Scientists Are Getting Better Access to Space - Which Means New Science is on the Horizon

As humanity looks toward a future of space exploration beyond Earth, new technologies and mission concepts are paving the way for exciting scientific discoveries. With falling rocket launch costs and increasingly powerful rockets, we have the capability to send larger and more sophisticated equipment into space. Robots, in-space manufacturing, and lunar bases are all part of the vision, making science in space more accessible and productive.

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Town Residents Knit Thousands Of Poppies To Honor Veterans in Canada and Around the World

A sea of red has taken over Port Stanley, Ontario — but it’s not fall foliage drawing attention. It’s yarn. More than 15,500 hand-knitted and crocheted poppies now adorn nearly every corner of the lakeside town, the result of a months-long volunteer effort led by residents Kathy Howarth and Jackie Valotaire. The project, launched in honour of Canadian veterans ahead of Remembrance Day, has transformed the town into a vibrant tribute. “My vision was to paint the village red,” said Howarth, who started the Port Stanley Poppy Project after being inspired by a similar initiative in Stratford. “That was my whole vision, and we did so much more.” Launched in late January, the project snowballed quickly. What began as a personal idea soon attracted over 100 volunteers, with the original goal of creating 12,001 poppies — one extra to represent the Unknown Soldier. But enthusiasm kept growing. By November, more than 15,555 flowers had been made, many stored in Howarth’s basement. Each poppy took about 25 minutes to craft. In total, volunteers poured in more than 6,000 hours of work. The result is hard to miss: poppies pinned to benches, wreaths, store signs, and even the town’s signature fish-themed welcome sign, which now wears a scarf made entirely of red yarn. The drawbridge is wrapped in flowers, and the local Legion’s second-floor balcony is blanketed in a poppy-covered sheet. “It’s been such an emotional time,” said Howarth. “It really brought the community together.” Valotaire handled much of the recruitment through a Facebook group, helping to organize the dozens of crafters. Some volunteers even brought yarn on vacation, working on poppies while abroad. “So many ladies were asking, ‘How many more do you need?’” she said. “We certainly knew our target was aggressive, and we ended up blowing it out of the water.” On November 1, volunteers spread the poppies around town in a coordinated effort that felt more like a celebration than a workday. By that afternoon, the transformation was complete. Anne Versteeg, chair of the local poppy campaign at Branch 410 of the Royal Canadian Legion, said the scale of the project left her stunned. “I’m just astounded by the amount of work that went into doing this,” she said. “It’s not just the knitting, but the work involved organizing, having people come together, hand-tying those poppies together onto fishing nets.” The Legion hosted a gathering on Monday to celebrate the achievement. Dozens of volunteers and community members came together in the same space where many of the poppies had been created. “It just gladdens my heart that we've got so many people in today’s world that are still thinking of the poppy campaign and what it means,” Versteeg said. The display has sparked a kind of unofficial scavenger hunt around town, as residents try to spot as many poppies as they can. For Howarth, the project’s impact has gone far beyond yarn and stitches. “I’ve got some ideas,” she said, hinting that this might not be a one-time initiative. “I’m looking forward to bringing it forward to the group. I’ve been very, very fortunate that everyone has been so supportive so far.” From a spark of inspiration to a full-on community movement, Port Stanley’s poppies now serve as a powerful, hand-crafted tribute — not just to those who served, but to what a united community can create together. The initiative, known as the Port Stanley Poppy Project, was spearheaded by Kathy Howarth. Her vision was simple: "My vision was to paint the village red," she said. What started as an idea quickly transformed into a project that brought together 106 volunteers who spent countless hours crafting these poppies since January. Howarth's inspiration came from seeing a similar project in Stratford, Ontario. She thought someone should bring it to Port Stanley and realized she could be that someone. The initial goal was 12,001 poppies—one for each volunteer and an extra for the Unknown Soldier—but enthusiasm swelled their numbers beyond expectations. Jackie Valotaire played a significant role in organizing the effort by creating a Facebook group to coordinate volunteers. "We certainly knew our target was aggressive," Valotaire explained. Yet even after surpassing their goal, eager participants kept asking, “How many more do you need?” Volunteers worked tirelessly on their creations. Some even took their yarn on vacations to continue knitting or crocheting abroad. With each poppy taking approximately 25 minutes to make, volunteers contributed over 6,000 hours collectively to achieve this remarkable feat. On November 1st, volunteers spread out across town to place these handmade flowers at various locations like park benches, wreaths, storefronts, and signs. One notable display includes Port Stanley’s iconic fish-themed welcome sign now sporting a scarf made almost entirely of red yarn. The community has warmly embraced this project; some residents turned spotting poppies into an engaging game for themselves and their families. Dozens gathered at Branch 410 of the Royal Canadian Legion in Port Stanley earlier this week to celebrate this achievement where many of these poppies were crafted. Anne Versteeg attended the gathering as well; she's the chair of the local poppy campaign at the Legion: “I’m just astounded by the amount of work that went into doing this,” she said while admiring sheets full of flowers blanketing railings around her. Reflecting on what these symbols mean today fills Versteeg with pride: “It just gladdens my heart that we've got so many people still thinking about what [the] poppy campaign means." As residents admire these colorful displays honoring veterans' sacrifices during Remembrance Day season—and ponder their symbolism—Howarth hints that future projects might arise next year if support remains strong: “I’ve got some ideas…I’ve been very fortunate everyone has been so supportive so far.”

