Computer America

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Computer America

Ben Crossman

629 episodes

5 days ago

Computer America is the nation's longest running talk show on Computers and Technology, spanning 25+ years of industry guests and analysis.

All content for Computer America is the property of Ben Crossman and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.

Computer America is the nation's longest running talk show on Computers and Technology, spanning 25+ years of industry guests and analysis.

Technology

Education,

Business

Episodes (20/629)

Computer America

Fungal Computers, Hydrogen Tractors, and Restoring Sight w/ Ralph Bond

Bonus Fun Virtual Experience

Google's virtual Route 66 driving adventure (Source: Google Arts & Culture in collaboration with the National Trust for Historic Preservation)
- Link: https://artsandculture.google.com/project/route-66

Main Stories

Powered by mushrooms, living computers are on the rise - Neural organics lead to lower energy costs, faster calculation speeds (Source: Ohio State News)
- Link: https://news.osu.edu/powered-by-mushrooms-living-computers-are-on-the-rise/
- See also: https://bioengineer.org/mushroom-powered-technology-the-emergence-of-living-computers/
- See research paper here: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0328965
Kubota Claims World’s First Hydrogen Fuel Cell, Self-Driving Tractor (Source: Equipmentworld.com)
- Link: https://www.equipmentworld.com/technology/article/15768565/kubota-worlds-first-hydrogen-selfdriving-tractor-unveiled
- See video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzIBOK_fkfU
Eye prosthesis is the first to restore sight lost to macular degeneration (Source: Stanford Medicine News Center)
- Link: https://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2025/10/eye-prosthesis.html
- See research paper here: https://www.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/NEJMoa2501396
Scientists Reverse Alzheimer’s in Mice with a Single Injection - It only took two hours for a visible difference (Source: ZME Science)
- Link: https://www.zmescience.com/science/neurology-science/scientists-reverse-alzheimers-in-mice-with-a-single-injection/
- See research paper here: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41392-025-02426-1

Honorable Mentions

Hydrogen Production Takes Flight at Hamburg Airport with New Infrastructure Roadmap (Source: Hydrogenfuelnews.com)
- Link: Show more...

5 days ago

39 minutes

Computer America

Medical Tech & Science Special: In-Body 3D Printing, Brain Implants, and Living Robots w/ Ralph Bond

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

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:...

2 weeks ago

41 minutes

Computer America

Tiny Lab-Grown Brains, EV Battery Breakthrough, and 3D Printed Bio-Glass w/ Ralph Bond

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...

3 weeks ago

33 minutes

Computer America

Cleaning Up Nuclear Waste, Cooling AI, and Edible Batteries w/ Ralph Bond

Solar-powered ‘artificial plant’ purifies radioactive soil by 95% in 20 days
- Source: Interesting Engineering Story by Aman Tripathi
- Link: https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/artificial-plant-cleans-radioactive-soil
- See also: https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1099362
- See also: https://www.asiaresearchnews.com/content/purifying-radioactive-soil-sunlight-alone-dgist-successfully-developed-%E2%80%9Cartificial-plant%E2%80%9D
- See research paper here: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.est.5c03657
Microsoft claims a 'breakthrough' in AI chip cooling
- Source: Engadget.com Story by Will Shanklin
- Link: https://www.engadget.com/ai/microsoft-claims-a-breakthrough-in-ai-chip-cooling-193106705.html
- See also Microsoft’s information: https://news.microsoft.com/source/features/innovation/microfluidics-liquid-cooling-ai-chips/?msockid=3234617e11b66d9c06b0770c100c6c8d
Battery made from natural materials could replace conventional lithium-ion batteries
- Source: TechXplore on MSN Story by Lesley Henton
- Link: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/battery-made-from-natural-materials-could-replace-conventional-lithium-ion-batteries/ar-AA1Ne9Kt
- See Texas A&M post here: https://stories.tamu.edu/news/2025/09/24/battery-made-from-natural-materials-could-replace-conventional-lithium-ion-batteries/
- See research paper here: https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2509325122
AI spine model developed by Florida Atlantic University and Baptist Health could transform back pain treatment
- Source: Florida Atlantic University Story by Gisele Galoustian
- Link: https://www.fau.edu/engineering/biomedical/news/2509-ai-spine-modeling-back-pain/
- See research paper here: Show more...

1 month ago

45 minutes

Computer America

Brain's Resilience, Heart Cell Stimulation, and Soft Robot Medical Tech w/ Ralph Bond

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: Show more...

1 month ago

36 minutes

Computer America

MIT Spinoff Unlocks Limitless Geothermal Energy w/ Ralph Bond

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...

