How Bizarre
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Materials Science
Making artificial muscles with a spin
Scientists have given ordinary fishing line and sewing thread a new twist. When coiled into tight corkscrews, the fibers can lift loads more than 100 times as heavy as those hefted by human muscles.
By Meghan Rosen -
Physics
Levitating objects with sound
Physicists have levitated millimeter-sized objects. Now, the objects can levitate and move in all directions.
By Andrew Grant -
Animals
Dogs pick up robots’ social cues
Dogs were more likely to pay attention to a PeopleBot robot — a machine with a laptop head and Mickey Mouse–style hands — after watching it walk, talk and shake hands with humans.
By Meghan Rosen