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Editing memories, spying on our bodies, normalizing weird goggles: Apple's new Vision Pro has big ambitions
Apple Vision Pro is a mixed-reality headset—which the company hopes is a "revolutionary spatial computer that transforms how people work, collaborate, connect, relive memories, and enjoy entertainment"—that begins shipping to the public (in the United States) later this week.... Read more
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Research team develops sweat-resistant wearable robot sensor
New electromyography (EMG) sensor technology that allows the long-term stable control of wearable robots and is not affected by the wearer's sweat and dead skin has gained attention recently. Wearable robots are devices used across a variety of rehabilitation treatments for the elderly and patients recovering from stroke or trauma.... Read more
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3D printed electronic skin provides promise for human-machine interaction
With more than 1,000 nerve endings, human skin is the brain's largest sensory connection to the outside world, providing a wealth of feedback through touch, temperature and pressure. While these complex features make skin a vital organ, they also make it a challenge to replicate.... Read more
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Researchers demonstrate rapid 3D printing with liquid metal
MIT researchers have developed an additive manufacturing technique that can print rapidly with liquid metal, producing large-scale parts such as table legs and chair frames in a matter of minutes.... Read more
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Advanced full-color image sensor technology enables simultaneous energy harvesting and imaging
Organic-based optoelectronic technology is increasingly recognized as an energy-efficient solution for low-power indoor electronics and wireless IoT sensors. This is largely due to its superior flexibility and light weight compared to conventional silicon-based devices. Notably, organic photovoltaic cells (OPVs) and organic photodetectors (OPDs) are leading examples in this field.... Read more
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Q&A: How combining origami techniques with modern textile science can lead to practical applications
Exploring the frontiers of textile design, Randall Kamien of the School of Arts & Sciences at the University of Pennsylvania and long-time collaborator Geneviève Dion, a professor of design at Drexel University, are investigating the mechanics of knitting, an area of research that represents a significant shift in understanding and... Read more
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Research proposes a self-powered movable seawall for tsunami protection and emergency power generation
With over 2,780 fishing ports and 993 commercial and industrial ports, Japan faces the challenge of safeguarding these important coastal assets from the destructive forces of tsunamis. A promising solution lies in the form of a movable barrier system, where gates rising from the seafloor act as barriers, protecting ports... Read more
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Novel material facilitates measurement of concrete deterioration in buildings and other structures
Concrete is an essential material in the construction industry, where it is fundamental to the foundations and structures of dwellings and office buildings, as well as roads, dams and bridges, among many other infrastructure projects. However, the service life of concrete is limited, and it must be monitored in order... Read more
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Drone-zapping laser weapons now effective (and cheap) reality
A single burst of light is precisely aimed at a tiny drone flying at breakneck speed far in the distance. Instants later, the deactivated drone crashes into the sea. Not a sound made, no human casualties, no messy explosions. A lethal, multimillion-dollar drone cleanly taken out by a shot that... Read more
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What the Red Sea crisis could mean for the electric vehicle industry and the planet
Automotive giants Tesla and Volvo have announced pauses to the production of their electric vehicles (EVs) in Europe. Electric vehicles are seeing record sales and demand worldwide, but a lack of parts means that factories cannot sustain their production.... Read more
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Self-powered sensor automatically harvests magnetic energy
MIT researchers have developed a battery-free, self-powered sensor that can harvest energy from its environment.... Read more
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Artificial 'power plants' harness energy from wind and rain
Fake plants are moving into the 21st century. Researchers developed literal "power plants"—tiny, leaf-shaped generators that create electricity from a blowing breeze or falling raindrops—and described them in ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering. The team tested the energy harvesters by incorporating them into artificial plants.... Read more
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Your fingerprint is actually 3D—research into holograms could improve forensic fingerprint analysis
When you use your fingerprint to unlock your smartphone, your phone is looking at a two-dimensional pattern to determine whether it's the correct fingerprint before it unlocks for you. But the imprint your finger leaves on the surface of the button is actually a 3D structure called a fingermark.... Read more
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From cannabis harvest to flexible solar panels: Using organic electronics to develop next-gen devices
Organic electronics—electronics where the active material is carbon-based—are making possible diverse new technologies ranging from sensors for monitoring cannabinoid levels in cannabis plants to lightweight, bendable solar panels. Real-world applications could result in solar panels you roll up and take with you on your next camping trip, or cannabis producers... Read more
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Volocopter flying taxi seeks to seduce Paris
A German company is seeking to use the exposure generated by the Paris Olympics to overcome the opposition of local politicians and demonstrate that flying taxis can serve the French capital.... Read more
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Advancement in thermoelectricity could light up the Internet of Things
Imagine stoplights and cars communicating with each other to optimize the flow of traffic. This isn't science fiction—it's the Internet of Things (IoT), i.e., objects that sense their surroundings and respond via the internet. As the global population rises and such technologies continue to develop, you might wonder—what will power... Read more