Show more...

1 month ago

32 minutes

Computer America

Planetary Exploration to Eco-Friendly Buildings w/ Ralph Bond
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: Show more...
1 month ago
47 minutes

Computer America

Unlocking the Brain's Decisions, Durable Solar Tech, and Robots with Advanced Touch w/ Ralph Bond
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: Show more...
2 months ago
39 minutes

Computer America

Quantum Computing, EV Battery Reuse, and Carbon-Negative Building w/ Ralph Bond
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: Show more...
2 months ago
41 minutes

Computer America

Roblox Breaks Records, Waymo In New York, News /w Popzara.com
Popzara.com. Nathan Evans, Managing Editor.

Throughout Popzara you’ll find views on gaming, movies, technology, cultural icons and so much more. Reviews and previews, in-depth analyses, opinion pieces, conversations, and a regularly updated Podcast keep things interesting and always entertaining. Our diverse editorial staff is committed to bringing this cornucopia of editorial goodness in fair-minded and positive ways, with minimal snark and maximum fun. A little bit of everything for the discriminating reader and curious listener is what you’ll find at Popzara.

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

https://www.techspot.com/news/109248-taco-bell-slows-down-ai-drive-thru-push.html

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

Check out more stories from ComputerAmerica.com!
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2 months ago
1 hour 33 minutes

Computer America

Brain Zaps For The Kids, Moon Mining, and 3D Printed Lungs w/ Ralph Bond
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/
Show more...
2 months ago
33 minutes

Computer America

Meta Wristband, Eco-Friendly Tire, 'Who-Fi' AI w/ Ralph Bond
Show Notes 15 August 2025
Story 1: Meta researchers are developing a gesture-controlled wristband that can interact with a computer
Source: TechCrunch.com
Link: https://techcrunch.com/2025/07/23/meta-researchers-are-developing-a-gesture-controlled-wristband-that-can-interact-with-a-computer/
Find the research paper here: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-09255-w
Story 2: First standard production tire with over 70% bio-based and recycled materials
Source: Pirelli News Release
Link: https://press.pirelli.com/pirelli-first-standard-production-tyre-with-over-70-bio-based-and-recycled-materials/#_ftn1
Story 3: Who-Fi: An AI-Powered Wi-Fi Technology That Can Identify and Track Individuals Without Cameras
Source: Gadgets360.com
Link: https://www.gadgets360.com/internet/news/whofi-wifi-technology-ai-tracking-biometric-signals-behind-walls-without-cameras-study-8949928
See also: https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/wifi-fingerprint-ai-tracking-without-device
See research paper here: https://arxiv.org/abs/2507.12869
Story 4: Scientists create first mini lungs with built-in blood vessels, unlocking new insights for pulmonary vascular disease
Source: MedicalXpress.com
Link: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-07-scientists-mini-lungs-built-blood.html
See also: https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/scientists-create-first-mini-lungs-built-blood-vessels-unlocking-new-insights-pulmonary
See research paper here: https://www.cell.com/cell/abstract/S0092-8674(25)00628-2
Honorable Mentions
Story: Scientists develop game-changing method to make use of walnut and pistachio shells [to make biomass fuel]
Source: The Cool Down via MSN
Link: Show more...
3 months ago
38 minutes

Computer America

Absorb Hulu, Meta VR Headset, GPT-5 with Popzara.com
Popzara.com. Nathan Evans, Managing Editor.

Throughout Popzara you’ll find views on gaming, movies, technology, cultural icons and so much more. Reviews and previews, in-depth analyses, opinion pieces, conversations, and a regularly updated Podcast keep things interesting and always entertaining. Our diverse editorial staff is committed to bringing this cornucopia of editorial goodness in fair-minded and positive ways, with minimal snark and maximum fun. A little bit of everything for the discriminating reader and curious listener is what you’ll find at Popzara.

Topics:

Google: Actually, AI in Search is driving more queries and higher quality clicks

Hulu App to Be Phased Out; 'Fully Integrating' Into Disney+

Baidu robotaxi falls into construction pit in China, raising safety concerns | Reuters

Meta says these wild headset prototypes could be the future of VR

Nintendo Switch 2: The Fastest Selling Console Ever With Over 5 Million Units Sold In Its First Month - SuperbCrew

GPT-5 is being released to all ChatGPT users | The Verge
Show more...
3 months ago
54 minutes

