A few high-end cars already come with technology that will issue a warning—or even brake automatically—if the dashboard computer thinks a crash is imminent. Now, for those of us who can’t afford this luxury extra, there’s a smart-phone app that aims to do something similar.

Patients with blindness caused by retinitis pigmentosa can now get a light-detecting microchip implanted in one of their retinas. A sight-restoring implant approved for sale in the European Union on Wednesday is the second artificial retina to become available in the region.

A team of researchers has created the first digital cameras with designs that mimic ocular systems of dragonflies, bees and other insects. This technology offers exceptionally wide-angle fields of view, with low aberrations, high acuity to motion, and nearly infinite depth of field.

Being able to see with both eyes comes with a perk: the ability to judge distance in 3D. Say, between a plate of food on the table and the saltshaker, or the space between the front of your car and the bumper of the vehicle ahead of you.