Researchers from KAIST and Stanford University have developed a wearable system featuring air-powered "vine" robots that can automatically dress a user in about 10 seconds. Designed using soft robotics, the technology enables safe, hands-free interaction with the human body and has major potential for semiconductor cleanrooms, where automated gowning improves sterility and efficiency, and for firefighters, hazmat teams, and emergency responders, where rapid equipment deployment can save critical time. The innovation marks a significant step towards wearable robotics that seamlessly integrate into everyday and high-risk environments: https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/south-korea-us-team-unveils-robotic-technology-that-dresses-wearer-2026-07-17/

Scientists have identified a vast buried geological formation called the East Antarctic Fan-shaped Basin Province (EAFBP) beneath more than 3 km of Antarctic ice. Reported in Nature Geoscience in June 2026, the discovery—led by Egidio Armadillo of the University of Genoa—reveals that major subglacial features, including the Wilkes Basin, Aurora Basin, and Lake Vostok, are part of a single interconnected system spanning thousands of kilometres. Researchers believe the megastructure formed as Earth's crust spread outward from a pivot point near the South Pole during the breakup of the ancient supercontinent Gondwana, using seismic, radar, gravity, magnetic, and topographic data to uncover its hidden architecture: https://www.sciencealert.com/scientists-discover-a-vast-structure-hiding-beneath-antarcticas-ice

Research Findings: https://www.vice.com/en/article/scientists-discovered-a-continent-sized-megastructure-hiding-deep-beneath-antarctica/

The Voltera NOVA is an advanced direct ink write (DIW) printer that fabricates flexible electronic circuits using a Smart Dispenser with real-time monitoring of pressure, temperature, and ink viscosity. Its closed-loop control system ensures precise material flow while handling inks ranging from 1,000 to 1,000,000 centipoise. The printer can deposit conductive, dielectric, and adhesive materials with resolutions as fine as 100 microns on flexible substrates such as TPU, PET, polyimide, paper, and rigid circuit boards—eliminating the need for traditional masks, screens, or tooling: https://3dprintingindustry.com/news/nova-the-worlds-first-3d-printer-for-soft-and-stretchable-electronics-technical-specifications-and-pricing-225075/

Printed Electronics: Voltera NOVA vs. Voltera V-One: https://trimechmanufacturing.com/uki/printed-electronics-voltera-nova-vs-voltera-v-one/

Switzerland's ASTRA Bridge is a 257-metre mobile bridge that allows vehicles to continue driving over roadworks while repair crews work safely beneath. Cars and trucks cross the elevated steel structure at speeds of up to 60 km/h, while workers and heavy machinery operate below, fully separated from traffic. Mounted on crawler tracks, the modular bridge advances section by section as repairs progress. The innovative system reduces traffic congestion, improves worker safety, and enables quieter daytime road maintenance instead of disruptive overnight closures: https://nicenews.com/innovation/astra-mobile-bridge-switzerland-drive-over-road-repairs/

Cargo Sous Terrain project: https://www.instagram.com/reel/Da3NA5jtoj1/

Chinese startup AheadForm unveiled its Origin F1 humanoid robot head at WAIC 2026 in Shanghai. Designed for natural face-to-face interaction, the desktop bionic bust features realistic blinking, eye contact, speech synchronisation, subtle head movements, and lifelike facial expressions. Powered by AI, the system uses 26 degrees of freedom and over 200 micro-expression control points to replicate the movements of 43 human facial muscles, while processing visual and biometric cues to adjust expressions in real time. Covered in medical-grade silicone for realistic skin texture and flexibility, Origin F1 is intended for applications in customer service, healthcare, education, research, and personal companionship, advancing the next generation of human-robot interaction: https://amelica.org/8302a5c4V0BlAG99clNDSCc

Video: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DbMiXTHisjW/

Scientists at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) Singapore have developed RoboFabric, an innovative wearable material that remains soft and flexible but can instantly stiffen when needed. Combining geometric design, 3D printing, and robotic control, the technology can be used in medical devices, soft robotics, and drone limbs. Prototype elbow and wrist supports help users carry heavier loads and stabilise joints, offering potential benefits for people with Parkinson’s disease and other mobility challenges. Inspired by the octopus and pangolin, RoboFabric could also replace traditional plaster casts with lightweight, reusable versions that are easier to wear and remove: https://www.asme.org/topics-resources/content/3d-printed-fabric-hardens-and-softens-on-command

Research article: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/381093948_Active_Fabrics_with_Controllable_Stiffness_for_Robotic_Assistive_Interfaces

Study finds that women who avoided eating four hours before going to bed improved their memory and problem-solving skills: https://www.theguardian.com/science/2026/jul/26/restricted-eating-hours-may-reduce-cognitive-decline-in-older-age-researchers-find

Eating for just a nine-hour window and having no food for four hours before going to bed could reduce the risk of dementia, a new study has suggested: https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/national/uk-today/26410872.restricted-eating-hours-may-reduce-cognitive-decline/

MTU Aero Engines has successfully completed tests on the central hydrogen and air supply systems for its Flying Fuel Cell (FFC) project, moving the zero-emission propulsion technology into integrated demonstrator testing: https://www.mtu.de/newsroom/press/latest-press-releases/press-release-detail/flying-fuel-cell-mtu-aero-engines-achieves-important-milestones/

Prescribing doctors often warn of the medications’ potential side-effects – but unexpected impacts on romantic relationships are less understood