The ninth Portland Winter Light Festival has begun, featuring 170 art installations, fire-driven performances, and interactive light-driven art across downtown Portland. The free event includes food carts, live music, and anchor sites activated from 6-10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. The festival's theme, "What Glows Under Pressure," explores resilience and creativity, with installations scattered across the city, including at the Portland International Airport and a goat farm.
Researchers from the National University of Singapore (NUS) have developed the first-ever wooden robotic gripper that can stretch and bend in response to moisture, temperature, and lighting. Made from treated Canadian maple wood, the gripper is driven by changes in its environment, reducing energy consumption. It has good mechanical properties, a wide working temperature range, low manufacturing cost, and is biocompatible. The wooden gripper can lift objects at high temperatures and has potential applications in various fields, including firefighting and rescue operations. The researchers are working on improving its performance and scalability.
