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Smart pill confirms when medication is swallowed

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Smart pill confirms when medication is swallowed

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Remembering to take medication sounds simple. However, missed doses put people at serious health risk every day. Because of that, engineers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have designed a pill that confirms when someone swallows it. As a result, doctors could track treatment more accurately, and patients could stay on schedule more easily. At the same time, the pill safely breaks down inside the body, which helps reduce long-term risk.

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MIT engineers have designed a pill that can report when it has been swallowed. (Mehmet Say)

How the MIT smart pill works

The new system fits inside existing pill capsules. It uses a tiny, biodegradable radio-frequency antenna made from zinc and cellulose. These materials already have strong safety records in medicine. Here is what happens step by step:

  • You swallow the capsule as usual
  • The outer coating dissolves in the stomach
  • The pill releases both the medication and the antenna
  • The antenna sends a radio signal confirming ingestion

This entire process happens within about 10 minutes. An external receiver, potentially built into a wearable device, detects the signal from up to two feet away.

Designed to break down safely

Previous smart pill designs relied on components that stayed intact as they passed through the digestive system. That raised concerns about long-term safety. The MIT team took a different approach. Nearly all parts of the antenna break down in the stomach within days. Only a tiny off-the-shelf RF chip remains, and it passes naturally through the body. According to lead researcher Mehmet Girayhan Say, the goal is clear. The system avoids long-term buildup while still reliably confirming that a pill was taken.

Who could benefit most from this technology?

This smart pill is not meant for every prescription. Instead, it targets situations where missing medication can be dangerous. Potential beneficiaries include:

  • Organ transplant patients taking immunosuppressants
  • People with chronic infections like TB or HIV
  • Patients with recent stent procedures
  • Individuals with neuropsychiatric conditions

For these patients, adherence can mean the difference between recovery and serious complications.

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The MIT capsule uses layered materials, including gelatin, cellulose, and metals like molybdenum or tungsten, to prevent any RF signal from transmitting outside the body. (iStock)

What researchers say about the breakthrough pill

Senior author Giovanni Traverso emphasizes that the focus is on patient health. The aim is to support people, not police them. The research team published its findings in Nature Communications and plans further preclinical testing. Human trials are expected next as the technology moves closer to real-world use. This research received funding from Novo Nordisk, MIT’s Department of Mechanical Engineering, Brigham and Women’s Hospital Division of Gastroenterology and the U.S. Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health.

Why medication adherence remains a major problem

Patients failing to take medicine as prescribed contribute to hundreds of thousands of preventable deaths each year. It also adds billions of dollars to health care costs. This problem hits hardest when patients must take treatment consistently over long periods. That includes people who have received organ transplants, patients with tuberculosis and those managing complex neurological conditions. For these groups, missing doses can have life-altering consequences.

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Once safely inside the stomach, the pill can activate and communicate internally, reducing privacy risks while enabling more accurate medical tracking. (iStock)

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What this means for you

If you or a loved one relies on critical medication, this kind of technology could add an extra layer of safety. It may reduce guesswork for doctors and ease pressure on patients who manage complex treatment plans. At the same time, it raises important questions about privacy, consent and how medical data is shared. Any future rollout will need strong safeguards to protect patients.

For now, until this technology becomes available, you can still stay on track by using the built-in tools on your phone. We break down the best ways to track your meds on iPhone and Android in our step-by-step guide.

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Kurt’s key takeaways

A pill that confirms it was swallowed may sound futuristic, but it addresses a very real problem. By combining simple materials with smart engineering, MIT researchers created a tool that could save lives without lingering in the body. As testing continues, this approach could reshape how medicine is monitored and delivered.

Would you be comfortable taking a pill that reports when you swallow it if it meant better health outcomes? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com

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Sotomayor’s Wabi Sabi is the funnest record of 2026

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Sotomayor’s Wabi Sabi is the funnest record of 2026

Shout out to subscriber N_Gorski for today’s pick. They popped into the comments on last week’s recommendation to ask what I thought of the new Sotomayor record. Well, I hadn’t actually heard it yet, but now I’m obsessed.

