👚 Smart fiber computer clothing, insect-inspired spring robot, world’s largest gas plant tech

MIT researchers have built an advanced fiber-based computer that can be embedded into textile fabrics, enabling it to track health, monitor physical activities, and give alerts on potential health risks in real-time.

These fiber computers’ physiological data capture ability surpasses standard-fashioned wearables, which are restricted to certain body areas like the chest and the wrist.

Because these fiber computers are integrated into the fabric, they can be placed anywhere on the body. In early trials, these garments were comfortable, able to be washed in machines, and practically invisible. Let's take a closer look at this Must Read.

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MUST-READ

👚 US Army to test MIT’s smart fiber computer clothing in Arctic ops

The fiber computer contains essential computing components—sensors, a microcontroller, memory, Bluetooth connectivity, optical communication modules, and a battery—all integrated into a single elastic fiber.

Unlike conventional electronic fabrics that rely on external devices, these fibers are self-contained and capable of independent data processing and wireless communication.

To test their capabilities, researchers sewed four fiber computers into shirts and leggings, positioning them along different limbs. Each fiber operated its own machine-learning model trained to recognize specific exercises, achieving an initial accuracy of around 70%.

🐛 Harvard’s insect-inspired spring robot jumps 23 times its length for faster rescue

Harvard researchers have developed a small, agile robot capable of walking and jumping, inspired by hopping hexapods like springtails.

The innovation showcases microrobots that can navigate tight spaces, traverse hazardous terrain, and autonomously sense their surroundings.

This advancement pushes the limits of small robot capabilities, hinting at future applications in search and rescue missions or environmental monitoring where human access is challenging or risky.

🏭 South Korea: World’s largest gas power tech traps 96% CO2 emissions

The Korea Institute of Energy Research (KIER) has achieved a breakthrough in power generation technology. The institute has successfully demonstrated the world’s largest gas power generation system that can inherently separate carbon dioxide (CO₂).

This marks a global first in utilizing this approach to generate steam for electricity production. Conventional gas power plants burn fuel, releasing CO₂ alongside nitrogen and water vapor.

Since CO₂ mixes with nitrogen, additional facilities are required to separate and capture it, which increases operational costs. To address this, researchers have turned to chemical looping combustion (CLC), a cutting-edge, eco-friendly power generation method.

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