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Give Your Hand a Rest. Try One of Our Favorite Sex Toys Instead

Give Your Hand a Rest. Try One of Our Favorite Sex Toys Instead

Other Sex Toys We Like

Lovense Osci 3

Photograph: Lovense

We test a lot of sex toys and accessories here at WIRED, and there isn’t enough room in one list for all of our favorite picks. There’s barely enough room on this list for all the toys we’d consider phenomenal, let alone the ones we consider the absolute best. So here are some other products that are great in their own right and worth checking out.

Lovense Osci 3 Rabbit Vibrator for $114: Rabbit vibrators are often associated with vulvas because they simultaneously stimulate the G-spot and clitoris, but the flexibility of the Lovense Osci 3 (7/10, WIRED Review) makes it so anyone can use it. I have friends with phalluses who love rabbits because of the dual stimulation: the long arm can penetrate the anus while the shorter arm rests against the perineum, delivering intense vibrations. A lot is going on with Osci 3, and it’s full of features worth exploring, so I highly recommend it to anyone who loves bells and whistles.

Lelo Enigma for $199: Lelo’s Enigma is a weird-looking toy. It not only looks like some device a Stormtrooper would keep under their pillow to, well, who even knows, but looks aside, I can say this: I had one of the hardest and quickest orgasms of my life with this toy. Even after I climaxed, I sat there for 20 minutes wondering what had just happened. To this day, I don’t know if it was a blended orgasm, a triple orgasm, or some religious experience that only a heathen can have in the perfect setting. Like the Rabbit vibrator before it, the Enigma is designed to stimulate both the clitoris and the G-spot. But instead of relying solely on vibration, the Enigma’s clitoral stimulation arm contains a powerful air pulse mechanism for providing suction that imitates the sensation of receiving oral sex. The bigger, rounder end of the toy is where the vibration motor lives. Its body is flexible enough that you can use just one end or the other at a time, but if you use them together, it’s an intense experience, to say the least. Even going slow, the Enigma fires you off into space at warp speed—in a good way. That said, the vibration end is a bit thick at its widest point, so if you’re not comfortable with large-diameter toys, take it slow and easy. Use lots of lube.

Image may contain Arm and Electronics

Unbound Bender

Photograph: Unbound

Unbound Bender for $69: The Bender is unique because it’s so flexible and allows you to get creative if you’re alone or with a partner (or two). You can easily shape it to fit your body in so many ways. One minute, it’s the ultimate G-spot stimulator, while the next it’s reaching deep, heading toward the A-spot, or as we call it in the biz, the anterior fornix erogenous zone. Then, with more twists and turns, you’ve got yourself a clitoral vibrator. There’s no end to such high-quality, luxurious magic that comes with Bender! It’s also waterproof, and while the vibrations aren’t as powerful as a wand-style vibrator, they’re buzzy enough to make an impact, especially for those who find many vibrators to be too intense to the touch. It’s also super quiet, even at its highest setting.

Coconu Wave Massager for $50: The Coconu Wave (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is asymmetrical, with a flat cut-out on one side, giving you a variety of rounded and pointed corners to use for stimulation. It’s shaped like a raindrop, with a curved tip that does a great job of concentrating the vibrations it produces. The body is clad in platinum-cured silicone, and it’s soft and squishy to the touch. The silicone used on the Wave takes lube extremely well; even a couple of drops of water-based lube make the exterior of the Wave take on a texture sort of like the inside of your cheek. Slick but not squeaky or sticky.

Person holding Dame Com Wand Vibrator next to legs

Dame Com

Photograph: Dame

Dame Com for $95: Dame’s take on the classic magic wand introduces a new angle on an old favorite—literally. Most wands are straight, and nothing on the human body is straight, so using them to reach your most sensitive areas can be pretty awkward. The Com (8/10, WIRED Recommends) offers an elegant solution. The wand handle is angled ergonomically, so the toy does all the reaching for you. The battery life could use some work, though; you’ll get about an hour out of a single charge, but that’s also why no one should ever own just one wand vibrator. Not only should your vibrators always be fully charged, but it’s important to have something else on standby and ready to finish the job that another toy might have been unable to do.

Dame Fin for $49: For those who loved the Dame Fin, good news: Fin 2.0 has arrived. Slicker in appearance and with two more intensities to choose from (making it five now, instead of three), the Fin 2.0 may as well teach a master class. With your favorite water-based lube, the Fin can seamlessly move across the body, stimulating everything from the earlobes to the nipples to that spot on the inner thigh that makes so many people squirm in ecstasy. When you’re ready to take things up a notch, it can bring your sexual pleasure journey to fruition—in other words, orgasm.

