New AI device translates pet sounds
A Hangzhou-based startup, Meng Xiaoyi, has launched an AI-powered device it says can translate cat and dog sounds into human language with up to 95 per cent accuracy.
The wearable device is placed around a pet’s neck and is designed to interpret vocalisations, emotions and behaviour using large-scale AI models. It is priced at 799 yuan ($118) and has already seen over 10,000 preorders.
The system is reportedly built on Alibaba Cloud’s Tongyi Qianwen AI model and uses large datasets of pet sounds, though no independent studies or performance tests have been released. The claims have sparked scepticism online, with critics questioning the lack of verified data behind the accuracy figures.
World’s strongest carbon fibre
China says it has become the first country to mass-produce T1200 carbon fibre, considered the world’s strongest type of carbon fibre.
The ultra-light material has a tensile strength of 8 gigapascals, making it far stronger than structural steel, while weighing much less. Experts say it could be widely used in aerospace, defence and advanced energy industries. To demonstrate the material’s strength, the company used a cable less than two millimetres thick to pull a fully loaded double-decker bus.
Japanese firm Toray Industries first developed T1200 carbon fibre in 2023, but production remained limited because of high costs and manufacturing complexity.
Firm hatches chicks using 3D-printed eggs
Colossal Biosciences says it has successfully hatched chicks using a fully artificial 3D-printed egg, marking a step forward in its de-extinction research goals.
The Dallas-based company designed a synthetic egg structure with a silicone membrane that allows oxygen exchange similar to a natural egg. The embryo is placed inside the structure, where it can develop and hatch. Colossal Biosciences aims to revive extinct species such as the giant moa and says the system could eventually be scaled to help hatch endangered or extinct birds.
Earlier artificial egg systems existed, but often required oxygen support and sometimes led to developmental issues. The company claims its design improves natural oxygen flow, though independent validation is still limited.
Tree’s ‘helicopter fruits’ amaze nature lovers
The Dipterocarpus retusus, native to Southeast Asia, produces unusual winged fruits that spin through the air like tiny helicopter propellers.
Known as the hollong tree, the species can grow up to 60 metres tall and is valued for its strong timber used in construction, furniture and boat-building. Its spinning fruits help seeds travel farther from the parent tree, increasing their chances of growing in fertile soil.
During the dry season, large numbers of the rotating fruits drift through the air, creating striking natural displays that recently gained attention on social media.
Published in Dawn, Young World, June 28th, 2026
