Scientists in England are to design the first ever biological robot using mould. Researchers are developing the amorphous non-silicon biological robot, plasmobot, using plasmodium, the vegetative stage of the slime mould Physarum polycephalum, a commonly occurring mould which lives in forests, gardens and most damp places in the UK. The research project aims to design the first every fully biological (no silicon components) amorphous massively-parallel robot.

Researchers have created a system with artificial intelligence techniques which notifies elderly people or people with special needs who might otherwise forget certain everyday tasks. This system uses sensors distributed in the environment in order to detect their actions and mobile devices which remind them, for example, to take their keys before they leave home.

Network Rail yesterday laid out a vision for a high-speed rail link from London to Scotland via Manchester, but admitted that it did not know how the scheme would be...

Network Rail yesterday laid out a vision for a high-speed rail link from London to Scotland via Manchester, but admitted that it did not know how the scheme would be...

Network Rail yesterday laid out a vision for a high-speed rail link from London to Scotland via Manchester, but admitted that it did not know how the scheme would be...

Construction groups could be forgiven for feeling that the cavalry has arrived at last. The government spending promised in last November's pre-budget report is...