---
title: "This Week in Science: Oct 13 – Oct 20"
description: "From robots giving university-level lectures to pills programmed exactly to your cells' needs, here's what fascinated us in the world of science this week."
date: "2018-10-19"
modified: "2018-11-07"
authors:
  - name: "Victor Tangermann"
    job_title: "Senior Editor"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor"
url: "https://futurism.com/week-science-oct-13-oct-20"
categories:
  - "Science & Energy"
tags:
  - "anti vaccine movement"
  - "bina48"
  - "fake meat"
  - "legalize"
  - "meditation"
  - "pill"
  - "This Week in Science"
---

# This Week in Science: Oct 13 – Oct 20

![](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/TWIS1.png>)
*\<em\>Image: Tag Hartman-Simkins\</em\>*

We'll truly be pampered in the future: from imitation smoked salmon to legalized weed. What could we possibly have to complain about?

Here's what inspired us in the world of science this week:

[The Percentage of Unvaccinated U.S. Toddlers Has Quadrupled Since 2001.](<https://futurism.com/neoscope/percentage-unvaccinated-toddlers-trippled-2001>) Vaccination rates amongst children in the United States have decreased in recent years, according to a new report from the CDC.

[You've Heard of Fake Meat. How About Fake Fish?](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/fake-meat-fake-fish>) A new Wall Street Journal story looks at the rise of imitation tuna, shrimp, and even smoked salmon. The surprise conclusion: It's pretty convincing.

[Get Ready for Pills Programmed to Respond to Your Cells' Individual Needs.](<https://futurism.com/neoscope/molecular-computation-smart-pills>) A new paper suggests it could be possible to create smart pills that tailor medical treatments perfectly to a patient's needs.

[Five Products That Use Science to Maximize Your Meditation Sessions.](<https://futurism.com/category/health-medicine>) Practicing meditation can improve both physical and mental health, boost self control, and improve productivity. These science-focused products can help.

[A Humanoid Robot Gave a Lecture in a West Point Philosophy Course.](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/humanoid-robot-philosophy-course>) In 2017, Bina48 became the first AI-powered robot to complete a college-level course, and now, it's the first to co-teach one.

[Canada Legalized Weed, and It Could Be a Huge Opportunity for Scientists.](<https://futurism.com/neoscope/canada-legalized-cannabis-science>) On Wednesday, Canada legalized cannabis, and the move provided medical researchers with the opportunity to develop promising new treatments.

Read More: [This Week in Science: Oct 6 - Oct 12](<https://futurism.com/week-science-oct-6-oct-12>)

## Author
I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida.

### Author social links  
[Bluesky](<https://bsky.app/profile/vtanger.bsky.social>)