Show Notes 3 April 2026

Researchers Develop Photonic Crystal Light Sails for Interplanetary Exploration National
Today.com
https://nationaltoday.com/us/al/tuskegee/news/2026/03/06/researchers-develop-photonic-crystal-light-sail-for-interplanetary-exploration/

Fuel-free interplanetary travel:
Photonic crystal sail could help laser beams push spacecraft MSN
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/fuel-free-interplanetary-travel-photonic-crystal-sail-could-help-laser-beams-push-spacecraft/ar-AA1XLjxK
Design and manufacture of a photonic crystal light sail SPIE Digital Library
https://www.spiedigitallibrary.org/journals/journal-of-nanophotonics/volume-19/issue-04/046008/Design-and-manufacture-of-a-photonic-crystal-light-sail/10.1117/1.JNP.19.046008.full
NASA’s Advanced Composite Solar Sail System (ACS3) NASA
https://www.nasa.gov/mission/acs3/
How UCLA scientists helped reimagine a forgotten battery design from Thomas Edison UCLA
https://www.chemistry.ucla.edu/news/how-ucla-scientists-helped-reimagine-a-forgotten-battery-design-from-thomas-edison/
A Fast-Charging, High-Stability Nickel-Iron Battery via Protein-Induced Biomineralization Wiley Online Library
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/smll.202507934
Quantum-inspired laser system delivers distance measurements with sub-millimeter accuracy Phys.org
https://phys.org/news/2026-03-quantum-laser-distance-millimeter-accuracy.html
How your virtual twin could one day save your life IEEE Spectrum
https://spectrum.ieee.org/living-heart-project-virtual-twins
The Living Heart Project Dassault Systèmes
https://www.3ds.com/heart
The Living Heart Project: A Decade of Innovation YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ae_IqlxgCME
Lab-grown algae removes microplastics from water University of Missouri
https://engineering.missouri.edu/2026/lab-grown-algae-removes-microplastics-from-water/

Sony Is Raising Prices on PlayStation Consoles and Portals Polygon
https://www.polygon.com/ps5-price-increase-sony-playstation-portal
Netflix Raises Prices Across All Streaming Plans CNBC
https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/26/netflix-raises-prices-across-all-streaming-plans.html
Physical vs Digital: Switch 2 Games Pricing Explained Polygon
https://www.polygon.com/physical-vs-digital-switch-2-games-pricing
Apple Discontinues the Mac Pro Engadget
https://www.engadget.com/computing/apple-discontinues-the-mac-pro-221502339.html
MacBook Neo 2026: The Perfect Laptop for Most Users Calcopia
https://calcopia.com/macbook-neo-2026-the-perfect-laptop-for-most-users/
ChatGPT Sexy Mode Disabled Following Investor Concerns Ars Technica
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2026/03/chatgpt-wont-talk-dirty-any-time-soon-as-sexy-mode-turns-off-investors-report-says

Story 1: AI search robot uses 3D maps and internet knowledge to find lost items Andreas Schmitz, Technical University Munich TechXplore.com https://techxplore.com/news/2026-03-ai-robot-3d-internet-knowledge.html Research paper: https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/11359697 Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUouwHUZPWQStory 2: Tofu brine could power safer batteries that last decades, researchers say Skye Jacobs Techspot.com https://www.techspot.com/news/111434-tofu-brine-could-power-safer-batteries-last-decades.html Research paper: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-026-69384-2Story 3: New 4D vision chip can help robots, drones track distance and speed of moving objects Mrigakshi Dixit InterestingEngineering.com https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/4d-vision-chip-helps-robots-track-distance-speed Research paper: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-026-10183-6Story 4: Blood test 'clock' can predict Alzheimer's symptoms before they emerge David Nield ScienceAlert.com https://www.sciencealert.com/blood-test-clock-can-predict-alzheimers-symptoms-before-they-emerge Research paper: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-026-04206-yStory 5: Scientists mixed dead leaves with magnesium—and created a super metal Darren Orf Popular Mechanics via MSN.com https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/scientists-mixed-dead-leaves-with-magnesium-and-created-a-supermetal/ar-AA1YOXDc?ocid=BingNewsSerpStory 6: Turning sawdust into fire-resistant materials Samuel Schlaefli ETHzurich https://ethz.ch/en/news-and-events/eth-news/news/2026/03/turning-sawdust-into-fire-resistant-materials.htmlStory 7: The world’s first self-balancing electric motorcycle is now entering production Micha Toll Electrek.com https://electrek.co/2026/03/16/the-w

