Online courses, budgeting spreadsheets, freezing your credit card—if none of these have stopped you from overspending, perhaps it’s time for a more drastic solution. Pavlok, an American company, sells a wearable bracelet that can deliver electric shocks of up to 350 volts when you exceed a spending limit linked to your credit card.

The device connects to your bank account and alerts you as you approach a self-imposed spending cap. If you continue spending beyond that limit, the bracelet can administer a shock. Users can also trigger shocks manually through a companion smartphone app.

The Bracelet That Trains You to Spend Less

Developed to encourage healthier habits, the bracelet is designed not only to curb excessive spending but also to help with goals such as exercising regularly, eating better, and waking up on time. The concept is based on conditioning users to avoid unwanted behaviors through negative reinforcement.

Pavlok bracelets are available on Amazon in several models and price ranges. At the time of writing, the most affordable version costs around R$651, with international shipping to Brazil adding more than R$500, as the brand does not currently operate in the country.

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An international study suggests that many women with early-stage breast cancer can safely skip chemotherapy without affecting their chances of successful treatment. The findings come from the OPTIMA clinical trial, which tested whether a genomic test could identify patients who truly benefit from chemotherapy.

The study included over 4,400 participants aged 40 and above from six countries: the United Kingdom, Norway, Sweden, Australia, New Zealand, and Thailand. Most had hormone-sensitive breast cancer that had spread to nearby lymph nodes—a group that is usually treated with chemotherapy to lower the risk of recurrence.

Genomic testing guided treatment decisions by assessing recurrence risk

Researchers used the Prosigna genomic test to analyze tumor gene activity and estimate the likelihood of cancer returning. Based on the results, patients with a score of 60 or below received only hormone therapy, while those with higher scores also received chemotherapy.

About 68% of participants were classified as low-risk. After five years, 93.6% of these patients who received only hormone therapy remained disease-free, compared with 94.8% of those who also had chemotherapy.

The difference—just over one percentage point—was below the study’s predefined threshold for clinical significance, suggesting chemotherapy may not provide meaningful additional benefit for this group. The analysis also found that only around 2% of low-risk patients were likely to gain substantial benefit from chemotherapy.

The study also included groups often underrepresented in this type of research, including premenopausal women and patients with more than three affected lymph nodes. Researchers said the findings were consistent across these subgroups.

For younger women, the researchers noted that one of the benefits of chemotherapy is typically the suppression of ovarian function. In this study, that effect was instead achieved using hormonal treatments, which may help explain why chemotherapy offered limited additional benefit in many cases.

Expert says OPTIMA trial improves personalized breast cancer care and reduces chemotherapy use

Professor Rob Stein of the UCL Cancer Institute described the results as a significant step forward in personalizing breast cancer treatment. He said the OPTIMA trial helps resolve a key challenge in care—determining which patients truly need chemotherapy—and shows that many can avoid it without affecting outcomes.

He also emphasized that tumor biology can be a more accurate guide for treatment decisions than traditional clinical factors, reducing both the physical and emotional burden of chemotherapy.

Researchers estimate that if the test becomes widely used in the UK’s public health system, over 5,000 patients each year could potentially avoid chemotherapy.

The findings are now under review by NICE, which evaluates new tests and treatments for adoption in the UK’s National Health Service.

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Researchers in Japan, including the University of Tokyo, have created ~1 nm-wide semiconducting nanotubes—about 100,000× thinner than a human hair—by growing molybdenum disulfide inside boron nitride tubes to form stable, uniform structures at an extreme scale. The results validate long-standing theoretical predictions about ultrathin nanotube behavior and may open new possibilities for ultra-miniaturized electronics.

The study was published in the journal Science.

New Nanotubes Offer Advantages Over Carbon

While carbon nanotubes previously drew significant attention, a newer material is now emerging with potential advantages that may encourage engineers to build future devices around it.

Molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) nanotubes, still at an experimental stage, show promise for use in semiconductor electronics, high-resolution sensing, and research in quantum-scale physics.

We successfully synthesized atomically precise semiconducting nanotubes with nanometer-scale diameters. The coaxial design, with MoS₂ nanotubes encased in insulating boron nitride, is promising for advanced gate-all-around transistors, said University of Tokyo’s Associate Professor Yusuke Nakanishi.

