A robot replica of Albert Einstein may not possess the great man's genius, but its emotional intelligence is second to none.

The ground-breaking model, which recognises and responds to human emotions, uses 31 motors and a patented flesh-like material called Frubber to make lifelike facial expressions. Scientists hope it will defy the perception that human-like robots are “creepy” and could be the first step to making robots emotionally sensitive.

Einstein, the Nobel Prize-winning physicist noted for his theory of relativity, was chosen for the model because he appears “lovable and emotionally accessible”, as well as being a universally esteemed scientist.

Designed by Texas-based Hanson Robotics, the robot can interact “naturally” with humans and could be used to teach autistic children how to perceive emotion. David Hanson, the robot's designer, says: “Some scientists believe strongly that very human-like robots are so inherently creepy that people can never get over it and interact with them normally. It's very important that we develop empathetic machines, machines that have compassion, machines that understand what you're feeling. If these robots do become as intelligent as human beings, we want this infrastructure of compassion and empathy to be in place so the machines are prepared to use their intellectual powers for the good of civilisation. In a way, we're planting the seeds for the survival of humanity.”

The robot uses facial recognition software that understands hundreds of human expressions such as sadness, anger, fear, happiness and confusion, as well as age and gender. The flesh-like material that makes up the robot's face, Frubber, was designed and patented by Dr Hanson and is so detailed it even includes realistic skin pores.

Dr Javier Movellan who developed the software added that the production of a robot with a “complete mind” could be just 10 years away.

New ‘Dracula’ fish discovered

A spectacular new 'Dracula' fish has been discovered, the only species of carp-like fishes to have 'teeth'.

Zoologists say that the bones which hang down from the mouth of the miniature fish make it unique among the 3,700 known species of carp-like fishes, which lost their jaw teeth 50 million years ago.

The fish, which measures just over 16 mm in length, was discovered near Mogaung in Burma, the only place in the world it has been found.

Named after Count Dracula, from Bram Stoker's novel, it is the only one of its kind to have bones which project through the skin, looking like real teeth. Colourless and with a largely translucent body, the Danionella dracula is also missing more than 40 bones which would normally be found in the Cypriniform group of carp-like fishes.

Dr Ralf Britz, a zoologist at the Natural History Museum, in London, said: "This fish is one of the most extraordinary vertebrates discovered in the last few decades. Danionella dracula evolved its own dracula-like teeth structures by growing them from the jaw bones rather than re-evolving jaw teeth.”