Crave Vesper Mini for $109: In a society where things tend to get bigger, Crave decided to take the iconic Vesper and scale it down, creating the Vesper Mini (9/10, WIRED Recommends). Like its original model and its second incarnation, the Vesper 2, the Mini is just as discreet and stylish, while packing a whole lot of punch. The Mini, which is equal parts vibrator and necklace, has three speed intensities and one pattern option to choose from, is 100 percent waterproof, and because it’s made of polished 316L surgical stainless steel with a nickel-free plating, it’s body-safe. It’s a must-have if you prefer your sexual pleasure to be highly sophisticated, elegant, and wearable.

Magic Wand Micro and a set of keys

Magic Wand Micro

Photograph: Magic Wand

Magic Wand Micro for $65: I know what you might be thinking, “But it’s so smol!” You know what else is small? Hummingbirds, grapes, and puppies. So don’t let the smallness of anything, especially this Magic Wand Micro, cause alarm or assumption. Like all wands, the broad head of the Magic Wand Micro delivers rumbles galore that don’t just stimulate the clitoris but the entire vulva—and for a whopping three hours, when fully charged. It’s also USB rechargeable, so take that, outlet-needy wand vibrators! Unlike some other wands—like this one’s older siblings—there’s no need to be near an outlet for your entire body to feel the surge of pleasure everywhere. Nor will you feel like you have an extra limb in bed with you, thanks to its diminutive size that can easily be wielded about without fear of knocking yourself or a partner in the head. Its size also makes it travel-ready, meaning lunchtime wanks during the workday can become a daily practice. Fun fact: Feminist pornographer Erika Lust has made masturbation breaks a permanent policy in her company, so it’s not exactly unheard of or even vulgar to rub one out when you need a quick de-stress session. I have had dozens of wand vibrators in my life, but this one, as Renee Zellweger would say, “had me at hello.”

Crave Wink+ Bullet Vibrator for $89: For years, my favorite bullet vibe was Le Wand Deux, but with Crave Wink+, I’ve finally met a bullet that is currently rivaling my love for the Deux. Made of gorgeous body-safe, nickel-free stainless steel, the Wink+ offers four vibration intensities and one pattern mode, is 100 percent waterproof, and when fully charged and used at its highest speed, you can get up to a whopping five hours of playtime with this bad boy. It’s truly remarkable, and I know it will be on my nightstand for a very, very long time.

Dame Hug Cock Ring for $75: If you thought cock rings needed to be a super-snug fit to deliver the benefits they offer, think again. With the Hug (9/10, WIRED Recommends), Dame’s first foray into toys for penis-havers, the fit isn’t just comfortable, but easily adjustable thanks to the pinchable arms. Its design not only stimulates the penis and scrotum when rolling solo, but when used with a partner, the Hug is perfectly shaped to stimulate the clitoris during penetration.

What’s Your Sex Toy Made Of?

17 Best Sex Toys  Tested and Reviewed

Photograph: Getty Images 

Throughout this guide, we reference the different materials these sex toys are made of, and there’s a good reason for that. It’s notoriously difficult to pin down exactly what materials some sex toy manufacturers use and how safe those are for contact with your most sensitive body parts. This is due to FDA regulations and how they classify sex toys: medical devices or novelty. The former category requires rigorous testing and standards, whereas the latter makes it easier to get products into the market. There are a few sure bets, though. You want your sex toys to be, first and foremost, nonporous. A porous material will be almost impossible to fully clean and will degrade the product and house more and more bacteria over time. Secondly, you want it made of materials that will not shed chemicals, plastics, or other materials during regular use. The materials that generally fit that bill are surgical steel (316 or 316L steel), borosilicate glass, and silicone.

Silicone is one of the trickier materials because there are so many ways it can be made, and so many different testing standards in parts of the world. Frankly, there aren’t enough studies that test which kinds of silicone are safest. There are a couple that have a solid body of research behind them, along with some common testing standards: Platinum-cured silicone and food-grade silicone. Food-grade is a label regulated by the FDA, and it means the silicone has been tested to make sure it doesn’t leach harmful chemicals into food. Crave cofounder Michael Topolovac says, “Once you go below food grade, a lot of things come into play that are hard to verify.” Platinum-cured silicone is safer than standard (peroxide-cured) silicone because the chemicals used to make the silicone are more completely consumed during the process, leaving nothing behind to leach into your body. Platinum-cured silicones are surprisingly odorless for this reason.