“Our study shows a method for precisely controlling the structure of inorganic semiconducting nanotubes at the atomic level. We also experimentally confirmed that the bandgap—which determines how a material behaves as a semiconductor—decreases as the nanotube diameter becomes smaller, matching theoretical predictions made over 25 years ago.”

In contrast, traditional nanotube fabrication techniques typically produce structures larger than 10 nanometers, often with multiple concentric walls and irregular or poorly controlled atomic arrangements.

Precise 1-Nm MoS₂ Nanotubes via Confined Growth

Nakanishi and his team created 1-nm-wide single-walled MoS₂ nanotubes with precise atomic structure by growing them inside boron nitride nanotubes, whose confined space helps stabilize and organize the otherwise hard-to-form nanotubes for device use.

In nanotubes, even minor structural variations can significantly influence their properties. When researchers precisely control the structure, they achieve more uniform properties, which are essential for reliable and reproducible transistor performance. The key advantage is atomic-level structural precision, Nakanishi explained.

“By contrast, manufacturers typically fabricate modern silicon transistors by etching bulk silicon. However, as device sizes shrink, they face increasing difficulty maintaining perfect structures because even small defects can have a large impact.”

“Carbon nanotubes also present challenges for transistor use, because even very small structural variations can significantly alter their behavior, including whether they act as metals or semiconductors. In contrast, our nanotubes may provide a more dependable approach for creating ultra-small semiconductor channels with consistent properties.”

Key Challenges Remain Before Practical Transistor Use

However, practical devices are still several years away, and key obstacles must be overcome before functional transistors can be built. One major goal is to extend nanotube length from a few hundred nanometers to about 1 micrometer (1,000 nanometers, or one-thousandth of a millimeter).

Looking ahead, the technique could also be applied to other inorganic nanotubes, including magnetic and superconducting materials. The researchers aim to expand nanotube research beyond carbon systems, enabling atomically precise nanotubes for research, sensing, and advanced miniaturized high-speed electronics.

Read the original article on: phys.org

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The Brazilian National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA) has authorized use of the Tasso device in Brazil, a technology designed to simplify blood collection while reducing patient discomfort. The device replaces traditional venipuncture and collects small samples of capillary blood.

Needle-Free Device Aims to Make Blood Testing Easier and More Comfortable

Developed in the United States, the device offers an alternative for individuals who fear needles or experience difficulties with standard blood tests, aiming to make the process more comfortable, efficient, and accessible.

Beyond enhancing patient experience, the technology may support better monitoring of chronic conditions and improve adherence to laboratory testing.

The equipment also minimizes risks linked to the handling of syringes and other materials used in conventional blood collection.

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In 2001, British electrical engineer Roger Shawyer unveiled the EmDrive, often dubbed the “impossible drive.” The device gained attention because Shawyer claimed it could generate thrust without using any propellant. If accurate, it would function as a reactionless drive—seemingly moving forward without expelling anything in the opposite direction.

Such a concept directly challenges the law of conservation of momentum, one of the fundamental principles of physics.

Unsurprisingly, the claim was met with skepticism. Over the years, the EmDrive has produced intriguing but inconclusive results, including a reported thrust signal from NASA’s Eagleworks team in 2016. However, more rigorous testing eventually cast doubt on those findings. In 2021, Dresden University of Technology researchers found no measurable thrust, turning the claim into a case study in experimental error, tiny-force measurement limits, and confirmation bias.

Propellant-Free Propulsion After the EmDrive

But interest in propellant-free propulsion did not end with the EmDrive.The idea resurfaced via Exodus Propulsion Technologies, linked to electrostatics expert Charles Buhler; his Kennedy Space Center background lends it more credibility than typical fringe propulsion claims.

At NASA, Buhler helped set up an electrostatics lab at Kennedy Space Center; later, through Exodus, he claimed this research led to a propellantless “New Force” from electric fields capable of countering gravity.

It should be noted that this propulsion research is being conducted independently by Exodus. While Buhler’s NASA background and electrostatics expertise are documented, the propulsion claims are not part of NASA work and remain those of a private company.

Buhler Claims Discovery of a “New Force” from Electric Fields Alone

Buhler told The Debrief that the key takeaway for the public is the announcement of a significant discovery. He described it as a “new force” suggesting that electric fields alone may be able to produce a sustained force on an object, enabling its center of mass to move without the need to eject mass.

He also emphasized that the research is not connected to NASA. Much of the discussion has taken place within the Alternative Propulsion Energy Conference (APEC), which explores advanced propulsion concepts from established engineering to unverified ideas.

