Computer America

Show Notes 24 October 2025
Story 1: 3D-Printer Prints Living Tissue Inside Human Body

• Source: electronicsforu.com
• Link: https://www.electronicsforu.com/news/3d-printer-prints-living-tissue-inside-human-body
• See also: Miniature 3D-printed objects inside the body
• See also: https://3dprintingindustry.com/news/stuttgart-research-advances-in-body-3d-printing-with-new-e1-8m-grant-245344/

Story 2: Breakthrough Brain Implant from NYU Abu Dhabi Enables Safer, More Precise Drug Delivery

• Source: NYU Abu Dhabi website
• Link: https://nyuad.nyu.edu/en/news/latest-news/science-and-technology/2025/october/nyuad-researchers-spiral-brain-implant.html
• See research paper here: https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1741-2552/ae0523

Story 3: Tiny living robots made from human cells could one day deliver medicine

• Source: Knowridge.com
• Link: https://knowridge.com/2025/09/tiny-living-robots-made-from-human-cells-could-one-day-deliver-medicine/
• See also: https://www.technologynetworks.com/biopharma/news/biobots-made-from-human-lung-cells-may-enable-more-targeted-drug-delivery-405224

Story 4: Smart shoe insert could improve mobility for people with walking problems

• Source: MedicalXpress.com
• Link: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-09-smart-insert-mobility-people-problems.html

Honorable Mentions
Story: Engineers Create Soft Robots That Can Literally Walk on Water

• Source: SciTechDaily.com
• Link: https://scitechdaily.com/engineers-create-soft-robots-that-can-literally-walk-on-water/

Story: First drug treatment for sleep apnea may be within reach

• Source: MedicalXpress.com
• Link: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-10-drug-treatment-apnea.html

Story: Bricklaying robot stacks 360 blocks an hour to speed up homebuilding

• Source: Electronics360
• Link: https://electronics360.globalspec.com/article/22916/bricklaying-robot-stacks-360-blocks-an-hour-to-speed-up-homebuilding
• See also: https://www.fbr.com.au/view/hadrian
• See video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMIDJB3Pd-M

Story: Tumbleweed rover tests demonstrate transformative technology for low-cost Mars exploration

• Source: Phys.org
• Link: https://phys.org/news/2025-09-tumbleweed-rover-technology-mars-exploration.html
• See research paper here: https://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EPSC-DPS2025/EPSC-DPS2025-1775.html

Story 1: Tiny lab-grown brains could help build the next generation of computers - Biocomputing has left the realm of science fiction and entered the laboratory

• Source: Techspot.com
• Link: Tiny lab-grown brains could help build the next generation of computers
• See also BBC article: Lab-grown brains: The future of computing?
• See also: FinalSpark

Story 2: US firm’s new EV battery design could add 50% more range, targets 1,000 miles

• Source: InterestingEngineering.com
• Link: US firm’s new EV battery design could add 50% more range, targets 1,000 miles
• See the company's post on this here: 24M Unlocks New U.S. Battery Manufacturing Opportunities with Groundbreaking Energy-Dense 24M ETOP® Electrode-to-Pack Technology

Story 3: Can glass replace bone? Scientists 3D print bio-glass that mimics skeletal strength

• Source: Thetimesofinnovation.com
• Link: Can glass replace bone? Scientists 3D print bio-glass that mimics skeletal strength

Story 4: Study Reveals Brain System That Repairs Your Body While You Sleep

• Source: ScienceAlert.com
• Link: Study Reveals Brain System That Repairs Your Body While You Sleep
• See research paper here: Growth Hormone–Releasing Hormone Neurons in the Arcuate Nucleus Govern Sleep-Dependent Body Repair

Honorable MentionsStory: “One Molecule Defies Physics”: Cambridge Scientists Unveil P3TTM Solar Breakthrough with Near-Perfect Efficiency, Threatening Conventional Energy Industry Order

