This week's space, science and "living planet" news was filled with creepy critters, from robo-flies to bug eye cameras, and quirky accomplishments, including a Guinness World Record from IBM. Check it out below!
1. Forget RoboCop: This Flying Insect Robot Will Save Your Life And Pollinate Plants At The Same Time
Few things are cooler than flying robots, but how about flying robots the size of a penny? Scientists from Harvard University have created just that with their recent invention of the world's smallest aerial robots. The researchers spent 10 years working on the robots, which they claim have the same agility as an actual fly. Potential applications include crop pollination and search-and-rescue missions.
2. Graphene Paint May Power Future Homes
Who needs solar panels when you can just paint your house with a graphene-based substance? That's what scientists from the University of Manchester and the National University of Singapore have conjured up with their discovery that the world's thinnest, strongest material can be used to generate sun-powered energy. The transparency and reflectivity of fixtures and windows could also be altered through the technology.
3. Bug-Eye Camera Could Save Your Life One Day
You never know when this type of thing may come in handy. Engineers have found a way to use stretchy electronics to build what is essentially a replicated bug's eye. The eye's large depth of field means that it can focus on objects at different distances and also has strong motion sensitivity. The technology could be used in medical devices and surveillance equipment.
4. IBM Makes World's Smallest Movie Using Atoms (Video)
The title pretty much says it all here. IBM researchers spent ten grueling days hashing out this entertaining little atomic tidbit, which features a stick figure bouncing on a trampoline and throwing a ball, all in the form of atoms. The IBM researchers hope that the film, titled A Boy And His Atom, will inspire a generation of scientists.
5. NASA Spacecraft Spots Monster Hurricane On Saturn
Even if we felt like we had hurricanes on Earth figured out, try a monster hurricane about 20 times the size of one we're used to raging on the planet Saturn. That's what the Cassini-Huygens spacecraft captured in a series of striking images. Scientists hope that, by studying the hurricane, they will gain a stronger understanding of hurricanes on Earth.
