# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
President-elect Donald Trump ( Photo Credit: Gage Skidmore via Flickr CC)

The fact that Donald Trump was unlike other candidates has been apparent since he announced his bid for the US Presidency in January. The real-estate mogul and businessman promised to "Make America Great Again" with radical suggestions like building a wall to stop illegal immigrants and imposing tariffs to discourage imports. While many of his ideas were not 'politically correct,' and even bordered on being unconstitutional, they struck a chord with the American public. On November 8, much to the surprise of experts, it was not the politically astute Hillary Clinton, but the business savvy Trump who was elected the 45 th President of the United States.

Trump's prospects looked promising from the moment the election results started rolling in. However, the first indication that he may be heading to the White House came after the Republican Presidential nominee won Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, both of which have traditionally been Democratic strongholds. To make matters worse, Michigan, the third of the so-called "blue wall" states, also showed Trump in the lead. Trump also won key swing states like Ohio and North Carolina and even eked out a narrow but crucial margin of victory in Florida. While Clinton managed to win key states like California, Nevada, Colorado, Virginia, and New Hampshire it was not enough.

Photo Credit: YouTube (screen capture)

Trump swept the race with 279 electoral votes. While Hillary won the popular vote, she garnered just 228 of the 270 electoral votes needed to win the election. While that may sound strange, it is the way the American Electoral College system works.

Each state has a fixed number of electoral votes, equal to its representation in Congress. California, for example, has 55 thanks to its 53 House members and two senators. When the general public votes for their choice of president, they are indirectly voting for their "elector." The representative then casts his or her electoral vote for the most popular candidate. Hence, the candidates don't need to win by a landslide to garner all the electoral votes. For instance, in Florida, Trump received all 29 electoral votes, despite winning just 49% of the popular votes. Hillary also won all of New York's 29 electoral votes, when she received 64% of the popular votes. Unfortunately, the resounding support from the state's residents did not earn her extra electoral votes.

Photo Credit: Gage Skidmore via Wikipedia.org CC 2.0

In addition to having their candidate elected to the highest office in the country, the Republican Party also won the majority of seats in both houses of Congress, giving them firm control over government policies for the next four years.

Whether the President-elect follows through on his campaign promises remains to be seen. However, his acceptance speech, where he asked "America to come together as one united people" was a surprising departure from his typical rhetoric. He also thanked Clinton "for her service to our country."

Clinton and President Barack Obama have been equally gracious. In her concession speech this morning, Clinton asked her supporters to accept Trump and give him a chance to lead with an open mind. Barack Obama has not only promised to ensure a smooth transition to a Trump administration, but also to set aside all their differences and "root for his success." Hopefully, all parties will keep their pledges and focus their energies on issues that matter to all Americans.

Resources: cnn.com, wired.com, Forbes.com,ft.com

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Donald Trump Elected 45th President Of The United States Of America

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The fact that Donald Trump was unlike other candidates has been apparent since he announced his bid for the US Presidency in January. The real-estate mogul and businessman promised to "Make America Great Again" with radical suggestions like building a wall to stop illegal immigrants and imposing tariffs to discourage imports.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Photo Credit: Harvard University

Robots have come a long way since ancient Greek mathematician, Archytas, released a steam-powered wooden dove dubbed "The Pigeon" in 350 B.C. However, the Terminator-type rigidity of the machines has hindered them from being useful at tasks like search and rescue operations. While researchers have recently created softer and more flexible robots, they still contain hard electric power and control systems - such as batteries and circuit boards.

Now, thanks to a team led by Harvard University professors, Robert Wood and Jennifer A. Lewis, there is finally a breakthrough. The adorable autonomous octobot that stands a mere 2cm tall has no rigid parts, enabling it to squeeze through the tiniest of spaces, just like the crafty octopus, it was designed after.

Photo Credit: Harvard University

The octobot, which is made of silicone rubber, is fueled by a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and water. The liquid that is pumped into the robot's body through a series of 3-D printed pneumatic chambers reacts with the flecks of platinum that are embedded within the octobot and forms water and oxygen. The released gas builds up the pressure in the controller and inflates the chambers in the robot's arms, causing them to move.

