Important Innovations

Curiosity Rover Takes an Action Picture Source:  NASA, JPL Caltech Space Shots NASA's Curiosity Mars rover snapped a picture of itself after drilling a hole into a rock structure on Mars.  The picture documents the tough job in rough terrain that this remarkable piece of robotic technology is performing.  Curiosity made its way up the steep rocky incline called the Greenheugh Pediment, as seen in the picture behind the rover. Space Renaissance 21st Century This is part of an 86 image series taken by the camera on the Curiosity Rover's robotic arm.  For Curiosity, today is day 2,687 roving the harsh and mysterious environment of the Red Planet and sending back images and samples to NASA  Part of that mission is to determine if life ever existed on Mars and if deep within the surface of Mars there is water that could sustain life.

Smartphone, New App, Quick Video Selfie of Face Measures Blood Pressure Source:  University of Toronto blood pressure measurement system Innovation from Canada and China Checking your blood pressure may soon be as easy as just taking a selfie on your smartphone.  Researchers at the University of Toronto in Canada, along with Chinese researchers, have developed a new app that's breakthrough.  All that's required is a quick video selfie of the face on the iPhone.  The device has been tested successfully on nearly 2000 Canadian and Chinese adults. 96% Accuracy Rate The app uses the smartphone's ability to detect red light reflected by hemoglobin under the skin's surface.  The technology is called transdermal optical imaging and was invented by Prof. Kang Lee of the University of Toronto, surprisingly for a contactless lie detector system.  He switched gears and invented this on the spot health care device. In the system, an algorithm measur...

Mars' Dusty Skies and a "Selfie" Courtesy:  NASA   Panoramic View of the Red Planet NASA's Curiosity rover has captured a new and stunning view of its current location on Mars.  It's a 360 perspective at its location on Vera Rubin Ridge.  As you can see, the picture shows reddish brown dusty skies.  The skies are darkened by a fading global dust storm that has draped the planet for weeks.  Also there's a very rare "selfie" of Curiosity.   And you can see Curiosity's most recent drill target in the foreground. Exploring Mars Curiosity has been exploring Mars since 2012.  The rover has found evidence of an ancient lake on the planet.  It's currently being used to investigate how Mars transformed from a warm, wetter planet that could have sustained life to a dry, icy place.  Curiosity drills into Mars' surface because sedimentary rocks hold clues about environmental conditions going back deep into the past.