Researchers at the University of Science and Technology of China have developed contact lenses that enable people to see beyond the visible light range, picking up flickers of infrared light even in the dark – or with their eyes closed.

Yuqian Ma and his team have combined conventional soft contact lenses with 45 nanometre particles consisting of gold, sodium gadolinium fluoride, ytterbium and erbium ions.

According to the team's findings published in the scientific journal Cell, upconversion contact lenses (UCLs) transform infrared light with wavelengths ranging from 800 to 1,600 nanometers into visible light, reports DW.

The energy of the long infrared light waves is enhanced by the nanoparticles.  They accomplish this by transforming infrared light into the three main hues that the human eye can perceive.

The researchers was able to somewhat offset this by adding more lenses, but one disadvantage is that the final images are extremely blurry due to the light being scattered by the nanoparticles in the lenses.

Night vision goggles, which magnify weak infrared signals and make them visible, are still far more effective than infrared contact lenses.

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The mice's behavior demonstrated that they could see in the dark when the team initially put nanoparticles into their retinas.

Since the recently created contact lenses don't require injections into our retinas, they are far more useful.

Humans demonstrated the ability to identify letters, patterns, and flashing infrared signals in the dark during experiments.  Additionally, because infrared light can easily pass through eyelids and normal visible light does not interfere with picture creation, infrared lenses perform even better when the eyes are closed.

When hunting in the dark, the ability of certain animal species to detect infrared light is quite useful.  Infrared light is not perceived by them as "light" in the sense that humans do.  Rather, they sense the heat radiation that things emit.

This aids in orientation and nighttime hunting for a number of cold-blooded reptiles, including snakes (pit vipers and rattlesnakes), some fish (cichlids and piranhas), amphibians (bullfrogs), and bloodsucking insects (mosquitoes and bugs).

Warm-blooded animals — such as humans, other mammals and birds are unable to sense infrared light because their eyes lack the proper receptors, and the heat radiation from their bodies also obstructs their ability to see infrared light.

The developers claim that the glasses might be applied to cryptography or encryption, surgery, or the defense against counterfeiting.

This is due to the fact that infrared light is what, for instance, makes invisible markings or features on documents apparent.

Because the lenses make heat-emitting items visible, they could also be utilized to rescue people in low-visibility situations.  Many critics, however, question this because night vision systems are both much more powerful and much easier to use.

Germany's Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) developed smart earphones that can check out your vitals as you listen to music. Developed by Dr. Tobias Röddiger and colleagues, the OpenEarable 2.0 earphones do, can measure over 30 physiological parameters.

The OpenEarables, wearable is currently available for preorder at a price of €2,348 (about US$2,566).  Because the earbuds and the software that goes with them are open-source, anybody can modify them and share the results with other users, reports New Atlas.‍

The OpenEarables might theoretically be used in applications like workplace safety or sporting performance analysis in addition to its evident use in the medical field.

Indeed, stereophonic music streamed from a linked smartphone can be played back by the devices.  Sensor data sent by the OpenEarables is processed and shown by an app on the same phone.

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Importantly, Röddiger told New Atlas that the earbuds can simultaneously collect their physiological data and play music, with none interfering with the other. It should be mentioned, though, that the earphones work only with Android phones that enable Bluetooth LE Audio, which is not yet supported by iPhones.

They can follow the user's heart activity and verify their identification by using two infrasound/ultrasound microphones, one facing into the ear canal and the other out of it. In contrast, an onboard bone-conduction microphone may detect if the user is eating, mouthing words that are not uttered aloud, or grinding their teeth when they are asleep.

Additionally, there is an optical skin temperature sensor for measuring body temperature or tracking ovulation, as well as a blood-oxygen-level-tracking pulse oximeter that can be used to evaluate stress or energy expenditure and identify sleep apnea.  Additional sensors include a 9-axis IMU (inertial measuring unit) that monitors respiration rates and exercise progress, as well as an ear canal pressure sensor that detects feeding and tongue motions.

One 45-minute USB charge of each earphone's battery should reportedly be good for up to eight hours of runtime, depending on usage.

In a groundbreaking leap for remote patient monitoring and hospital care, Biobeat has introduced its state-of-the-art wearable biosensor – a cuffless, wireless solution that redefines how vital signs are continuously measured and managed across healthcare settings.

This lightweight, sticker-like device is seamlessly applied to the upper torso or wrist and leverages advanced PPG (photoplethysmography) and AI-powered analytics to deliver continuous, real-time measurements of critical parameters such as blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, blood oxygen saturation (SpO₂), cardiac output, and stroke volume – all without the need for invasive procedures or bulky equipment.

Built with hospital-grade precision and designed for maximum patient comfort, Biobeat’s wearable biosensors empower clinicians with automated, real-time data that improves decision-making and dramatically reduces the need for manual measurement. The device wirelessly transmits data to a secure cloud-based platform, where AI-driven dashboards present trends and alerts in a highly intuitive interface, transforming reactive care into proactive, personalised healthcare.

From hospitals to home settings, this FDA-cleared and CE-marked technology allows for early detection of clinical deterioration, reduced hospital readmissions, and more efficient remote patient management, especially for individuals with chronic cardiovascular or pulmonary conditions.

“We are proud to offer a truly wearable, intelligent solution that changes how vital signs are monitored,” said a Biobeat representative. “By eliminating the cords, cuffs, and guesswork, our technology ensures that patients receive timely, precise care - whether they’re in a hospital bed or recovering at home.”

