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Shaping the future of displays: Clay-based device integrates light emission and color control
Electrochemical stimuli-responsive materials are gaining more attention in the world of display technology. Based on external stimuli, such as low voltage, these materials can instantaneously undergo electrochemical reactions.... Read more
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Encoding many properties in one material via 3D printing
A class of synthetic soft materials called liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) can change shape in response to heat, similar to how muscles contract and relax in response to signals from the nervous system. 3D printing these materials opens new avenues to applications, ranging from soft robots and prosthetics to compression... Read more
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AI-powered self-healing asphalt: A step toward sustainable net-zero roads
Self-healing asphalt roads, made from biomass waste and designed with the help of artificial intelligence (AI), could offer a promising solution to the UK's pothole problem, which is estimated to cost £143.5 million a year.... Read more
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Chip-free wireless sensors could reduce environmental impact of electronic tags
A more sustainable new form of electronic tag could help reduce the vast environmental impact caused by single-use RFID technologies, researchers say.... Read more
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Better digital memories with the help of noble gases: Xenon approach could become industry standard
The electronics of the future can be made even smaller and more efficient by getting more memory cells to fit in less space. One way to achieve this is by adding the noble gas xenon when manufacturing digital memories.... Read more
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Advance paves way for new generation of diamond-based transistors in high-power electronics
A landmark development led by researchers from the University of Glasgow could help create a new generation of diamond-based transistors for use in high-power electronics.... Read more
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Independently funded jet's sound barrier mark revives talk of commercial supersonic travel
An aircraft developed by Boom Supersonic became the first independently funded jet to break the sound barrier this week. The XB-1 aircraft accelerated to Mach 1.05 at about 35,000 feet during a test flight Tuesday in the same Mojave Desert airspace in California where Charles "Chuck" Yeager was the first... Read more
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Mismatched training environments could help AI agents perform better in uncertain conditions
A home robot trained to perform household tasks in a factory may fail to effectively scrub the sink or take out the trash when deployed in a user's kitchen, since this new environment differs from its training space.... Read more
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Case study demonstrates practical applications for quantum machine learning
Quantum researchers from CSIRO, Australia's national science agency, have demonstrated the potential for quantum computing to significantly improve how we solve complex problems involving large datasets, highlighting the potential of using quantum in areas such as real-time traffic management, agricultural monitoring, health care, and energy optimization.... Read more
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New soft prosthetic hand offers natural bionic interfacing
Recent technological advances have opened new possibilities for the development of assistive and medical tools, including prosthetic limbs. While these limbs used to be hard objects with the same shape as limbs, prosthetics are now softer and look more realistic, with some also integrating robotic components that considerably broaden their... Read more
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New York to Paris in 30 minutes? How to achieve Elon Musk's vision of rockets replacing long haul
Of all the things that Donald Trump's return as US president could mean, one is that Elon Musk's plan to use Starship rockets for long-distance flights on Earth could move forward. Dubbed Starship Earth to Earth, this would see passengers transported by rocket between cities. They would briefly leave the... Read more
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Bioinspired 3D printing: Architected design creates efficient structures
When 3D printing was first introduced in 1985, it marked a major turning point for the manufacturing industry. In addition to being cheaper than traditional manufacturing technologies, it also promised the ability to customize designs and make prototypes on demand. While its technology is still considered relatively new, there has... Read more
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Butterfly-inspired method for robot wing movement works without electronics or batteries
Researchers at the Technical University of Darmstadt and the Helmholtz Center Dresden-Rossendorf have developed flexible robot wings that are moved by magnetic fields. Inspired by the efficiency and adaptability of the wings of the monarch butterfly, they enable precise movements without electronics or batteries.... Read more
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London cabbies' planning strategies could help inform future of AI
Researchers have measured the thinking time of London taxi drivers—famous for their knowledge of more than 26,000 streets across the city—as part of a study into the future of AI route-mapping.... Read more
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A new method to fabricate soft electronics via particle engulfment printing
The electronics industry has been rapidly advancing over the past few decades, leading to the development of countless devices of different sizes and shapes, which are designed for a variety of applications.... Read more
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AI-powered robotic labs enable simultaneous experiments
In a pioneering experiment, a robotic sample preparation platform, driven by artificial intelligence (AI) was used to undertake simultaneous experiments at both Diamond Light Source, the UK's National Synchrotron, and the ISIS Neutron and Muon Source, the UK's National Neutron and Muon Source.... Read more
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'A mini climate-control system': The tech behind sportswear at the Australian Open
