In this episode, we talk about MIT's bio-resorbable RFID smart pill that activates in -10 minutes after swallowing to verify a dose in real time.
11 minutes read
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This episode celebrates five years of The Next Byte with a recap of 2025, highlighting standout episodes through The "Saucies" Awards, reflecting on major trends, sharing predictions for 2026, and thanking the global listener community.
In this episode, we explore the engineering behind Unitree's newest boxing robot demo, the history of humanoid robots, and why robotics might create a new F1-esque sport in the combat sports realm.
13 minutes read
In this episode, we talk about the engineers that built a wireless tag that detects and remembers overheating without a chip or a battery, enabling cold-chain monitoring without creating electronic waste.
12 minutes read
In this episode, we explore how researchers used a fiber-optic style thermal drawing process (similar to stretching candy) to create liquid-metal smart fibers that sense motion with high precision, unlocking new possibilities for wearables, soft prosthetics, and touch-sensitive humanoid robots.
13 minutes read
In this episode, we cover how scientists mapped zebrafish brains when swimming and used that map to power a real robot fish. The robot can hold its position in flowing water using vision alone, revealing new neuron types, and proving biology can teach robots to move smarter.
12 minutes read
In this episode, we talk about how a shift in perspective regarding wind farm power production led to a model that can increase global output by 5% and a much overdue redesign of turbine blades for hydroelectric power dams that'll enable sustainable power production.
In this episode, we cover ETH Zurich's biodegradable heart patch that combines 3D printing, living heart cells, and smart materials to seal and heal damaged heart tissue - paving the way for true cardiac regeneration after heart attacks.
9 minutes read
MIT's SustainaPrint gives 3D printing the "Hannah Montana treatment" by combining eco-friendly plastics with tough materials only where needed, delivering the best of both worlds with strong AND sustainable prints
11 minutes read
In this episode, we cover how researchers trained a quadruped robot to play badminton, teaching it to track the shuttlecock, move into position, and swing a racket in real time, showing how AI can bring robots closer to human-like coordination.
11 minutes read
In this episode, we cover Harvard's soft wearable robot that learns a patient's intent and provides just-enough support, helping stroke and ALS patients regain independence in everyday tasks.
12 minutes read
In this episode, we explore how Georgia Tech researchers took inspiration from seashells to turn weak, unreliable recycled plastic into strong, consistent material. This breakthrough could cut virgin plastic use in packaging and help tackle the global plastic waste crisis.
12 minutes read
In this episode, we explore how AI-powered eco-driving—smartly adjusting vehicle speeds to minimize stops and unnecessary acceleration—can reduce carbon emissions at city intersections by 11 to 22 percent.
13 minutes read
In this episode, we explore MenstruAI, a pioneering technology that transforms a standard sanitary towel into a paper-based test strip to detect biomarkers in menstrual blood
12 minutes read
In this episode, we explore two cutting-edge environmental robots developed by ETH Zurich students: MONKEE, a tree-climbing robot for canopy research, and ReefRanger, an autonomous underwater robot that feeds and monitors corals.
14 minutes read