• Source: Energy-reporters.com
• Link: “One Molecule Defies Physics”: Cambridge Scientists Unveil P3TTM Solar Breakthrough with Near-Perfect Efficiency, Threatening Conventional Energy Industry Order
• See research paper here: Near-perfect exciton harvesting in a Mott-Hubbard organic semiconductor

Story: Microbes Unlock Copper as AI Demand Soars

• Source: DigitrendZ blog
• Link: Microbes Unlock Copper as AI Demand Soars

Story: Scientists develop incredible leaf-inspired material that could replace plastic: 'Very strong'

• Source: TheCoolDown.com
• Link: Scientists develop incredible leaf-inspired material that could replace plastic: 'Very strong'
• See research paper here: A layered, ecological, advanced, and multi-functional film (LEAFF) as a sustainable plastic alternative

Story: Scientists crack the mystery of hidden atomic order inside microchips for the first time - Using advanced microscopy and AI, scientists revealed short-range atomic order that changes how semiconductors conduct electricity

• Source: InterestingEngineering.com
• Link: Scientists crack the mystery of hidden atomic order inside microchips for the first time

Show Notes 3 October 2025

Story 1: Some Layers of Your Brain Actually Get Stronger as You Age

• Source: ScienceAlert.com
• Story by: Michelle Starr
• Link: https://www.sciencealert.com/some-layers-of-your-brain-actually-get-stronger-as-you-age
• Research Paper: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41593-025-02013-1

Story 2: Engineers harness light to help heart cells beat stronger and healthier

• Source: Knowridge.com (News from UC Irvine)
• Link: https://knowridge.com/2025/09/engineers-harness-light-to-help-heart-cells-beat-stronger-and-healthier/
• Research Paper: https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2509467122

Story 3: UCSB-designed soft robot intubation device could save lives

• Source: UC Santa Barbara “The Current”
• Story by: Sonia Fernandez
• Link: https://news.ucsb.edu/2025/022019/ucsb-designed-soft-robot-intubation-device-could-save-lives
• Research Paper: https://doi.org/10.1126/scitranslmed.ads7681

Story 4: Wi-Fi sleep monitoring method offers a non-intrusive, accurate alternative to more cumbersome techniques

• Source: MedicalXpress.com
• Story by: David Bradley
• Link: https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/wi-fi-sleep-monitoring-method-offers-a-non-intrusive-accurate-alternative-to-more-cumbersome-techniques/ar-AA1Mn7tv
• Research Paper: https://www.inderscience.com/info/inarticle.php?artid=148201

Honorable Mentions

• Story: A new catalyst could make mixed plastic recycling a reality
  • Source: Phys.org
  • Story by: Robert Egan
  • Link: https://phys.org/news/2025-09-catalyst-plastic-recycling-reality.html
  • Research Paper: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41557-025-01892-y
• Story: A New Solar Panel Shield Made From Onion Peels Outlasted Industry Plastics in Tests
  • Source: ZME Science
  • Story by: Tudor Tarita
  • Link: https://www.zmescience.com/ecology/renewable-energy-ecology/a-new-solar-panel-shield-made-from-onion-peels-outlasted-industry-plastics-in-tests/
• Story: Bio-oil made with corn stalks, wood debris could plug orphaned fossil fuel wells
  • Source: Iowa State University
  • Link: https://www.news.iastate.edu/news/bio-oil-made-corn-stalks-wood-debris-could-plug-orphaned-fossil-fuel-wells
• Story: Biochar yields triple win for cotton: Healthier soil, less water, and 87% less nitrogen runoff
  • Source: Anthropocene Magazine
  • Story by: Emma Bryce
  • Link: https://www.realclearscience.com/2025/08/11/biochar_yields_a_triple_win_for_cotton_1127969.html