In a conversation with APEC co-founder Tim Ventura, Buhler said his electrostatics background informed his team’s work on propellantless propulsion. He claimed the team—reportedly including former NASA, Blue Origin, and U.S. Air Force personnel saw early thrust gains that improved over time, and by 2023 the system could counter Earth’s gravity.

Ongoing Testing and Reported Vacuum Chamber Experiments in 2026

Event listings from APEC in early 2026 described ongoing testing and refinement led by Exodus co-founder Andrew Aurigema. In a March 2026 interview, Buhler said he conducted about 2,000 vacuum chamber experiments and observed effects, including thrust, that allegedly persisted after power was switched off.

The company Exodus has also begun engaging more directly with investors. A Deep Tech Week NYC 2026 listing promoted a meet-and-greet with Exodus Propulsion Technologies, inviting researchers and investors to discuss the technology with Buhler.

As of May 2026, there has been no independently published replication using a separate laboratory’s own equipment and measurement methods.

Bühler added that systems with asymmetrical electrostatic pressure or divergent electric fields could, in principle, produce a net force on an object’s center of mass under certain conditions.

Claims vs. Past Propellantless Propulsion Failures

Buhler’s claims are undeniably striking and, if accurate, would be highly significant. However, many propellantless propulsion claims initially seemed promising but failed under rigorous scrutiny.

Even within APEC, independent replication is treated as the central unresolved issue. The group also emphasizes that securing a patent does not constitute scientific validation. Professional research credibility depends on documented methods, quantified uncertainty, and independent replication—not presentations or conference attention.

Until multiple third-party teams can reliably reproduce the reported effects, cautious skepticism remains warranted. While it’s possible Buhler’s team saw a new physical phenomenon, it’s unlikely without strong, repeatable experimental evidence.

Read the original article on: popularmechanics

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NVIDIA introduced the RTX Spark, a new processor for Windows PCs, marking its shift into integrated consumer computing. At Computex in Taipei, CEO Jensen Huang announced it and said NVIDIA is partnering with Microsoft to “reinvent the PC.”

The RTX Spark pairs an NVIDIA GPU with a CPU co-developed with MediaTek, moving away from Intel and AMD processors. NVIDIA says the chip will enable on-device AI processing, professional workloads, and gaming performance.

Demos Showcase Gaming Performance as Launch Expected This Fall

Huang showcased laptops running games like 007 First Light and Forza Horizon 6, plus a compact Mac Mini–style desktop. ASUS, Dell, HP, Lenovo, Microsoft, and MSI are expected to release devices in the fall, with pricing and exact dates still unannounced.

According to NVIDIA senior director of product management Mark Aevermann, the upcoming devices are expected to offer all-day battery life, RTX 5070–class graphics performance, and up to 128 GB of memory in some configurations.

The launch highlights NVIDIA’s growing role in the AI boom, as it shifts from gaming GPUs to a key supplier of data center hardware powering models like ChatGPT.

Huang Argues AI Will Boost Jobs and Engineer Productivity Rather Than Replace Workers

At the event, Jensen Huang said AI is boosting demand for engineers, estimating 30 million developers earning $3 trillion in salaries and suggesting AI could triple productivity to $9 trillion in value.

Huang said higher productivity makes hiring more engineers economically rational, as AI is already generating measurable GDP impact.

However, some analysts remain cautious. Stephen Wu said NVIDIA is trying to control more of the PC hardware stack, bypassing traditional supply chains and strengthening its position against Intel and AMD. He also noted that the new systems could allow advanced AI models to run locally, reducing reliance on cloud computing.

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China’s elderly care robot market is projected to surpass 10 billion yuan (about US$1.47 billion) by 2026, according to a Tuesday MIIT report, as the industry shifts from testing to large-scale adoption.

The report attributes this rapid growth primarily to China’s aging population and the widening gap between the demand for and supply of elderly care services.

Liu Wenqiang, vice president of the China Center for Information Industry Development, said population aging and caregiver shortages are driving demand for intelligent solutions, with elderly care robots emerging as a key response with strong market potential.

China Builds a Comprehensive Elderly Care Robotics Ecosystem

Over years of development, China has established a comprehensive industrial ecosystem for elderly care robots, spanning core component research and development, robot manufacturing, system integration, and operational services.