The group consists of siblings Raul and Paulina Sotomayor from Mexico City. Wabi Sabi is their first record since 2020’s Origenes, and it is pure joy. You can look back through everything I’ve recommended over the last several months, and “fun” is not how you’d describe most of it. But that’s what Wabi Sabi is — it’s fun, chaotic, and dancey as hell.

I was only familiar with Sotomayor before this because of a short documentary about Raul’s various projects made by Ableton. In that video, he discusses how his approach to making music has changed over the years. How he used to try to make things sound “proper” and “clean,” but now it’s about “how much can we distort it” or “how much can we stretch it.”

You can certainly hear that in the music. The first track, “Me dejo llevar,” opens with a synth arpeggio that has clearly been timestretched to within an inch of its life. It’s loaded with digital artifacts. The whole track has a light crust, as if everything is clipping just ever so slightly. “Who’s there” similarly bristles as the edges, sounding like a dance floor constantly on the verge of erupting into a riot.

The vintage electronic drum hits, droning bass, and reverb-drenched noise stabs never reach full catharsis, but simmer beautifully into album highlight “Vida.” Here, Paulina finds a sultry gear as she croons over a UK garage-inflected track that eventually erupts into an afrohouse club banger.

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Wabi Sabi ricochets between genres with infectious abandon. Afrobeat, cumbia, electro pop, R&B, and more all collide in what is easily the most fun album of 2026 so far. What makes it all the more impressive is that, for all its unconventional sounds (a donkey jaw?) and stylistic excursions, Sotomayor still has a distinct vision that holds the record together.

At no point does the chaos threaten to overwhelm. Never does it feel like the duo are simply throwing things at the wall to see what sticks; everything is a carefully made decision in service of the party. The gently meandering guitar of “Yo se todo de ti,” the classic house of “Todo se derrumba,” and the dancehall of “Prende la palma” all feel unified by Paulina’s undeniable charisma on the mic and Raul’s uninhibited sonic curiosity.

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Smart glasses detector app warns if you’re being recorded

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Smart glasses detector app warns if you’re being recorded

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Smart glasses are built to blend in. Most of the time, they look just like a normal pair of glasses. The difference is that some models can quietly take photos or record video without anyone nearby realizing it.

As these wearable cameras start showing up in everyday places, more people are wondering when they might be on camera. That concern helped inspire a new Android app called Nearby Glasses, which lets you check whether smart glasses may be nearby.

The idea behind the app is simple. If a nearby device is broadcasting a Bluetooth signal linked to smart glasses, the app tries to detect it. For people worried about hidden cameras in public spaces, even a small warning could help them stay more aware of their surroundings.

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Mark Zuckerberg sported a pair of Meta Ray-Ban Display AI glasses while speaking at the Meta Connect event in Menlo Park, California, on Sept. 17, 2025. (David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Why smart glasses are raising privacy concerns

Smart glasses are designed to blend in. Unlike a phone or camera, they often look identical to regular eyewear. That means someone could be filming without anyone around them realizing it.

Modern versions of these devices can capture photos, record video and even livestream. Some models also connect to AI tools that can analyze what the wearer sees. Privacy advocates say the biggest problem is visibility. When someone pulls out a phone to record, people usually notice.

With smart glasses, the camera may be hidden in plain sight. As a result, conversations about consent and privacy are becoming more urgent as wearable cameras spread.

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How the nearby glasses app works

Nearby Glasses works by scanning for Bluetooth signals that devices broadcast to connect with phones and other hardware. Each manufacturer uses unique Bluetooth identifiers. The app listens for those signals and compares them to known identifiers from companies that produce wearable devices. If the app detects one of those signals, it alerts the user.