Show Notes 26 September 2025
Story 1: No sorting needed: Plasma torch shows promise for hassle-free plastic recycling
Source: TechXplore.com
Link: https://techxplore.com/news/2025-09-plasma-torch-hassle-free-plastic.html
Story 2: MIT spinoff achieves major milestone in pursuit of limitless energy beneath our feet: 'Could fundamentally change how we power our world'
Source: The Cool Down via MSN.com
Link: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/mit-spinoff-achieves-major-milestone-in-pursuit-of-limitless-energy-beneath-our-feet-could-fundamentally-change-how-we-power-our-world/ar-AA1KOf5n
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYHcCsFlD2Q
See also: https://www.quaise.com/
Story 3: Scientists build micromotors smaller than a human hair - Tiny light-powered gears could revolutionize medicine by powering machines the size of human cells.
Source: ScienceDaily.com
Link: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/09/250918025025.htm
Research paper: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-62869-6
Story 4: New Ultrasound Helmet Reaches Deep Inside the Brain Without Surgery
Source: ScienceAlert.com
Link: https://www.sciencealert.com/new-ultrasound-helmet-reaches-deep-inside-the-brain-without-surgery
Research paper: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-63020-1
Honorable Mentions
Story: NASA Is Testing a Nuclear Battery That Could Last 433 Years
Source: Popular Mechanics
Link: https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/a65964293/nuclear-battery-433-years/
Story: China’s transparent coating to turn ordinary windows into solar power generators
Source: Interesting Engineering
Link: https://interestingengineering.com/energy/colorless-coating-turn-windows-into-solar-panels
Story: Scientists Pitch Bold Plan to Turn Nuclear Waste Into Nuclear Fuel - Tapping into discarded nuclear waste could help generate a self-sufficient source of a key ingredient for nuclear fusion, a new plan proposes.
Source: Gizmodo
Link: https://gizmodo.com/scientists-pitch-bold-plan-to-turn-nuclear-waste-into-nuclear-fuel-2000643875
Story: Scientists Made ‘Jelly Ice’ That Never Melts. It’s Edible, Compostable and Reusable
Source: ZME Science
Link: https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/scientists-made-jelly-ice-that-never-melts-its-edible-compostable-and-reusable/

Show Notes 19 September 2025
Story 1: Researchers building RoboBalls to explore other planets
Source: The Purdue Exponent, a student-run newspaper serving the Purdue community in West Lafayette, Indiana Story by Dean Murray

• Link: https://www.purdueexponent.org/news/national/researchers-building-roboballs-to-explore-other-planets/article_2c06a5ae-3b24-5834-bfc8-9f7df72e299c.html
• See the school’s website for the project: https://rad.engr.tamu.edu/roboball-i/
• See the school’s video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKRN0EEJ5VE
• See video here: https://www.facebook.com/reel/637417789106125
• And see video posted on this article from MSN: https://www.msn.com/en-gb/video/news/researchers-working-on-swarm-of-roboballs-to-send-to-other-planets/vi-AA1LSgsN?t=72

Story 2: This paint sweats to cool off buildings. No energy required.
Source: Anthropocene Magazine

• Link: https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/2025/06/new-paint-sweats-to-cool-off-buildings/
• See research paper here: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adt3372
• See also: https://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/lifestyle-buzz/researchers-develop-extraordinary-paint-that-can-sweat-to-keep-buildings-cool-a-practical-and-long-term-solution/ar-AA1L7zL9

Story 3: Biochar from Human Waste Offers a Circular Solution to Fertilizer Shortages - Excrement contains nutrients needed for crop growth and a new source of them could cut farming’s huge CO2 output
Source: The Guardian

• Link: https://www.theguardian.com/science/2025/aug/11/biochar-from-human-waste-could-solve-global-fertiliser-shortages-study-finds
• See research paper here: https://www.pnas.org/doi/abs/10.1073/pnas.2503668122
• image source: https://biochartoday.com/news/biochar-from-human-waste-offers-a-circular-solution-to-fertilizer-shortages/

Story 4: WiFi signals can measure heart rate — no wearables needed
Source: University of California, Santa Cruz

• Link: https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/wifi-signals-can-measure-heart-rate-no-wearables-needed
• See research paper here: https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/11096342