Significant progress has been achieved in key technologies such as multimodal sensing, artificial intelligence algorithms, and precision motion control. Chinese-made robots now perform at internationally advanced levels in functions including fall detection, remote monitoring, and rehabilitation assistance.

These robots have evolved well beyond basic services like cleaning and food delivery. They now offer a wide range of support, including daily assistance, health monitoring, companionship, rehabilitation, and mobility help, meeting the diverse needs of seniors.

Advancing Technology and Safety Remains a Priority

Liu called for continued improvements in technology, application scenarios, standards, and safety. He stressed integrating innovations like large AI models, advanced materials, and safer human-robot interaction into elderly care robots, while adapting them to the specific needs of older adults.

Industry forecasts suggest that professional nursing institutions will remain the largest market segment, accounting for roughly half of total demand. Community-based elderly care services account for around 30% of demand, while home-based care currently makes up about 20% but is growing the fastest.

Overall, the elderly care robot industry is expanding at an average annual rate of approximately 32 percent. The companion robot segment is growing even more rapidly, with annual growth estimated at around 42 percent.

By 2025, China’s population aged 60 and above had reached 323.38 million. More than 130 million of these seniors were living alone or as “empty-nesters,” with their children no longer residing in the family home.

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A newly developed pill may provide a new option for managing type 2 diabetes and obesity. Early studies indicate that it could help reduce blood sugar levels and promote fat burning, while avoiding some common drawbacks of existing weight-loss medications, such as appetite suppression and muscle loss.

Unlike widely used GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic, which require injection and regulate appetite via gut–brain signaling, the new therapy works through a completely different mechanism.

Muscle-Focused Metabolic Approach Shows Promising Early Results

Rather than affecting hunger, the experimental medication stimulates metabolic activity within skeletal muscle. In animal studies, the approach improved blood sugar control and body composition without common GLP-1 side effects like reduced appetite, muscle loss, or digestive issues.

Another key difference is its route of administration: the treatment is taken orally as a tablet rather than being injected.

The researchers also carried out an early Phase I clinical trial that included 48 healthy participants and 25 individuals with type 2 diabetes. The study reported that participants generally tolerated the treatment well.

“Our findings suggest it may improve metabolic health while preserving muscle mass,” said Tore Bengtsson. He added that muscle plays an important role in type 2 diabetes and obesity, and preserving it is linked to longer life expectancy.

Engineered β2 Agonist Supports Muscle, Limits Heart Effects

The drug is based on a lab-designed compound known as a β2 agonist. Scientists modified it so it activates key cellular signaling pathways in a way that supports muscle tissue while avoiding excessive stimulation of the heart—an issue that has long restricted the medical use of β2 agonists.

“This is a new class of therapy that could be highly significant for type 2 diabetes and obesity,” said Shane C. Wright. Wright of Karolinska Institutet. He said the compound may support healthy weight loss and, unlike many current treatments, comes as a pill rather than an injection.

Because this new therapy acts through a different mechanism than GLP-1 drugs, researchers suggest it may be effective both as a standalone option and in combination with existing treatments.

“This makes them valuable both as a stand-alone treatment and in combination with GLP-1 drugs,” said Shane C. Wright.

Phase II Trial to Test Drug in Type 2 Diabetes and Obesity

Atrogi AB will next lead a Phase II trial to test whether earlier benefits can be replicated in people with type 2 diabetes or obesity.

Researchers from Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm University, Uppsala University, the University of Copenhagen, Monash University, and the University of Queensland carried out the study.

Funding came from the Swedish Research Council, the Swedish Society for Medical Research, and the Novo Nordisk Foundation.

Several authors work for or hold shares in Atrogi AB, which also funded the trial. Tore Bengtsson, the company’s founder and CSO, and a co-author have filed patent applications on the compounds studied. Further details on affiliations and potential conflicts of interest are provided in the published paper.

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Errors remain a major obstacle for quantum computers, disrupting calculations and limiting their ability to surpass conventional machines. Microsoft’s latest quantum chip is presented as a potential step forward—though only for those willing to accept the company’s claims.

The company has introduced an upgraded quantum chip intended to be more resistant to errors. However, the improvement has not persuaded skeptics who have long questioned Microsoft’s earlier work in this area.

Last year, Microsoft announced a new type of quantum chip said to protect information using topological principles from mathematics, which study the properties of shapes with holes. That announcement was quickly met with doubt from members of the scientific community.