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NASA, Lockheed Martin reveal X-59 quiet supersonic aircraft
NASA and Lockheed Martin formally debuted the agency's X-59 quiet supersonic aircraft Friday. Using this one-of-a-kind experimental airplane, NASA aims to gather data that could revolutionize air travel, paving the way for a new generation of commercial aircraft that can travel faster than the speed of sound.... Read more
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New fuel cell harvests energy from microbes in soil to power sensors, communications
A Northwestern University-led team of researchers has developed a new fuel cell that harvests energy from microbes living in dirt.... Read more
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Researchers turn up the heat on flexible temperature sensor development using microwaves
Engineers from UK universities have developed a new method of measuring temperature through the interaction of a soft and flexible "smart skin" sensor with electromagnetic waves.... Read more
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Integrating dimensions to get more out of Moore's Law and advance electronics
Moore's Law, a fundamental scaling principle for electronic devices, forecasts that the number of transistors on a chip will double every two years, ensuring more computing power—but a limit exists.... Read more
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Tactile lithophane development makes hard scientific data available to students with blindness
A first-of-its-kind tactile learning device developed by Baylor University chemistry professors to make science accessible to students with blindness or low vision (BLV) has opened the possibility of the transfer of any scientific data or images for sighted students into functional, thorough formats for students with blindness. The work is... Read more
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Small-scale solar has key benefits, and one critical weakness, over large solar farms
A new study shows size matters in solar energy. The first ever life-cycle analysis comparing big and small solar photovoltaic systems has concluded that small-scale solar systems are in fact better for the environment than even the largest, and most efficient, solar farm.... Read more
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Walmart to blanket Dallas-FW with drone deliveries covering 1.8 million households
Walmart says drone deliveries are no longer a futuristic idea: Let the baby wipes and forgotten birthday candles fall from the sky. Walmart will have the ability to make drone deliveries with its partners Wing and Zipline to 75% of Dallas-Fort Worth by the end of this year, Walmart CEO... Read more
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Researchers develop optimal design method for microwave power transmission
A team of researchers from Xidian University in China has achieved a new result in the field of microwave power transmission. Their study, published in Engineering, introduces an optimal design method for antenna aperture illumination with an annular collection area, with the goal of maximizing the power radiated on the... Read more
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Nanowire contacts push the boundaries for high-performance electronics
Space comes at a premium on electronic chips: Powerful electronics need more and more connections, crammed into smaller and smaller spaces. Established technologies are reaching the limits of what is physically possible. Now, researchers at Fraunhofer IZM-ASSID have teamed up with other partners to level up a connection technology patented... Read more
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As Australia's net zero transition threatens to stall, rooftop solar could help provide the power we need
Australia is not rolling out clean energy projects nearly fast enough to reach the Australian government's target of 82% renewable electricity by 2030. A huge build of solar and wind farms, transmission lines and big batteries is needed. But progress is challenged by the scale required, community resistance to new... Read more
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First battery prototype using hemoglobin developed
A team with the Chemical Institute for Energy and the Environment (IQUEMA) at the University of Cordoba has come up with a battery that uses hemoglobin as an electrochemical reaction facilitator, functioning for around 20–30 days.... Read more
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Light-emitting textiles for diverse flexible and wearable displays
Textile research has highlighted the advances in electroluminescent threads as suitable biomaterials for driving growth in the wearable electronics market. While the direct embroidery of textiles with custom designs and patterns can offer substantial benefits, machine embroidery can challenge the integrity of these threads.... Read more
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Mimicking the masters: Octopus-inspired systems for deception and signaling
In a new study, scientists have introduced octopus-inspired deception and signaling systems using a stable nonacene-like molecule, marking a significant advancement in camouflage technology with potential applications in diverse fields.... Read more
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A butterfly-inspired design to create crumple-recoverable electronics
Over the past decades, electronics engineers have created devices of various shapes and with increasingly sophisticated designs. This includes electronics that can be folded onto themselves, such as foldable phones, along with various other compressible devices.... Read more
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Resurrection consent: It's time to talk about our digital afterlives
Should the deceased be digitally resurrected by grieving friends, lovers and relatives? A new study captures current attitudes and highlights the need for urgent research and policy work.... Read more
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Researchers 3D print components for a portable mass spectrometer
Mass spectrometers, devices that identify chemical substances, are widely used in applications like crime scene analysis, toxicology testing, and geological surveying. But these machines are bulky, expensive, and easy to damage, which limits where they can be effectively deployed.... Read more
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How the 'visionaries' of Silicon Valley mean profits are prioritized over true technological progress