Honorable Mentions
Story: California’s first solar-covered canal is now fully online
Source: Canary Media [Clean energy journalism for a cooler tomorrow] Story by Maria Gallucci

• Link: https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/solar/california-first-canal-array-project-nexus

Story: 3D-printed electronics can dissolve in water for quick recycling
Source: NewScientist.com Story by Jeremy Hsu

• Link: https://www.newscientist.com/article/2493756-3d-printed-electronics-can-dissolve-in-water-for-quick-recycling/

Story: Ice-cooled buildings could ease strain on power grid
Source: TechXplore.com Story by Lesley Henton

• Link: https://techxplore.com/news/2025-08-ice-cooled-ease-strain-power.html

Story: Novel backpack enhances stability for people with ataxia
Source: MedicalXpress.com Story from Radboud University

• Link: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-08-backpack-stability-people-ataxia.html

Show Notes:
Story 1: Map of 600,000 brain cells rewrites the textbook on how the brain makes decisions
Source: LiveScience.com
Link: https://www.livescience.com/health/neuroscience/map-of-600-000-brain-cells-rewrites-the-textbook-on-how-the-brain-makes-decisions
Story 2: Super solar cells withstand 10,000 bends, retain over 85% output after 2,800 hours
Source: InterestingEngineering.com via MSN
Link: https://www.msn.com/en-us/technology/renewable-energy/super-solar-cells-withstand-10-000-bends-retain-over-85-output-after-2-800-hours/ar-AA1JEC2z
Story 3: Soft skin, sharp senses: New robotic 'touch' sees danger before it hits
Source: TechExplore.com
Link: https://techxplore.com/news/2025-08-soft-skin-sharp-robotic-danger.html
Research Paper: https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/11097357
Story 4: Soft wearable robot jacket responds to movements, supports upper-limb impairments
Source: InterestingEngineering.com
Link: https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/us-engineers-robot-worn-like-jackets
Research Paper: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-62538-8
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFHTyUrAaz0&t=12s
Honorable Mentions:
Story: Some People Are Immune to All Viruses. Scientists Now Want to Replicate This Ability for a Universal Antiviral
Source: ZME Science
Link: https://www.zmescience.com/medicine/universal-antiviral/
Story: Generative AI designs compounds that can kill drug-resistant bacteria
Source: Phys.org
Link: https://phys.org/news/2025-08-generative-ai-compounds-drug-resistant.html
Research Paper: https://www.cell.com/cell/abstract/S0092-8674(25)00855-4
Story: This New Indoor Solar Cell Could Power the Entire Internet of Things Using Only the Light from Your Ceiling
Source: ZME Science
Link: https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/this-new-indoor-solar-cell-could-power-the-entire-internet-of-things-using-only-the-light-from-your-ceiling/
Story: Researchers Explore ‘Biomining’ Seaweed for Critical Minerals
Source: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Link: https://www.pnnl.gov/news-media/researchers-explore-biomining-seaweed-critical-minerals