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Sheetal Devi Makes History as First Armless Woman to Win World Para Archery Championship

High in the mountains of Jammu and Kashmir, a young girl once sat quietly on the sidelines, watching others run and play. Sports day meant cheering from the edges, never imagining that one day the world would be cheering for her. Now, at just 18, Sheetal Devi has become a trailblazing force in global para sport — and a living symbol of what resilience and self-belief can achieve. At the 2025 World Para Archery Championships in South Korea, Sheetal stunned the world by defeating defending champion and world number one Oznur Cure of Turkey. With that win, she became the first armless woman in history to win a world championship in archery. Born without arms due to a rare congenital disorder, Devi grew up in Kishtwar, a remote region in northern India. From a young age, she used her feet for everything — eating, writing, climbing trees, and later, shooting arrows with remarkable accuracy. Her archery technique is unlike anything else in the sport: She grips the bow with her feet, picks up the arrow using her toes, notches it with her mouth using a special shoulder device, and uses a releaser to connect her body to the bow. It’s a routine built entirely on balance, strength, and precision. “She never waited for anyone” Her father, Maan Singh, a farmer, says what set Sheetal apart wasn’t her condition, but her attitude. “She never waited for anyone to help her,” he said. “From the very beginning, she was different — not because of her condition, but because of her spirit.” That spirit first revealed itself in small ways: secretly climbing trees despite her mother’s fear, and often outclimbing her brother and friends. Without TV or mobile phones at home, she had no role models to show her what someone like her could become. “What others did with their hands, I learned to do with my legs,” Sheetal said. “As a child, I didn’t even understand that I had a rare condition. That challenge, however, pushed me to find my own way.” From heartbreak to discovery Her entry into sport came by accident. Four years ago, Sheetal traveled to Bengaluru for a medical treatment that didn’t work. “I was heartbroken,” she said. But during that visit, she was introduced to archery — a sport she’d never considered before. At first, she wasn’t convinced. It took months of encouragement before she agreed to train seriously. That changed after watching videos of Matt Stutzman, the legendary American armless archer. Inspired, she began working with her first coach, Kuldeep Vedwan, who helped build her strength and control using elastic bands and dumbbell exercises — all with her feet. In 2022, she moved to the Mata Vaishno Devi Sports Complex in Katra, where her training intensified under current coach Gaurav Sharma. Reinventing her shot A recent rule change requiring para archers to shoot using only their toes — without touching the bow with their heels — forced Sheetal to completely relearn her technique. It was, Sharma says, “mentally and physically exhausting.” “We rebuilt everything — her core strength, her focus, her form. But Sheetal never complained. She worked harder than anyone,” he said. The effort paid off. After winning bronze at the 2024 Paris Paralympics, becoming the youngest Indian Paralympian medallist, she went on to win golds at the World Championships, Asian Championships, and Asian Para Games. A rising role model With fame has come a new kind of responsibility — one that Sheetal welcomes. “What touches me most are the genuine reactions,” she said. “A six-year-old armless girl from the U.S. tagged me in her video saying she wanted to try archery someday. Or a boy from a remote Indian village who spoke to me about his dreams. I want to help him.” Her coach says it’s not just her athleticism that makes her remarkable. “Beyond her grit, she’s fun, spirited, and full of life. Her laughter lights up the training ground. Her positivity lifts everyone. And she’s only just begun.” Her parents remain quietly amazed. Her mother, Shakti Devi, still travels with her to competitions and ensures Sheetal gets her favourite homemade ghee and milk whenever she returns home. Her father watches her matches on his phone. “When she won her first medal, I didn’t even understand how big it was. I just said, ‘Mubarak ho, beta.’ Now I know the whole world is proud of her.” “Just show up” Sheetal remains grounded, despite the accolades. She wants to keep winning — not just medals, but opportunities for others. “There are so many children in rural India with talent who need support and guidance,” she said. “I want to help them dream and make those dreams real.” Asked what advice she would give to other aspiring athletes, her message is simple: “Believe in yourself, even if no one else does. Show up every day, improve a little at a time, and trust your journey.” In a sport known for stillness, focus, and inner calm, Sheetal Devi has become the unlikeliest — and most inspiring — champion. And she’s just getting started.

