This week in biology, science takes a leap—literally and figuratively! Engineers have created a legless robot that can jump 10 feet high, all thanks to inspiration from a microscopic worm. 🪱🤖 In the outer reaches of our solar system, astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope have uncovered surprising chemical clues on icy worlds that could reshape our understanding of planetary formation. 🪐✨ And in a major breakthrough for brain health, new research shows that even light exercise may slow memory loss in people at risk of Alzheimer’s. 🧠💪 Let’s dive into these cutting-edge discoveries!
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How a Parasitic Worm Inspired a Jumping Robot!
Inspired by the gymnastic flips of tiny parasitic nematodes, engineers at Georgia Tech have created a soft robot that can jump 10 feet high—without using legs! The 5-inch robot, made of silicone and carbon fiber, mimics the worms’ kink-based launching mechanism. By contorting and rapidly releasing stored energy, it catapults into the air in mere milliseconds. The study, published in Science Robotics, opens the door to future robots that can navigate difficult terrain, aid in search-and-rescue missions, or even explore planetary surfaces. Who knew the humble worm held the secret to superhero-style leaps? Inspired by the jumping behavior of tiny parasitic nematodes, Georgia Tech engineers have built a 5-inch soft robot that can leap 10 feet—about the height of a basketball hoop.
The robot mimics how nematodes kink their bodies to store and release energy for powerful jumps.
This silicone-based robot uses a carbon-fiber spine to increase force and durability.
The findings open new possibilities for agile robots designed for space exploration, search-and-rescue, and rough terrain navigation.
By learning from nature’s smallest jumpers, scientists are reimagining how robots move without legs or wheels.
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Scientists use James Webb Space Telescope to better understand solar system’s origins
A Johns Hopkins study shows that humans outperform AI at interpreting social interactions in dynamic scenes, a crucial skill for technologies like self-driving cars and assistive robots.
Researchers found that while AI models can analyze static images well, they struggle with understanding evolving social dynamics and human intentions.
Over 350 AI models failed to match human judgments on short video clips of people interacting, unlike humans who showed consistent agreement.
Video models couldn’t accurately identify actions or communication, while language models fared slightly better but still fell short.
Scientists suggest the issue lies in AI being modeled on brain areas for static images, missing the neural mechanisms for dynamic social perception.
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Light Workouts, Big Impact on Brain Health!
Researchers from UC San Diego and Wake Forest University found that both low and moderate-high intensity exercise can help slow cognitive decline in older adults with mild memory problems.
In the year-long EXERT study, participants in both exercise groups maintained stable cognitive function and experienced less brain volume loss compared to non-exercising individuals.
The study suggests that even low-intensity workouts may protect against Alzheimer’s in at-risk populations.
EXERT is the largest clinical trial of exercise for mild cognitive impairment, bringing interventions directly into communities via YMCA trainers.
These findings highlight exercise as a safe, practical strategy to support brain health and delay dementia progression.
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Thank you for diving into this week’s news with us. We hope you enjoyed uncovering these fascinating updates as much as we did. Be sure to return next week for more exciting discoveries from the world of science. Until then, stay curious and keep exploring!