Microsoft Unveils Updated Quantum Chip at Build Conference

At Microsoft’s Build conference in San Francisco on June 2, researchers unveiled an updated quantum chip that changes the materials used for its qubits, replacing aluminum with lead as the superconducting material to enable resistance-free electricity flow at extremely low temperatures.

The researchers report that the changes significantly improved parity lifetime, an important measure of topological qubit quality. In these nanoscale superconducting wires, parity refers to whether the electron count is even or odd. The parity lifetime measures how long this state remains stable before being disrupted by environmental noise or random fluctuations. Microsoft reports this has increased from milliseconds in earlier versions to about 20 seconds, according to a non–peer-reviewed preprint on its website and arXiv.

Microsoft physicist Chetan Nayak stated in a May 29 briefing that this represents “more than a 1000x improvement” in a key performance metric driven by the material change.

Skepticism Persists Over Microsoft’s Topological Quantum Claims

However, topological quantum computing has a contentious history with retracted claims, leaving many physicists unconvinced.. Some argue that Microsoft’s latest results still fall short of the evidence needed. Physicist Henry Legg of the University of St Andrews commented that “nothing in this preprint resolves the fundamental issues.”

The device is based on the idea that groups of electrons can collectively form a quasiparticle known as a Majorana. Pairs of these Majoranas can encode information in a way that is naturally resistant to errors. In Microsoft’s design, a Majorana sits at each end of a superconducting wire, and two parallel H-shaped wires form one qubit with four Majoranas.

This configuration is intended to store information nonlocally, meaning it is distributed across both ends of the wire, which in theory makes it more resistant to disturbances.

Some Scientists Welcome New Evidence on Majorana Particles

Some researchers view the results positively. For example, physicist Kartiek Agarwal of Argonne National Laboratory said the team demonstrated a new way to probe the nonlocal properties of Majoranas, strengthening the case that they may indeed exist. He described the work as “fantastic progress.”

Still, skeptics remain unconvinced. Critics, including Legg, say Microsoft hasn’t shown a fully working topological qubit because it requires both X and Z measurements. The new study reports only Z measurements, while earlier work included both, though the X results were already disputed. Legg maintains that “nothing in the presented data proves the existence of a topological qubit or Majoranas in these devices.”

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CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — NASA is moving ahead with early preparations for a large-scale Moon base, ordering landers, rovers, and drones just weeks after the Artemis II lunar flyaround.

NASA Launches Phase 1 Contracts for Moon Base Hardware Development

On Tuesday, the agency unveiled Phase 1 plans and awarded hundreds of millions in contracts to four U.S. companies. Blue Origin will provide two landers to carry rovers to the Moon’s south pole, while Astrolab and Lunar Outpost will build the lunar terrain vehicles. Meanwhile, Firefly Aerospace will deliver the first drones to the lunar surface.

The goal is for all of this equipment to reach the Moon before the first Artemis crewed landing, currently targeted for as early as 2028.

During April’s Artemis II mission, four astronauts completed a flight around the Moon, venturing farther into deep space than the Apollo crews did in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

In Artemis III next year, another astronaut team will practice docking NASA’s Orion spacecraft in Earth orbit with lunar landers that Blue Origin and SpaceX are developing for crewed missions.

Artemis III Planned for 2027, With Moon Base Expansion Into the 2030s

NASA is aiming for Artemis III in mid-2027, with a possible lunar landing by two astronauts as early as 2028. The second phase of the Moon base plan, running from 2029 into the early 2030s, will focus on constructing long-term infrastructure such as a power grid.

They expect a fully operational base capable of supporting astronauts in dedicated habitats for extended stays to come later in the 2030s during the third phase.

“Then we’ll be able to say, ‘We’re here for good, and we’re not leaving,’” said NASA moon base program executive Carlos Garcia-Galan.

Moon Base Envisioned to Span Hundreds of Square Miles, Monitored by MoonFall Drones

Garcia-Galan imagines a lunar base that could eventually span hundreds of square miles, with its boundaries monitored by drones—called MoonFall—positioned around the outer edges.

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman says the markers show respect for spacecraft and equipment from other countries that could be operating nearby. He also said he expects other nations to extend the same courtesy in return.

Isaacman emphasizes that the Moon base is designed to support a developing lunar economy, advance scientific research, and help prepare for future missions to Mars.

“For those who have been waiting patiently, the long-awaited return is near, and we won’t be slowing down,” he said. “We’re only just beginning.”

Read the original article on: sciencealert

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