Dust accumulating on solar panels is a big problem. But washing the panels consumes large amounts of water. MIT engineers have now developed a waterless cleaning method.

According to its developers, the British airship Airlander 10 could take off for commercial flights with passengers from 2028.

An adaptor makes immune cells fight cancer cells. Such “BiTE” agents have already proven effective against blood, lung and prostate cancer, researchers report.

A team of Empa researchers has developed a disposable paper battery that works with metallic inks and salt - activated by a drop of water. This could be used to power a wide range of small disposable electronic devices with low power consumption.

The findings could help develop new functional materials. Waterproof textiles, for example. Or construction materials for self-cleaning buildings.

A new robot can precisely mimic the softness of various materials. In future, medical students could use it to practise detecting malignant tumours or researchers could feel the softness of an object in space.

A skin sensor developed at MIT is as thin as adhesive tape and sends signals - without a chip or battery. The device can vibrate in response to a person's heartbeat or the salt in their sweat, as well as generate a readable electrical signal.

A chopping robot with an integrated spraying system helps to reduce the use of plant protection products in vegetable production. This was the result of trials in fields with lettuce and pak choi.

A joystick-controlled robot could help surgeons operate on stroke patients remotely. This would allow patients to be treated during the critical time window after a stroke - even if they are far away from a specialist.