Technology

Revolutionizing automotive safety with bio-inspired AI cameras

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Artificial intelligence (AI), in conjunction with a novel bio-inspired camera, has achieved a breakthrough in pedestrian and obstacle detection, boasting a 100-times increase in speed compared to current automotive cameras. Researchers from the University of Zurich spearheaded this significant advancement, which holds promise for dramatically enhancing the safety of automotive systems and self-driving vehicles. The … Read more

Enhancing electric vehicle battery performance with innovative polymers

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A recent breakthrough in chemistry has shown that maintaining distance can significantly improve the performance of batteries used in electric vehicles (EVs). A research team has developed a polymeric protective film that ensures the safe operation of the anode in sulfide-based all-solid-state batteries. Their findings were published in the online edition of Advanced Functional Materials. The … Read more

Iron cathodes for lithium-ion batteries promise sustainability and cost reduction

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What if a common element, rather than scarce and expensive ones, became a key component in electric car batteries? A groundbreaking collaboration, co-led by an Oregon State University chemistry researcher, is aiming to ignite a green battery revolution by demonstrating that iron can replace cobalt and nickel as a cathode material in lithium-ion batteries. The … Read more

Advancements in thermophotovoltaic cells edge closer to grid-scale applications

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Researchers at the University of Michigan have made significant strides in the efficiency of devices that convert heat into electricity, pushing these technologies closer to practical use on the electrical grid. These developments, which include reaching near-theoretical maximum efficiencies, could revolutionize how we store and utilize renewable energy. Harnessing Heat for Energy Storage The innovation … Read more

Adjustable filter paves the way for next-gen wireless communication

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In the early 2010s, LightSquared, a multibillion-dollar startup promising to revolutionize cellular communications, declared bankruptcy. The company couldn’t figure out how to prevent its signals from interfering with those of GPS systems. Now, Penn Engineers have developed a new tool that could prevent such problems from ever happening again: an adjustable filter that can successfully prevent … Read more

Scientists extend life of earth-abundant hydrogen catalyst by 4000%

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Researchers led by Ryuhei Nakamura at the RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science (CSRS) in Japan have improved on their green and sustainable method of extracting hydrogen from water by using a custom-made catalyst for the chemical reaction. Published in Nature Catalysis, the study details how they manipulated the catalyst’s 3D structure, which led to improved stability and … Read more

Researchers develop recyclable circuit boards for sustainable electronics

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A recent United Nations report found that the world generated 137 billion pounds of electronic waste in 2022, an 82% increase from 2010. Yet less than a quarter of 2022’s e-waste was recycled. While many things impede a sustainable afterlife for electronics, one is that we don’t have systems at scale to recycle the printed … Read more

Reconfigurable metasurface with independent beam scanning and polarization control for advanced wireless communication

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Researchers have unveiled a technology that propels the field of wireless communication forward. This cutting-edge design, termed a reconfigurable transmissive metasurface, utilizes a synergistic blend of scissor and rotation actuators to independently manage beam scanning and polarization conversion. This introduces an innovative approach to boosting signal strength and efficiency within wireless networks. Reconfigurable metasurfaces are … Read more

Researchers develop high-efficiency bidirectional DC-DC converter for DC microgrids

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A new DC-DC power converter is superior to previous designs and paves the way for more efficient, reliable and sustainable energy storage and conversion solutions. The Kobe University development can efficiently interface with a wide range of energy sources while enhancing system stability and simplicity at an unprecedented efficiency. Electric power comes in two kinds, … Read more

Air plasma treatment enhances performance of carbon-based fuel cell electrodes

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Researchers from Skoltech and their colleagues have improved the properties of a carbon-based electrode material by exposing it to air plasma. Such treatment turned out to enhance electrode performance, which is the limiting factor for high-tech energy sources—particularly fuel cells. These are a promising technology for cleaner and more efficient electrical power generation. Published in the Journal of … Read more

Researchers develop high-purity gold recovery method from E-waste using functionalized textile adsorbent

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Korea relies on imports for most of its metal resources, and in recent years, due to resource depletion and rising raw material prices, ‘circular resources’ that recycle waste metal resources have emerged. In response, SK hynix has established a mid- to long-term plan to increase the percentage of copper, gold, etc. recovered and reused from … Read more

Researchers develop low-cost, sustainable electrochromic smart windows using amylose

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Smart windows are an exciting technology, capable of blocking out or letting in more light as needed, potentially reducing energy costs of large buildings by making them more efficient. This technology has already hit the market, but widespread adoption remains limited by cost and other factors. A study from researchers at The University of Texas … Read more

Researchers develop skyrmion-based microdevice for energy-efficient AI computing

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In a remarkable collaboration between the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) and the National University of Singapore (NUS), a groundbreaking microelectronic device has emerged, heralding a new era in computing efficiency and sustainability. This innovative device, poised to revolutionize computing technologies, harnesses the power of tiny yet potent magnetic whirls known as skyrmions, … Read more

Researchers propose “collective AI” for future of artificial intelligence

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In a recent groundbreaking perspective paper published in Nature Machine Intelligence, a coalition of leading computer scientists from esteemed institutions such as Loughborough University, MIT, and Yale has unveiled a visionary concept for the future of artificial intelligence (AI). Dubbed “Collective AI,” this paradigm shift promises to revolutionize the landscape of AI technology, resembling the … Read more

Study reveals unexpected memory capabilities in quantum neural networks

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Machine learning is a branch of artificial intelligence (AI) and computer science that focuses on the use of data and algorithms to allow computers to learn without explicitly being programmed. While discussions surrounding AI algorithms, such as ChatGPT and other generative models, are taking place at all levels of society, the machine learning capabilities of … Read more

Research achieves stable electrodeposition in all-solid-state batteries

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A research team has successfully enhanced the performance and durability of all-solid-state batteries. This breakthrough was made possible through the implementation of a novel approach known as bottom electrodeposition. Their research has been published in Small. Secondary batteries generally rely on liquid electrolytes when used in various applications, such as electric vehicles and energy storage systems. However, the … Read more

Study shows english dominance in internal workings of multilingual large language models

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EPFL researchers have shown that large language models primarily trained on English text seem to use English internally, even when they are prompted in another language. As AI increasingly runs our lives, this may have important consequences regarding linguistic and cultural bias. Large language models (LLMs) including Open AI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini have taken … Read more

Researchers develop technology to remove nanoplastics from water

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Researchers at the University of Waterloo have developed a promising technology to remove harmful nanoplastics from contaminated water. This innovation boasts a remarkable 94% efficiency rate, offering a potential solution to the growing problem of plastic pollution in our environment. Plastic pollution is a global crisis with significant environmental and human health concerns. Microplastics, tiny … Read more

NIMS develops world’s first n-channel diamond MOSFET

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A National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS) research team has developed the world’s first n-channel diamond MOSFET (metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor). The developed n-channel diamond MOSFET provides a key step toward CMOS (complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor: one of the most popular technologies in the computer chip) integrated circuits for harsh environment applications, as well as the development of … Read more

New study shows humidity-based material slashes energy costs for direct air capture

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In a corner of Kelsey Hatzell’s lab sits a small jar filled with a material that has an ability far beyond what its nondescript appearance would suggest: a way to capture and release carbon dioxide from the atmosphere by simply changing the surrounding humidity. The material could slash the energy costs associated with so-called direct … Read more