Show Notes 20 March 2026

Story 1: Extra ‘set of eyes’ for self-driving cars: Roadside radar sensors could reduce blind spots Silvia Cernea Clark Rice University website
https://news.rice.edu/news/2026/extra-set-eyes-self-driving-cars-roadside-radar-sensors-could-reduce-blind-spots

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1SWRzGPQJQ
Story 2: Spray-on 'immune-shield' coats transplant organs to curb rejection Medical Xpress via MSN.com
https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/spray-on-immune-shield-coats-transplant-organs-to-curb-rejection/ar-AA1XGjVR

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S016836592501082X

Story 3: A New Type of Immunotherapy Drug for Prostate Cancer Shows Up to 99% Drop in Cancer Biomarkers Tudor Tarita ZME Science
https://www.zmescience.com/medicine/diseases-medicine/a-new-type-of-immunotherapy-drug-for-prostate-cancer-shows-up-to-99-drop-in-cancer-biomarkers/

Story 4: Researchers develop beating, 3D‑printed heart model for surgical practice Tina Hilding Washington State University
https://news.wsu.edu/press-release/2026/03/04/researchers-develop-beating-3d-printed-heart-model-for-surgical-practice/

Story 5: Breakthrough laser technology enables deeper, more efficient bone surgery University of Basel News-medical.net
https://www.news-medical.net/news/20260226/Breakthrough-laser-technology-enables-deeper-more-efficient-bone-surgery.aspx

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-026-37117-6

Story 6: Hyundai’s Autonomous Firefighting Robot Handles 1,400+ Degree Temps TomorrowsWorldToday.com
https://www.tomorrowsworldtoday.com/robotics/hyundais-autonomous-firefighting-robot-handles-1400-degree-temps/

Story 7: Scientists discovered a way to create 3D-printed wood — and the breakthrough could change how hundreds of products get made Laurelle Stelle The Cool Down on MSN.com
https://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/lifestyle-buzz/scientists-discovered-a-way-to-create-3d-printed-wood-and-the-breakthrough-could-change-how-hundreds-of-products-get-made/ar-AA1XuWWf

Story 8: New microrobot swarms use whirlpools to lift objects 45,000 times heavier Mrigakshi Dixit Interesting Engineering

Show Notes 6 March 2026

Story 1: Scientists Grew Mini Brains, Then Trained Them to Solve an Engineering Problem
Source: ScienceAlert.com 
Link:
https://www.sciencealert.com/scientists-grew-mini-brains-then-trained-them-to-solve-an-engineering-problem


200,000 living human brain cells just learned to play Doom and this is just the start of it
Source: ZME Science 
Link:https://www.zmescience.com/science/wetware-brain-doom-play/


Story 2: Sub-$200 Lidar Could Reshuffle Auto[mobile] Sensor Economics
Source: IEEE Spectrum Link:
https://spectrum.ieee.org/solid-state-lidar-microvision-adas
Additional Info:
https://microvision.com/


Story 3: Magical Marvel: Tiny Fairy-Like Robot Flies by the Power of Wind and Light
Source: SciTechDaily.com
Link:
https://scitechdaily.com/magical-marvel-tiny-fairy-like-robot-flies-by-the-power-of-wind-and-light/


Story 4: Scientists uncover why some brain cells resist Alzheimer’s disease
Source: UCLA Newsroom Link:
https://newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/scientists-uncover-why-some-brain-cells-resist-alzheimers-disease

Research Paper:
https://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(25)01487-4


Honorable Mentions

New plastic material could solve energy storage challenge, researchers report
Source: PennState News
Link:
https://www.psu.edu/news/research/story/new-plastic-material-could-solve-energy-storage-challenge-researchers-report