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Spaniel Rescued After 3 Hours Trapped in 30-Metre Drainage Pipe

A spaniel named Senna is safe and sound after being trapped for more than three hours inside a drainage pipe at his home in Market Weston, Suffolk. Senna is believed to have entered the 30-metre (98-foot) pipe from a nearby pond that feeds into the system. Once inside, the dog became stuck and unable to turn around. The tense rescue unfolded on Hepworth Road and involved a team effort from the Norfolk Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) team, a local drainage company, firefighters, residents, and Senna’s worried owners. “Thanks to the combined efforts of USAR, the owners, and local residents, we were able to dig down to the pipe and create an access point,” said Adam Eagle, station manager at Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service. After hours underground, the frightened dog was finally coaxed out with the help of his owner’s voice. “After some encouragement from his owner, Senna was able to be brought back up and was safely rescued,” Eagle confirmed. Senna was checked over and appeared unharmed after his underground ordeal.

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After 50 Years Without a Name, a Unique Southern Fish Finally Gets Its Due

For over half a century, a stocky, shiny fish with a sucker mouth swam nameless through the rivers of the southeastern U.S. Now, it finally has an official identity: the Apalachicola redhorse (Moxostoma antelunare). Long suspected to be its own species, this river dweller was formally described for the first time in a new paper published in the journal Zootaxa. It marks a major milestone for ichthyologists and fans of North America’s native fishes — especially those with a soft spot for so-called “rough fish.” Redhorses are part of a wider family of suckers found in rivers across the continent. With the addition of the Apalachicola redhorse, there are now 24 recognized species in the Moxostoma genus. These fish are known for their strength, distinctive body shape, and ecological importance in freshwater systems. The path to this naming was decades in the making. In 1969, famed ichthyologist Robert Jenkins — affectionately known as the “sucker king” — first noted that the Apalachicola redhorse was a separate, undescribed species. Though he kept detailed records and correspondence on the fish, he never published a formal description. That work was finally completed thanks to Daniel Akin, now a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. While collecting fish in the Apalachicola River as a master’s student at Auburn University, Akin came across adult redhorses in excellent condition and contacted Jenkins about the idea of finishing the description. Jenkins, then nearing the end of his life, gave his blessing. He passed away in 2022. “No matter how uncertain the times, Bob’s legacy of love for redhorses persisted,” the authors wrote in the paper’s prologue, honoring his decades of dedication. The newly described species lives only in the Apalachicola River drainage, which spans parts of Florida, Georgia, and Alabama, and also in Econfina Creek in Florida’s St. Andrew’s Bay drainage. According to Akin, it’s easy to spot if you know what to look for: “If you’re fishing in the Apalachicola, this redhorse is going to have more of a bulldog head,” he says. “It has a really robust body.” Despite its rarity in scientific literature, the fish appears to be relatively common in its limited range, regularly turning up in fish surveys. Still, much remains unknown. “It’s hard to conserve a species with no name,” Akin points out — which is why the formal description matters. The Apalachicola redhorse's recognition comes at a time when suckers and other native fish are finally getting more respect. Once dismissed as “trash fish,” they’re now seen as vital parts of river ecosystems — and worthy sport for dedicated anglers. “There’s a growing subculture of native fish anglers and naturalists,” Akin says. “They’re hard-fighting fishes, often wary and, to my eye, quite striking creatures.” To celebrate the moment, Akin is planning a redhorse jamboree next year in the Apalachicola region — an event for anglers, scientists, and the local community to gather, fish, and learn about the river’s newest celebrity. “It would be cool for the new state record Apalachicola redhorse to be caught at the event,” he says. “And hopefully the attention gets the local community excited about this special fish.” For now, Moxostoma antelunare swims on — no longer anonymous, and finally getting the recognition it deserves.

