Use Wi-Fi to see through walls

Plus: ESA's Gaia finds exoplanet with nuclear fusion reaction at its core. Jan 24, 2023 [Blueprint]( [Get superhero powers using Wi-Fi](. Because you can now “see” people without using cameras or expensive light detection and ranging (LiDAR) hardware. Researchers have developed a new method for detecting three-dimensional shapes and movements of human bodies in a room, using only Wi-Fi routers. DensePose (a system for mapping all of the pixels on the surface of a human body in a photo) captures a set of coordinates for each joint (like an arm, a head, a torso, etc.) that can describe a person's pose. It then creates a deep neural network that maps Wi-Fi signals’ phase and amplitude sent and received by routers to coordinates on human bodies. Pretty smart. But before you start contemplating what you’d use that for, imagine yourself on board this plane. [This video]( shows just how fast SR-71 Blackbird can go. And it’s fast. Good morning. I’m Alice, an Editor at IE. This is The Blueprint. Let’s dive in. [A Norwegian company is turning worn-out tires into oil.]( [premium] Norway-based Wastefront converts tires into oil. The whole program ensures the tire evolves from a biofuel component to a biofuel finished product. [Play]VIDEO OF THE DAY [How fast is SR-71 Blackbird? This fast.]( [How fast is SR-71 Blackbird? This fast.]( As bird names go it doesn’t scream speed. It’s fast though! [Must Read]MUST READ [A breakthrough system can see through walls by using Wi-Fi routers.]( [A breakthrough system can see through walls by using Wi-Fi routers.]( [You can now “see” people through walls]( without using cameras or expensive light detection and ranging (LiDAR) hardware. This has actually been in the pipeline since 2013, when a team of researchers at MIT found a way to use cell phone signals to see through walls. Then, in 2018, another MIT team used Wi-Fi to detect people in another room and translate their movements into walking stick figures. Now, researchers at Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Waterloo have taken it a step further. They have developed a new method for detecting three-dimensional shapes and movements of human bodies in a room, using only Wi-Fi routers. DensePose (a system for mapping all of the pixels on the surface of a human body in a photo) captures a set of coordinates for each joint (like an arm, a head, a torso, etc.) that can describe a person's pose. It then creates a deep neural network that maps WiFi signals’ phase and amplitude sent and received by routers to coordinates on human bodies. → The Wi-Peep is particularly noteworthy because of its accessibility and ease of transportation. And the fact that the team built the device using a store-bought drone and $20 of easily purchased hardware. So anyone with the right expertise could easily create a similar device. [READ MORE [Arrow]]( [Facebook]( [SCIENCE]SCIENCE [ESA's Gaia finds exoplanet with nuclear fusion reaction at its core.]( The European Space Agency's (ESA's) Gaia spacecraft helped capture an exoplanet, paving the way for follow-up observations that revealed the distant planet had a [nuclear fusion reaction in its core](. Now, an international team of scientists has analyzed the new data to find that the exoplanet, HD 206893 c, was brightening, suggesting it was burning deuterium for fusion. [READ MORE [Arrow]]( [INNOVATION]INNOVATION [Revolutionary: Giant kite helps sail 21,528-ton ship in Atlantic Ocean.]( French start-up Airseas has [successfully tested a massive kite]( that can help pull cargo ships over the sea in the Atlantic Ocean, which is a significant advancement for the shipping industry. The "Seawing," a 2,700-square-foot parafoil kite, was first tested last month on the Ville de Bordeaux, a 21,528 gross tons cargo ship. The company has already landed some big shippers and installed some of the Seawing propulsion systems on bulk carrier ships. [READ MORE [Arrow]]( [HEALTH]HEALTH [Circumcision leads to changes in penis microbiome, study finds.]( A study has found evidence that circumcision [may reduce the risk of chronic inflammation]( of the penis later in life. It showed that bacteria and fungi involved in chronic inflammation appear to be more prevalent in uncircumcised boys. The researchers said the results could help explain why uncircumcised men are at greater risk for certain urologic conditions, including penile cancer. [READ MORE [Arrow]]( [MAIL & MUSINGS]MAIL & MUSINGS A breakthrough system can see through walls by using Wi-Fi routers. What do you think this technology will be used for, primarily? [Law enforcement]( [Rescue operations]( [Illegal activities, in the wrong hands]( [Something else entirely]( YESTERDAY'S RESULTS Yesterday, we asked you what else you think hypersonic flight technology could primarily be useful for, beyond military purposes, and 36 percent of you said long-distance travel, while 33 percent of you said space exploration. 36% Long-distance travel 33% Space exploration 18% Thermal management systems 14% Something else entirely [QUOTE OF THE DAY]QUOTE OF THE DAY “We're still in the first minutes of the first day of the Internet revolution.” Scott David Cook, American billionaire businessman and co-founder of Intuit. [THINGS WE LOVE]THINGS WE LOVE [image]( [Cooluli 10L Mini Fridge]( [image]( [Jule Mid-Century Modern Bar Cabinet]( [image]( [Sterling Secret Silver Message Ring]( [image]( [Anerimst Bluetooth Speaker]( [AND ANOTHER THING]AND ANOTHER THING - These [next-generation engineered bacteria]( can detect water contaminants in real-time. [premium] - Some young sea spiders [can regrow their rear ends](. (Science News) - [Plasma thruster advances]( bring deep space exploration closer. [premium] - A [better understanding of PCOS]( offers fresh hope for new treatments. (New Scientist) - [Microsoft bets big on ChatGPT creator OpenAI]( with new investment. - [Insect-inspired drones]( work together to 3-D print structures. (SN Explores) - Astronomers built a [neutrino telescope 3km under the sea]( — here's why. [Subscribe to IE+ today.]( Prepared by Alice Cooke Enjoy Reading? Forward this email to a friend. Was this email forwarded to you? [Join Free!]( [About Us]( [Advertise]( [Contact Us]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Youtube]( [Linkedin]( [Instagram]( You are receiving this email because you have subscribed to our newsletter. Manage you e-mail preferences or unsubscribe [here](. © Copyright 2022 | The Blueprint is by Interesting Engineering, Inc. 205 Hudson St New York, NY, 10013, USA [Interesting Engineering]