4D glasses make you feel touched. Newly developed of "4-D goggles" allow wearers to be physically "touched" by a movie when they see a looming object on the screen, such as an approaching spacecraft. The device was developed based on a study conducted by the neuroscientists to map brain areas that integrate the sight and touch of a looming object and aid in their understanding of the perceptual and neural mechanisms of multisensory integration. It can be synchronized with entertainment content, such as movies, music, games and virtual reality, to deliver immersive multisensory effects near the face and enhance the sense of presence.
Shark scales make better planes. During the study of shark skin, a research team demonstrated a new, bioinspired structure that could improve the aerodynamic performance of planes, wind turbines, drones and cars. They found that in addition to reducing drag, the denticle-shaped structures significantly increased lift, acting as high-powered, low-profile vortex generators.
Body-powered wearables are coming. Devices will receive electricity from a small metallic tab that, when attached to the body, is capable of generating electricity from bending a finger and other simple movements. Researchers are also working on developing a portable battery to store energy produced by the tab. They envision the system serving as a power source for various wearable and self-powered electronic devices.
Mindfulness proves beneficial for computer engineering students. Researchers has shown that the practice of mindfulness, as in sitting still in a calm, quiet place and focusing on breathing, increases the capacity to solve computer-engineering problems. The authors of the study have used data to back the benefits of a technique that is now used in school and universities, as well as in tech companies like Google and Intel.
Are we hard-wired for attraction? While consciously our selection of mates is based on who we find funny or nice, subconsciously we pick up on a variety of cues, including levels of testosterone, most fertile times and a compatible immune system, according to scientists.