About Biobeat
Founded in Israel, Biobeat is a digital health company revolutionising the field of continuous patient monitoring. With a mission to bring hospital-grade accuracy to wearable medical devices, Biobeat integrates AI, cloud computing, and non-invasive sensing into a robust platform that supports clinicians and improves patient outcomes. The company’s solutions are used in hospitals, post-acute care, and home monitoring programs across the globe, demonstrating the power of real-time health insights to save lives and optimise care.

In a monumental move, OpenAI has acquired io, the AI device startup founded by former Apple design chief Jony Ive, in a deal valued at approximately $6.4 billion. This acquisition, which CNBC reports as an all-equity agreement, marks OpenAI's largest to date and includes its existing stake in io, bringing the net payment to about $5 billion.

A New Era of AI Devices

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman hailed the merger as the dawn of the "greatest technology revolution of their lifetimes." He praised Ive, stating, "Jony is the deepest thinker of anyone I’ve ever met. What that leads him to be able to come up with is unmatched." The core mission behind this integration is to "create a family of devices that would let people use AI to create all sorts of wonderful things."

Ive's Continued Influence

Ive, who left Apple in 2019 to establish his "creative collective" LoveFrom, will assume "deep creative and design responsibilities across OpenAI and io." Importantly, LoveFrom will maintain its independence from the broader OpenAI and io integration. Ive co-founded io a year ago with former Apple colleagues Scott Cannon, Tang Tan, and Evans Hankey. The io team, dedicated to developing "products that inspire, empower and enable," will now merge with OpenAI's research, engineering, and product teams in San Francisco to foster closer collaboration.

OpenAI's Growth Trajectory

This acquisition follows another significant investment by OpenAI last month, when it reportedly paid $3 billion to acquire AI-assisted coding tool Windsurf. The current deal with io further solidifies OpenAI's strategic expansion into the AI device market, leveraging Ive's renowned design expertise, which previously shaped iconic Apple products like the iPhone and Mac during his tenure as chief design officer from 1996.

In a groundbreaking advancement for individuals managing diabetes, Biolinq announced the launch of its innovative skin-applied biosensor – a revolutionary approach to continuous glucose monitoring that completely eliminates the need for painful needles.

This technology utilises a soft, discreet patch equipped with sophisticated electrochemical sensors. These sensors gently and painlessly analyze the interstitial fluid located just beneath the skin's surface, providing real-time glucose readings without the discomfort and inconvenience associated with traditional needle-based systems.

Engineered with cutting-edge electrochemical technology and meticulously designed to deliver instant feedback, the Biolinq sensor empowers users to effortlessly track their glucose fluctuations. This continuous stream of data enables individuals to gain a deeper understanding of their glucose trends, facilitating more informed lifestyle choices regarding diet, exercise, and medication management with unprecedented ease and comfort.

By seamlessly integrating this cutting-edge biosensor innovation with an intuitive and user-friendly digital interface (accessible via a dedicated mobile application), Biolinq is poised to fundamentally reshape the landscape of personal health monitoring. This needle-free, real-time, and truly wearable solution promises to significantly enhance the quality of life for millions living with diabetes.

"We are incredibly excited to introduce this revolutionary technology to the world," said a representative for Biolinq. "Our needle-free continuous glucose monitor represents a significant leap forward in making glucose monitoring less intrusive and more accessible. We believe this innovation will empower individuals to take greater control of their health and live fuller lives."

About Biolinq

Founded in San Diego, California, Biolinq is a pioneering health technology company dedicated to the development of next-generation wearable biosensors for comprehensive metabolic monitoring. Driven by a core mission to democratize health data and make it more actionable for individuals, Biolinq unites a diverse team of experts spanning the fields of electrochemical sensing, digital health, and biomedical engineering. Their innovative needle-free sensor platform is specifically designed to improve the lives of millions of people living with metabolic conditions by enabling smarter, simpler, and more connected approaches to health management.

Chinese researchers have presented a novel idea for solar-powered apparel that can control the body temperature of the wearer. The idea, which was developed by Ziyuan Wang and associates at Nankai University, blends cutting-edge flexible solar cells with electrocaloric devices. In a study published in the journal Science, the team outlines its methodology.

The goal of thermoregulating apparel is to maintain a pleasant and safe body temperature in a variety of settings.  In general, it can be divided into two groups: active and passive.  In order to maintain users' comfort, passive thermoregulation makes use of materials that take advantage of absorption, radiation, and the latent heat of phase transitions.

A key advantage of a passive approach is that an external power source is not needed. Passive thermoregulation, on the other hand, typically only works in one way, with clothing having a warming or cooling effect but not both, reports Physics World.

Active materials that use fluidic channels and coolant circulation to accomplish quick heating and cooling are typically used to provide bidirectional thermoregulation.  Batteries, which add weight and require recharging, are typically used to power these systems.  Although it has proven to be a considerable design issue, they might theoretically also be powered by solar energy collection.

“Because of their high energy consumption, it is difficult for active systems to maintain continuous thermoregulation of the human body for a long time through portable, sustainable energy-harvesting devices,” Xingyi Huang and Pengli Li at Shanghai Jiao Tong University write in a commentary article in Science that accompanies Wang’s paper.

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To tackle this challenge, Wang’s team drew from the latest advances in flexible organic photovoltaics. Today, these solar cells can maintain high conversion efficiencies even when contorted into different shapes.

“If such a highly efficient and flexible organic photovoltaic unit could be integrated with a proper thermal management system, then robust, self-sustaining, and thermoregulating clothing could be achieved,” Huang and Li predict.

Wang and associates developed a tiny wearable material in their work by attaching a flexible solar cell to a flexible electrocaloric module.  The latter is a device that reacts to applied electric fields by changing its temperature reversibly.

