’Mind’s Eye’ Influences Visual Perception

iCub, a one metre-high baby robot which will be used to study how a robot could quickly pick up language skills, will be available next year. ITALK aims to teach the robot to speak by employing the same methods used by parents to teach their children. Robotics specialists will conduct experiments in human and robot language interaction to enable the robot to converse with humans. ... more

Tumor growth has commonly been viewed as a result of mutations in a given cell that will therefore proliferate uncontrollably. However, a new study has demonstrated that in certain type of gastrointestinal polyps, the cause of tumor development are mutations in the smooth muscle cells, previously regarded as "innocent bystanders." ... more

The West Antarctic rift is a region of volcanic activity and crustal stretching that is roughly the size of the western United States (from Salt Lake City to the Pacific Ocean). About 98 percent of it is buried beneath glacial ice, up to 2.5 miles thick, and bedrock beneath the ice is 2000--3000 feet below sea level over large areas. All of this makes it a difficult region to study. It is interesting nevertheless, because volcanic eruptions beneath the ice could destabilize the ice sheet... more

Kidney stones are very common -- and painful -- in men. About 3 in 20 men (1 in 20 women) in developed countries develop them at some stage. Mice, however, rarely suffer though the precise reasons are unknown. Now researchers have come up with some answers. ... more