How this game is helping gamers deal with mental health, and other interesting tech stories from this week

Dark souls

Dark souls could help with mental health, study finds

Aalto University researchers have discovered that the notoriously tough videogame Dark Souls is helping some players cope with depression and real-life challenges. The study analysed Reddit discussions to understand how players draw resilience and hope from the game's demanding mechanics. Players reported learning to accept failure, persist despite setbacks, and seek help.

Online communities surrounding Dark Souls provided emotional support and a sense of belonging, often reinforcing encouragement with phrases like, "Don't You Dare Go Hollow." While the researchers caution that gaming is not a replacement for therapy, they highlight the potential for thoughtfully designed games to promote well-being and offer meaningful support.

Insect-inspired legs help mini bot land safely

Researchers at the Harvard Microrobotics Laboratory have achieved a new milestone with RoboBee, their tiny flying robot, by outfitting it with legs modelled after the crane fly, one of nature's most graceful landers. Previously, RoboBee - about the size of a paperclip - could fly and hover, but struggled to land safely due to its lightweight and fragile structure.

PIC/HARVARD MICROROBOTICS LAB

The research team introduced long, jointed legs and enhanced control software, allowing the robot to decelerate and touch down gently on various surfaces, including leaves. Future plans involve making RoboBee fully autonomous, with potential roles in environmental monitoring.