Computer America

Self-Healing Circuit Boards and Sweating Data Centers w/ Ralph Bond
New liquid metal-infused circuit boards can self-heal and work after taking heavy damage
Source: LiveScience.com
Link: https://www.livescience.com/technology/electronics/unlike-conventional-electronics-liquid-metal-used-in-novel-circuit-boards-can-self-heal-and-work-after-taking-heavy-damage
Story 2: Cooling data centers is a multi-billion-dollar problem - now researchers want to use a common cooling mechanism found in animals to solve it
Source: TechRadar.com
Link: https://www.techradar.com/pro/cooling-data-centers-is-a-multi-billion-dollar-problem-researchers-want-to-use-a-common-cooling-mechanism-found-in-animals-to-solve-that-issue
See research paper here: https://www.cell.com/joule/abstract/S2542-4351(25)00156-4?_returnURL=https%3A%2F%2Flinkinghub.elsevier.com%2Fretrieve%2Fpii%2FS2542435125001564%3Fshowall%3Dtrue
Story 3: Scientists invent weird, shape-shifting 'electronic ink' that could give rise to a new generation of flexible gadgets
Source: LiveScience.com
Link: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/scientists-invent-weird-shape-shifting-electronic-ink-that-could-give-rise-to-a-new-generation-of-flexible-gadgets/ar-AA1HAE0v
Story 4: A bionic knee integrated into tissue can restore natural movement
Source: MIT News
Link: https://news.mit.edu/2025/bionic-knee-integrated-into-tissue-can-restore-natural-movement-0710
See research paper “Tissue-integrated bionic knee restores versatile legged movement after amputation” here: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adv3223
Honorable Mentions
Story: Using AI to make lower-carbon, faster-curing concrete
Source: Engineering at Meta
Link: https://engineering.fb.com/2025/07/16/data-center-engineering/ai-make-lower-carbon-faster-curing-concrete/
Story: A mild spinal zap can cut brain-computer interface learning time in half
Source: Medicine.net
Link: Show more...
3 months ago
30 minutes

Computer America

US Army Deploys AI-Powered Smart Rifle Scopes w/ Ralph Bond
Show Notes 1 August 2025
Story 1: Husker researchers developing cephalopod-inspired synthetic skins
Source: University of Nebraska-Lincoln website
Link: https://news.unl.edu/article/husker-researchers-developing-cephalopod-inspired-synthetic-skins
See research paper Synthetic Chromatophores for Color and Pattern Morphing Skins here: https://advanced.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/adma.202505104?af=R
Story 2: US soldiers get smart rifle scopes that aim and help shoot enemy drones on their own
Source: Interesting Engineering Story by Kapil Kajal
Link: https://interestingengineering.com/military/us-army-rolls-smart-rifle-scopes
See also: https://www.smart-shooter.com/
Story 3: Can 3D-Printed Skin Save Soldiers? The US Army Thinks So
Source: NextGenDefense.com Story by Joe Saballa
Link: https://nextgendefense.com/3d-printed-skin-save-soldiers/
Story 4: Scientists create liver organoids with functional blood vessels
Source: News Medical Life Sciences website – Institute of Science Tokyo
Link: https://www.news-medical.net/news/20250717/Scientists-create-liver-organoids-with-functional-blood-vessels.aspxHonorable Mentions
Story: Researchers use high-tech drones with exceptional vision to revolutionize how farmers grow food: 'Farmers are looking for ways to assess their crops'
Source: The Cool Down Story by Calvin Coffee
Link: https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/nutrition/researchers-use-high-tech-drones-with-exceptional-vision-to-revolutionize-how-farmers-grow-food-farmers-are-looking-for-ways-to-assess-their-crops/ar-AA1GI8Iz
Story: Replicating Real-Life Blood Vessels to Cure Vascular Disease
Source: Texas A&M website Story by Bailey Noah
Link: https://stories.tamu.edu/news/2025/05/28/replicating-real-life-blood-vessels-to-cure-vascular-disease/
Story: New fuel cell could enable electric aviation - These devices could pack three times as much energy per pound as today’s best EV batteries, offering a lightweight option for powering trucks, planes, or ships.
Source: MIT News Story by David L. Chandler
Link: Show more...
3 months ago
34 minutes

