U.S. researchers have discovered the mechanism by which geckos keep their sticky feet continuously clean without grooming. The discovery should help with the development of adhesives that do not attract dirt, a possibly major advancement for common bandages.

“Our mathematical models suggest that self-cleaning in gecko setae is a result of geometry not chemistry,” says Autumn. “This means that synthetic self-cleaning adhesives could be fabricated from a wide variety of materials. The possibilities for future applications of a dry, self-cleaning adhesive are enormous. We envision uses for our discovery ranging from nanosurgery to aerospace applications. Who knows-maybe a gecko-inspired robot with sticky, self-cleaning feet will walk on the dusty surface of Mars someday.”

US researchers have demonstrated a new magnetic sensor (“the size of a grain of rice”) that can detect miniscule magnetic field fluctuations. According to the U.S. Department of State’s propaganda release, this new chip-scale magnetic sensor could have a potential use in future medical devices.
And this is how it works:

The sensor works by detecting minute changes in the energy levels of electrons in the presence of a magnetic field. A tiny sample of the element rubidium is heated within a sealed, transparent cell to form a rubidium vapor. Light from a semiconductor laser is transmitted through the atomic vapor. In the presence of a magnetic field, the amount of laser light that is absorbed by the atoms changes and this is detected by a photocell. Larger magnetic fields produce proportionally bigger changes in the atomic energy levels and change the absorption by the atom.
The key advantages of the new sensor, says Peter Schwindt, one of the NIST developers, are its accuracy and sensitivity given its small size.

The original press release…