Medical grade is a label you’ll see pretty often, but if it’s not backed up with the specific regulatory body or testing standard used to determine that it’s medical grade, it leaves me wondering why that hasn’t been disclosed. If the manufacturer specifies which kind of silicone it uses, we will list it in the product description. If it’s unclear, we’ll list it as unspecified silicone. That doesn’t mean it’s bad! It just means the specific kind used in that toy isn’t listed or hasn’t been provided to us.


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Garmin Forerunner 70 Features

The entry-level Forerunner 70 is designed for beginners who want a dedicated running watch without sacrificing advanced training tools. It features a 1.2-inch AMOLED display, offers up to 13 days of battery life in smartwatch mode, and tracks pace, distance, and wrist-based heart rate.

Despite being the most affordable model in the lineup, Garmin has included several premium metrics such as Running Power, Running Dynamics, Acute Load, Training Effect, and Recovery Time. The watch also supports over 80 sports modes, including cycling, swimming, yoga, strength training, and HIIT. Outside workouts, users can monitor sleep, stress levels, Body Battery energy, and receive the company’s Morning Report with a daily health summary.

Garmin Forerunner 70 and 170 Series Arrive in India With 13-Day Battery & AI Training Tools
	
Garmin has expanded its running smartwatch lineup in India with the launch of the new Forerunner 70, Forerunner 170, and Forerunner 170 Music. Aimed at everyone from first-time runners to marathon enthusiasts, the new wearables bring AMOLED displays, Garmin Coach training plans, built-in GPS, smart notifications, safety features, and access to the Garmin Connect ecosystem. They also include Garmin’s adaptive coaching tools, such as Garmin Coach, Training Readiness, Training Status, HRV Status, Recovery Time, and Daily Suggested Workouts, to help runners optimize both training and recovery.



Garmin Forerunner 70 Features



The entry-level Forerunner 70 is designed for beginners who want a dedicated running watch without sacrificing advanced training tools. It features a 1.2-inch AMOLED display, offers up to 13 days of battery life in smartwatch mode, and tracks pace, distance, and wrist-based heart rate.



Despite being the most affordable model in the lineup, Garmin has included several premium metrics such as Running Power, Running Dynamics, Acute Load, Training Effect, and Recovery Time. The watch also supports over 80 sports modes, including cycling, swimming, yoga, strength training, and HIIT. Outside workouts, users can monitor sleep, stress levels, Body Battery energy, and receive the company’s Morning Report with a daily health summary.











The Forerunner 170 and Forerunner 170 Music are designed for more serious runners seeking deeper performance insights. Both watches feature a 1.2-inch AMOLED display, a lightweight 43mm case, and up to 10 days of battery life. The duo builds upon the Forerunner 70 by offering more advanced recovery analysis and training metrics, including Running Dynamics, Running Power, Training Readiness, Training Status, HRV Status, and Acute Load.



Garmin has also included a full suite of health features like all-day heart rate monitoring, Sleep Coach, Body Battery, stress tracking, respiration monitoring, Morning Report, Evening Report, and women’s health tracking. Like the Forerunner 70, both models support more than 80 built-in sports profiles. The biggest difference between the two is that the Forerunner 170 Music lets users download playlists from supported music streaming services directly to the watch, enabling phone-free listening during workouts.



The Garmin Forerunner 70 is priced at ₹32,990 and goes on sale starting July 3. Meanwhile, the Forerunner 170 is priced at ₹39,490, while the Forerunner 170 Music costs ₹45,990. Both models will be available from July 4 through Garmin India’s website, Amazon, and authorized retail stores across the country.





#Garmin #Forerunner #Series #Arrive #India #13Day #Battery #Training #ToolsGarmin

The Forerunner 170 and Forerunner 170 Music are designed for more serious runners seeking deeper performance insights. Both watches feature a 1.2-inch AMOLED display, a lightweight 43mm case, and up to 10 days of battery life. The duo builds upon the Forerunner 70 by offering more advanced recovery analysis and training metrics, including Running Dynamics, Running Power, Training Readiness, Training Status, HRV Status, and Acute Load.

Garmin has also included a full suite of health features like all-day heart rate monitoring, Sleep Coach, Body Battery, stress tracking, respiration monitoring, Morning Report, Evening Report, and women’s health tracking. Like the Forerunner 70, both models support more than 80 built-in sports profiles. The biggest difference between the two is that the Forerunner 170 Music lets users download playlists from supported music streaming services directly to the watch, enabling phone-free listening during workouts.