The electrocaloric module was able to cool the wearer's skin by up to 10 degrees in hot weather when the solar cell was exposed to sunlight.  A tiny, independent battery can be used to store any extra energy.  The wearable can be put into warming mode in the dark, using its stored energy to raise the wearer's skin temperature by up to three degrees. The device can accomplish thermoregulation over the course of a day.

Wang's team hopes that by incorporating this technology into wearable textiles, the invention may result in a new line of useful, solar-powered apparel that aids wearers in adjusting to difficult and complex situations.

Patients frequently conceal their actual feelings from their caregivers or even from their own aware selves. To help health care providers tell the difference, a team led by scientists at Penn State has created a stretchable, rechargeable sticker that can detect real emotions — by measuring things like skin temperature and heart rate — even when users put on a brave face.

Other components include a printed circuit board, wireless charging coil, 5-volt battery and Bluetooth chip. All of these bits and pieces are encapsulated within a waterproof silicone covering, with the whole device measuring about 6 cm (2.4 inches) in length, reports New Atlas.

The strain sensor on the sticker tracks the patient's skin motions along two axes while it is briefly attached to their face. It then wirelessly transmits this information to an app on a nearby cloud-connected smartphone or tablet.

The software's AI-based algorithms can then infer the user's current facial expression, which is undoubtedly connected to their mood. The technology's accuracy in recognizing six common facial expressions—happiness, surprise, fear, sorrow, rage, and disgust—has been over 96% in lab tests.

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Nevertheless, people can fake facial expressions, frequently even unconsciously. Because of this, the app also makes use of real-time data from the blood oxygen, temperature, and humidity sensors.  The system is already nearly 89% accurate at detecting genuine emotions elicited by watching different video snippets using this combination of data.

The technology may enable doctors to remotely monitor their patients' psychological health through the internet, as the data is processed in the cloud.

"This is a new and improved way to understand our emotions by looking at multiple body signals at once," says Cheng. "People often don't visibly show how they truly feel, so that’s why we’re combining facial expression analysis with other important physiological signals, which will ultimately lead to better mental health monitoring and support."

Georgia Tech researchers have developed tiny brain sensor that can be inserted into the minuscule spaces between hair follicles and slightly under the skin. The sensor offers high-fidelity signals and makes the continuous use of brain-computer interfaces (BCI) in everyday life possible.

BCIs create a direct communication pathway between the brain's electrical activity and external devices such as electroencephalography devices, computers, robotic limbs, and other brain monitoring devices. Brain signals are commonly captured non-invasively with electrodes mounted on the surface of the human scalp using conductive electrode gel for optimum impedance and data quality. More invasive signal capture methods such as brain implants are possible, but this research seeks to create sensors that are both easily placed and reliably manufactured, reports Georgia Tech.

Hong Yeo, the Harris Saunders Jr. Professor in the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, combined the latest microneedle technology with his deep expertise in wearable sensor technology that may allow stable brain signal detection over long periods and easy insertion of a new painless, wearable microneedle BCI wireless sensor that fits between hair follicles. The skin placement and extremely small size of this new wireless brain interface could offer a variety of benefits over traditional gel or dry electrodes.

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“I started this research because my main goal is to develop new sensor technology to support healthcare and I had previous experience with brain-computer interfaces and flexible scalp electronics,” said Yeo, who is also a faculty member in Georgia Tech’s Institute for People and Technology. “I knew we needed better BCI sensor technology and discovered that if we can slightly penetrate the skin and avoid hair by miniaturizing the sensor, we can dramatically increase the signal quality by getting closer to the source of the signals and reduce unwanted noise.”

Today’s BCI systems consist of bulky electronics and rigid sensors that prevent the interfaces from being useful while the user is in motion during regular activities. Yeo and colleagues constructed a micro-scale sensor for neural signal capture that can be easily worn during daily activities, unlocking new potential for BCI devices. His technology uses conductive polymer microneedles to capture electrical signals and conveys those signals along flexible polyimide/copper wires — all of which are packaged in a space of less than 1 millimeter.

A study of six people using the device to control an augmented reality (AR) video call found that high-fidelity neural signal capture persisted for up to 12 hours with very low electrical resistance at the contact between skin and sensor. Participants could stand, walk, and run for most of the daytime hours while the brain-computer interface successfully recorded and classified neural signals indicating which visual stimulus the user focused on with 96.4% accuracy. During the testing, participants could look up phone contacts and initiate and accept AR video calls hands-free as this new micro-sized brain sensor was picking up visual stimuli — all the while giving the user complete freedom of movement.  

According to Yeo, the results suggest that this wearable BCI system may allow for practical and continuous interface activity, potentially leading to everyday use of machine-human integrative technology.

“I firmly believe in the power of collaboration, as many of today’s challenges are too complex for any one individual to solve,” said Yeo. “Therefore, I would like to express my gratitude to all the researchers in my group and the amazing collaborators who made this work possible. I will continue collaborating with the team to enhance BCI technology for rehabilitation and prosthetics.”

UK researchers have developed smart insoles that accurately measure the forces created when a foot hits the ground in the real world. The cutting-edge technology can help athletes perform at their best and avoid injuries, as well as aid in the rehabilitation of injured patients.

Your foot pushes against the ground when you run, jump, or walk, and the ground pushes back in the opposite direction with an equal amount of power.  These are GRFs.  They are important because they affect how our bodies respond and move when we exercise, reports Paul McClure in New Atlas.

In order to create smart insoles that measure GRFs in three dimensions more naturally and correctly, scientists from the University of Portsmouth in the United Kingdom partnered with the tech company TG0. For sports science, rehabilitation, and injury prevention, these insoles offer practical movement analysis.