Story 1: Scientists use quantum machine learning to create semiconductors for the first time
Source: LiveScience.com
Link: https://www.livescience.com/technology/computing/scientists-use-quantum-machine-learning-to-create-semiconductors-for-the-first-time-and-it-could-transform-how-chips-are-made
Research Paper: https://advanced.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/advs.202506213
Story 2: How used EV batteries could help fuel the AI boom
Source: CBS News
Link: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/used-ev-batteries-artificial-intelligence/
Also See: https://www.crusoe.ai/
Also See: https://www.redwoodmaterials.com/
Story 3: Carbon-Negative Building Material Made from Seawater and CO2
Source: TechnologyNetworks.com
Link: https://www.technologynetworks.com/applied-sciences/news/carbon-negative-building-material-made-from-seawater-and-co2-397532
Story 4: Researchers develop a biosensor based on light and AI for early diagnosis of cancer
Source: MedicalXpress.com
Link: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-07-biosensor-based-ai-early-diagnosis.html
Research Paper: https://advanced.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/advs.202503257
Honorable Mentions
Story: Worcester Polytechnic Institute Researchers Develop Cleaner, Scalable Process to Recycle Lithium-Ion Batteries
Source: WPI News Website
Link: https://www.wpi.edu/news/wpi-researchers-develop-cleaner-scalable-process-recycle-lithium-ion-batteries
Research Paper: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2405829725003848
Story: pFIBRE Launches Scalable Biodegradable Films to Replace Single-Use Plastics
Source: ThePackHub.com
Link: https://thepackhub.com/innovation-news/pfibre-launches-scalable-biodegradable-films-to-replace-single-use-plastics/
Story: Scientists Create Living Plastic Alternative - And it's edible, too!
Source: Futurism.com
Link: https://futurism.com/scientists-living-plastic
Also See: https://www.sciencealert.com/scientists-create-biodegradable-plastic-alternative-thats-literally-alive
Story: Nth Cycle is bringing critical metals refining to the U.S. - the company is already producing nickel and cobalt from battery scrap in Ohio
Source: MIT News
Link: https://news.mit.edu/2025/nth-cycle-brings-critical-metals-refining-0627
Also See: https://nthcycle.com/

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Topics:https://www.pcworld.com/article/2893466/holy-crap-roblox-hits-45-million-concurrent-players-beating-steam.html

https://www.gameshub.com/news/news/shinobi-art-of-vengeance-returns-2799329

https://www.tomsguide.com/gaming/xbox/microsoft-is-making-it-even-easier-and-cheaper-to-stream-games-via-game-pass-everything-you-need-to-know

https://www.theverge.com/news/767522/microsoft-word-automatic-document-save-cloud-default

https://www.engadget.com/social-media/early-blogging-service-typepad-is-shutting-down-for-good-130033731.html

https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/waymo-gets-the-green-light-to-test-in-new-york-city-everything-to-know-about-the-robotaxi

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https://www.engadget.com/mobile/tablets/kobo-ereaders-are-swapping-out-pocket-for-instapaper-190615508.html

Check out more stories from ComputerAmerica.com!

Show Notes 22 August 2025

Story 1: Zapping Volunteers' Brains with Electricity Boosted Their Math Skills

Source: ScienceAlert.com

Link: https://www.sciencealert.com/zapping-volunteers-brains-with-electricity-boosted-their-maths-skills

Story 2: Moon mining takes giant leap forward with plans to harvest lunar soil

Source: Newsweek via MSN

Link: https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/moon-mining-takes-giant-leap-forward-with-plans-to-harvest-lunar-soil/ar-AA1JFqd9

Story 3: University of British Columbia researchers create 3D-printed living lung tissue - Printed tissue enables better testing of drugs and disease pathways

Source: University of British Columbia website

Link: https://news.ok.ubc.ca/2025/07/15/ubco-researchers-create-3d-printed-living-lung-tissue/

Story 4: AI designs molecular missiles to precisely target cancer cells

Link: https://www.dtu.dk/english/newsarchive/2025/07/ai-platform-designs-molecular-missiles-to-attack-cancer-cells

Honorable Mentions

Story: AI-powered microscope predicts, and tracks protein aggregation linked to brain diseases

Source: EPFL News

Link: https://actu.epfl.ch/news/smart-microscope-captures-aggregation-of-misfold-2/

Story: Rolls-Royce teams up for advanced modular nuclear reactors to power 3 million homes

Source: InterestingEngineering.com

Link: https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/smallbusiness/rolls-royce-teams-up-for-advanced-modular-nuclear-reactors-to-power-3-million-homes/ar-AA1JOpTm

Story: Cells Outside the Brain Show Signs of Memory And "Learning" For the First Time

Source: IFL Science

Link: https://www.iflscience.com/cells-outside-the-brain-show-signs-of-memory-and-learning-for-the-first-time-7945

Story: A New Hidden State of Matter Could Make Computers 1,000x Faster

Source: Popular Mechanics

Link: https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/a65531679/hidden-metallic-state/