When a tennis player serves at 200km/h in 30°C heat, their clothing isn't just fabric. It becomes a key part of their performance.... Read more
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AI, drones and sensors: How technology could help battle future fires
Maxwell Brodie vividly recalls the destructive wildfire he experienced as a kid growing up in the interior of British Columbia.... Read more
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Eco-friendly artificial muscle fibers can produce and store energy
A research team has successfully developed innovative artificial muscle fibers capable of producing and storing energy. The team anticipates that these findings will have broad applications in fields such as advanced textiles, medical robotics, and wearable devices. The research is published in the Chemical Engineering Journal.... Read more
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Yarn-like battery prototype uses seawater to power devices
Most batteries are rigid and incompatible with water. But people work and play in oceans and estuaries, and they could benefit from flexible and saltwater-safe power sources.... Read more
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NASA sets sights on Mars terrain with advanced tire tech
The mystique of Mars has been studied for centuries. The fourth planet from the sun is reminiscent of a rich, red desert and features a rugged surface challenging to traverse. While several robotic missions have landed on Mars, NASA has only explored 1% of its surface.... Read more
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Computer scientists digitally render iridescent bird feathers
Computer animators and video game designers may soon have a better way to create the purple-green sheen of a grackle's wing, or the pink flash on a hummingbird's throat, thanks to a new method for rendering iridescent feathers.... Read more
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Scientists create world's first fully-3D printed microscope in under three hours
Scientists at the University of Strathclyde have created the world's first fully 3D printed microscope in under three hours and for less than £50—a fraction of the cost of traditional devices.... Read more
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'Turn on the lights': DAVD display helps divers navigate undersea conditions
A favorite childhood memory for Dr. Sandra Chapman was visiting the USS Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor with her father. So it's appropriate that Chapman—a program officer in the Office of Naval Research's (ONR) Warfighter Performance Department—is passionate about her involvement in the development of an innovative technology recently applied... Read more
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Use of robotic hand exoskeleton helps pianists improve their playing speed
A team of roboticists at Sony Computer Science Laboratories Inc. and the NeuroPiano Institute, in Kyoto, reports that a robotic exoskeleton strapped to the top of a piano player's hand allowed it to control the player's fingers during speed exercises, leading to improvements in playing fast-moving piano tunes. In their... Read more
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More versatile shape-shifting materials offer new possibilities for soft robotics and wearable tech
Finding new angles on an old artform, McGill researchers have increased the number of stable shapes that kirigami-based engineered materials can take, opening the way to a range of new applications. Their study is published in Advanced Materials.... Read more
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India uses AI to stop stampedes at world's biggest gathering
Keen to improve India's abysmal crowd management record at large-scale religious events, organizers of the world's largest human gathering are using artificial intelligence to try to prevent stampedes.... Read more
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Engineers develop polycatenated architected materials for innovative 3D designs
A team of engineers at the California Institute of Technology, working with colleagues from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and Princeton University, has developed what they have named polycatenated architected materials (PAMs) that can be used as wireframe elements to create novel 3D structures with interesting properties.... Read more
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Underwater exploration boosted with image enhancer
The search for long-lost shipwrecks, downed aircraft and even rare species of coral and fish could become easier thanks to an image enhancement technology developed by James Cook University researchers.... Read more
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Investors swoop in to save German flying taxi startup
A German flying taxi firm was Tuesday saved from collapse after investors swooped in to take it over, in a case that has fired debate about support for the country's startup scene.... Read more
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Nondestructive microwave radar finds moisture hiding inside a building's walls
For homeowners, moisture buildup can cause the biggest headaches. Mold grows on drywall and wood-based materials, creeping along walls, floors and ceilings. Building materials begin to erode and rot. As insulation becomes damaged, the home's energy-efficiency decreases. Even human health suffers, as moisture also leads to air-quality issues.... Read more
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AI system can envision an entire world from a single picture
Johns Hopkins computer scientists have created an artificial intelligence system capable of "imagining" its surroundings without having to physically explore them, bringing AI closer to humanlike reasoning.... Read more
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Laser-based artificial neuron mimics nerve cell functions at lightning speed
Researchers have developed a laser-based artificial neuron that fully emulates the functions, dynamics and information processing of a biological graded neuron. With a signal processing speed of 10 GBaud—a billion times faster than its biological counterparts—the new laser graded neuron could lead to breakthroughs in fields like artificial intelligence and... Read more
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Harnessing corrosion: Scientists transform dealloying into sustainable lightweight alloy design
