Robots that sense the world through sound are more human-like
The audience gasps as sound effects vibrate the seats of a darkened theater. They shake the cup to hear the clinking ice to know how much is left. Lost in thought, the moviegoers tap the armrest, contemplating if it's real wood or plastic imitating the real thing. This knack for identifying objects and their makeup through sound is common practice. Striving to augment the sensory abilities of robots, researchers are now replicating this human ability. Sensing the world through sound Next month, at the Conference on Robot Learning (CoRL 2024) in Munich, Germany, experts from Duke University will introduce the world to...
Do-gooders are seen as more good-looking because society expects good-looking people to do good: study
See Also Why women should steer clear of men who think they’re super hot — or super not: study A new study has uncovered a “fascinating link” between looks and behavior that suggests beauty is indeed more than skin deep. Published in the Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization, results of the study revealed that attractive people are expected by others to be more generous and kind. Furthermore, reserachers found the inverse to be true as well — that those who seem like good people are also percieved as good-looking. Realistic AI photos reveal what typical cheaters look like — is this you? People form essential judgements...
New camera lets us see the colors of the world through the eyes of animals
A new camera system is making it possible for humans to see colors in the way animals do, opening up a vivid new perspective on the natural world. Led by researcher Vera Vasas, who has spent years studying animal vision, this innovative project is changing how we understand what animals actually see. In collaboration with colleagues from the Hanley Color Lab at George Mason University, Vasas has developed a tool that lets us experience the world through the eyes of different species. How animals see color Animals perceive color through photoreceptor cells in their eyes, and the number and type of these cells...
Our sense of smell detects odors in less time than it takes to blink
Have you ever wondered why the smell of freshly baked bread or sizzling bacon can pull you out of bed instantly before dawn? Or how we can distinguish between thousands of different odors and smells? The simple answer lies in the incredible and underappreciated power of our olfactory system. Sense of smell and odor detection Commonly, we think of our sense of smell, or olfaction, as a slow sense. This notion stems from the process through which we perceive odors. When we breathe in, airborne chemicals (that gives a substance its distinctive smell) enter our noses, and are subsequently expelled when...