Computer America

Japan Shatters Internet Speed Record, AI-Powered Thermal Coating, Artificial Tongue w/ Ralph Bond
Story 1: Japan sets new internet speed record — it's 4 million times faster than average US broadband speeds
Source: LiveScience.com
Story by Perri Thaler
Link: https://www.livescience.com/technology/communications/japan-sets-new-internet-speed-record-its-4-million-times-faster-than-average-us-broadband-speeds
Official research team statement: https://www.nict.go.jp/en/press/2025/05/29-1.html
See also: https://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/japan-shatters-internet-speed-record-can-download-entire-netflix-library-in-a-seconds/
Internet Archive: https://archive.org/
Relevant Product Example: TRU COMPONENTS TC-7638628 https://www.conrad.com/en/p/tru-components-tc-7638628-data-cable-64-pin-pitch-1-27-mm-7-x-0-127-mm-30-m-grey-1909657.html
Story 2: Breakthrough US thermal coating cools buildings by 36°F, slashes AC bills, power use
Source: TimesofInnovation.com
Story by Kir Birkin
Link: https://timesofinnovation.com/energy-efficiency/breakthrough-us-thermal-coating-cools-buildings-by-36f-slashes-ac-bills-power-use/
Story 3: Graphene-based artificial tongue achieves near-human-like sense of taste
Source: Phys.org
Story by Charles Blue
Link: https://phys.org/news/2025-07-graphene-based-artificial-tongue-human.html
Research paper: https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2413060122
Story 4: Scientists Found the Staggering Natural Switch That Could Bring Back Your Eyesight
Source: Popular Mechanics
Story by POPMECH Editors
Link: https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/health/a65438356/restoring-eyesight-breakthrough/
See also: https://scitechdaily.com/breakthrough-drug-restores-vision-researchers-successfully-reverse-retinal-damage/
Celliaz Inc: Show more...
3 months ago
44 minutes

Computer America

Horizontal Wind Turbines, Silent Flight and Drug Detection w/ Ralph Bond
Show Notes 18 July 2025
Story 1: Bill Gates-backed rectangular turbine pilot could upend wind power
Source: Electrek.com Story by Michelle Lewis
Link: https://electrek.co/2025/06/26/bill-gates-backed-rectangular-turbine-pilot-could-upend-wind-power/
See video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTWhGSdZh1o
See company website here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTWhGSdZh1o
Story 2: Owls’ silent flight inspires new noise reduction technology
Source: American Chemical Society website
Link: https://www.acs.org/pressroom/presspacs/2025/june/owls-silent-flight-inspires-new-noise-reduction-technology.html
See also: https://hearingreview.com/hearing-loss/hearing-loss-prevention/industrial-military/new-noise-reduction-tech-inspired-by-owls-silent-flight
Story 3: Contactless system to detect fentanyl and other drugs
Source: Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Story by Tom Rickey
Link: https://www.pnnl.gov/news-media/chemists-develop-contactless-system-detect-fentanyl-other-drugs
Story 4: Controversial World-First Project to Create Human DNA From Scratch Takes First Steps - The massive project will likely take decades to complete, but it has significant oversight built into it to ensure it remains ethical.
Source: IFLScience.com Story by Dr. Russell Moul
Link: https://www.iflscience.com/controversial-world-first-project-to-create-human-dna-from-scratch-takes-first-steps-79797
See also: https://wellcome.org/news/researchers-take-first-steps-creating-synthetic-human-genomes
Honorable Mentions
Story: Scientists rewind heart ageing using lab-grown scaffold that mimics young tissue
Source: Interesting Engineering Story by Neetika Walter
Link: https://interestingengineering.com/health/reverse-heart-ageing-ecm-decipher
Story: Study shows making hydrogen with soda cans and seawater is scalable and sustainable
Source: TechXplore.com Story by Jennifer Chu, MIT
Link: Show more...
3 months ago
35 minutes

Computer America

Energy Innovations From Mini-Reactors to Wireless Power w/ Ralph Bond
Show Notes 11 July 2025
Story 1: University researchers develop a revolutionary closet-sized nuclear reactor: 'Something no other university has'
Source: The Cool Down via MSN
Link: https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/other/university-researchers-develop-revolutionary-closet-sized-nuclear-reactor-something-no-other-university-has/ar-AA1GQUlh
Story 2: Scientists design novel battery that runs on atomic waste
Source: Ohio State News
Link: https://news.osu.edu/scientists-design-novel-battery-that-runs-on-atomic-waste/
Story 3: DARPA smashes wireless power record, beaming energy more than 5 miles away — and uses it to make popcorn
Source: LiveScience.com
Link: https://www.livescience.com/technology/darpa-smashes-wireless-power-record-beaming-energy-more-than-5-miles-away-and-uses-it-to-make-popcorn
Story 4: US doctor performs prostate telesurgery on a patient in Africa
Source: TheEngineer.co.uk
Link: https://www.theengineer.co.uk/content/news/us-doctor-performs-telesurgery-on-patient-in-africa
See video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWW32okjhrc
Honorable Mentions
Story: A new technology for extending the shelf life of produce -
Source: MIT News
Link: https://news.mit.edu/2025/new-technology-extends-produce-shelf-life-0521
Story: 'Smart' dental implants developed that feel and function like natural teeth
Source: MedicalXpress.com
Link: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-06-smart-dental-implants-function-natural.html
Story: MIT researchers bond gallium nitride transistors to silicon for faster next-gen wireless devices
Source: TechSpot.com
Link: https://www.techspot.com/news/108441-mit-researchers-bond-gallium-nitride-transistors-silicon-chips.html
Story: France has a new laser rifle that can melt electronics from 500 meters away
Source: ZME Science
Link: https://www.zmescience.com/research/inventions/silent-laser-rifle-helma-lp/
Show more...
4 months ago
34 minutes

