Top 65 Science Ideas in October

From Tilt-Tracking Trains to Portable Vaccine Coolers

— October 29, 2016 — Tech
From trains that can compensate for sudden movements to coolers that regulate the temperature of vaccines during transport, the October 2016 science trends demonstrate a great deal of innovation in the fields of both transportation and healthcare.

With autonomous transportation quickly becoming a reality, there is a great deal of innovation when it comes to helping consumers get from point A to point B faster and more safely. For example, a new device called the LiDAR sensor is being used to detect obstacles that may come into contact with self-driving vehicles. Similarly, Amtrak is currently installing high-tech equipment on its trains that anticipates tilting and then adjusts accordingly to ensure passengers enjoy a smoother ride.

Beyond transportation, the field of healthcare is also undergoing major transformation thanks to scientific innovations. As the October 2016 science trends highlight, these innovations include portable vaccine coolers, affordable drug-testing papers and 3D-printed biological bones.
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65
Nauseating Driving Simulators
Nauseating Driving Simulators
This Simulator Makes People Sick to Improve Future Vehicle Designs
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64
Penetrative WiFi Delivery Projects
Penetrative WiFi Delivery Projects
This AT&T System Uses Affordable Equipment & Smart Engineering
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63
Battery-Boosting Devices
Battery-Boosting Devices
This New Radio Technology Can Significantly Extend Battery Life
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62
Signal-Boosting Train Windows
Signal-Boosting Train Windows
These Train Windows Help Improve Passengers' Mobile Reception
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61
Slimmed Smartphone Chips
Slimmed Smartphone Chips
The New Samsung Exynos Chip is Small But Exceptionally Powerful
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60
Bacteria-Forecasting Beach Apps
Bacteria-Forecasting Beach Apps
The Beach Report Card App Informs Beachgoers About Water Quality
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59
Connected Patient Progress Platforms
Connected Patient Progress Platforms
'Kaleidoscope' Is a Two-Sided Site For On-Going Conversation
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58
Informative Web Analytics Apps
Informative Web Analytics Apps
The Parse.ly App Helps Users Make Sense Of Website Metrics
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57
Genome-Edited Meals
Genome-Edited Meals
This Pasta and Vegetable Meal Was Infused With Disease-Preventing Cabbage
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56
Robotic Practice Racers
Robotic Practice Racers
DevBot Lets Roborace Coders Practice Their Algorithms
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55
Expansive 3D Space Maps
Expansive 3D Space Maps
The ESA's 3D Map Contains Over a Billion Stars Shot by the Gaia Satellite
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54
Artificial Solar Eclipses
Artificial Solar Eclipses
The European Space Agency Plans to Induce Solar Eclipses to Study Them
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53
Video Analysis AI
Video Analysis AI
The 'Val.ai' System Can Interpret Information from Video Files
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52
Toxin-Free Edible Batteries
Toxin-Free Edible Batteries
This High-Tech Battery Can Power Ingestible Medical Gadgets
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51
Automotive Water Generators
Automotive Water Generators
The On-the-Go H2O System Converts Condensation Into Drinking Water
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50
Chemical-Detecting Drones
Chemical-Detecting Drones
This Unmanned Drone Can Sniff Out Chemical and Biological Weapons
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49
Compact Photosynthesis Systems
Compact Photosynthesis Systems
This Photosynthesis Unit Generates Hydrogen From Water
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48
Hyperlocal Weather Visualization Sites
Hyperlocal Weather Visualization Sites
'Dark Sky' Gives Weather Data Based on Specific Addresses
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47
Water-Analyzing Chips
Water-Analyzing Chips
This Portable Analyzer Chip Can Test the Chemical Contents of Water
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46
Immersive Martian Experiences
Immersive Martian Experiences
This Augmented Reality Experience Comprises a Guided Tour of Mars
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45
Glacial Preservation Vaults
Glacial Preservation Vaults
'Projecting Ice Memory' Attempts to Preserve Chunks of Glacial Ice
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44
Affordable Drug-Testing Papers
Affordable Drug-Testing Papers
The PAD Project Provides Quick and Low-Cost Counterfeit Tests
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43
3D-Printed Airplane Building Tools
3D-Printed Airplane Building Tools
This Trim-and-Drill Tool is the World's Largest 3D-Printed Tool
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42
Vegan-Friendly Gelatin Alternatives
Vegan-Friendly Gelatin Alternatives
Geltor Is Producing Animal-Free Gelatin Through Fermentation
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41
Powerful Artificial Solar Lights
Powerful Artificial Solar Lights
The EPFL Made a Light 20,000 Times the Luminosity of the Sun
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40
Magnetic Marijuana Breathalyzers
Magnetic Marijuana Breathalyzers
This Breathalyzer Uses High-Tech Magnetic Biological Sensors
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39
Vehicular Range-Expanding Turbines
Vehicular Range-Expanding Turbines
The MiTRE Micro-Turbine System Expands Electric Vehicles' Range
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38
Boredom-Recognizing Software
Boredom-Recognizing Software
Wei Xiaoyong's 'Face Reader' Identifies If His Students are Bored
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37
Fog Computing Platforms
Fog Computing Platforms
FogHorn's Software Program Allows Configurable Data Analytics Expression
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36
Shapeshifting Printed Objects