Here is how the process works:

  • The app scans nearby Bluetooth devices in real time
  • It checks each signal against known manufacturer identifiers
  • If a match appears, the user receives an alert

The app currently focuses on devices made by companies such as Meta and Snap. Users can also add additional Bluetooth identifiers to expand what the app detects. That allows the tool to flag more types of wearable tech. To keep scanning continuously, users must enable a foreground service in the app and press Start Scanning. A debug log then displays the scanning activity while the app runs.

Why the developer created the app

The app was developed by software creator Yves Jeanrenaud, who says he built it after seeing how wearable cameras were being used. On the project page, Jeanrenaud described smart glasses as a major privacy concern. He believes the devices could open the door to more recording without consent.

He also pointed to reports about smart glasses appearing in sensitive situations. Those examples include cases where wearable cameras were allegedly used during immigration enforcement or in situations where people were filmed without permission.

According to Jeanrenaud, the app represents what he calls a form of technological resistance. In other words, using technology to push back against technology. Still, even he admits it may only address part of the problem.

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As smart glasses become more common in public places, tools like the Nearby Glasses app aim to help people stay aware of possible hidden recording devices. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

The app is helpful but not perfect

Like any detection tool, Nearby Glasses has limitations. Bluetooth signals do not always reveal exactly what device is nearby. For example, a device made by the same manufacturer could trigger an alert. That means a headset or other gadget might appear as a possible pair of smart glasses.

False positives are possible. However, those alerts still give users more awareness of nearby devices that could be capturing data. Right now, the app is available only for Android. The developer has said an iPhone version could happen in the future, depending on time and demand.

Ways to stay safe around smart glasses

Smart glasses are becoming more common. While tools like Nearby Glasses can help, awareness is still the best defense. Here are several ways to protect your privacy.

Pay attention to visible camera indicators

Some smart glasses include small LED lights that turn on while recording. If you notice a light on someone’s frames, they may be filming.

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Speak up if you feel uncomfortable

If you suspect someone is recording you in a private setting, you can ask them directly. Many people stop when confronted.

Avoid sensitive conversations in crowded areas

Wearable cameras thrive in public environments where people are distracted. Avoid discussing personal information in places where recording could occur.

Disable Bluetooth visibility on your own devices

Limiting the signals your devices broadcast can reduce how easily others track or scan your hardware.

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Stay informed about wearable tech

Smart glasses are evolving quickly. Learning how they work helps you recognize when someone might be using one nearby.

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Mark Zuckerberg wears the Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses while speaking at the company’s headquarters in Menlo Park, California, on Sept. 17, 2025. (Reuters/Carlos Barria)

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Kurt’s key takeaways

Smart glasses represent a strange moment in the evolution of technology. On one hand, they promise convenience. People can capture moments hands-free or access digital information instantly. On the other hand, they blur the line between everyday life and constant surveillance. Apps like Nearby Glasses show that some people are already pushing back. They want tools that reveal when hidden cameras might be nearby. However, technology alone will not settle the debate. The real question is how society decides to balance innovation with basic expectations of privacy.

And that leads to a bigger question. If cameras can hide in ordinary glasses, should people be required to reveal when they are recording you? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.

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Trump administration is allegedly collecting $10 billion on the TikTok deal

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Trump administration is allegedly collecting  billion on the TikTok deal

In September, Donald Trump claimed that “the United States is getting a tremendous fee” for brokering the TikTok deal. Now sources tell the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times that fee is expected to be in the range of $10 billion. The money is supposedly being paid by new investors, including Oracle and Silver Lake. Reports are that $2.5 billion was already paid to the Treasury when the deal closed on January 22nd. The rest will be paid out in installments.

This is the latest example of the Trump administration inserting itself into private business in unprecedented ways, including taking on a 10-percent stake in Intel last August, a “golden share” in US Steel, and a 20-percent cut in chip sales from Nvidia to China. In this instance, the deal also involves one of Trump’s biggest supporters and fundraisers, Larry Ellison, co-founder and CTO of Oracle.

If the reporting is accurate, the fee would represent over 70 percent of the deal’s value, which saw a group of investors take a majority stake in TikTok for $14 billion.

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