The Garmin Forerunner 70 is priced at ₹32,990 and goes on sale starting July 3. Meanwhile, the Forerunner 170 is priced at ₹39,490, while the Forerunner 170 Music costs ₹45,990. Both models will be available from July 4 through Garmin India’s website, Amazon, and authorized retail stores across the country.

#Garmin #Forerunner #Series #Arrive #India #13Day #Battery #Training #ToolsGarmin">Garmin Forerunner 70 and 170 Series Arrive in India With 13-Day Battery & AI Training Tools
	
Garmin has expanded its running smartwatch lineup in India with the launch of the new Forerunner 70, Forerunner 170, and Forerunner 170 Music. Aimed at everyone from first-time runners to marathon enthusiasts, the new wearables bring AMOLED displays, Garmin Coach training plans, built-in GPS, smart notifications, safety features, and access to the Garmin Connect ecosystem. They also include Garmin’s adaptive coaching tools, such as Garmin Coach, Training Readiness, Training Status, HRV Status, Recovery Time, and Daily Suggested Workouts, to help runners optimize both training and recovery.



Garmin Forerunner 70 Features



The entry-level Forerunner 70 is designed for beginners who want a dedicated running watch without sacrificing advanced training tools. It features a 1.2-inch AMOLED display, offers up to 13 days of battery life in smartwatch mode, and tracks pace, distance, and wrist-based heart rate.



Despite being the most affordable model in the lineup, Garmin has included several premium metrics such as Running Power, Running Dynamics, Acute Load, Training Effect, and Recovery Time. The watch also supports over 80 sports modes, including cycling, swimming, yoga, strength training, and HIIT. Outside workouts, users can monitor sleep, stress levels, Body Battery energy, and receive the company’s Morning Report with a daily health summary.











The Forerunner 170 and Forerunner 170 Music are designed for more serious runners seeking deeper performance insights. Both watches feature a 1.2-inch AMOLED display, a lightweight 43mm case, and up to 10 days of battery life. The duo builds upon the Forerunner 70 by offering more advanced recovery analysis and training metrics, including Running Dynamics, Running Power, Training Readiness, Training Status, HRV Status, and Acute Load.



Garmin has also included a full suite of health features like all-day heart rate monitoring, Sleep Coach, Body Battery, stress tracking, respiration monitoring, Morning Report, Evening Report, and women’s health tracking. Like the Forerunner 70, both models support more than 80 built-in sports profiles. The biggest difference between the two is that the Forerunner 170 Music lets users download playlists from supported music streaming services directly to the watch, enabling phone-free listening during workouts.



The Garmin Forerunner 70 is priced at ₹32,990 and goes on sale starting July 3. Meanwhile, the Forerunner 170 is priced at ₹39,490, while the Forerunner 170 Music costs ₹45,990. Both models will be available from July 4 through Garmin India’s website, Amazon, and authorized retail stores across the country.





#Garmin #Forerunner #Series #Arrive #India #13Day #Battery #Training #ToolsGarmin

Forerunner 170 and Forerunner 170 Music are designed for more serious runners seeking deeper performance insights. Both watches feature a 1.2-inch AMOLED display, a lightweight 43mm case, and up to 10 days of battery life. The duo builds upon the Forerunner 70 by offering more advanced recovery analysis and training metrics, including Running Dynamics, Running Power, Training Readiness, Training Status, HRV Status, and Acute Load.

Garmin has also included a full suite of health features like all-day heart rate monitoring, Sleep Coach, Body Battery, stress tracking, respiration monitoring, Morning Report, Evening Report, and women’s health tracking. Like the Forerunner 70, both models support more than 80 built-in sports profiles. The biggest difference between the two is that the Forerunner 170 Music lets users download playlists from supported music streaming services directly to the watch, enabling phone-free listening during workouts.

The Garmin Forerunner 70 is priced at ₹32,990 and goes on sale starting July 3. Meanwhile, the Forerunner 170 is priced at ₹39,490, while the Forerunner 170 Music costs ₹45,990. Both models will be available from July 4 through Garmin India’s website, Amazon, and authorized retail stores across the country.

#Garmin #Forerunner #Series #Arrive #India #13Day #Battery #Training #ToolsGarmin">Garmin Forerunner 70 and 170 Series Arrive in India With 13-Day Battery & AI Training Tools

Garmin has expanded its running smartwatch lineup in India with the launch of the new Forerunner 70, Forerunner 170, and Forerunner 170 Music. Aimed at everyone from first-time runners to marathon enthusiasts, the new wearables bring AMOLED displays, Garmin Coach training plans, built-in GPS, smart notifications, safety features, and access to the Garmin Connect ecosystem. They also include Garmin’s adaptive coaching tools, such as Garmin Coach, Training Readiness, Training Status, HRV Status, Recovery Time, and Daily Suggested Workouts, to help runners optimize both training and recovery.

