Top Trends: Highlighting the Latest Developments in Data News
Top Data News Highlights for March 15-21, 2025
This week's insights encompass advancements in data-driven analysis of neonatal health and the introduction of autonomous public transportation vehicles in Europe.
Improving Truck Route Planning
StreetLight Data, a mobility analytics company based in Texas, in partnership with Geotab from Canada, has launched a novel tool to assist urban planners in optimizing goods transportation by truck. Utilizing data from commercial vehicles and machine learning, the tool indicates traffic patterns, delays, and frequented routes, aiming to reduce congestion, cut emissions, and enhance truck route efficiency.
Preparing Foster Parents
Cornerstone, a UK-based VR company, has developed a virtual reality system that simulates traumatic environments, such as homes affected by domestic violence, neglect, or substance abuse, based on childhood trauma research insights. Although not specific to any given child, these simulations help foster carers gain a deeper understanding of early experiences' effects on behavior and emotional responses, thereby improving their capacity to support children in their care.
Identifying Sleep Disorders
Researchers at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York have created an algorithm that diagnoses REM sleep behavior disorder, a condition associated with neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's, by analyzing video recordings of sleep patients. The system can detect symptoms like jerks and twitches lasting less than two seconds, thereby offering a data-driven tool to improve early detection accuracy.
Revealing Age from Blood
Researchers at Osaka University in Japan have developed an AI model that uses a simple blood test to estimate biological age. By analyzing hormone levels and their interactions, the model offers a more accurate and personalized picture of aging. According to preliminary findings, a doubling of cortisol, a stress-related hormone, correlated with a 1.5-fold increase in biological age.
Avoiding Scammers in Spanish
The Bloomington Police Department in Minnesota is employing AI-powered translation software to combat Spanish-language scams involving fraudsters posing as federal agents demanding money. By reducing language barriers, the technology assists residents in better recognizing and ignoring fraudulent calls.
Improving Mental Health in Parkinson's Patients with VR
Iranian researchers areutilizing a combined method of VR and talk therapy to support mental health in Parkinson's patients. The virtual reality system simulates real-life scenarios allowing patients to practice coping strategies in a controlled environment.Data shows that Parkinson's patients using this combined therapy scored higher on quality-of-life assessments compared to those receiving talk therapy alone.
Introducing Autonomous Buses
Renault, a French automaker, is partnering with WeRide, a Chinese autonomous driving technology company, to deploy driverless buses in Barcelona. Utilizing data from 10 cameras and 8 sensor arrays, the buses continuously map their surroundings, identify obstacles, and adapt to changing traffic patterns. This endeavor forms part of Renault's broader initiative to integrate AI-powered public transportation across Europe.
Protecting Deep Sea Cables
AP Sensing, a German technology company, has developed a fiber optic sensing system that uses soundwaves to detect tampering and environmental disturbances in undersea cables. By sending light pulses through the cables andmonitoring how they're disrupted by vibrations or contact, the system can detect threats such as ship anchors or sabotage attempts. This novel approach allows the system to be retrofitted onto existing cables, enhancing security without new infrastructure.
Smart Shopping with AI
Instacart, a California-based grocery delivery company, has launched Smart Shop, an AI-driven system personalizing grocery recommendations using data from its extensive catalog of 17 million products and millions of past shopping trips. The system applies AI-powered tagging and relevancy scoring to discern customer preferences, continuously modifying product suggestions in real-time. By focusing on shopping behavior, dietary choices, and interactive user feedback, Smart Shop aims to help customers discover relevant items more efficiently.
Monitoring NICU Babies
Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology have designed a pacifier that measures newborns' electrolyte levels from their saliva while in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The device draws saliva into a channel equipped with sensors that detect sodium and potassium ions, providing real-time data on vital biomarkers. This novel approach offers a gentler alternative to traditional blood tests, potentially benefiting neonatal health monitoring.
- The novel tool launched by StreetLight Data and Geotab, utilizing data from commercial vehicles and machine learning, aims to optimize goods transportation by truck, reducing congestion, cutting emissions, and enhancing truck route efficiency.
- A virtual reality system developed by Cornerstone, a UK-based VR company, simulates traumatic environments based on childhood trauma research insights, helping foster carers gain a deeper understanding of early experiences' effects on behavior and emotional responses.
- Researchers at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York have created an algorithm that diagnoses REM sleep behavior disorder by analyzing video recordings of sleep patients, offering a data-driven tool to improve early detection accuracy.
- Researchers at Osaka University in Japan have developed an AI model that uses a simple blood test to estimate biological age, providing a more accurate and personalized picture of aging by analyzing hormone levels and their interactions.
- The Bloomington Police Department in Minnesota is employing AI-powered translation software to combat Spanish-language scams involving fraudsters posing as federal agents demanding money, Assisting residents in better recognizing and ignoring fraudulent calls.
