University of Helsinki

Electricity is chaotic, and we normally need to constrain it to wires and circuits to make use of it. Scientists in Europe and Canada have now managed to guide sparks through thin air and even around obstacles using ultrasound waves.

Often, the decision to get a Rottweiler over a Chihuahua is made based on personality. A new study has found that while the breed is an important factor, a dog’s personality is determined by a complex interaction between genetics and environment.

A new AI-based system is able to ascertain which facial features are found most attractive by individual people. It can then create computer-generated faces combining those qualities.

A revitalization of Lasipalatsi Square in central Helsinki has given rise to a peculiar set of pimple-like domes protruding from its surface. The undulating public space is certainly eye-catching enough, but beneath hides a contemporary new art museum it's hoped will draw a crowd in its own right.

Researchers are working on a possible alternative to typed passcodes. They've discovered that passwords consisting of hand gestures used to draw free-form lines on a smartphone or tablet screen are much more difficult for "shoulder surfers" to copy after seeing.