Garmin Forerunner 70 Features

The entry-level Forerunner 70 is designed for beginners who want a dedicated running watch without sacrificing advanced training tools. It features a 1.2-inch AMOLED display, offers up to 13 days of battery life in smartwatch mode, and tracks pace, distance, and wrist-based heart rate.

Despite being the most affordable model in the lineup, Garmin has included several premium metrics such as Running Power, Running Dynamics, Acute Load, Training Effect, and Recovery Time. The watch also supports over 80 sports modes, including cycling, swimming, yoga, strength training, and HIIT. Outside workouts, users can monitor sleep, stress levels, Body Battery energy, and receive the company’s Morning Report with a daily health summary.

Garmin Forerunner 70 and 170 Series Arrive in India With 13-Day Battery & AI Training Tools
	
Garmin has expanded its running smartwatch lineup in India with the launch of the new Forerunner 70, Forerunner 170, and Forerunner 170 Music. Aimed at everyone from first-time runners to marathon enthusiasts, the new wearables bring AMOLED displays, Garmin Coach training plans, built-in GPS, smart notifications, safety features, and access to the Garmin Connect ecosystem. They also include Garmin’s adaptive coaching tools, such as Garmin Coach, Training Readiness, Training Status, HRV Status, Recovery Time, and Daily Suggested Workouts, to help runners optimize both training and recovery.



Garmin Forerunner 70 Features



The entry-level Forerunner 70 is designed for beginners who want a dedicated running watch without sacrificing advanced training tools. It features a 1.2-inch AMOLED display, offers up to 13 days of battery life in smartwatch mode, and tracks pace, distance, and wrist-based heart rate.



Despite being the most affordable model in the lineup, Garmin has included several premium metrics such as Running Power, Running Dynamics, Acute Load, Training Effect, and Recovery Time. The watch also supports over 80 sports modes, including cycling, swimming, yoga, strength training, and HIIT. Outside workouts, users can monitor sleep, stress levels, Body Battery energy, and receive the company’s Morning Report with a daily health summary.











The Forerunner 170 and Forerunner 170 Music are designed for more serious runners seeking deeper performance insights. Both watches feature a 1.2-inch AMOLED display, a lightweight 43mm case, and up to 10 days of battery life. The duo builds upon the Forerunner 70 by offering more advanced recovery analysis and training metrics, including Running Dynamics, Running Power, Training Readiness, Training Status, HRV Status, and Acute Load.



Garmin has also included a full suite of health features like all-day heart rate monitoring, Sleep Coach, Body Battery, stress tracking, respiration monitoring, Morning Report, Evening Report, and women’s health tracking. Like the Forerunner 70, both models support more than 80 built-in sports profiles. The biggest difference between the two is that the Forerunner 170 Music lets users download playlists from supported music streaming services directly to the watch, enabling phone-free listening during workouts.



The Garmin Forerunner 70 is priced at ₹32,990 and goes on sale starting July 3. Meanwhile, the Forerunner 170 is priced at ₹39,490, while the Forerunner 170 Music costs ₹45,990. Both models will be available from July 4 through Garmin India’s website, Amazon, and authorized retail stores across the country.





#Garmin #Forerunner #Series #Arrive #India #13Day #Battery #Training #ToolsGarmin

The Forerunner 170 and Forerunner 170 Music are designed for more serious runners seeking deeper performance insights. Both watches feature a 1.2-inch AMOLED display, a lightweight 43mm case, and up to 10 days of battery life. The duo builds upon the Forerunner 70 by offering more advanced recovery analysis and training metrics, including Running Dynamics, Running Power, Training Readiness, Training Status, HRV Status, and Acute Load.

Garmin has also included a full suite of health features like all-day heart rate monitoring, Sleep Coach, Body Battery, stress tracking, respiration monitoring, Morning Report, Evening Report, and women’s health tracking. Like the Forerunner 70, both models support more than 80 built-in sports profiles. The biggest difference between the two is that the Forerunner 170 Music lets users download playlists from supported music streaming services directly to the watch, enabling phone-free listening during workouts.

The Garmin Forerunner 70 is priced at ₹32,990 and goes on sale starting July 3. Meanwhile, the Forerunner 170 is priced at ₹39,490, while the Forerunner 170 Music costs ₹45,990. Both models will be available from July 4 through Garmin India’s website, Amazon, and authorized retail stores across the country.