Shapeshifting Printed Objects
This MIT 3D Printing Innovation Introduces Objects That "Remember"
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35
Accident-Averting Crowd Simulators
Accident-Averting Crowd Simulators
This Mitsubishi Algorithm Predicts Crowd Movements Near Venues
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34
Space-Saving Shipping Software
Space-Saving Shipping Software
This Software Boosts the Car Rack Capacity Of Shipping Containers
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33
Static Space Transportation Techniques
Static Space Transportation Techniques
SpaceWorks will Put People into Torpor for Mars Missions
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32
Hybrid Hand Grenades
Hybrid Hand Grenades
This Grenade Design Allows For Different Modes Of Enemy Engagement
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31
Voice-Controlled Video Games
Voice-Controlled Video Games
This Innovative Video Game is Controlled By Children's Speech
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30
Drone-Detecting Sytems
Drone-Detecting Sytems
DARPA is Accepting Proposals for Its 'Aerial Dragnet' Program
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29
Heat-Dispersing Engines
Heat-Dispersing Engines
This V-Twin Engine Offers Improved Power, Torque and Heat Dispersion
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28
Coordinate-Converting Aviation Apps
Coordinate-Converting Aviation Apps
The GPS Coordinate Converter App Prevents Pilot Confusion
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27
Energy-Producing Solar Ink
Energy-Producing Solar Ink
Using Photovoltaic Cells, This Ink Allows Images to Generate Energy
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26
Chinese Mars Rovers
Chinese Mars Rovers
China's Mars Rover Will Land on the Red Planet in the Summer of 2020
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25
Anti-Extremism Search Algorithms
Anti-Extremism Search Algorithms
Jigsaw's 'Redirect Method' Dissuades Potential ISIS Recruits
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24
Autonomous Mine-Exploring Trucks
Autonomous Mine-Exploring Trucks
This Construction Truck Could Improve Safety In Mines
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23
Worldwide Wind Satellites
Worldwide Wind Satellites
The Aeolus Satellite Will Be the First to Monitor Global Wind Patterns
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22
Palm-Scanning ATMs
Palm-Scanning ATMs
Japan's Ogaki Kyoritsu Bank is Experimenting with Biometric Identification
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21
Artificially Intelligent E-Sports Coaches
Artificially Intelligent E-Sports Coaches
Mobalytics Offers Data Analytics for Competitive Gamers
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20
Tilt-Tracking Trains
Tilt-Tracking Trains
Amtrak's New High-Speed Trains Handle Curves With Smooth Precision
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19
Sonic Hologram Images
Sonic Hologram Images
The Max Planck Insititute's 'Holograms for Acoustics' Create 3D Images
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18
Concussion-Preventing Helmets
Concussion-Preventing Helmets
This Helmet and Shoulder Pad Technology Proactively Detects Impact
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17
Senior-Centric Sensor Systems
Senior-Centric Sensor Systems
This System Predicts Seniors' Falls to Allow For Quicker Responses
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16
3D-Printed Biological Bones
3D-Printed Biological Bones
AMBER Researchers Have Developed a New System for Bioengineering Bones
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15
Nonhuman Vocal Algorithms
Nonhuman Vocal Algorithms
The DeepMind AI Can Say Sentences and Play Piano Without a Sound Library
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14
Cooling Plastic Clothing
Cooling Plastic Clothing
Stanford's New Textiles Cool Wearers Down as Much as 4 Degrees Celsius
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13
Holographic Anatomy Apps
Holographic Anatomy Apps
Microsoft's HoloAnatomy Brings Learning to Life with the HoloLens Headset
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12
Portable Vaccine Coolers
Portable Vaccine Coolers
The ISOBAR Aims to Keep Medicine Temperature Regulated in a Backpack
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11
Facial Recognition Tests
Facial Recognition Tests
LASIE is a Test to Determine Whether People are "Super-Recognisers"
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10
Emotionally Perceptive Wireless Devices
Emotionally Perceptive Wireless Devices
'EQ-Radio' Uses Wireless Signals to Read People's Emotions
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9
Sustainable Energy-Generating Fabrics
Sustainable Energy-Generating Fabrics
This Fabric Turns Solar and Wind Energy into Electricity
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8
Self-Propelling Cargo Boats
Self-Propelling Cargo Boats
The 'Roboat' Program Will Put Autonomous Boats in Amsterdam's Canals
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7
Futuristic Gasoline Engines
Futuristic Gasoline Engines
The New Jaguar Ingenium Engine Offers Next-Generation Power
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6
Fire-Powered Smartphone Chargers
Fire-Powered Smartphone Chargers
JikoPower Uses Fire Power to Charge the Smartphones of Kenyans
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5
Self-Driving Car Sensors
Self-Driving Car Sensors
This LiDAR Sensor Uses Laser Detectors to Identify Obstacles
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4
Garment-Sewing Robots
Garment-Sewing Robots
Sewbo Inc. Developed a Process That Lets Robots Sew T-Shirts
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3
Giant Reusable Rocket Boosters
Giant Reusable Rocket Boosters
Blue Origin's 'New Glenn' Rocket is over 300 Feet Tall
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2
Real-Time Weather Visualizations
Real-Time Weather Visualizations
'Ventusky' Gives a Beautiful Interpretation of Global Weather
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1
Self-Building Concrete Blocks
Self-Building Concrete Blocks
The Block ARMO System Consists of Specially Shaped Concrete Blocks
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