This week’s list of top data news highlights covers March 15, 2025 to March 21, 2025, and includes articles on noninvasive data-driven methods of analyzing neonatal health and introducing autonomous public transportation vehicles in Europe.
1. Improving Truck Route Planning
StreetLight Data, a mobility analytics platform from Texas, has launched a new tool to help cities and states improve how goods move by truck. Created in partnership with Canadian company Geotab, the tool uses data from commercial vehicles and machine learning to show where trucks are going, how much traffic they face, and where delays happen. This helps urban planners reduce congestion, cut emissions, and make truck routes more efficient.
Cornerstone, a UK-based VR company, has developed a virtual reality system that allows foster carers to experience simulated scenarios from a child’s perspective. The program simulates common traumatic environments—such as homes affected by domestic violence, neglect, or substance abuse—based on insights from childhood trauma research. While not specific to any one child, these scenarios help carers better understand how early experiences may shape behavior and emotional responses, improving their ability to support children in their care.
3. Identifying Sleep Disorders
Researchers at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York have developed an algorithm to diagnose REM sleep behavior disorder, a condition strongly linked to neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s. The algorithm analyzes video recordings of sleep patients, identifying telltale symptoms such as jerks and twitches lasting less than two seconds. In testing, the system diagnosed the disorder with roughly 92 percent accuracy, offering a data-driven tool to improve early detection.
Researchers at Osaka University in Japan have developed an AI model that estimates biological age using a simple blood test. The model analyzes hormone levels and their interactions to provide a more accurate and personalized picture of aging. Tests revealed insights such as the doubling of cortisol, a stress-related hormone, correlating with a 1.5-fold increase in biological age.
5. Avoiding Scammers in Spanish
The Bloomington Police Department in Minnesota is using AI-powered translation software to combat scams in which imposters pose as federal agents and demand money from Spanish-speaking residents. The tool creates videos where real police officials appear to speak fluent Spanish, delivering trusted warnings about the scam. By reducing language barriers, the technology helps residents understand that legitimate authorities will never call to demand money, making it easier for the community to recognize and ignore fraudulent calls.
6. Improving Mental Health in Parkinson’s Patients with VR
A group of Iranian researchers have used a combined method of VR and talk therapy to support mental health in Parkinson’s patients. The VR system simulates real-life scenarios, allowing patients to process scenarios and practice coping strategies in a controlled environment. Data shows that Parkinson’s patients using the combined therapy scored higher on clinical quality-of-life assessments compared to those receiving talk therapy alone.
7. Introducing Autonomous Buses
Renault, a French automaker, has partnered with WeRide, a Chinese autonomous driving technology company, to deploy driverless buses in Barcelona. The buses operate using real-time data from 10 cameras and 8 sensor arrays, continuously mapping their surroundings, detecting obstacles, and adjusting to changing traffic patterns. This endeavor is part of Renault’s broader initiative to integrate AI-powered public transportation across Europe.
AP Sensing, a German technology company, has developed a fiber optic sensing system that uses soundwaves to detect tampering and environmental disturbances in undersea cables through soundwaves. By sending light pulses through the cables and monitoring how they’re disrupted by vibrations or contact, the system can detect threats like ship anchors or sabotage attempts. Unlike traditional monitoring, the system can be retrofitted onto existing cables, enhancing security without new infrastructure.
Instacart, a California-based grocery delivery company, has launched Smart Shop, an AI-driven system that personalizes grocery recommendations using data from Instacart’s catalog of 17 million products and millions of past shopping trips. The system applies AI-powered tagging and relevancy scoring to detect customer preferences, dynamically adjusting product suggestions in real-time. By analyzing shopping behavior, dietary choices, and interactive user feedback, Smart Shop refines recommendations to help customers discover relevant items more efficiently.
Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology have developed a pacifier that measures newborns’ electrolyte levels from their saliva while in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The device draws saliva into a channel equipped with sensors that detect sodium and potassium ions, providing real-time data on vital biomarkers. This noninvasive method offers a gentler alternative to traditional blood tests for monitoring neonatal health.