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Virtual Reality Just Helped Surgeons In Separating Conjoined Twins

In a landmark medical feat, surgeons in Brazil have successfully separated conjoined twins with fused brains — a procedure so complex it was practiced in virtual reality before being attempted in real life. The twins, Bernardo and Arthur Lima, were nearly 4 years old and had spent their entire lives physically joined at the top of their heads, facing in opposite directions. Known as craniopagus twins, their condition is one of the rarest and most difficult types of conjoined twinning, especially because their brains were fused together. “It was without a doubt the most complex surgery of my career,” said Gabriel Mufarrej, neurosurgeon at the Paulo Niemeyer State Brain Institute in Rio de Janeiro, where the twins had been under care for more than two years. The surgery was led in part by Noor ul Owase Jeelani, a London-based surgeon and founder of the medical charity Gemini Untwined, which funded the operation. What made this procedure groundbreaking wasn’t just its complexity — it was how it was planned. Surgeons in Brazil and the UK used virtual reality headsets to practice the operation together in a shared "virtual operating room", simulating the surgery based on detailed scans of the boys' shared anatomy. “You can’t imagine how reassuring this is for the surgeons,” Jeelani told the BBC. “To do it in virtual reality was just really man-on-Mars stuff.” Prior attempts to separate the twins had failed, leaving scar tissue that made the operation even more difficult. In total, the medical team conducted multiple surgeries over several months, with the final and most critical stages taking more than 33 hours and involving nearly 100 medical professionals. According to Reuters, Bernardo and Arthur are now the oldest twins with fused brains ever to be successfully separated. Jeelani described a powerful moment after the surgery: the boys’ heart rates and blood pressure had remained dangerously high for four days — until they were placed side by side and touched hands for the first time in their lives. Almost immediately, their vital signs stabilized. “At the beginning, nobody thought they would survive,” Mufarrej said. “It is already historic that both of them could be saved." Thanks to a global team, cutting-edge technology, and years of preparation, Bernardo and Arthur now have the chance to live independent, healthy lives — and, for the first time, to truly see one another face to face.

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Report Identifies 10 Emerging Tech Solutions To Enhance Planetary Health