The researchers, who unveiled the revolutionary robot in the scientific journal Nature on August 24, say that octobot is currently just a proof of concept and not ready for the real world. That's because the liquid battery only provides power for about eight minutes. Additionally, the prototype lacks controls and therefore cannot be steered in any direction. The team hopes to resolve the issues in their next version of the soft robot, which will be able to crawl, swim, and sense obstacles in the environment.

Photo Credit: Harvard University

Wood believes that the octobot's easy-to-build design, low cost, and the fact that it can be scaled up to increase fuel capacity will encourage other scientists and roboticists to create more intricate designs. Barbara Mazzolai and Virgilio Mattoli of the Italian Institute of Technology's Center for Micro-BioRobotics, who were not involved in the study, agree. The researchers say, "Although soft robotics is still in its infancy, it holds great promise for several applications, such as servicing and inspecting machinery, search-and-rescue operations, and exploration." The researchers think the soft robots may even help improve our quality of life. Given how adorable they are, we wholeheartedly agree with that statement.

Resources: news.harvard.edu, sciencemag.com,nature,com

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Harvard University's Octopus-Inspired Octobot is Adorable And Revolutionary

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Robots have come a long way since ancient Greek mathematician, Archytas, released a steam-powered wooden dove dubbed "The Pigeon" in 350 B.C. However, the terminator-type rigidity of the machines has hindered them from being useful at tasks like search and rescue operations.

# data[].attributes.body
news paper

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Newsela | Chimp study shows how hanging out with friends makes life less stressful

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
New research study shows close social bonds help chimps reduce stress levels

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Properly-trained guide dogs are a valuable asset for the visually impaired

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Newsela | NHL players are dropping gloves to the ice less often

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
NHL players are taking their gloves off less often.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Newsela | Famous Speeches: Donald Trump's Victory Speech

# data[].attributes.body
news paper

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
DOGO News - Kids news articles search results for football! Kids current events; plus kids news on science, sports, and more!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Read our kids news articles on footballs.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Newsela | Ohio community wages war on bullying

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Ohio high school students highlight problem of bullying.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Newsela | Data from New Horizons probe helps scientists fill in picture of icy Pluto

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
NASA's New Horizons mission has delivered a treasure trove of data from the dwarf planet

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Newsela | As oceans warm and fish disappear, giant jellyfish invade New Zealand

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Giant jellyfish have invaded the New Zealand coastline. Factors such as warming oceans and over-fishing are linked to the invasions, which are occurring in other countries too.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Newsela | A single ballot made its way from outer space to Earth during this election

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Newsela | Scientists say Trump's rejection of global warming could harm the planet

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
U.S. commitment to Paris Agreement in question under Trump.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Newsela | Author says it's important for children to see themselves in books

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
How one children's author has taken up diversity

# data[].attributes.body
DONALD TRUMP Newspaper article

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Newsela | Trump elected president in surprise win

# data[].attributes.body
EBOLA Newspaper Article

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Newsela | Two studies prove Ebola virus infects humans more easily, is deadlier

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Scientists reveal Ebola virus was worse due to a mutation.

# data[].attributes.body
Newspaper article

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Pilot (Image Credit: Waverly Labs)

Imagine being able to visit any foreign country without having to worry about the language barrier. Until recently, universal translating devices only existed in science fiction movies and TV shows. But technology is finally catching up with human imagination, and companies worldwide, are feverishly working to introduce universal translators. Among them is New York-based startup Waverly Labs.

Their solution, dubbed the Pilot, is a smart earpiece that instantly translates spoken language, allowing the user to have a seamless conversation, despite not knowing the speaker's language. Waverly Labs founder and CEO, Andrew Ochoa, says he came up with the idea after being unable to converse with a French girl he liked.

The Pilot, which will debut in the spring of 2017, fits comfortably in the ear, just as an earbud might. The company provides two earpieces, one for each user. When either talk, the device in their ear picks up the sound of the speech, which then goes through a smartphone app that converts it into text, translates it into a spoken form, and then "whispers" it back to the listener in his or her language. As a result, the user is able the understand the other person despite not knowing the language.

Image Credit: Waverly Labs

The smart device also keeps out ambient noise, allowing users to focus on the conversation. When not needed for translation, the earpieces double as earbuds that can be used to listen to music. The Pilot smartphone app can also be used as a translation phrasebook and even for conference calls allowing participants speaking different languages to converse. Like all machine-based translators, the Pilot is not perfect. However, Waverly Labs asserts that it is much more accurate than the products currently available on the market.