“We wanted to create an affordable and portable alternative to expensive lab equipment,” said the study’s lead author, Dinghuang Zhang, PhD, a former postgraduate researcher from the University’s School of Computing and current associate in the knowledge transfer program (KTP) at TG0. “These insoles could help athletes improve performance, assist doctors in rehabilitation, and even help people track their movement for general health.”

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The ability of the novel insoles to assess the medial-lateral (Fx), anterior-posterior (Fy), and vertical (Fz) components of GRF gives them their three-dimensionality. The side-to-side force is simply referred to as medial-lateral. When you take a step to one side or the other, such as when you make a rapid lateral movement in basketball, it measures the push or pull that happens. The forward-backward force, which gauges the acceleration or braking that takes place when running, is anterior-posterior. The up-and-down force that the ground exerts on your foot as it lands is known as vertical force. It can be viewed as the force that sustains the weight of your body and is typically the strongest of the three. Understanding healthy gait and how it is impacted by injury, muscle fatigue, posture and balance, and neuromuscular diseases requires knowledge of all three.

To monitor foot pressure and movement, the team’s TG0 Smart Insole has an inertial measuring unit (IMU) and integrated pressure sensors. An IMU is a device that has a number of sensors that measure motion by determining the foot's rotation (gyroscope), speed in various directions (accelerometer), and direction of travel (magnetometer). To forecast GRFs, machine learning is fed all of the data collected by the IMU and pressure sensors.

The TG0 Smart Insole was tested by the researchers on five healthy adults of varying heights and body weights. To reduce data variability brought on by muscular stiffness or equipment unfamiliarity, participants initially engaged in a walking and jumping warm-up. After the insole was fitted, patients were instructed to execute a set of exercises on a force plate, including deep squatting, walking and jogging in place, swaying to the left and right, jumping in place, and jumping forward and backward.

The researchers discovered that the insole accurately predicted GRF with an error rate of 4.16% after comparing the GRF data from the insole with the force plate, which served as a reference. The normalized root mean squared error (NRMSE), a metric for predicting accuracy in comparison to gold standard force plate readings, is reflected in the error rate. Although there is a low mistake rate, it is crucial to take into account the environment in which these insoles will be utilized because the allowable error margin may differ based on the application, such as healthcare and rehabilitation versus sporting performance.  NRMSE errors of 8% to 20% have been observed in investigations on alternative GRF measurement techniques, such as motion sensors or pressure insoles, the researchers pointed out.

The smart insoles use Bluetooth low-energy (BLE) to connect to a USB dongle that is connected to a PC.  They include a built-in battery that can gather data constantly for about eight hours.

The researchers anticipate a variety of uses for their smart insoles. They could lower the risk of injury, improve training, and assist athletes in tracking their movements. They might be used by physicians and physical therapists to keep an eye on patients who are recovering from injuries or have movement problems. Additionally, they could gather information to further the study of biomechanics and sports science.

The study was published in the journal Intelligent Sports and Health.

This summer's Club World Cup in the United States will use referee body cameras, giving spectators a distinctive and engaging perspective of the action.  According to Pierluigi Collina, chairman of FIFA's Referees Committee, the innovation would give broadcasters access to film taken straight from the referee's point of view, providing fans with real-time information on pivotal match moments such as goals, fouls, and tactical plays.

“Viewers will get a perspective that’s never been offered before,” said Collina. “It’s not just a novelty—it’s a valuable tool for referee development. Seeing exactly what the referee sees helps us analyze decisions and improve performance.”

According to FIFA, the use of cameras will be on an experimental basis, after being approved last month by IFAB, the FIFA body that decides the laws of the sport, reports OneFootball.

FIFA has stated that, in addition to the cameras, it will implement a new regulation that penalizes goalkeepers for their infamous "time-wasting" by giving the opposition a corner kick if they hold the ball for longer than eight seconds.

Referees hardly ever penalize goalkeepers for "time-wasting," even if there is already a straight free kick as punishment for this.

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"We think it's a good chance to offer spectators a new experience, in terms of images taken from a perspective, from an angle of view that has never been offered before," said Pierluigi Collina, president of the FIFA Referees Committee. "It's a combination of new experiences for broadcasters and also for training purposes," he added.

The camera system, which is attached to the headset and placed close to the ear, has already been tested in the Bundesliga in Germany and during a Premier League game in which Jarred Gillett played.  Although both incidents were included in documentaries, the Club World Cup marks a change to live integration.

“This is the first time we’ll see the best clubs from every continent compete in this format,” Collina added. “We’re committed to ensuring officiating meets the highest standards to match the importance of the occasion.”

The new technology has the potential to completely change how referees are educated throughout the world as well as how fans watch games.

A tiny sensor created by researchers at theUniversity of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) can help monitormetabolites—substances your body produces or uses when it breaks down food,medication, or even its own fat and muscle in metabolic processes—much morethoroughly than existing techniques.

This technology could speed up the creationof more potent medications, track how patients respond to treatment, and openup new avenues for the detection and management of illnesses anddisorders.  The sensor's ability to tracknatural biochemical processes, such as the transformation and interaction ofmolecules within our bodies, is very intriguing, reports Abhimanyu Ghoshalin NewAtlas.

"Tandem metabolic reaction-basedsensors," or TMR sensors for short, are what the group from UCLA'sCalifornia NanoSystems Institute labels its inventions.  They monitor metabolites in a manner similarto that of tiny chemistry labs. Tiny electrodes composed of minusculesingle-wall carbon nanotubes serve as the foundation for the sensors. On theseelectrodes, the researchers placed cofactors—helper molecules that facilitatechemical reactions—and enzymes.