A new report highlights ten emerging technologies with the potential to tackle some of the planet’s biggest environmental challenges, from slashing greenhouse gas emissions to restoring ecosystems and managing natural resources more sustainably. Released jointly by the World Economic Forum (WEF) and science publisher Frontiers, the report calls attention to tech innovations that could help humanity operate within Earth’s safe boundaries — a concept referring to the ecological limits the planet can withstand without long-term harm. “From breakthroughs in clean energy and resource efficiency, to innovations in materials, agriculture and ecosystem restoration, these solutions have the potential to address and mitigate key drivers of planetary boundary transgressions,” said Johan Rockström, director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research. Among the most promising technologies: 1. AI-Enhanced Earth Observation Artificial intelligence is transforming how we monitor environmental change. By combining satellite, drone, and ground-level data, AI-powered analytics can now detect changes in soil moisture, vegetation, land use, and precipitation at meter-scale resolution — in near real time. This helps identify deforestation, track extreme weather, monitor disaster zones, and optimize irrigation in agriculture. “These systems are already being used in flood-prone areas across Europe and in isolated regions of Africa,” said Luca Brocca of Italy’s Research Institute for Geo-Hydrological Protection. 2. Automated Food Waste Upcycling AI and automation are also revolutionizing food waste management. Advanced sensors and robotic arms can sort and convert organic waste into compost or biogas, diverting scraps from landfills and reducing methane emissions. “This kind of automation improves worker safety and compost quality while helping close the nutrient cycle,” said Maria Pilar Bernal of the Spanish National Research Council. 3. Green Concrete Concrete is responsible for roughly 8% of global CO₂ emissions, largely due to the production of Portland cement. New green concrete formulations replace cement with industrial waste or recycled materials, and some versions lock CO₂ into the concrete as it cures, providing permanent carbon storage. Green concrete reduces the need for sand mining and helps ease pressure on land use, material flows, and other planetary systems. Versions of it are already approved for use in Germany, the U.S., and Canada. Other emerging tech solutions in the report include: • Precision fermentation – making animal-free proteins using microbes, reducing the footprint of traditional livestock farming. • Green ammonia – a cleaner way to produce fertilizer without fossil fuels. • Methane capture and use – converting a potent greenhouse gas into usable energy. • Next-gen bi-directional charging – making electric vehicles double as mobile energy storage. • Modular geothermal energy – expanding low-carbon heat and electricity options. • Regenerative desalination – extracting clean water without harming ecosystems. • Soil health tech – using sensors, microbes, and AI to restore degraded soils. The AI Trade-Off While AI plays a key role in many of these breakthroughs, the report also warns of the trade-offs. “Building the data centers to power AI requires energy, water, and support from local communities,” said Jeremy Jurgens, WEF’s managing director. He stressed the importance of designing AI systems with sustainability in mind from the start — including how they’re powered and the impact they have on local environments. “The key is to integrate environmental considerations into AI development from the start,” Jurgens said. “It’s not about slowing innovation. It’s about making sure the innovation serves both people and the planet.” As the climate crisis intensifies, the report doesn’t pretend that any single technology will fix everything. But together, if deployed thoughtfully, these ten breakthroughs could provide tools for real, scalable progress. And in a world overwhelmed by environmental warnings, that’s a message worth paying attention to.

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Scientists Capture Rare Footage Of 'Deep-Diving' Whales Near Massachusetts Coast

In a remarkable moment for marine scientists, three elusive True’s beaked whales were recently seen surfacing off the coast of New England — a rare event for a species known for staying far below the ocean’s surface. The New England Aquarium’s aerial survey team captured the encounter near the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument, off Cape Cod. The whales, typically hidden in deep waters, were photographed swimming together at the surface, even briefly poking their fins above the waves. “These deep-diving whales are rarely seen at the surface and were a delight to see from the sky!” the aquarium shared in a Facebook post. True’s beaked whales are considered one of the most mysterious species in the ocean. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), they can grow up to 17.5 feet long and weigh as much as 3,000 pounds. They’re usually found in deep, warm parts of the North Atlantic Ocean and select regions of the Southern Hemisphere. They’re also incredibly difficult to study. Their deep-diving habits and shy behavior make them “cryptic and skittish,” NOAA notes — which means researchers often struggle to tell them apart from other similar species. As a result, very little is known about their population status. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) currently lists them as “data deficient,” meaning there’s not enough information to determine whether they’re endangered. “Are they endangered? Are the populations in good shape?” said Orla O’Brien, a research scientist at the New England Aquarium and the aerial survey coordinator. “We just don’t have enough data on them.” True’s beaked whales also face modern threats, particularly from human-generated ocean noise. Underwater sound pollution can interfere with their communication and may even drive them away from important areas where they breed and feed. While the sighting may have lasted only moments, researchers say it’s a valuable and exciting data point — and a rare window into the life of one of the ocean’s most mysterious whales.

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Adorable Wallaroos 'Cuddle' at Oakland Zoo

Animal carers at Oakland Zoo captured a sweet moment between two of its resident wallaroos, posting footage of the adorable interaction on November 4. Video taken by Keeper Marisa shows two wallaroos – large marsupials native to Australia – appearing to hug each other in their enclosure at Oakland Zoo. “Do you have your snuggle buddy ready?” the zoo joked on social media. Wallaroos are a generally solitary species, but mothers and mature young will still spend time side by side, according to Oakland Zoo.

