Chemnitz University of Technology

Sure, they're from a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, but words and phrases from Star Wars have taken on a life of their own in modern English. For the first time, a study reveals how deep-rooted offerings like "to the dark side" truly are.

Skin plays a key role in our sense of touch, but its sensitivity is hard to replicate. Now, researchers have developed a new type of electronic skin (e-skin) containing tiny embedded hairs that can precisely perceive touch and the direction it moves.

By combining miniaturized electronics with some origami-inspired fabrication, scientists have developed what they say is the smallest microsupercapacitor in existence. It's smaller than a speck of a dust but boasts a similar voltage to a AAA battery.