Research Paper:
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-026-10195-2

Why Perovskite LEDs Might Soon Replace Every Light in Your Home
Source: ZME Science
Link:
https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/why-perovskite-could-replace-normal-leds/
Neither classical nor quantum: This computer lets light solve complex calculations Source: Interesting Engineering
Link:
https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/computer-uses-light-to-solve-calculations
A new flexible AI chip for smart wearables is thinner than a human hair
Source: TechXplore.com

Show Notes 27 February 2026

Story 1: Artemis II to Test Laser-Based Communication from the Moon
Source: ExtremeTech.com
Link: https://www.extremetech.com/aerospace/artemis-ii-to-test-laser-based-communication-from-the-moon

Story 2: New solar-powered device extracts lithium for batteries while desalinating seawater
Source: Interesting Engineering
Link: https://interestingengineering.com/energy/china-solar-device-extracts-lithium-desalinates-seawater
See research paper here: https://www.cell.com/device/abstract/S2666-9986(25)00341-2

Story 3: Paralysis treatment heals lab-grown human spinal cord organoids
Source: Northwestern University 
Link: https://news.northwestern.edu/stories/2026/02/paralysis-treatment-heals-lab-grown-human-spinal-cord-organoids
See research paper here: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41551-025-01606-2

Story 4: Toward regenerative bioprinting: Magnetic mixer enables scalable manufacturing of 3D-printed tissues
Source: TechXplore.com
Link: https://techxplore.com/news/2026-02-regenerative-bioprinting-magnetic-mixer-enables.html
See research paper here: https://www.cell.com/device/abstract/S2666-9986(25)00357-6


Honorable Mentions

Story: How to Compute with Electron Waves
Source: NewsBreak.com
Link: https://www.newsbreak.com/ieee-spectrum-319637150/4454843506865-how-to-compute-with-electron-waves

Story: This Silent Wind Turbine Solves Sailing’s Power Problem
Source: Yanko Design
Link: https://www.yankodesign.com/2026/01/18/this-silent-wind-turbine-solves-sailings-power-problem/

Story: Army establishes new AI, machine learning career path for officers
Source: US Army Website 
Link: https://www.army.mil/article/289843/army_establishes_new_ai_machine_learning_career_path_for_officers

Story: Smart chip could slash computing energy use by up to 5,000×
Source: Interesting Engineering via MSN
Link: https://www.msn.com/en-us/technology/hardware-and-devices/smart-chip-could-slash-computing-energy-use-by-up-to-5-000/ar-AA1UFiIN

Show Notes 20 February 2026

Story 1: Watch a robot swarm “bloom” like a garden
Source: ArsTechnica.com
Link: https://arstechnica.com/science/2026/01/watch-a-robot-swarm-bloom-like-a-garden/
See research paper here: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/scirobotics.ady7233
See video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80QqrFmvIr0&t=2s

Story 2: Electric semi-trucks could serve as mobile AI data centers, a Belgian startup proposes 
Source: Interesting Engineering
Link: https://interestingengineering.com/ai-robotics/belgian-startup-data-centers-electric-semi-trucks 
See also: https://windrose.tech/

Story 3: World-first - supercomputer discovered this invisible flaw in all jet engines
Source: Slashgear.com 
Link: https://www.slashgear.com/2093053/frontier-supercomputer-jet-engine-blade-simulation/ 

Story 4: Bubble Bots: Simple biocompatible microrobots autonomously target tumors Source: Caltech
Link: https://researchimpact.caltech.edu/research-news/bubble-bots-simple-biocompatible-microrobots-autonomously-target-tumors 
See research paper here: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41565-025-02109-6 


Honorable Mentions Story: Microbes in Space Mutated and Developed a Remarkable Ability Source: ScienceAlert.com
Link: https://www.sciencealert.com/microbes-in-space-mutated-and-developed-a-remarkable-ability 

Story: Scientists watch microscopic plant 'mouths' breathing in real time with palm-sized tool Source: Live Science
Link: https://www.livescience.com/planet-earth/plants/scientists-watch-microscopic-plant-mouths-breathing-in-real-time-with-palm-sized-tool 