Technological innovation in the last couple of decades has brought fame and huge wealth to the likes of Elon Musk, Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg and Jeff Bezos. Often feted as geniuses, they are the faces behind the gadgets and media that so many of us depend upon.... Read more
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Piezo composites with carbon fibers for motion sensors
An international research group has engineered a novel, high-strength flexible device by combining piezoelectric composites with unidirectional carbon fiber (UDCF), an anisotropic material that provides strength only in the direction of the fibers. The new device transforms kinetic energy from human motion into electricity, providing an efficient and reliable means... Read more
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Insect compasses, fire-fighting vines: 2023's nature-inspired tech
Even as human-caused climate change threatens the environment, nature continues to inspire our technological advancement.... Read more
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Scientists develop 'flying dragon' robot to fight fires from a distance
Imagine a flying dragon that doesn't spout fire, but instead extinguishes it with blasts of water. Thanks to a team of Japanese researchers, this new kind of beast may soon be recruited to firefighter teams around the world, to help put out fires that are too dangerous for their human... Read more
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Real-time multimodal tactile detection system applicable to robots and wearable devices
A tactile perception system capable of providing human-like multimodal tactile information to objects like robots and wearable devices that require tactile data in real-time has been developed.... Read more
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Researchers create first programmable, logical quantum processor
Harvard researchers have realized a key milestone in the quest for stable, scalable quantum computing, an ultra-high-speed technology that will enable game-changing advances in a variety of fields, including medicine, science, and finance.... Read more
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Artificially intelligent 'Coscientist' automates scientific discovery
A non-organic intelligent system has for the first time designed, planned and executed a chemistry experiment, Carnegie Mellon University researchers report in the Dec. 21 issue of the journal Nature.... Read more
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A 360-degree head-up display view could warn drivers of road obstacles in real time
Researchers have developed an augmented reality head-up display that could improve road safety by displaying potential hazards as high-resolution three-dimensional holograms directly in a driver's field of vision in real time.... Read more
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NASA's tech demo streams first video from deep space via laser
NASA's Deep Space Optical Communications experiment beamed an ultra-high definition streaming video on Dec. 11 from a record-setting 19 million miles away (31 million kilometers, or about 80 times the Earth-moon distance). The milestone is part of a NASA technology demonstration aimed at streaming very high-bandwidth video and other data... Read more
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A digital twin system that could enhance collaborative human-robot product assembly
Robotics systems have already been introduced in numerous real-world settings, including some industrial and manufacturing facilities. In these facilities, robots can assist human assembly line and warehouse workers, assembling some parts of products with high precision and then handing them to human agents tasked with performing additional actions.... Read more
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Full-day, solar-powered, bidirectional thermoregulatory clothing that can respond to changing temperatures
A team of engineers, materials scientists and chemists at Nankai University, in China, has developed a microfiber-based meta-fabric that provides full-day thermoregulation of body temperature during periods of changing external temperatures.... Read more
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Researcher creates VR sequences to test eyewitness statements
Eyewitness statements are one of the key sources for identifying perpetrators—and one of the most error-prone. For example, the Innocence Project—an organization that works to clear up miscarriages of justice in the U.S.—states that incorrect eyewitness statements played a role in 64% of the cases in which it was able... Read more
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This adaptive roof tile can cut both heating and cooling costs
About half of an average American building's energy consumption is spent on heating and cooling. That's a lot of money spent, fossil fuel burned and strain on an aging energy infrastructure during times of severe temperatures.... Read more
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Light-stimulated adaptive artificial synapse based on nanocrystalline metal-oxide film
The quest for more efficient and versatile computing methods has given rise to innovative solutions, moving beyond traditional digital architectures. The limitations of the von Neumann architecture, which separates memory from processing units, have prompted the exploration of new frontiers in artificial intelligence.... Read more
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Engineers design safer and more comfortable football equipment
The University of Missouri football team has been on a hot streak this season, ranking nationally and dominating games against SEC rivals. Now, Mizzou engineering students are designing new equipment to make sure players stay comfortable on the field.... Read more
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Brain tissue on a chip achieves voice recognition
Clusters of lab-raised brain cells connected to a computer are capable of elementary speech recognition and math problems.... Read more
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Metal steam turbine blade shows cutting-edge potential for critical, large 3D-printed parts
Researchers at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory became the first to 3D-print large rotating steam turbine blades for generating energy in power plants.... Read more
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IBM debuts next-gen quantum processor and IBM quantum system two, extends roadmap to advance quantum utility
At the annual IBM Quantum Summit in New York, IBM debuted IBM Quantum Heron, the first in a new series of utility-scale quantum processors with an architecture engineered over the past four years to deliver IBM's highest performance metrics and lowest error rates of any IBM Quantum processor to date.... Read more