And the horrific dystopian future won't be, either. Oh sure, I'm all about the merciless, unblinking machinebrains, with their cold calculations and algorithmically-precise contempt for humans. But it's going to take more than building SkyNet for the Terminator movies to come true. So toward that end:

• Scientists are working on a robot powered by a bacterial fuel cell. They envision building flying machines that can power themselves indefinitely by feeding on insects and fruit.


• Not scary enough? Well, this is a little old, but Japanese researchers have figured out a way to power devices with human blood.

Progress!