Inspired by the ear, a team of researchers have developed an acoustic fibre that can be woven into fabrics to create a sensitive microphone. This fabric microphone is capable of detecting human speech and heartbeats, and the team think it could be used to develop new, wearable sensors for long-term health monitoring.
Research article: Yan et al.
News and Views: A smart sensor that can be woven into everyday life
How a shark’s posture lets you know if it’s asleep, and the desert dust that helps cirrus clouds form.
Research Highlight: The secrets of shark sleep
Research Highlight: Wispy clouds are born of dust in the wind
Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, the government of Togo needed to distribute financial aid to citizens most in need of assistance. As running a nationwide survey to find out people’s financial situations was impossible, they turned to machine learning to discover how best to distribute aid.
Research article: Aiken et al.
We discuss some highlights from the Nature Briefing. Using machine learning to find meteorite fragments in a desert, and using radiocarbon dating to detect forged paintings.
Physics World: ‘Huge leap’ as scientists report first drone-assisted space rock recovery after observed meteorite fall
Nature: Police rely on radiocarbon dating to identify forged paintings
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Alphafold 3.0: the AI protein predictor gets an upgrade
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Dad's microbiome can affect offsprings' health — in mice
Audio long read: Why loneliness is bad for your health
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Living on Mars would probably suck — here's why
Keys, wallet, phone: the neuroscience behind working memory
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Audio long read: Why are so many young people getting cancer? What the data say
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How climate change is affecting global timekeeping
AI hears hidden X factor in zebra finch love songs
Killer whales have menopause. Now scientists think they know why
These tiny fish combine electric pulses to probe the environment
Could this one-time ‘epigenetic’ treatment control cholesterol?
Audio long read: Chimpanzees are dying from our colds — these scientists are trying to save them
How whales sing without drowning, an anatomical mystery solved
Why are we nice? Altruism's origins are put to the test
Smoking changes your immune system, even years after quitting
Why we need to rethink how we talk about cancer
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