. The study shows how the abundant sustainable material can be 3D printed into a wide array of architectural components, using much less energy than conventional construction methods.
Published How kelp forests persisted through the large 2014-2016 Pacific marine heatwave
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source New research reveals that denser, and more sheltered, kelp forests can withstand serious stressors amid warming ocean temperatures.
Published GPT-3 transforms chemical research
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Scientists demonstrate how GPT-3 can transform chemical analysis, making it faster and more user-friendly.
Published One person can supervise 'swarm' of 100 unmanned autonomous vehicles
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Research involving has shown that a 'swarm' of more than 100 autonomous ground and aerial robots can be supervised by one person without subjecting the individual to an undue workload.
Published Rare 3D fossils show that some early trees had forms unlike any you've ever seen
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source In the fossil record, trees typically are preserved with only their trunks. They don't usually include any leaves to show what their canopies and overall forms may have looked like. In a new study, researchers describe fossilized trees from New Brunswick, Canada with a surprising and unique three-dimensional crown shape.
Published Fungal-rich soil may improve green roofs
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Green roofs have become increasingly popular thanks to their benefits related to climate adaptation, mitigation, and urban biodiversity management. But, in the U.S., green roofs are typically planted with non-native plants in sterile soils, and their effectiveness declines over time. A new study finds that managing green roof soil microbes boosts healthy urban soil development, which is a methodology that could be applied to support climate resilience in cities.
Published Engineers unveil new patch that can help people control robotic exoskeletons
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source A new patch uses tiny needles to measure electrical signals in the human body with incredible accuracy, even when these devices are stretched or twisted.
Published As sea otters recolonize California estuary, they restore its degraded geology
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source As sea otters recolonize a California estuary, they are restoring its degraded geology by keeping populations of overgrazing marsh crabs in check, a new study shows. The crabs' appetite for plant roots, and their tunneling behavior had caused many of the estuary's marshes and creekbanks to erode and collapse in the otters' absence. Today, erosion has slowed by up to 90% in areas with large otter populations and marshes and streambeds are restabilizing.
Published Artificial muscles -- lighter, safer, more robust
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Researchers have developed artificial muscles that are lighter, safer and more robust than their predecessors. The newly developed actuators have a novel type of shell structure and use a high-permittivity ferroelectric material that can store relatively large amounts of electrical energy. They therefore work with relatively low electrical voltage, are waterproof, more robust and safer to touch.
Published Sweat-resistant wearable robot sensor
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source A joint research team has developed a stretchable and adhesive microneedle sensor that can be attached to the skin and stably measure high-quality electrophysiological signals for a long period of time.
Published Asparagus and orchids are more similar than you think
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source How is a beech leaf constructed? What determines the appearance of an asparagus? A new 'encyclopaedia' helps us learn more about the building blocks of plants. The encyclopaedia, probably the largest of its kind, could be used to improve targeted plant breeding efforts, to make them both more climate-resilient and more easily digestible.
Published Researchers propose AI-guided system for robotic inspection of buildings, roads and bridges
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Our built environment is aging and failing faster than we can maintain it. Recent building collapses and structural failures of roads and bridges are indicators of a problem that's likely to get worse, according to experts, because it's just not possible to inspect every crack, creak and crumble to parse dangerous signs of failure from normal wear and tear. In hopes of playing catch-up, researchers are trying to give robotic assistants the tools to help inspectors with the job.
Published Back from the dead: Tropical tree fern repurposes its dead leaves
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Plant biologists report that a species of tree fern found only in Panama reanimates its own dead leaf fronds, converting them into root structures that feed the mother plant. The fern, Cyathea rojasiana, reconfigures these 'zombie leaves,' reversing the flow of water to draw nutrients back into the plant.
Published Robot trained to read braille at twice the speed of humans
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Researchers have developed a robotic sensor that incorporates artificial intelligence techniques to read braille at speeds roughly double that of most human readers.
Published Utilizing active microparticles for artificial intelligence
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Artificial intelligence using neural networks performs calculations digitally with the help of microelectronic chips. Physicists have now created a type of neural network that works not with electricity but with so-called active colloidal particles.The researchers describe how these microparticles can be used as a physical system for artificial intelligence and the prediction of time series.
Published Scientists design a two-legged robot powered by muscle tissue
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Compared to robots, human bodies are flexible, capable of fine movements, and can convert energy efficiently into movement. Drawing inspiration from human gait, researchers from Japan crafted a two-legged biohybrid robot by combining muscle tissues and artificial materials. This method allows the robot to walk and pivot.
Published West Nile virus emergence and spread in Europe found to be positively associated with agricultural activities
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source The spread of West Nile virus in Europe is strongly linked to agricultural activities, urbanization, and bird migration, according to new research.
Published Autonomous synthesis robot uses AI to speed up chemical discovery
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Chemists have developed an autonomous chemical synthesis robot with an integrated AI-driven machine learning unit. Dubbed 'RoboChem', the benchtop device can outperform a human chemist in terms of speed and accuracy while also displaying a high level of ingenuity. As the first of its kind, it could significantly accelerate chemical discovery of molecules for pharmaceutical and many other applications.