Jun 14th, 2008 · A mini-drama unfolded millions of miles away this week near the North Pole of Mars when NASA's robotic lander Phoenix had trouble with a shovel-full of dirt. NPR's science correspondent David Kestenbaum wonders if there is life among the dirt on Mars.
Jun 13th, 2008 · Using a robotic arm on the Phoenix Mars lander Wednesday, scientists successfully gathered a sample of the planet's soil, clearing the way for further research on the possibility of life on Mars. The head of the Mars Phoenix mission joins Science Friday for an update.
May 30th, 2008 · English singer-songwriter Newton Faulkner specializes in folk-tinged pop music. On his debut album, Hand Built by Robots, Faulkner covers bands as varied as Rusted Root and Massive Attack, using his trademark percussive style on acoustic guitar.
May 30th, 2008 · Monkeys were able to use the arm to perform tasks such as feeding themselves — and, the researchers say, the monkeys appear to regard the robotic device as part of their own bodies. What could this research mean for human prosthetics?
May 29th, 2008 · The journal Nature is reporting that in an experiment monkeys were able to feed themselves using a robotic arm controlled with their brain waves. The technology has promise for paralyzed humans — but there are some serious hurdles. Madeleine Brand speaks with Andrew Schwartz, the senior author on the paper.
May 29th, 2008 · A couple of lab monkeys reaching for marshmallows could hold the key to restoring arm function in paralyzed people. The monkeys grabbed their snacks with robotic arms controlled by just their thoughts. Tiny sensors implanted in their brains direct waves into the computer that operates the arm. Researchers in the journal Nature say it's a critical refinement on earlier work — and shows that prosthetics controlled by the brain are at least possible.
May 14th, 2008 · Detroit's Orchestra Hall was like a scene out of the Jetsons on Tuesday night. A robot designed by Honda conducted the Detroit Symphony. ASIMO, which stands for Advanced Step in Innovative Mobility, led musicians during a performance of The Impossible Dream.
May 13th, 2008 · Music critics sometimes slam symphony conductors for their overly robotic approach. When the Detroit Symphony performs today with soloist Yo-Yo Ma, that criticism won't be.a criticism. The DSO will be led by Honda's ASIMO robot.