#Garmin #Forerunner #Series #Arrive #India #13Day #Battery #Training #ToolsGarmin

Scientists in Singapore and Japan have developed a tiny 3D-printed scuba suit for cyborg cockroaches, allowing them to survive and move underwater and other low-oxygen environments for up to three hours.

The suit can transform a regular cockroach, and potentially other insects, into “an amphibious cyborg robot capable of operation across land and water,” according to a new research paper published this week in Nature Communications. The study was conducted by scientists at Nanyang Technological University and Waseda University.

So, why do researchers want half-robot cockroaches to breathe underwater anyway?

Apparently, they hope to one day be able to use cyborg cockroaches in search and rescue missions, pipeline inspection, and other complex tasks. NTU Professor Hirotaka Sato, who led the study, has been working on cyborg insects for more than a decade. These hybrid robots combine living insects with electrodes that allow humans to remotely control their movements. Sato and his co-authors argue that this setup can make them more useful than traditional robots in some situations.

Unlike conventional robots, cyborg insects consume less energy because they use their own muscles to move. They are also small enough to move through confined and cluttered spaces that larger robots may not be able to reach.

These cyborgs have already been used in actual search-and-rescue operations, including Operation Lionheart after the 7.7-magnitude earthquake in Myanmar in March, according to NTU.

There is one obvious drawback, though. These tiny cyborgs still have biological limits. They need oxygen, which makes them much less useful underwater.

“This is important because real disaster sites can be challenging after heavy rain or flooding, blocking access routes in the rubble, drains and narrow gaps,” Sato said in a news release on the study. “By expanding the operating parameters of our cyborg insects to include underwater travel, we believe that they can enhance search and rescue efforts.”

The new scuba suit is meant to solve that problem.

How the suit works

Cockroaches breathe through small holes on their bodies known as spiracles. To protect those spiracles from water, the researchers made a flexible 3D-printed shell that wraps around the insect’s body. Four small tubes then attach to the cockroach’s spiracles and deliver oxygen directly to them.

Attached to the shell is an oxygen-generation tank that contains a small sponge soaked in manganese dioxide. To activate the system, the team injected diluted hydrogen peroxide into the tank, then sealed it with ultraviolet adhesive to prevent leaks.

The chemical reaction inside the tank slowly releases oxygen, which is then delivered through silicone tubes into the cockroach’s spiracles.

According to the study, the suit was tested on Madagascar hissing cockroaches in plastic tubes that simulated different environments.

Cyborg cockroaches equipped with the suit were able to move around underwater for two to three hours. Cockroaches in the control group suffocated within two minutes.

The team said this suit could potentially be adapted for other robot bugs like locusts and beetles, as these insects have similar body structures and respiratory systems.

#Researchers #Built #Scuba #Suit #Cyborg #CockroachesInsects,Robotics">Researchers Built a Scuba Suit for Cyborg Cockroaches
                Scientists in Singapore and Japan have developed a tiny 3D-printed scuba suit for cyborg cockroaches, allowing them to survive and move underwater and other low-oxygen environments for up to three hours. The suit can transform a regular cockroach, and potentially other insects, into “an amphibious cyborg robot capable of operation across land and water,” according to a new research paper published this week in Nature Communications. The study was conducted by scientists at Nanyang Technological University and Waseda University. So, why do researchers want half-robot cockroaches to breathe underwater anyway? Apparently, they hope to one day be able to use cyborg cockroaches in search and rescue missions, pipeline inspection, and other complex tasks. NTU Professor Hirotaka Sato, who led the study, has been working on cyborg insects for more than a decade. These hybrid robots combine living insects with electrodes that allow humans to remotely control their movements. Sato and his co-authors argue that this setup can make them more useful than traditional robots in some situations.

 Unlike conventional robots, cyborg insects consume less energy because they use their own muscles to move. They are also small enough to move through confined and cluttered spaces that larger robots may not be able to reach. These cyborgs have already been used in actual search-and-rescue operations, including Operation Lionheart after the 7.7-magnitude earthquake in Myanmar in March, according to NTU.

 There is one obvious drawback, though. These tiny cyborgs still have biological limits. They need oxygen, which makes them much less useful underwater. “This is important because real disaster sites can be challenging after heavy rain or flooding, blocking access routes in the rubble, drains and narrow gaps,” Sato said in a news release on the study. “By expanding the operating parameters of our cyborg insects to include underwater travel, we believe that they can enhance search and rescue efforts.”

