Technology, features and articles | Educational Science

May 16, 2023

Best VR fitness apps and games 2023

If the monotony of treadmills and hefty gym fees are cause for concern, and you can't stomach wiping down another shared weights bench, this list of the best VR fitness apps and games is for you. With exercise, there is no one size fits all, and the dynamic worlds and...

May 19, 2023

Best VR mindfulness games 2023: Meditation, puzzles, & creativity

Mindfulness can mean different things to different people. For some, settling down with a puzzle can bring inner calm, whereas a more guided approach does the trick for others. Whichever way you choose to relax, our list of the best VR mindfulness games will have you feeling Zen in no...

Jun 13, 2023

Our favorite VR headset, the Meta Quest 2, just got a permanent price drop

Looking to jump into virtual reality? Then the Meta Quest 2 is a great starter option - and a new price cut makes it easier to afford, too. If you're looking for one of the best VR headsets to get started, the Meta Quest 2 is a great option. While...

Feb 12, 2024

Ultrasonic headband induces lucid dreams using AI, its creators claim — but an expert remains skeptical

A tech startup is building a headband that it claims can induce stabilized lucid dreaming in a wearer — letting them take control of their own dreamscapes. Prophetic described how its device, called the Halo, works in a post on X on Jan. 25. The headband will use an artificial...

Feb 15, 2024

Please don't wear the Apple Vision Pro while driving, study urges, but buying coffee with VR is an 'exciting novelty'

Scientists have tested what life is like when using mixed reality goggles, and the technology's effects on a wearer. Turns out, even state-of-the-art headsets can cause some considerable issues. Mixed reality could soon become mainstream following the release of Apple's Vision Pro this year, alongside existing tech such as Meta's...

Mar 15, 2024

Watch scientists control a robot with their hands while wearing the Apple Vision Pro

Scientists have developed an app for the Apple Vision Pro mixed reality headset that lets users control a robot using head and hand gestures alone. It could be used to control machines remotely in different scenarios — from playing pranks to navigating a disaster zone. The app, called Tracking Streamer,...

Jan 24, 2017

Tiny, Underwater Robots Offer Unprecedented View of World's Oceans

Robots the size of grapefruits are set to change the way scientists study the Earth's oceans, according to a new study. Though space is often known as the final frontier, the oceans of our home planet remain much of a mystery. Satellites have played a big role in that divide,...

Jan 25, 2017

New Exosuit Fabric Could Boost Mobility in People with Disabilities

Knitting and weaving artificial muscles could help create soft exoskeletons that people with disabilities could wear under their clothes to help them walk, according to new research. Textile processing is one of humanity's oldest technologies, but in recent years there has been renewed interest in using it to create smart...

Feb 1, 2017

'Bat Bot' Can Pull Off Impressive Aerial Acrobatics

Whether they're swooping around to catch dinner or delicately hanging upside down to sleep, bats are known for their acrobatic prowess. Now, scientists have created a robot inspired by these flying creatures. Dubbed the Bat Bot, it can fly, turn and swoop like its real-life counterpart in the animal kingdom....

Feb 2, 2017

RoboDragonfly: Tiny Backpack Turns Insect into a Cyborg

Scientists look to flying animals — birds, bats and insects — for inspiration when they design airborne drones. But researchers are also investigating how to use technology to interact with, and even guide, animals as they fly, enhancing the unique adaptations that allow them to take to the air. To...

Feb 3, 2017

Watch This Squishy, See-Through Robot Grab a Live Goldfish

Squishy, nearly transparent robots that flap, squeeze and kick when pumped with water could be the next underwater spies, at least when it comes to sneaking up on aquatic life. In a robotic test, one of these jelly-like machines was quick enough to grab and release a goldfish, a team...

Feb 9, 2017

Robo-Bees Could Aid Insects with Pollination Duties

Mini drones sporting horsehair coated in a sticky gel could one day take the pressure off beleaguered bee populations by transporting pollen from plant to plant, researchers said. Roughly three-quarters of the world’s flowering plants and about 35 percent of the world's food crops depend on animals to pollinate them,...

Feb 15, 2017

Cancer-Fighting Army? Magnetic Robot Swarms Could Combat Disease

Magnetically controlled swarms of microscopic robots might one day help fight cancer inside the body, new research suggests. Over the past decade, scientists have shown they can manipulate magnetic forces to guide medical devices within the human body, as these fields can apply forces to remotely control objects. For instance,...

Feb 24, 2017

A Killer Spin: Table Tennis Gets 'First' Robotic Coach

If you're interested in learning how to play table tennis, a robot in Japan is up for the coaching job, and the bot has even earned a Guinness World Record for its tutoring skills. The robot, called FORPHEUS, was named the first robot table tennis tutor for its ability to...

Feb 27, 2017

Robotic Arm Turns Your Digital Doodles into Good Old-Fashioned Sketches

A small robotic arm can bring your digital sketches to life, by re-creating your on-screen drawings with a pen and paper. The robotic drawing arm was designed by a team of researchers, who combined their knowledge of kinetic art, drawing machines and internet-connected microprocessor chips to develop the idea. The...