In 2013, Apple made headlines with its acquisition of PrimeSense, a leading company in 3D sensors, for approximately $400 million. PrimeSense had powered Microsoft Kinect for Xbox 360 and contributed to Apple’s groundbreaking Face ID technology. Now, the founders of PrimeSense, Michael Shpigelmacher, Aviad Maizels, and Alex Shpunt, have embarked on a new venture with their medical startup, Bionaut Labs. Instead of sensor technology, their focus is on exploring the intricate depths of the human brain.

Bionaut Labs is currently conducting tests at a Mayo Clinic facility and is preparing to commence clinical trials in collaboration with five esteemed US medical centers, as it seeks FDA approval. To support their groundbreaking work, Bionaut is in the process of raising a Series B-1 funding round, with the OurCrowd investment platform featuring prominently.

Celestial AI, a developer specializing in optical interconnect technology, has successfully raised $100 million in a series B funding round for its innovative Photonic Fabric technology platform. The investment was led by IAG Capital Partners, Koch Disruptive Technologies (KDT), and Temasek’s Xora Innovation fund. Other notable participants included Samsung Catalyst, Smart Global Holdings (SGH), Porsche Automobil Holding SE, The Engine Fund, ImecXpand, M Ventures, and Tyche Partners. With this funding, Celestial AI has accumulated a total of $165 million from seed funding to series B.

The Aerospace Corporation, a nonprofit organization based in California, is making significant strides in the development of an asteroid deflection system designed to address mid-sized asteroids capable of causing widespread damage on Earth. This groundbreaking system aims to alter the trajectory of asteroids by utilizing their rocky debris, redirecting them away from Earth.

In an interview with Gizmodo, Nahum Melamed, a project leader at The Aerospace Corporation, explained that the team focused on objects of comparable size to the Chelyabinsk asteroid, considering the potential threats they could pose in our lifetime. Through their research, they have successfully demonstrated the capability to deflect such asteroids within a few weeks of operation using their system.

Researchers at Duke University have made a groundbreaking advancement in the field of cartilage replacement, creating a gel-based substitute that surpasses the strength and durability of natural cartilage. This new development offers a promising alternative to knee replacement surgeries and may provide a more effective treatment option for individuals experiencing knee pain. Osteoarthritis, characterized by the progressive deterioration of cartilage, affects approximately one in six adults worldwide.

Sparta Biomedical, a leading biomedical research company, is currently conducting tests on the gel-based substitute using sheep models. Following successful animal trials, the researchers anticipate commencing human clinical trials in 2023. In initial testing, the hydrogel demonstrated remarkable properties, exhibiting 26% greater strength than natural cartilage under tension and an impressive 66% greater strength under compression. Overcoming several challenges encountered in previous studies, the research team achieved successful attachment of the implant to the joint, ensuring its stability.

Futurist and celebrity speaker Thomas Frey is hailing a new solution for the epidemic of mass shootings in the United States that sounds straight from an episode of Black Mirror: Artificial intelligence-enabled drones.

The former IBM engineer said in a recent blog post that flying machines could be upgraded into advanced crisis management tools.

Biometric capabilities such as ocular scanning or fingerprint identification could enhance the drones’ ability to identify individuals even in scenarios where facial recognition is insufficient. AI can be employed to analyze body language and facial expressions to make judgments about the likely intentions of individuals, writes Frey, who is the founder of the DaVinci Institute think tank.

Researchers in Switzerland have developed an autonomous fish robot named “Belle” that enables conservationists to gain valuable insights into underwater ecosystems without disrupting marine life. Belle has been specifically designed to collect data in a minimally invasive manner, providing a clearer understanding of organisms inhabiting the sea.

Belle, developed by mechanical engineering students at ETH Zurich, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, moves silently and mimics the behavior of real fish, creating minimal disturbance as it navigates through the environment. This is particularly important in vulnerable areas such as coral reefs, where traditional propeller-based systems can harm coral and scare away marine life.