 The new scuba suit is meant to solve that problem. How the suit works Cockroaches breathe through small holes on their bodies known as spiracles. To protect those spiracles from water, the researchers made a flexible 3D-printed shell that wraps around the insect’s body. Four small tubes then attach to the cockroach’s spiracles and deliver oxygen directly to them. Attached to the shell is an oxygen-generation tank that contains a small sponge soaked in manganese dioxide. To activate the system, the team injected diluted hydrogen peroxide into the tank, then sealed it with ultraviolet adhesive to prevent leaks. The chemical reaction inside the tank slowly releases oxygen, which is then delivered through silicone tubes into the cockroach’s spiracles.

 According to the study, the suit was tested on Madagascar hissing cockroaches in plastic tubes that simulated different environments. Cyborg cockroaches equipped with the suit were able to move around underwater for two to three hours. Cockroaches in the control group suffocated within two minutes. The team said this suit could potentially be adapted for other robot bugs like locusts and beetles, as these insects have similar body structures and respiratory systems.      #Researchers #Built #Scuba #Suit #Cyborg #CockroachesInsects,Robotics

research paper published this week in Nature Communications. The study was conducted by scientists at Nanyang Technological University and Waseda University.

So, why do researchers want half-robot cockroaches to breathe underwater anyway?

Apparently, they hope to one day be able to use cyborg cockroaches in search and rescue missions, pipeline inspection, and other complex tasks. NTU Professor Hirotaka Sato, who led the study, has been working on cyborg insects for more than a decade. These hybrid robots combine living insects with electrodes that allow humans to remotely control their movements. Sato and his co-authors argue that this setup can make them more useful than traditional robots in some situations.

Unlike conventional robots, cyborg insects consume less energy because they use their own muscles to move. They are also small enough to move through confined and cluttered spaces that larger robots may not be able to reach.

These cyborgs have already been used in actual search-and-rescue operations, including Operation Lionheart after the 7.7-magnitude earthquake in Myanmar in March, according to NTU.

There is one obvious drawback, though. These tiny cyborgs still have biological limits. They need oxygen, which makes them much less useful underwater.

“This is important because real disaster sites can be challenging after heavy rain or flooding, blocking access routes in the rubble, drains and narrow gaps,” Sato said in a news release on the study. “By expanding the operating parameters of our cyborg insects to include underwater travel, we believe that they can enhance search and rescue efforts.”

The new scuba suit is meant to solve that problem.

How the suit works

Cockroaches breathe through small holes on their bodies known as spiracles. To protect those spiracles from water, the researchers made a flexible 3D-printed shell that wraps around the insect’s body. Four small tubes then attach to the cockroach’s spiracles and deliver oxygen directly to them.

Attached to the shell is an oxygen-generation tank that contains a small sponge soaked in manganese dioxide. To activate the system, the team injected diluted hydrogen peroxide into the tank, then sealed it with ultraviolet adhesive to prevent leaks.

The chemical reaction inside the tank slowly releases oxygen, which is then delivered through silicone tubes into the cockroach’s spiracles.

According to the study, the suit was tested on Madagascar hissing cockroaches in plastic tubes that simulated different environments.

Cyborg cockroaches equipped with the suit were able to move around underwater for two to three hours. Cockroaches in the control group suffocated within two minutes.

The team said this suit could potentially be adapted for other robot bugs like locusts and beetles, as these insects have similar body structures and respiratory systems.

#Researchers #Built #Scuba #Suit #Cyborg #CockroachesInsects,Robotics">Researchers Built a Scuba Suit for Cyborg CockroachesResearchers Built a Scuba Suit for Cyborg Cockroaches
                Scientists in Singapore and Japan have developed a tiny 3D-printed scuba suit for cyborg cockroaches, allowing them to survive and move underwater and other low-oxygen environments for up to three hours. The suit can transform a regular cockroach, and potentially other insects, into “an amphibious cyborg robot capable of operation across land and water,” according to a new research paper published this week in Nature Communications. The study was conducted by scientists at Nanyang Technological University and Waseda University. So, why do researchers want half-robot cockroaches to breathe underwater anyway? Apparently, they hope to one day be able to use cyborg cockroaches in search and rescue missions, pipeline inspection, and other complex tasks. NTU Professor Hirotaka Sato, who led the study, has been working on cyborg insects for more than a decade. These hybrid robots combine living insects with electrodes that allow humans to remotely control their movements. Sato and his co-authors argue that this setup can make them more useful than traditional robots in some situations.

