Harvard University

Drugs that block CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing

New tool identifies compounds that inhibit CRISPR-Cas enzymes, enabling more precise and efficient CRISPR technologies

Robotics research may help Parkinson's patients

For years, Israeli neurologist Tamar Flash has had a fascination with the octopus, and the way the invertebrate's eight arms propel it effortlessly through the water. She's convinced this has major implications for diagnosing and treating Parkinson's disease — and possible other disorders as well.

Snake-inspired robot slithers even better

Bad news for ophiophobes: Researchers have developed a new and improved snake-inspired soft robot that is faster and more precise than its predecessor.

Orig3n

IDTechEx analyst Nadia Tsao interviewed Orig3n Director of Communications & PR on April 5, 2019. Orig3n is a regenerative medicine and direct-to-consumer DNA testing company based in Boston.

Robot autonomously builds erosion barriers

Along developed riverbanks, physical barriers can help contain flooding and combat erosion. In arid regions, check dams can help retain soil after rainfall and restore damaged landscapes.

Soft digital logic eliminates hard components from robots

In the past decade, soft materials have surged into the metal-dominant world of robotics. Soft robots already require simpler control systems than their hard counterparts.

Artificial muscles for soft robots

Developing soft, artificial muscles that are also fast and strong is an important step in developing soft robots that can both safely interact with people and complete important tasks.

"Particle robot" works as a cluster of simple units

Taking a cue from biological cells, researchers have developed computationally simple robots that connect in large groups to move around, transport objects, and complete other tasks.

Machine learning identifies links between world's oceans

Oceanographers studying the physics of the global ocean have long found themselves facing a conundrum: Fluid dynamical balances can vary greatly from point to point, rendering it difficult to make global generalizations.

Converting Wi-Fi signals to electricity with new 2-D materials

Imagine a world where smartphones, laptops, wearables, and other electronics are powered without batteries. Researchers from MIT and elsewhere have taken a step in that direction, with the first fully flexible device that can convert energy from Wi-Fi signals into electricity that could power electronics.

Scientists engineer new CRISPR platform for DNA targeting

CRISPR team harnesses new Cas12b enzyme for use in eukaryotic cells, adding to the CRISPR toolbox.

A safe, wearable soft sensor

Children born prematurely often develop neuromotor and cognitive developmental disabilities. The best way to reduce the impacts of those disabilities is to catch them early through a series of cognitive and motor tests. But accurately measuring and recording the motor functions of small children is tricky.

AI to better predict flu

A new study combines two forecasting methods with machine learning (artificial intelligence) to estimate local flu activity.

Shape-conformable batteries based on 3D-printing technology

Flexible, wireless electronic devices are rapidly emerging and have reached the level of commercialization; nevertheless, most of battery shapes are limited to either spherical and/or rectangular structures, which results in inefficient space use.

Robots with sticky feet

Jet engines can have up to 25,000 individual parts, making regular maintenance a tedious task that can take over a month per engine. Many components are located deep inside the engine and cannot be inspected without taking the machine apart, adding time and costs to maintenance. This problem is not only confined to jet engines, either; many complicated, expensive machines.

A painless adhesive for bandaids

Pulling off a Band-Aid may soon get a lot less painful. Researchers have developed a new type of adhesive that can strongly adhere wet materials -- such as hydrogel and living tissue -- and be easily detached with a specific frequency of light.

Predicting leaky heart valves with 3D printing

Researchers have created a novel 3D printing workflow that allows cardiologists to evaluate how different valve sizes will interact with each patient's unique anatomy, before the medical procedure is actually performed.

Electrical stimulation in the nose induces sense of smell

Physicians have, for the first time, induced a sense of smell in humans by using electrodes in the nose to stimulate nerves in the olfactory bulb, a structure in the brain where smell information from the nose is processed and sent to deeper regions of brain.

Boréas Technologies breathe new life into piezoelectric haptics

IDTechEx spoke to Boréas Technologies' Founder and CEO Simon Chaput about their product and their ambitions to disrupt the haptics market today.

Boréas Technologies

IDTechEx interviewed Simon Chaput, Founder and CEO of Boréas Technologies Inc.. They are a fabless semiconductor company commercializing low-power drivers for piezoelectric haptics. They have begun sampling to customers and are launching development kits from October 2018.