Neuroscientists Reveal How To Unlock Childhood Memories You Thought Were Gone Forever

If you’ve ever tried to remember the name of your second-grade teacher or what costume you wore that Halloween, only to come up blank, there’s some good news: the memory might not be lost — just hidden. Researchers at Anglia Ruskin University have found that one surprisingly simple tool can help unlock memories from deep in your past: a photo of yourself as a child. “When our childhood memories were formed, we had a different body,” said Jane Aspell, senior author of the study and head of the Self & Body Lab. “So we wondered: if we could help people experience aspects of that body again, could we help them recall their memories from that time?” Turns out, yes. In the study, participants were asked to recall events from either their childhood (up to age 11) or from the past year. Some were shown a photo of their adult face, others a photo of themselves as children. The results were striking: people who looked at their younger selves were significantly better at remembering childhood details. The research suggests that our memories are deeply connected to our physical self at the time we experienced them. That version of “you” — the one who ran through sprinklers or hid under the bed from thunder — helps anchor the way your brain stores those moments. “All the events that we remember are not just experiences of the external world, but are also experiences of our body, which is always present,” said lead author Utkarsh Gupta. And it doesn’t stop with photos. Earlier studies show that re-experiencing sights, sounds, or places linked to specific memories can also work. Can’t remember who you went camping with in eighth grade? Try listening to music from that time. Want to recall what your childhood kitchen looked like? A photo of the house's exterior might jog the rest. The takeaway is simple but powerful: just because you can’t remember something right now doesn’t mean it’s gone for good. With the right cue — especially one tied to your past physical self — your brain might be able to bring it back. Your memories are still there. Sometimes, they just need a little help finding their way home.

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Scientists Build AI-Powered Robot That Could Revolutionize Farming: 'More Efficient'

A new one-armed, AI-powered robot is rolling through vineyards in Italy — and it might just be the future of farming. Named Frasky, the four-wheeled machine looks like a robotic arm on wheels. Built by researchers at the Italian Institute of Technology in collaboration with the JOiiNT Lab, Frasky is designed to help vineyards cope with a mix of growing challenges: labor shortages, rising temperatures, and shifting growing seasons. "Integrating robotics and artificial intelligence in agriculture allows us to develop increasingly advanced models of precision farming," said Manuel G. Catalano, who coordinates the JOiiNT Lab. "It enables more efficient and targeted use of resources, reduces environmental impact, and offers concrete support to farmers and wine producers." Frasky comes equipped with cameras, sensors, and a flexible appendage that allows it to identify grape clusters and carry out tasks like applying treatments. Its AI system helps it learn the terrain as vines grow and weather conditions change, while remote operators can adjust its instructions on the fly. And it’s more than just a flashy robot. The tech could provide a much-needed boost to an industry under pressure. Vineyards are being squeezed by multiple crises. Warmer temperatures are altering harvest timelines, droughts are reducing yields, and new pests are emerging in places they never existed before. In California’s Napa Valley, wildfires have devastated crops, causing millions in losses. Researchers predict that as climate zones shift, some current wine regions may suffer — while others, previously too cold, may become viable. That uncertainty has prompted interest in “smart” agricultural tools that can improve efficiency and resilience. Some researchers are developing smartphone-based tools to detect plant stress before humans can spot symptoms. John Deere is testing a fully electric, autonomous orchard sprayer. Tesla’s humanoid Optimus robot is still in early development but is being eyed for future fieldwork too. Frasky, however, is already in action. According to Stefano Ierace, director of the industrial research group Consorzio Intellimech, the project isn’t just about farming — it’s also a platform for training young professionals and sparking innovation. “It offers real opportunities to explore innovative solutions, with benefits extending to the entire production chain and the local social system,” he said. While Frasky’s current role is specialized, the possibilities go beyond the vineyard. A tool this adaptable — able to learn and evolve with its surroundings — could eventually be used in a variety of agricultural or even residential settings. For now, the focus is wine. But as labor becomes harder to find and climate stress intensifies, robots like Frasky may become a common sight in fields around the world.

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