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The enzymes trigger a chemical reactionwhen a certain metabolite—the molecule they are trying to identify—approachesthe sensor. The target metabolite is the focus of this reaction. Through thisresponse, the sensor may occasionally be able to directly detect themetabolite. In other cases, the enzymes will first change the metabolite into adetectable molecule if it cannot be detected directly. A sequence of actions,such as the body's normal metabolic pathways, may result in this conversion.They are referred to as "tandem metabolic reaction-based sensors"because of their capacity to conduct numerous reactions.

The exchange of electrons is a crucialcomponent of these processes. Electrons may migrate when the enzymes interactwith the metabolite. On the carbon nanotubes' surface, these electron motionsproduce an electrical current. This electrical current is then measured by thesensor. The scientists can determine how much of the metabolite is present bymeasuring the current. Therefore, more of the metabolite indicates a largercurrent, and less indicates a lower current.

In essence, the TMR sensors convert thepresence of metabolites into a detectable electrical signal by using thechemical reactions that occur naturally on a microscopic electrical surface.

These sensors are capable of detecting overtwo-thirds of the many metabolites that the human body produces through aconversion phase. We might be able to get a comprehensive picture of apatient's condition and treatment response from it.

According to the researchers, this methodmay aid in the early detection of cardiac problems and the customization oftherapies to address each patient's unique metabolic needs. By monitoring howathletes' bodies use energy when under stress, it may help them become morephysically fit.  Additionally, TMRsensors may provide insight into how developing medications affect metabolicpathways and suggest strategies for maximizing their benefits.

Northwestern University scientists have developed a pacemaker so small that it can fit inside the tip of a syringe — and be non-invasively injected into the body.

While still years away from being tested in humans, the wireless pacemaker was hailed as a "transformative breakthrough" that could spur advances in other areas of medicine.

The pacemaker, which is smaller than a grain of rice, is controlled by light shone through the skin. The device generates power and squeezes the heart’s muscles after injection through a stint.

In a recently published study, the pacemaker demonstrated its ability to consistently coordinate healthy heart beats in the hearts of rats, dogs, and humans.  Additionally, it is biocompatible and, after brief use, is eventually broken down by the body. The device, which is more than 23 times smaller than earlier bioabsorbable pacemakers, paves the way for minimally invasive implants that wirelessly check on heart health following major surgery or other cardiac issues.

“We have developed what is, to our knowledge, the world’s smallest pacemaker,” said Northwestern bioelectronics pioneer John A. Rogers, who led the device development. “There’s a crucial need for temporary pacemakers in the context of pediatric heart surgeries, and that’s a use case where size miniaturization is incredibly important. In terms of the device load on the body — the smaller, the better.”

“Our major motivation was children,” said Northwestern experimental cardiologist Igor Efimov, who co-led the study. “About 1% of children are born with congenital heart defects — regardless of whether they live in a low-resource or high-resource country. The good news is that these children only need temporary pacing after a surgery. In about seven days or so, most patients’ hearts will self-repair. But those seven days are absolutely critical. Now, we can place this tiny pacemaker on a child’s heart and stimulate it with a soft, gentle, wearable device. And no additional surgery is necessary to remove it.”

Instead of using near-field communication to supply power, the new, tiny pacemaker operates through the action of a galvanic cell, a type of simple battery that transforms chemical energy into electrical energy. Specifically, the pacemaker uses two different metals as electrodes to deliver electrical pulses to the heart. When in contact with surrounding biofluids, the electrodes form a battery. The resulting chemical reactions cause the electrical current to flow to stimulate the heart, reports Northwestern.

“When the pacemaker is implanted into the body, the surrounding biofluids act as the conducting electrolyte that electrically joins those two metal pads to form the battery,” Rogers said. “A very tiny light-activated switch on the opposite side from the battery allows us to turn the device from its ‘off’ state to an ‘on’ state upon delivery of light that passes through the patient’s body from the skin-mounted patch.”

Pulsing with light

The team used an infrared wavelength of light that penetrates deeply and safely into the body. If the patient’s heart rate drops below a certain rate, the wearable device detects the event and automatically activates a light-emitting diode. The light then flashes on and off at a rate that corresponds to the normal heart rate.

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“Infrared light penetrates very well through the body,” Efimov said. “If you put a flashlight against your palm, you will see the light glow through the other side of your hand. It turns out that our bodies are great conductors of light.”

Even though the pacemaker is so tiny — measuring just 1.8 millimeters in width, 3.5 millimeters in length and 1 millimeter in thickness — it still delivers as much stimulation as a full-sized pacemaker.

“The heart requires a tiny amount of electrical stimulation,” Rogers said. “By minimizing the size, we dramatically simplify the implantation procedures, we reduce trauma and risk to the patient, and, with the dissolvable nature of the device, we eliminate any need for secondary surgical extraction procedures.”

More sophisticated synchronization

Because the devices are so tiny, physicians could distribute collections of them across the heart. A difficult color of light could illuminate to independently control a specific pacemaker. Use of multiple pacemakers in this manner enables more sophisticated synchronization compared to traditional pacing. In special cases, different areas of the heart can be paced at different rhythms, for example, to terminate arrhythmias.

“We can deploy a number of such small pacemakers onto the outside of the heart and control each one,” Efimov said. “Then we can achieve improved synchronized functional care. We also could incorporate our pacemakers into other medical devices like heart valve replacements, which can cause heart block.”

