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3D printed bionic finger hints at life-like prosthetics
Researchers from the Florida Atlantic University have developed a new type of soft bionic finger that can move like the ones on your hand. In order to come up with the most authentic-looking design, they downloaded a CAD model of the human digit and used a 3D printer to create squishy inner and outer molds. Inside, they placed two actuators made of shape memory alloys (SMA), which can "remember" and return to their original shapes even after they get bent or deformed, so long as they're heated. The extensor actuator straightens up when heat is applied, while the flexor actuator curves -- you can see an illustration of how they work in the image below the fold.
Smartphone accessory puts HIV diagnosis in doctors' pockets
People living in far-flung locations, especially in developing nations, could always use affordable tests for various diseases that enable remote diagnosis. Take for instance, this new two-part biosensing platform developed by a team of scientists from Florida Atlantic University, which can detect E. coli, staph and even HIV with just a drop of the patient's blood. We say "two-part," because it's comprised of (1) a cheap, thin, flexible film and (2) a smartphone app. Each film detects a different disease, which it identifies from the patient's blood. If the bacteria or virus being tested for is present, the blood gets dyed a different color by nanoparticles.
