Download the download: Smart masks and monkey names for health monitoring

The news:

Do animals name each other? To prove they’d cracked the monkey code–and learned the secret names–the team played recordings at marmosets through a speaker and found that they responded more often when their label, or name, was in it. To prove they’d cracked the monkey code–and learned the secret names–the team played recordings at the marmosets through a speaker and found they responded more often when their label, or name, was in the recording.Why it matters:

Until now, only humans, dolphins, elephants, and probably parrots had been known to use specific sounds to call out to other individuals. This type of research may provide clues about the origins and evolution of language in humans. Read the full story.–Antonio Regalado

A new smart mask analyzes your breath to monitor your healthYour breath can give away a lot about you. The compounds in each exhalation, such as biomarkers of disease or lung conditions that doctors could use to assess your health, are many. The mask could be worn at home by the patient to measure their levels and then visit the doctor in case of a flare up. Read the full story.

–Scott J Mulligan