Magnetically

When it comes to the treatment of severe Parkinson's disease, electrical deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a commonly used technique. It does have some serious drawbacks, however, which is why scientists are now looking to tiny wirelessly activated magnets instead.In order for DBS to be carried out on a patient, electrodes must be surgically implanted in the subthalamic nucleus (STN) region of their brain, then hard-wired to a pacemaker-like battery/control unit implanted under the skin on their chest. Those electrodes…

Researchers have created a new magnetically controlled capsule that can be ‘driven’ around the stomach using joysticks to take images of areas of interest. It's unlike other pill cams that rely on the gut's natural motility and gravity to get around.A traditional endoscopy uses a long, thin, flexible tube with a video camera at the end that is passed through the mouth into the upper gastrointestinal tract. The procedure is used to investigate the causes of stomach pain, nausea, bleeding, and weight loss. In the US, more…

Next-generation batteries could take on many forms, but one design that scientists are pinning a lot of hope on involves the use of lithium metal. The excellent energy density of this material could see batteries power smartphones for days at a time, and by designing a new electrolyte that can be controlled by an external magnetic fields, scientist in South Korea have edged them a little closer to reality.A lithium-metal battery is one that would see this material deployed in place of the graphite and copper used in the…

Image: AdonitAlthough Steve Jobs condemned the tool when he announced the iPhone, a stylus is now essential for many artists working on the iPad. But the 2nd generation Apple Pencil isn’t a cheap accessory, and if you’ve already dropped a small fortune on an iPad, Adonit’s new Neo Pro offers much of the same functionality for about $84 less.There are three approaches to creating a stylus that works on a touchscreen. The simplest is to put a capacitive tip on the end, which replicates what happens when your finger touches…