 Unlike conventional robots, cyborg insects consume less energy because they use their own muscles to move. They are also small enough to move through confined and cluttered spaces that larger robots may not be able to reach. These cyborgs have already been used in actual search-and-rescue operations, including Operation Lionheart after the 7.7-magnitude earthquake in Myanmar in March, according to NTU.

 There is one obvious drawback, though. These tiny cyborgs still have biological limits. They need oxygen, which makes them much less useful underwater. “This is important because real disaster sites can be challenging after heavy rain or flooding, blocking access routes in the rubble, drains and narrow gaps,” Sato said in a news release on the study. “By expanding the operating parameters of our cyborg insects to include underwater travel, we believe that they can enhance search and rescue efforts.”

 The new scuba suit is meant to solve that problem. How the suit works Cockroaches breathe through small holes on their bodies known as spiracles. To protect those spiracles from water, the researchers made a flexible 3D-printed shell that wraps around the insect’s body. Four small tubes then attach to the cockroach’s spiracles and deliver oxygen directly to them. Attached to the shell is an oxygen-generation tank that contains a small sponge soaked in manganese dioxide. To activate the system, the team injected diluted hydrogen peroxide into the tank, then sealed it with ultraviolet adhesive to prevent leaks. The chemical reaction inside the tank slowly releases oxygen, which is then delivered through silicone tubes into the cockroach’s spiracles.

 According to the study, the suit was tested on Madagascar hissing cockroaches in plastic tubes that simulated different environments. Cyborg cockroaches equipped with the suit were able to move around underwater for two to three hours. Cockroaches in the control group suffocated within two minutes. The team said this suit could potentially be adapted for other robot bugs like locusts and beetles, as these insects have similar body structures and respiratory systems.      #Researchers #Built #Scuba #Suit #Cyborg #CockroachesInsects,Robotics

Scientists in Singapore and Japan have developed a tiny 3D-printed scuba suit for cyborg cockroaches, allowing them to survive and move underwater and other low-oxygen environments for up to three hours.

The suit can transform a regular cockroach, and potentially other insects, into “an amphibious cyborg robot capable of operation across land and water,” according to a new research paper published this week in Nature Communications. The study was conducted by scientists at Nanyang Technological University and Waseda University.

So, why do researchers want half-robot cockroaches to breathe underwater anyway?

Apparently, they hope to one day be able to use cyborg cockroaches in search and rescue missions, pipeline inspection, and other complex tasks. NTU Professor Hirotaka Sato, who led the study, has been working on cyborg insects for more than a decade. These hybrid robots combine living insects with electrodes that allow humans to remotely control their movements. Sato and his co-authors argue that this setup can make them more useful than traditional robots in some situations.

Unlike conventional robots, cyborg insects consume less energy because they use their own muscles to move. They are also small enough to move through confined and cluttered spaces that larger robots may not be able to reach.

These cyborgs have already been used in actual search-and-rescue operations, including Operation Lionheart after the 7.7-magnitude earthquake in Myanmar in March, according to NTU.

There is one obvious drawback, though. These tiny cyborgs still have biological limits. They need oxygen, which makes them much less useful underwater.

“This is important because real disaster sites can be challenging after heavy rain or flooding, blocking access routes in the rubble, drains and narrow gaps,” Sato said in a news release on the study. “By expanding the operating parameters of our cyborg insects to include underwater travel, we believe that they can enhance search and rescue efforts.”

The new scuba suit is meant to solve that problem.

How the suit works

Cockroaches breathe through small holes on their bodies known as spiracles. To protect those spiracles from water, the researchers made a flexible 3D-printed shell that wraps around the insect’s body. Four small tubes then attach to the cockroach’s spiracles and deliver oxygen directly to them.

Attached to the shell is an oxygen-generation tank that contains a small sponge soaked in manganese dioxide. To activate the system, the team injected diluted hydrogen peroxide into the tank, then sealed it with ultraviolet adhesive to prevent leaks.

The chemical reaction inside the tank slowly releases oxygen, which is then delivered through silicone tubes into the cockroach’s spiracles.

According to the study, the suit was tested on Madagascar hissing cockroaches in plastic tubes that simulated different environments.

Cyborg cockroaches equipped with the suit were able to move around underwater for two to three hours. Cockroaches in the control group suffocated within two minutes.

The team said this suit could potentially be adapted for other robot bugs like locusts and beetles, as these insects have similar body structures and respiratory systems.

#Researchers #Built #Scuba #Suit #Cyborg #CockroachesInsects,Robotics

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