Story: This Startup’s Air‑Powered Fuel Could Rewrite the Future of Energy
Source: Inc. Magazine
Link: https://www.inc.com/maria-jose-gutierrez-chavez/this-startups-air-powered-fuel-could-rewrite-the-future-of-energy/91296983 

Story: Psychedelics may rewire the brain to treat PTSD. Scientists are finally beginning to understand how.
Source: LiveScience.com
Link: https://www.livescience.com/health/mind/psychedelics-may-rewire-the-brain-to-treat-ptsd-scientists-are-finally-beginning-to-understand-how

Show Notes 2/13/2026

AI model from Google's DeepMind reads recipe for life in DNA 
Source: BBC 
Link: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c39428dv18yo



Carbon Robotics Launches the World’s First-Ever Large Plant Model
Source: BusinessWire.com 
Link: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260202630325/en/Carbon-Robotics-Launches-the-Worlds-First-Ever-Large-Plant-Model



Your future home might be framed with printed plastic
Source: MIT News 
Link: https://news.mit.edu/2026/your-future-home-might-be-framed-with-printed-plastic-0203



A new scan lets scientists see inside the human body in 3D color Source: ScienceDaily.com
Link: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260204121550.htm



3D-printed passive cooling system cools data centers without fans or pumps Source: Interesting Engineering
Link: https://interestingengineering.com/ai-robotics/3d-printed-passive-cooling-data-centers




How we’re helping preserve the genetic information of endangered species with AI Source: Google's The Keyword Blog
Link: https://blog.google/innovation-and-ai/technology/ai/ai-to-preserve-endangered-species/



The Navy’s Batwing Fighter Jet Promises Mach 4 Speed… But It’s Still Just a Concept
Source: YD Design 
Link: https://www.yankodesign.com/2026/02/06/the-navys-batwing-fighter-jet-promises-mach-4-speed-but-its-still-just-a-concept/



New study of chemical reactions in space 'could impact the [theories of the] origin of life in ways we hadn't thought of'
Source: LiveScience.com 
Link: https://www.livescience.com/chemistry/complex-building-blocks-of-life-can-form-on-space-dust-offering-new-clues-to-the-origins-of-life

Tiny silicon structures compute with heat, achieving 99% accurate matrix multiplication Source: Techxplore.com Link:
https://techxplore.com/news/2026-01-tiny-silicon-accurate-matrix-multiplication.html#google_vignette
Research Paper:
https://journals.aps.org/prapplied/abstract/10.1103/5drp-hrx1
Scientists Found an Untapped Energy Source Running Through Our Cells Source: Popular Mechanics Link:
https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/health/a69927474/flexoelectricity-cells/
World’s first neuromorphic supercomputer nears reality with brain-inspired math Source: Interesting Engineering Link:
https://interestingengineering.com/science/world-first-neuromorphic-supercomputer-us
Wireless device ‘speaks’ to the brain with light Source: Northwestern University Link:
https://news.northwestern.edu/stories/2025/12/wireless-device-speaks-to-the-brain-with-light
Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVIKYOKcKoo
Teen inventor solves car blind spots with brilliant new tech! Source: Inside Edition Link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHJnUHJIcgQ
Ingestible Bioprinter Treats GI Tract Injuries from Inside the Body Source: Inside Precision Medicine Link:
https://www.insideprecisionmedicine.com/topics/patient-care/ingestible-bioprinter-treats-gi-tract-injuries-from-inside-the-body/
World’s first cryogen-free superconducting motor promises 99.5% efficiency for aviation Source: Interesting Engineering Link:
https://interestingengineering.com/ces-2026/world-first-cryogen-free-superconducting-motor
New breakthrough to restore aging joints could help treat osteoarthritis Source: ScienceAlert.com Link:
https://www.sciencealert.com/new-breakthrough-to-restore-aging-joints-could-help-treat-osteoarthritis
Quantum tools set to transform life science, researchers say Source: Phys.org Link:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/quantum-tools-set-to-transform-life-science-researchers-say/ar-AA1Uj3Hc