A lot has happened in the STEM world this last week. Click to read about 5 cool STEM events. 

 Lauren Yang | News Editor

Feature image Creative Commons image from NASA on Wikipedia. 

GLASS from Mediated Matter Group on Vimeo.

1. 3D Printing Glass
A new 3D printing system, called G3DP, was recently developed by the MIT Mediated Matter Group and can 3D print glass. The process is much like what 3D printing typical material is like — the machine prints layer upon layer until the desired shape is achieved.

Creative Commons photo from Tannim101 on Wikipedia

2. Blood and Mental Health
Researchers have developed a promising new blood test that might help determine whether a patient has suicidal thoughts. By examining the molecules in the sample blood, this test boasted of a 92% accuracy during initial testing.

Mars’ surface may soon welcome the presence of data-collecting drones.

Creative Commons photo from NASA on Wikipedia

3. Drones on Mars
NASA engineers are currently designing a drone that can fly on Mars. The drone is named Prandtl-m, which stands for “Preliminary Research Aerodynamic Design to Land on Mars”. The eventual goal is for Prandtl-m to be able to navigate Mar’s thinner atmosphere while carrying data-collecting cameras and sensors. Although not impossible, this has proven to be a challenge because the drone will have to generate more lift to navigate in thinner atmosphere.

Photo from MX3D on MX3D

4. 3D Printing Bridges
The company MX3D is planning on 3D printing a bridge over a river in Amsterdam. Using MX3D resin, a type of material that hardens fast enough for the bridge to be printed in midair, the machine will move with the bridge as it is being printed. During the construction, 3D printers will be on opposite sides and will print towards the center in tandem. This project is expected to take place in September.

Whiskers are helping robots sense its surroundings, much like how whiskers help cats understand their environment.

Creative Commons photo from Hjvannes on Wikipedia

5. Robotic Whiskers
Recently, a device called the Whisker Array was prototyped to provide machines, such as exploratory robots, with another method of sensing its environment. The device utilizes straws that, much like the whiskers on a cat, sense objects as the machine moves around. Researchers hope to implement this tactile method of sensing to underwater vehicles to improve the machine’s awareness of its environment.