Crossing the Uncanny Valley: Breakthrough in technology for lifelike facial expressions in androids
Peer-Reviewed Publication
Updates every hour. Last Updated: 19-Jun-2025 00:10 ET (19-Jun-2025 04:10 GMT/UTC)
Even highly realistic androids can cause unease when their facial expressions lack emotional consistency. Traditionally, a "patchwork method" has been used for facial movements, but it comes with practical limitations. A team developed a new technology using "waveform movements" to create real-time, complex expressions without unnatural transitions. This system reflects internal states, enhancing emotional communication between robots and humans, potentially making androids feel more humanlike.
A new bird deterrent system, "Bird Sonic," is being trialed at Kansai International, Itami, and Kobe airports to enhance flight safety. Developed by Professor Masachika Tsuji of Okayama University of Science and T.M. WORKS, the system uses high-frequency sound waves to repel birds from runways.
Installed on March 1, the device targets species like snipe and lark with adjustable frequencies and diverse sound patterns. With 49 bird strikes reported in FY2023, the one-year trial aims for 80–90% effectiveness, offering a safer and more efficient alternative to traditional methods.
Researchers at Tel Aviv University have developed a new platform using polymeric nanoparticles to deliver drug pairs to specific cancer types, including skin cancer and breast cancer. The researchers explain that having both drugs arrive at the tumor site together significantly amplifies their therapeutic effects and safety profiles.
Humans are by no means alone in the search for more sustainable materials. Nature, too, has been “working” on the problem of sustainability, and it’s been at it for a great deal longer. In a new study, researchers at the Weizmann Institute of Science show how design tricks employed by ancient creatures such as scorpions and sponges can help optimize the resilience of human-made materials, ultimately advancing sustainable design.
Published in the journal Scientific Reports, researchers have created realistic, skin-like replicas made of Ecoflex, a type of silicone rubber that can potentially serve as a platform to evaluate risks of bacterial infections from intravenous catheters and test wearable sensors, among other biomedical applications. The study found that EcoFlex-based skin replicas can be engineered to mimic actual skin textures, wettability, and elasticity, simulating the conditions where bacteria grow and adhere.