Its prototype Turing machine uses a set of electroactive polymer muscles to push memory elements into place and squeeze piezoresistive switches, performing virtually any calculation through flexing.

ENGADGET: Turing machine built from artificial muscles may lead to smart prosthetics

In truth, it was the risk to the real that helped him push Congress into accepting his fiscal squeeze and moving ahead with crucial reforms to the civil service (which were given a first-round vote in the Senate this week) and to pensions (ditto in the Chamber of Deputies).

ECONOMIST: Fernando Henrique Stability