“Because it’s so small, this pacemaker can be integrated with almost any kind of implantable device,” Rogers said. “We also demonstrated integration of collections of these devices across the frameworks that serve as transcatheter aortic valve replacements. Here, the tiny pacemakers can be activated as necessary to address complications that can occur during a patient’s recovery process. So that’s just one example of how we can enhance traditional implants by providing more functional stimulation.”

The technology’s versatility opens a broad range of other possibilities for use in bioelectronic medicines, including helping nerves and bones heal, treating wounds and blocking pain.

A group of researchers from UC Berkeley and UC San Francisco has discovered a method to help individuals with severe paralysis regain naturalistic speech, which is a significant advancement in the field of brain-computer interfaces (BCIs).

The long-standing problem of latency in speech neuroprostheses—the interval between a subject's attempt to speak and the sound that is produced—is resolved by this work. The researchers created a streaming technique that converts brain impulses into audible speech in almost real time using the latest developments in artificial intelligence-based modeling.

“Our streaming approach brings the same rapid speech decoding capacity of devices like Alexa and Siri to neuroprostheses,” said Gopala Anumanchipalli, Robert E. and Beverly A. Brooks Assistant Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences at UC Berkeley and co-principal investigator of the study. “Using a similar type of algorithm, we found that we could decode neural data and, for the first time, enable near-synchronous voice streaming. The result is more naturalistic, fluent speech synthesis.”

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“This new technology has tremendous potential for improving quality of life for people living with severe paralysis affecting speech,” said UCSF neurosurgeon Edward Chang, senior co-principal investigator of the study. Chang leads a clinical trial at UCSF that aims to develop speech neuroprosthesis technology using high-density electrode arrays that record neural activity directly from the brain surface. “It is exciting that the latest AI advances are greatly accelerating BCIs for practical real-world use in the near future,” he said.

The researchers also showed that their approach can work well with a variety of other brain sensing interfaces, including microelectrode arrays (MEAs) in which electrodes penetrate the brain’s surface, or non-invasive recordings (sEMG) that use sensors on the face to measure muscle activity, reports Marni Ellery in Berkeley Engineering.

According to study co-lead author Cheol Jun Cho, who is also a UC Berkeley Ph.D. student in electrical engineering and computer sciences, the neuroprosthesis works by sampling neural data from the motor cortex, the part of the brain that controls speech production, then uses AI to decode brain function into speech.

“We are essentially intercepting signals where the thought is translated into articulation and in the middle of that motor control,” he said. “So what we’re decoding is after a thought has happened, after we’ve decided what to say, after we’ve decided what words to use and how to move our vocal-tract muscles.”

To collect the data needed to train their algorithm, the researchers first had Ann, their subject, look at a prompt on the screen — like the phrase: “Hey, how are you?” — and then silently attempt to speak that sentence.

This latest work brings researchers a step closer to achieving naturalistic speech with BCI devices, while laying the groundwork for future advances.

“This proof-of-concept framework is quite a breakthrough,” said Cho. “We are optimistic that we can now make advances at every level. On the engineering side, for example, we will continue to push the algorithm to see how we can generate speech better and faster.”

A team of former LG engineers dedicated to developing a sleep-health-centric ecosystem of products, have developed a new sleep-enhancing earbuds. The For Me Buds are a set of ANC earbuds designed for people who need help with fixing or optimizing their sleep schedule.

The buds were predominantly designed for travelers, who often see the highest amount of sleep routine disruption over a day-to-day basis, but the earbuds are made for general light sleepers too.

The earbuds deliver personalized brainwave synchronization sounds tailored to the user’s needs. Beyond basic noise cancellation, For Me Buds effectively blocks external disturbances, providing a calm and secure environment for uninterrupted rest.

Real-time photoplethysmography (PPG) monitoring, which is more conventionally a non-invasive method of measuring blood circulation and, consequently, heart-rate variability and more general cardiovascular system information, is most prominently one of its essential features. Here, the buds do intracranial photoplethysmography while simultaneously monitoring heart rate. This is essentially a way of stating that the buds keep an eye on your body and brain while you're asleep, evaluate the quality of your sleep using an algorithm, and try to enhance it, reports New Atlas.

"The PPG sensor measures pulse waves in real time at 128-256 Hz, averaging every six milliseconds, while the motion sensor measures movement in real time at 125 Hz every eight milliseconds," said Sleepwave, the startup that developed it. "In addition, a noise-filtering algorithm is included to accurately assess the user’s condition, correcting measurement errors caused by movement."

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The buds will use artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the quality of your sleep once they have sufficient data about your sleep habits. Stimuli that help synchronize brainwave activity without distracting the wearer are used to teach the brain in order to achieve this. The "dynamic binaural beats" of the earbuds perfectly encourage the brain to replicate the patterns that correspond to what your data indicates you need because our brain's waves change based on activity and sleep stages. This effectively eliminates the need to choose between soundscapes that mimic rain on a tin roof and bubbling brooks, which perform the same thing but in a much less customized manner.

The audio stops when you go to sleep, but it will start up again if your brain waves indicate that you were awakened or became restless during the night.

Additionally, there is a power-nap mode that allows you to be woken up whenever you like, without the unpleasant sound of an alarm. In addition, there are options for focus and meditation that, once more, make use of brainwave patterns to create the ideal auditory environment for each.

You may purchase the For Me Buds at the current discounted price of $139 at Indiegogo. Starting in March, they will be shipped for free to any location in the world. In addition to offering unlimited free use and a subscription to the related app, this is 30% off their anticipated retail price.