Currently, the device is dependent on having a data connection and can only translate one-on-one conversations. Developers hope future generations of the Pilot will be able to translate all that is going on around a person, and function offline. They also hope to decrease the few second delays between speech and translation. The first version of the Pilot available on iOS and Android phones will come equipped with English, Spanish, French, Italian and Portuguese. More languages will be available as premium downloads during the latter half of 2017.

Image Credit: Waverly Labs

Although several tech companies, including Google, Microsoft, and Apple, are developing real-time translation programs, the Pilot is unique in that it is the first wearable translator. While the company has yet to ship the smart earpieces, thousands of people have contributed over $3mm USD to the company's crowdfunding campaign for a chance to get them at a discounted rate. For those that missed out, Waverly Labs estimates that the Pilot will be available in retail stores by the end of 2017 and will cost about $299 USD.

Resources: smallbiztrends.com,cnet,com, indiegogo.com, gizmag.com

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Smart Earpiece Translates Foreign Languages In Real-Time

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Imagine being able to visit any foreign country without having to worry about the language barrier. Until recently, universal translating devices only existed in science fiction movies and TV shows. But technology is finally catching up with human imagination, and companies worldwide, are feverishly working to introduce universal translators.

# data[].attributes.body
newspaper article

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Newsela | Japanese phone company gifts original emojis to New York's MoMA

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Japanese telephone company gives 176 original emojis to the Museum of Modern Art in New York City

# data[].attributes.body
Newspaper Article

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Newsela | Dream Jobs: Animal adoption agent

# data[].attributes.body
Newspaper Article ⬇️

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Photo Credit: Indegogo.com

With smart technology increasingly infiltrating all aspects of our lives it was only a matter of time before someone invented 'smart' shoes - Ones that can be customized at the owner's whim. Called 'ShiftWear,' the animated sneakers are the brainchild of a team of entrepreneurs, futurists, and engineers led by New York-based designer David Coelho.

The adaptable shoes, which will be available as high, medium, and low tops can be customized using a smartphone app that is compatible with iOS, Android, and Windows devices. Shoe owners will have the option of selecting a design from a variety of HD patterns and GIF-like animations sketched by famous artists or create one themselves. The company's founders envision a marketplace where artists can not only share but also sell their designs to others.

Photo Credit: Indiegogo.com

Despite being electronic projections, the designs are clearly visible even in the brightest sunlight. What's even cooler is that by switching on a backlight, users can even show off their designs in the dark!

According to Coelho, the sneakers will retain their charge "forever" if only static images are displayed. Though they will need periodic recharging if animated images are projected, active users have nothing to worry about. That's because the shoes are fitted with special Walk-N Charge technology that powers the shoes with every step. Inactive or power design changers also have option of charging the sneakers wirelessly.

Photo Credit: Indiegogo.com

The sturdy shoes come with soles covered with Kevlar Fibers ( the same material used to make bulletproof vests), mitigating normal wear and tear. Even better? They are completely waterproof and can even be tossed into an ordinary laundry machine for a quick rinse! Though the founders will not reveal how the magical sneaker works, they do disclose that they are simply tweaking currently available technology to suit their needs. The company estimates that the shoes, which are scheduled to debut in Fall 2016 will range in price from $150 USD to $1,000 USD depending on the size of the e-paper panels where the designs are displayed.

This is not the first time electronics and shoes have merged. Lithuania-based iShuh Technologies has come up with a similar concept that connects e-reader panels to a smartphone app via a Bluetooth. Whether these smart shoes become as ubiquitous as our smart devices remains to be seen, but they sure are fascinating.

Resources: entrepreneur.com, dailymail.co.uk,indeogogo.com

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Sneakers That Can Be Customized On The Go? Sweet!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
With smart technology increasingly infiltrating all aspects of our lives it was only a matter of time before someone invented 'smart' shoes - Ones that can be customized at the owner's whim. Called 'ShiftWear,' the animated sneakers are the brainchild of a team of entrepreneurs, futurists, and engineers led by New York-based designer David Coelho.