Wearable technology is undergoing a transformation — and this time, it’s not driven by electronics. Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed a new class of smart textiles that rely on sound waves rather than wires and sensors to monitor motion, touch, and even breathing. Their groundbreaking innovation, called SonoTextiles, turns everyday fabrics into responsive, data-collecting tools through the use of acoustic waves transmitted via glass fibers.

The research team, led by Professor Daniel Ahmed, has successfully integrated glass microfibers into fabric to create garments capable of sensing movement and pressure. Each glass fiber acts as a sensor: a tiny transmitter sends ultrasonic sound waves (around 100 kHz) down the fiber, while a receiver on the opposite end measures any changes in those waves.

A new recycling technique developed at the University of Leicester uses sound waves to efficiently separate materials in fuel cells, offering a cleaner and faster method to recover valuable components and prevent environmental contamination.

The method specifically targets catalyst-coated membranes (CCMs), which are used in hydrogen-powered technologies like fuel cells and water electrolyzers. These membranes typically combine precious platinum group metals with fluorinated polymer membranes, known as PFAS — substances that pose serious environmental and health risks due to their persistence in ecosystems.

In a groundbreaking advancement that merges robotics, materials science, and origami, engineers at Princeton University have developed a shape-shifting material capable of moving, expanding, and responding to electromagnetic commands — all without motors or internal gears. This new class of metamaterial can be remotely controlled, functioning almost like a robot, yet is constructed entirely from passive components.

The research, published in Nature, introduces a metamaterial dubbed the “metabot,” which derives its unique capabilities from its structure rather than its chemical composition. Drawing inspiration from the traditional art of origami, the team designed the metabot to change shape and behavior in response to external magnetic fields.

The record-setting Prowess drone showcases a number of custom-engineered features, including high-speed 3D-printed propellers designed by its creator, Xu. According to Guinness World Records, the 247-gram microdrone utilizes a lightweight carbon fiber frame and a remarkably thin 3D-printed outer shell just 0.4mm thick. Xu developed his own propellers after determining that no commercial models could meet the performance demands of his high-speed application.

Swiss engineer Samuele Gobbi, the Guinness World Record holder for the fastest remote-controlled quadcopter in a heavier weight class, applauded Xu’s accomplishment. “Building a high-speed quadcopter is already very complex, and he has added a weight limit of less than 250 grams to it, which makes me admire his achievement,” Gobbi remarked.

Collagen, one of the most abundant proteins in the human body, plays a critical role in providing structure, stability, and mechanical strength to tissues. Yet, despite its prevalence, some aspects of collagen’s behavior—particularly its orientation within tissues—remain shrouded in mystery. A new study from researchers at Yokohama National University sheds light on this complex topic and introduces a promising new method for fabricating collagen-based tissues with unprecedented precision.

Understanding the orientation of collagen fibers is vital, as it influences cell behavior and tissue function. Existing methods for modeling collagen structures—such as magnetic alignment and electrospinning—have notable drawbacks. Magnetic beads can remain embedded in the final structure, while volatile organic solvents pose safety and environmental concerns. Additionally, these techniques often fall short when it comes to accurately replicating the complex, multi-directional orientations found in natural tissues like the dermis or skull.

In a historic first for genetic medicine, doctors and scientists at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and Penn Medicine have successfully used a customized CRISPR-based gene editing therapy to treat a baby with a rare, life-threatening metabolic condition. The patient, known as KJ, was born with carbamoyl phosphate synthetase 1 (CPS1) deficiency, a disorder that disrupts the body’s ability to process nitrogen, causing toxic ammonia buildup in the blood.

This is the first time in the world that a CRISPR therapy has been specifically tailored and administered to a single patient, marking a revolutionary advancement in personalized medicine.

Air conditioning is a modern necessity, offering comfort in a warming world. But this comfort comes at a hidden cost—traditional air conditioners rely on harmful refrigerants that contribute significantly to global warming. Ironically, the very systems designed to cool us are heating the planet.

To change that, a spin-out from the University of Cambridge called Barocal is pioneering a groundbreaking solution: a “soft, waxy solid refrigerant” with zero carbon emissions. Unlike conventional systems, which depend on gaseous fluids prone to leakage and environmental damage, Barocal’s innovation uses solid-state materials that offer a cleaner, greener alternative.