We are excited to introduce Robeauté's groundbreaking neurosurgical microrobot, a revolutionary advancement in brain intervention. This tiny, modular device - smaller than a grain of rice - is engineered for unparalleled precision in navigating the brain's complex structures with minimal invasiveness. By integrating cutting-edge robotics, artificial intelligence, and micro-fabrication techniques, the microrobot can perform tasks such as implanting electrodes, delivering targeted therapies, collecting tissue samples, and gathering real-time data through advanced sensors. ​

Robeauté's microrobot represents a significant leap forward in neurosurgery, offering a transformative approach to diagnosing, treating, and monitoring neurological conditions. Experience the future of medical micro-robotics with Robeauté.​

About Robeauté

Founded in 2017 and based in Paris, France, Robeauté is at the forefront of medical micro-robotics. The company is dedicated to developing innovative neurosurgical microrobots that combine expertise from robotics, AI, physics, material sciences, chemistry, biology, and medicine. Robeauté's mission is to transform brain interaction and intervention through minimally invasive treatments, aiming to improve patient outcomes and set new standards in healthcare.

Meta revealed the latest version of its experimental smart glasses intended to help bolster research into artificial intelligence, robotics and machine perception.

“For researchers looking to explore how AI systems can better understand the world from a human perspective, Aria Gen 2 glasses add a new set of capabilities to the Aria platform. They include a number of advances not found on any other device available today, and access to these breakthrough technologies will enable researchers to push the boundaries of what’s possible,” Meta said in a blog post.

Arriving about five years after the first-generation Aria device, the Aria Gen 2 expands the platform's capabilities using Meta's proprietary technology and an enhanced sensor suite.  The Aria Gen 2 features a contact microphone to separate the wearer's voice from that of onlookers and a PPG sensor to measure heart rate.

According to Meta, the 75-gram Aria Gen 2 has open-ear "force-canceling" speakers, a battery that lasts up to eight hours on a charge, and the ability to conduct AI functions including speech recognition, hand tracking, and eye tracking.

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Envision used the on-device SLAM capabilities of Aria Gen 2, along with spatial audio features via onboard speakers, to assist blind and low-vision individuals seamlessly navigate indoor environments. This innovative use of the technologies, which is still in the exploratory and research phase, exemplifies how researchers can leverage Aria Gen 2 glasses for prototyping AI experiences based on egocentric observations. The advanced sensors and on-device machine perception capabilities, including SLAM, eye tracking, hand tracking, and audio interactions, also make them ideal for data collection for research and robotics applications, Meta said in a blog post.

In the upcoming months, Meta intends to provide the glasses to commercial and academic research laboratories.  One early tester, Envision, is testing Aria Gen 2 to develop solutions for those who are blind or have low vision.

The thought of spending the night in a sleep clinic with several electrodes affixed to their skin can’t be appealing to anyone. For this reason, researchers have created a smart pajama top that can detect sleep issues while its user sleeps soundly at home.

A procedure called polysomnography is the gold standard for diagnosing sleep issues. The patient is usually linked up with electrodes that track bodily processes like muscle activity, heart rate, eye movements, and brain activity as they sleep through the night on a bed in a lab.

Now, University of Cambridge professor Luigi Occhipinti and colleagues have developed comfortable, washable "smart pajamas" that can monitor sleep disorders such as sleep apnea at home, without the need for sticky patches, cumbersome equipment or a visit to a specialist sleep clinic. The smart pajamas utilize fabric sensors that can monitor breathing by detecting tiny movements in the skin, even when the pajamas are worn loosely around the neck and chest, reports NewAtlas.

That data is wirelessly transmitted to a nearby device such as a smartphone, where it's processed by the machine-learning-based SleepNet program.

The program can then distinguish between six types of sleep patterns: central sleep apnea, obstructive sleep apnea, snoring, teeth grinding, nasal breathing, and mouth breathing. SleepNet demonstrated 98.6% accuracy in identifying the various sleep phases when it processed pajama-top data collected from two individuals with sleep apnea and seven healthy subjects.

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Importantly, wearers' frequent tossing and turning movements during the night do not interfere with the system. Furthermore, its collar is not uncomfortable because it fits around the neck somewhat loosely.

"Sleep is so important to health, and reliable sleep monitoring can be key in preventative care," says Occhipinti. "Since this garment can be used at home, rather than in a hospital or clinic, it can alert users to changes in their sleep that they can then discuss with their doctor."

A paper on the research, which also involved scientists from Capital Medical University (Beijing) and Beihang University, was recently published in the journal PNAS.

Phantom Technology has unveiled Journey Frame^TM, an evolution of its original smart glasses, refined and streamlined to focus on what truly matters; helping people reclaim their attention. By stripping away distractions like cameras and displays, Journey Frame^TM becomes something entirely new: a lightweight, everyday pair of glasses that seamlessly tracks focus.

Feels just like glasses, but equipped with focus sensing

Wearables track everything — heart rate, sleep, steps — but none measure focus. Journey Frame™ is the first of its kind, using discreet biosensors embedded in the nose pads to measure real-time attention, distractions, and engagement levels. The system detects activities like reading, working, and phone use, providing daily insights to help users optimise their focus.

Now, at less than 30 grams, Journey Frame™ is ultra-lightweight, designed to feel exactly like a normal pair of glasses: comfortable, discreet, and effortlessly wearable all day.

Turning focus into something you can see‍

Journey Frame™ introduces a simple, visual way to track focus through the Lotus Score™, a concept inspired by how fitness trackers use rings or streaks to encourage movement. Throughout the day, a digital lotus grows, or withers based on attention levels. Sustained focus helps it bloom, while distractions cause it to fade. Like tracking steps or exercise, it turns focus into something measurable, making mindfulness a habit rather than an abstract goal.

"Our attention is being hijacked, and we barely notice it happening. We’re building Journey Frame to help people take back control." – Farbod Shakouri, CEO & Co-Founder, Phantom Technology.