Max Planck Institute for Sustainable Materials (MPI-SusMat) researchers have transformed dealloying—traditionally seen as a corrosive, destructive process—into a groundbreaking method for creating lightweight, high-strength alloys. By combining dealloying with alloying in a single step, the team developed nano-porous martensitic alloys using reactive gases like ammonia, which simultaneously remove oxygen and... Read more
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New knit haptic sleeve simulates realistic touch
Wearable haptic devices, which provide touch-based feedback, can provide more realistic experiences in virtual reality, assist with rehabilitation, and create new opportunities for silent communication. Currently, most of these devices rely on vibration, as pressure-based haptics have typically required users to wear stiff exoskeletons or other bulky structures.... Read more
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Watch 'ant-like' robot swarms conquer obstacles and transport heavy loads
Scientists in South Korea have developed swarms of tiny magnetic robots that work together like ants to achieve Herculean feats, including traversing and picking up objects many times their size.... Read more
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Video: Biometrics for authenticating artworks
In the art world, a certificate of authenticity is the traditional guarantee of originality. Typically issued by artists, art dealers or private sellers, these certificates serve to distinguish genuine works from forgeries. The problem is that the actual proof of originality often amounts to little more than a signature on... Read more
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Innovative AI system of Arabic vowel signs can help learners and speakers read texts fluently
A newly developed automated system can add vowel signs to computerized Arabic texts, enabling learners and speakers to read them in an easy and accurate manner, scientists reveal.... Read more
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Wearable energy harvester achieves 280 times efficiency boost
A team led by Prof. Jang Kyung-In from the Department of Robotics and Mechatronics Engineering (DGIST) has developed a three-dimensional stretchable piezoelectric energy harvester that can harvest electrical energy using body movements. The device is to be used as a wearable energy harvester as it can be attached to the... Read more
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Breaking barriers: Study uses AI to interpret American Sign Language in real-time
Sign language serves as a sophisticated means of communication vital to individuals who are deaf or hard-of-hearing, relying on hand movements, facial expressions, and body language to convey nuanced meaning. American Sign Language exemplifies this linguistic complexity with its distinct grammar and syntax.... Read more
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Study reveals vulnerability of metaverse platforms to cyber attacks
Having access to virtual worlds from your home computer via your web browser and being able to interact with others in a secure and private manner: that is the promise of metaverse platforms.... Read more
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Turning 3D printing's biggest flaw into its smartest feature
Civil and systems engineers at Johns Hopkins University have turned a longstanding problem with 3D printers into a multifunctional feature: The team developed a new printing technique that solves the fundamental weakness between the layers created during 3D printing. This work, which appears in Advanced Materials, has the potential to... Read more
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Coming soon—offline speech recognition on your phone
More than one in four people currently integrate speech recognition into their daily lives. A new algorithm developed by a University of Copenhagen researcher and his international colleagues makes it possible to interact with digital assistants like "Siri" without any internet connection. The innovation allows for speech recognition to be... Read more
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Beyond batteries: Researchers bring body-heat powered wearable devices closer to reality
A QUT-led research team has developed an ultra-thin, flexible film that could power next-generation wearable devices using body heat, eliminating the need for batteries.... Read more
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Free-fall system inspects the quality of precision stamped parts during the production process
In industrial stamping processes, several hundred sheet metal parts are typically produced per minute. Together with the stamped parts manufacturer Quittenbaum GmbH, researchers at Fraunhofer IPM have now for the first time developed and installed an optical inspection system that checks the dimensional accuracy of every single component in high-speed... Read more
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Uncrewed aircraft systems traffic management beyond visual line of sight
NASA's Uncrewed Aircraft Systems Traffic Management Beyond Visual Line of Sight (UTM BVLOS) subproject aims to support the growing demand for drone flights across the globe.... Read more
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Shape-changing device helps visually impaired people perform location task as well as sighted people
A piece of navigation technology that uses the ability to sense information through touch can help people with visual impairment perform a location task as well as sighted people, according to new Imperial-led research.... Read more
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By tweaking materials, scientists create transistors that remember
A team of Johns Hopkins materials scientists made a surprising discovery that could change the way memory works in electronics. By tweaking the materials used in organic material-based logic switches called transistors, they created a new kind of memristor—devices that can remember past charging states when a current passes through... Read more
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Google announces quantum computing chip breakthrough
Google on Monday showed off a new quantum computing chip that it said was a major breakthrough that could bring practical quantum computing closer to reality.... Read more
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Battery-like computer memory keeps working above 1,000°F
Computer memory could one day withstand the blazing temperatures in fusion reactors, jet engines, geothermal wells and sweltering planets using a new solid-state memory device developed by a team of engineers led by the University of Michigan.... Read more