3D-printed tissue Mimics Real Organs

Surgeons and doctors often rely on artificial models to practice delicate procedures. Researchers at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities have developed a new 3D printing technique that creates lifelike human tissue structures. Their work could reshape surgical training by offering models that look, feel, and respond more like real human tissue.

The Minnesota team found a way to control the shape and size of microscopic patterns inside the printed material. Those patterns directly influence the strength and stretchiness of the tissues, giving them realistic mechanical properties. They also built a mathematical formula to predict how the tissues behave under stress.

More information:

https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/3d-printed-human-tissue-surgery-training

Replicating the Electrical System of the Heart

Researchers have succeeded in creating a digital twin that for the first time replicates the heart's electrical conduction system, which coordinates heartbeats. The breakthrough could pave the way for diagnosing and tailoring treatments for conditions such as arrhythmias and heart failure. Researchers developed a computer model that digitally reconstructs the Purkinje network using a standard electrocardiogram.

The goal with the heart's digital twin is for it to be used as a virtual patient, where treatments can be tested and optimized without any risk. This would allow for better planning of procedures, greater personalization and, therefore, more effective results. The team is now working on two challenges: increasing computing capacity so that each patient's digital twin can be generated almost in real time.

More information:

https://www.upi.com/Health_News/2025/09/25/chile-heart-digital-twin-chile-study/1501758817726/

CHI Greece 2025 Article II

Yesterday, a paper I co-authored with colleagues from CYENS was presented at CHI Greece 2025. The paper is entitled “A Longitudinal Evaluation of Heart Rate Efficiency for Amateur Runners”. It presents a web-based system that uses large language models (LLMs) to automatically generate structured short-form video (i.e., reels) from lecture long-form videos while preserving instructor-authored material. It first presents Fitplotter, which is a client-side web application designed for the visualization and analysis of data associated with fitness and activity tracking devices. Next, we revisited and formalized Heart Rate Efficiency (HRE), defined as the product of pace and heart rate, as a practical and explainable metric to track aerobic fitness in everyday running.

Drawing on more than a decade of training data from one athlete, and supplemented by publicly available logs from twelve runners, we showed that HRE provides more stable and meaningful feedback on aerobic development than heart rate or pace alone. We showed that HRE correlates with training volume, reflects seasonal progress, and remains stable during long runs in well-trained individuals. We also discuss how HRE can support everyday training decisions, improve the user experience in fitness tracking, and serve as an explainable metric to proprietary ones of commercial platforms. Our findings have implications for designing user-centered fitness tools that empower amateur athletes to understand and manage their own performance data.

More information:

https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3749012.3749046

CHI Greece 2025 Article I

Today, a paper I co-authored with colleagues from CYENS, University of Cyprus and cognitiveux which was presented at CHI Greece 2025. The paper is entitled “The Reel Deal: Designing and Evaluating LLM-Generated Short-Form Educational Videos”. It presents a web-based system that uses large language models (LLMs) to automatically generate structured short-form video (i.e., reels) from lecture long-form videos while preserving instructor-authored material.

In a between-subject user study with 62 university students, we evaluated ReelsEd and demonstrated that it outperformed traditional long-form videos in engagement, quiz performance, and task efficiency without increasing cognitive load. Learners expressed high trust in our system and valued its clarity, usefulness, and ease of navigation. Our findings point to new design opportunities for integrating generative AI into educational tools that prioritize usability, learner agency, and pedagogical alignment.

More information:

https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3749012.3749048

Re-Inventing the Mouse

Researchers from Nazarbayev University in Kazakhstan introduced two entirely new ergonomic mouse designs. The first, called the Fleximouse, is a squeezable, pink mesh blob that allows users to move the cursor by making slight adjustments to their grip. The second, a vertical A-frame design somewhat resembling a drawing compass, was intended to keep the hand in a more comfortable position that requires less wrist movement overall.

And while the conventional computer mouse is far from perfect, testing suggests that its general adaptability to a wide range of hand shapes and sizes may contribute to its longevity. Still, the researchers say their findings could help inform the design of future mice by incorporating softer, less rigid features that more naturally align with the subtle movements of the human hand.

More information:

https://www.popsci.com/technology/squeezable-computer-mouse/

Universe Simulation on Laptop

Scientists have introduced Effort.jl, an innovative emulator that mimics the behavior of advanced cosmological models with striking accuracy, sometimes even improving on them, while running in minutes on a laptop.

Built on a neural network, the tool learns model responses and integrates known physics to cut training time, which promise to greatly deepen our knowledge of the Universe on large scales.

More information:

https://scitechdaily.com/scientists-just-found-a-way-to-simulate-the-universe-on-a-laptop/

Swarm Intelligence

A new framework has been designed to push forward swarm intelligence, the branch of AI that mimics the group behaviors of birds, fish, and bees. The coordinated movement of robots could improve search-and-rescue operations and wildfire detection.

The collective intelligence found in nature is a wonder of efficiency and coordination. Birds flock to forage. Fish school as a way to avoid predators. Bees use swarming as their method of reproduction.

More information:

https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/fish-birds-inspire-robot-swarm-control

Acoustic AI for Autonomous Driving

A new wave of acoustic technology could give vehicles the missing sense that cameras and radar can’t provide. By detecting sirens before they’re visible, picking up the chatter of pedestrians, or even transmitting urgent sounds through a driver’s headrest, researchers are teaching cars to react to the world the way humans do by listening. Unlike optical systems, which need a clear line of sight, acoustic sensors can pick up what’s happening around corners or in crowded streets. That ability could prove essential for autonomous driving, where every millisecond of awareness matters.

Sensors are designed to stand up to rain, wind, and extreme temperatures, with careful placement ensuring accurate pickup even at highway speeds. Testing has taken the car from Portugal to the Arctic Circle to stress the technology in real conditions. To make sure drivers don’t miss critical cues, important noises can also be piped directly into the cabin via the headrest. That means a siren, horn, or warning call is not just detected but delivered right to the driver’s ear, helping them respond faster. The project involves close collaboration with automotive suppliers and manufacturers.

More information:

https://interestingengineering.com/transportation/hearing-car-autonomous-driving-sound-recognition