What sets it apart?

• Focus Sensing – Detects activities like reading, scrolling, and deep work
• Lotus Score™ - A visual representation of focus health, evolving throughout the day
• Focus Compass – Personalised insights and daily guidance
• Deep Focus Mode – Set timed focus sessions with biofeedback
• Seamless App Integration – Track long-term trends and build better habits

Why this moment matters‍

Wearables have transformed fitness and health tracking, but cognitive health remains an untapped frontier. Meanwhile, smart glasses are emerging, yet most focus on “AR” and social connectivity rather than attention and mental wellbeing. With rising concerns about smartphone addiction and digital fatigue, Journey Frame™ introduces a new category of wearable… One designed to improve focus in everyday life. Pre-orders for Journey Frame™ are now open priced starting at $195, with a streamlined membership offering: a free tier for basic tracking and a premium subscription ($15 per month) unlocking full insights, habit-building tools, and advanced focus analytics. The first batch is estimated to ship in the second half of 2025. More updates to follow.

About Phantom Technology‍

Phantom Technology Ltd is a Cambridge-based startup pioneering biosensor-driven wearables to enhance focus and cognitive wellbeing. Backed by SFC Capital and a network of strategic investors and advisors, Phantom is redefining how technology can support mental clarity in an age of digital overload. Journey Frame™ is the world’s first smart eyewear designed for focus. Disguised as a stylish, everyday pair of glasses, it features embedded biosensors that track attention in real time, offering users insights into their focus habits. With no screens, cameras, or distractions, Journey Frame™ is built to help people stay present, productive, and in control of their attention. Learn more at www.journey-frame.com

While waiting for a donor transplant, an Australian man who had an artificial titanium heart lived for 100 days—the longest duration of time anyone has ever used the technology.

This groundbreaking procedure, performed late last year, marks a new era in heart transplantation and offers new hope to patients suffering from heart failure.

For decades, St Vincent’s and its research partner, the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, have been at the forefront of heart health, pioneering life-changing treatments and cutting-edge technology. From Australia’s first heart transplant in 1968 by Dr Harry Windsor to Dr Victor Chang’s establishment of the National Heart Transplant Program, innovation has been at the heart of St Vincent’s mission, reports St. Vincents.

The latest breakthrough saw a team led by St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney’s Dr Paul Jansz implant the revolutionary BiVACOR Total Artificial Heart, a titanium device with a single moving part, no valves, and a no-contact suspension system, designed to eliminate mechanical wear.

Initially developed as a bridge to transplantation, the long-term vision for this device is to serve as a permanent replacement for a human heart.

Under the expert care of Professor Chris Hayward and his dedicated team, the patient was discharged in early February, making the patient the first person in the world to leave a hospital with the BiVACOR Total Artificial Heart. After more than 100 days – the longest period for a patient with this implant – they successfully received a donor heart transplant in early March, and are now recovering well.

This historic achievement would not have been possible without the support of the St Vincent’s Curran Foundation, which has raised $41 million for the Heart Lung Innovation Fund since 2014. Thanks to this generosity, St Vincent’s continues to push the boundaries of medical science and improve outcomes for patients.

With heart failure claiming nearly 5,000 Australian lives each year, St Vincent’s is committed to pioneering new treatments and advancing heart health.

In May, the hospital will continue its leadership in this field by hosting Australia’s first Heart Health Summit, bringing together experts to discuss the future of cardiac care.

This latest success reaffirms St Vincent’s role as a global leader in heart health, offering renewed hope to patients and their families while shaping the future of cardiac treatment.

The CenWatch might be useful if you're sick of operating your devices with a dull old remote. Using basic hand movements in midair, this smartwatch can identify the bottom of your hand and provide you with a variety of commands.

The CenWatch is being produced by the same-named Hong Kong firm and is presently being offered on Kickstarter. Indeed, there is a 368 x 448 AMOLED screen on the gadget that shows the date, time, and battery level, reports NewAtlas.

What sets it apart is the device’s LiDAR (light detection and ranging) scanner.

This device, which is worn on the underside of the wrist, employs near-infrared lasers to measure the three-dimensional spatial position of each of the five fingers (in relation to the wrist) as they are moved to execute various preset movements. It is said to be accurate to within 1 mm of resolution.

Additionally, there is an IMU (inertial measuring unit) that measures the wrist's three-dimensional spatial location in relation to the body.

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Simply bring your arm out in front of your body at a 90-degree angle, as though you were checking the time, to activate the CenWatch. The LiDAR and IMU data are then processed in real time by an inbuilt HelioG99 8-core CPU, which determines which orders the user is issuing.

These commands are sent by Bluetooth up to 196 feet (60 meters) to a partnered Android, iOS, Windows, Mac, or Linux device. Other devices such as smart TVs can also be controlled via IFTTT (If This Then That) technology.

According to the designers, the CenWatch is particularly tailored to use with AR or VR glasses, as it allows users to perform actions in 3D worlds via 3D gestures. In addition, the technology may eventually enable considerably slimmer and more energy-efficient glasses by relocating the control circuitry from the glasses to the watch.

All of the standard interface operations, including tapping, clicking, swiping, scrolling, and even typing on a virtual keyboard, are available to users. However, you may also use hand movements in midair to write or draw on the projected display while creating PowerPoint-style presentations.

The device weighs 92 grams (3.25 ounces), and the 1,700-mAh lithium-ion battery is said to last up to 10 hours on a single charge.
A pledge of US$299 will buy you a CenWatch, assuming it goes into production. $499 is the anticipated retail price.