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George Putic

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February 16, 2018
When Will Robots Work Alongside Humans?

Most analysts and economists agree, robots are slowly replacing humans in many jobs. They weld and paint car bodies, sort merchandise in warehouses, explore underground pipes and inspect suspicious packages. Yet we still do not see robots as domestic help, except for robotic vacuum cleaners. Robotics experts say there is another barrier that robots need to cross in order to work alongside humans. VOA's George Putic reports.
February 12, 2018
Lifestyle Changes Lower Chances for Cancer

February is National Cancer Prevention Month in the United States, and the American Institute for Cancer Research is renewing efforts to inform the public how lifestyle changes can significantly lower the risk of several of the most common types of cancer. The campaign has been boosted by the results of a recent large-scale study that firmly established the association between diabetes and obesity and several types of cancer. VOA’s George Putic reports.
February 10, 2018
A New Instrument to Look for Exoplanets

Astronomers say a new instrument, now being tested on one of the telescopes in Chile's Atacama desert, will greatly enhance their ability to search for earthlike planets. VOA's George Putic has more.
February 09, 2018
Eye Contact Between Adults, Babies Synchronizes Brainwaves

When two people see things the same way, it is often said that they are "operating on the same wavelength." That concept recently got a scientific stamp of approval when researchers at the University of Cambridge found that adults' and infants' brainwaves synchronize when they look at each other's eyes while singing a nursery rhyme. VOA's George Putic has more.
February 04, 2018
Screening for Alzheimer's May Become Cheaper

Finding a cure for Alzheimer's is an extremely complex task. Scientists still do not know what causes the disease. Once the symptoms appear, the gradual memory loss is inevitable and available drugs can only slow down the process. Researchers, however, believe the disease develops slowly, over years, so detecting it before the symptoms appear may give the patients a better chance of a longer life. VOA's George Putic reports.
January 31, 2018
Lightweight Brain-Controlled Artificial Hand Being Developed

Scientists and engineers around the world are slowly but steadily improving brain-controlled artificial limbs hoping to make them more affordable to patients. Researchers at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology – EPFL - say their lightweight artificial hand may someday help paraplegic patients be able to feed themselves. VOA’s George Putic explains.
January 30, 2018
Car Manufacturers Boast of Fuel Efficiency

The annual Washington Auto Show is not the biggest or the most important convention of the year, but it still attracts a lot of attention, from enthusiasts and potential customers to automotive industry professionals. Self-driving cars are still some time off, so the focus this year continues to be on fuel efficiency. VOA’s George Putic has more.
January 28, 2018
Scientists Create a New Type of Hologram

Projecting three-dimensional (3D) images in thin air, called holography, moved from science fiction to reality a long time ago. But this type of graphic display is not in wide use because the required equipment is still expensive. Scientists at the Brigham Young University have discovered a cheaper method of holography, using particles floating in the air. VOA's George Putic reports.
January 27, 2018
Enthusiast Builds a Steam-powered SUV

Although long replaced by more efficient types of engines, steam-powered machines still have a certain appeal, and not just for museum-goers. In Britain, the country that gave us both the steam engine and the legendary off-road vehicle the Land Rover Defender, one inventor combined the two, much to the amusement of technology enthusiasts. VOA's George Putic has more.
January 26, 2018
A Cheap Test for Potable Water

According to the World Health Organization, 2.1 billion people do not have access to safe drinking water. Many of them rely on wells and streams, making testing the water for bacterial contamination of crucial importance. However, cheap and reliable testing equipment is often not available or not affordable. Scientists in Britain and elsewhere are working on a simple, paper-based test that can confirm that water is safe in a matter of seconds. VOA's George Putic reports.
January 21, 2018
Technology Helps Save Endangered Species in Africa

According to a global authority on endangered wildlife, nearly one-third of more than 85,000 animal species are in danger of extinction, among them, African zebras and rhinos. Scientists and volunteer activists are increasingly using technology not only to keep them alive but also to support procreation. VOA’s George Putic reports.
January 17, 2018
Technology Developers Call on Others to Make Use of It

The world’s biggest Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas is over but this year’s battle for consumers and their pocketbooks has only began. As smaller companies do not have the resources for research and development, big companies, such as Samsung, Canon and others, have a common message for them – let your imagination tell you how to use our technologies. VOA’s George Putic reports.
January 15, 2018
Computer Modeling May Become Faster

Scientists build computer models in order to understand how complex systems, such as traffic, weather or cancer progression work. These simulations of real-world situations usually require dozens of scientists working for many months. But a new approach to building such models, together with new advances in artificial intelligence, may significantly speed up this process. VOA’s George Putic reports.
January 13, 2018
New 'Smart Home' Tech Lets You Talk to Your Smoke Detector

Gadgets that can make homes smarter are becoming more affordable for consumers. At the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, even simple devices were getting sophisticated new brains. VOA's George Putic has more.
January 10, 2018
Small Companies Compete with Giants at CES

Paradoxically, the tens of thousands of people who flock each year to the Las Vegas Consumer Electronics Show, the popular CES, are not consumers. They are all professionals - exhibitors, developers, engineers, researchers, scientists, investors or inventors, owners of startups. Many come with a small product, hardly more than an idea. But they dream big. VOA’s George Putic talked with a few of them.
January 06, 2018
Social Media's Impact on Children Rising

Researchers in Europe and the U.S. say the use of social media among preteens and teenagers is on the rise, while internet companies, authorities and parents are slow to recognize its potentially harmful impact. VOA's George Putic reports.
December 30, 2017
The Biggest Consumer Electronics Show Opens in Two Weeks

January is almost here, and the world is bracing for the unofficial opening of this year's race for the hearts, minds and pockets of tech enthusiasts. The international Consumer Electronics Show, CES for short, is the venue where technology manufacturers, from giants to startups, show their products, hoping they will become among the next must-haves worldwide. VOA's George Putic looks at what may be expected.
December 27, 2017
Lackluster Year of Space Exploration

While the attention of much of the world was occupied with earthly happenings, space scientists had some notable achievements during the past year, ranging from new projects to the spectacular end of at least one program. VOA’s George Putic reviews the highlights of the year in space.
December 27, 2017
Gene Editing Promises Cures for Genetic Disorders

There’s a good chance that 2017 will go down in the history of medicine as a year when genetic engineering finally started moving from research labs to clinics. Several successful stories coming from different parts of the world promise that hereditary diseases and cancers may soon be conquered. VOA’s George Putic looks back at a few of these cases.
December 25, 2017
Securing Your Data in Cloud Storage

Saving digital files in commercial memory banks called cloud storage is a cheap and convenient way for long-term storage of documents, photos, music and video. Private users as well as businesses can access them from anywhere and share them with whomever they give the password to. Providers, such as Dropbox, Google Drive or Amazon S3, claim almost absolute security. But computer scientists say the protection should be in the users' hands. VOA's George Putic has more.

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