Cuba, Metamaterials, Silkworms and More: Twelve Must-Read Stories From October

Nathan Myhrvold speaks with Alan Boyle and Todd Bishop of Geekwire earlier this month

IV in the News

If you click on the video above, you’ll get a first-hand look at Nathan Myhrvold’s fireside chat with Todd Bishop and Alan Boyle of Geekwire earlier this month. Nathan spoke about the importance of metamaterials, investing in invention and the vast potential for technological innovation to improve the lives of those in need. Bonus – check out these photos from the event.

The Military Times shows how Global Good’s Photonic Fence beats bed nets and bug spray when it comes to keeping troops safe from vector-borne illnesses.

What if you could cordlessly connect your cell phones, TVs and computers to power without interruption? Duke University, the University of Washington and Intellectual Ventures are collaborating on technology that could make it possible.

Seattle Photonics Association announced that it will build on the work of our own Invention Science Fund on retinal imaging technology that can monitor changes in astronauts’ eyes during missions.

GeekWire highlights IV spinout Kymeta as it showcases its flat-panel antenna at the Monaco Yacht Show, delivering internet to 80 yachts at once.

Developing life-saving technology

MIT Technology Review features a new flexible mesh that may make open new doors for novel treatments for neurological diseases such as Parkinson’s.

Scientific American profiles the work of Yingying Zhang and her colleagues at Tsinghua University who are developing reinforced silk that could transform technology for wearable electronics and medical implants.

The magazine also highlighted the work of Thubi Kolobe, a physical therapist and researcher at the University of Oklahoma, who developed a high-tech onesie and three-legged, wheeled robot to help babies with cerebral palsy learn to crawl.

Finally, you won’t want to miss the story of this 13-year-old from Oregon who invented a bandage that can tell doctors when it needs to be changed.

Envisioning the future

President Obama sat down with MIT’s Joe Ito and Wired’s Scott Dadich to discuss artificial intelligence, neural nets, self-driving cars and the future of the world.

With a more open U.S.-Cuba relationship, steps are being taken to break down economic barriers and give way to more scientific collaboration, unlocking new opportunities for innovation. Check out this USPTO blog on protecting the rights of American innovators in Cuba.

Don’t forget to check out these photos from the World Maker Faire of robots, 3-D printers and dozens of other DIY technologies.

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