Computer America

Bio-Tattoos, Laser Vision & Coffee Ink w/ Ralph Bond
Story 1: Electronic face 'tattoos' could measure your mental strain at work
Source: LiveScience.com
Link: https://www.livescience.com/health/neuroscience/electronic-face-tattoos-could-measure-your-mental-strain-at-work
Research paper here: https://www.cell.com/device/abstract/S2666-9986(25)00094-8
Story 2: This laser breakthrough can read text on a page from a mile away
Source: ScienceAlert.com
Link: https://www.sciencealert.com/this-laser-breakthrough-can-read-text-on-a-page-from-a-mile-away
Story 3: Scientists develop a game-changing method to make use of coffee waste
Source: The Cool Down
Link: https://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/lifestyle-buzz/scientists-develop-game-changing-method-to-make-use-of-coffee-waste-this-is-a-true-circular-economy-solution/ar-AA1H2cG4
Story 4: Houston patient receives first fully robotic heart transplant in U.S.
Source: Houston Chronicle via MSN
Link: https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/i-want-to-live-houston-patient-receives-first-fully-robotic-heart-transplant-in-u-s/ar-AA1GU3l8
See also: https://www.bcm.edu/news/robotic-heart-transplant-surgery-performed-at-baylor-st-lukes-medical-center
Honorable Mentions
Story: This EV battery fully recharges in just 18 seconds — and it just got the green light for mass production
Source: LiveScience.com
Link: https://www.livescience.com/technology/electric-vehicles/ev-battery-that-recharges-in-just-18-seconds-green-lit-for-mass-production
Story: Axolotls May Hold the Key to Regrowing Limbs, and Scientists Are Unraveling Their Secrets to Help Humans Do the Same
Source: Smithsonian Magazine
Link: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/axolotls-may-hold-the-key-to-regrowing-limbs-and-scientists-are-unraveling-their-secrets-to-help-humans-do-the-same-180986781/
Story: Aerial robot with 'elephant trunk' developed for complex mid-air manipulation tasks
Source: TechXplore.com
Link: Show more...
4 months ago
36 minutes

Computer America

Robot Centipede Farmers, Robotic Grippers, and 3D Microphones w/ Ralph Bond
Show Notes 20 June 2025
Story 1: Crawling Toward the Future: Robotic Centipedes Aim to Revolutionize Farming
Source: Impactlab.com
See also: https://groundcontrolrobotics.com/
Link: https://www.impactlab.com/2025/05/25/crawling-toward-the-future-robotic-centipedes-aim-to-revolutionize-farming/
See this short video here: https://www.bing.com/videos/riverview/relatedvideo?&q=Ground+Control+Robotics&&mid=2803501D0F3FAF7A22AD2803501D0F3FAF7A22AD&&FORM=VRDGAR
See video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kvm4AK_z_0c
Story 2: Soft robotic gripper injects leaves with precision
Source: Cornell University Chronicle Story by Stephen D’Angelo Cornell Research and Innovation
Link: https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2025/06/soft-robotic-gripper-injects-leaves-precision#:~:text=Cornell%20researchers%20have%20developed%20a%20soft%20robotic%20device,can%20also%20inject%20genetic%20material%20into%20the%20leaves
See research paper here: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/scirobotics.adu2394
Story 3: Seoul National University College of Engineering Researchers Unveil World’s First 3D Microphone with Single-Sensor Position Estimation
Source: Bioengineer.org
Link: https://bioengineer.org/breakthrough-innovation-snu-researchers-unveil-worlds-first-3d-microphone-with-single-sensor-position-estimation/
See also: https://techxplore.com/news/2025-06-sensor-3d-microphone-enables-robots.html
See research paper here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0736584525000249?via%3Dihub
Story 4: First-of-its-kind technology helps man with ALS ‘speak’ in real time - New brain-computer interface system enables faster, more natural conversation
Source: Show more...
4 months ago
40 minutes