Tag: techxplore
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UK sees record-high electricity from renewables in 2025: Study
UK sees record-high electricity from renewables in 2025: Study Britain produced a record-high amount of electricity from renewable energy last year, a study revealed on Friday. Go to techxplore
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Norway closes in on objective of 100% electric car sales
Norway closes in on objective of 100% electric car sales Norway came close to its objective of selling only zero-emission cars in 2025, with electric vehicles accounting for 95.9% of new registrations. Go to techxplore
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Tesla loses title as world’s biggest electric vehicle maker as sales fall for second year in a row
Tesla loses title as world’s biggest electric vehicle maker as sales fall for second year in a row Tesla lost its crown as the world’s bestselling electric vehicle maker on Friday as a customer revolt over Elon Musk’s right-wing politics, expiring U.S. tax breaks for buyers and stiff overseas competition pushed sales down for a…
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Turning PCs and mobile devices into AI infrastructure can slash operational costs
Turning PCs and mobile devices into AI infrastructure can slash operational costs Until now, AI services based on large language models (LLMs) have mostly relied on expensive data center GPUs. This has resulted in high operational costs and created a significant barrier to entry for utilizing AI technology. A research team at KAIST has developed…
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China’s BYD logs record EV sales in 2025
China’s BYD logs record EV sales in 2025 Chinese auto giant BYD sold 2.26 million electric vehicles last year, a company statement showed Thursday, setting a new record for any firm globally. Go to techxplore
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Review: These are the best plug-in hybrids for under $55,000
Review: These are the best plug-in hybrids for under $55,000 If an electric car stirs your interest but the lifestyle changes sound daunting, consider a plug-in hybrid. A plug-in hybrid is simply a rechargeable hybrid, with a larger battery than a standard hybrid that enables a short range of fully electric driving. A regular hybrid…
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France plans social media ban for children under 15
France plans social media ban for children under 15 France will make a fresh attempt to protect children from excessive screen time, proposing a ban on social media access for children under 15 by next September, according to a draft law seen by AFP. Go to techxplore
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Low-cost gelators nearly double the performance of aircraft anti-icing fluids, finds new study
Low-cost gelators nearly double the performance of aircraft anti-icing fluids, finds new study Tiny molecules already used to thicken everyday products like lotions and adhesives may soon help keep aircraft safe in icy conditions. These molecules, known as low-molecular-weight gelators (LMWGs), can self-assemble into soft, gel-like structures and have long been used in industrial formulations.…
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Tucked away in a downtown Chicago office building, fallen e-commerce star Groupon is ready for a comeback
Tucked away in a downtown Chicago office building, fallen e-commerce star Groupon is ready for a comeback Inside Groupon’s 2-year-old headquarters on the 25th floor of the Leo Burnett Building in downtown Chicago, a giant cat in a spaceship with flashing lights greets visitors in an otherwise staid office tower. Go to techxplore
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How California’s Delete Act will protect personal information from data brokers in the New Year
How California’s Delete Act will protect personal information from data brokers in the New Year Use a loyalty card at a drug store, browse the web, post on social media, get married or do anything else most people do, and chances are companies called data brokers know about it—along with your email address, your phone…
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Passengers’ brain signals may help self-driving cars make safer choices
Passengers’ brain signals may help self-driving cars make safer choices Cars from companies like Tesla already promise hands-free driving, but recent crashes show that today’s self-driving systems can still struggle in risky, fast-changing situations. Go to techxplore
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New AI model accurately grades messy handwritten math answers and explains student errors
New AI model accurately grades messy handwritten math answers and explains student errors A research team affiliated with UNIST has unveiled a novel AI system capable of grading and providing detailed feedback on even the most untidy handwritten math answers—much like a human instructor. Go to techxplore
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AI agents arrived in 2025—here’s what happened and the challenges ahead in 2026
AI agents arrived in 2025—here’s what happened and the challenges ahead in 2026 In artificial intelligence, 2025 marked a decisive shift. Systems once confined to research labs and prototypes began to appear as everyday tools. At the center of this transition was the rise of AI agents—AI systems that can use other software tools and…
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Decompression sickness in fish reveals hidden risks of hydropower operations
Decompression sickness in fish reveals hidden risks of hydropower operations Professor Ole Gunnar Dahlhaug and postdoctoral fellow Wolf Ludwig Kuhn at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) have three goals: To understand the problem of gas supersaturation at hydropower plants, to solve it, and to help correct mistakes made during Norway’s more than…
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I grew up in the world’s coldest city without central heating. Here’s what the world can learn from us
I grew up in the world’s coldest city without central heating. Here’s what the world can learn from us On winter mornings in Harbin, where the air outside could freeze your eyelashes, I would wake up on a bed of warm earth. Go to techxplore
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New England unions push back against Trump administration’s move to freeze offshore wind projects
New England unions push back against Trump administration’s move to freeze offshore wind projects Worker unions and politicians in New England are pushing back against the Trump administration’s move to implement a 90-day freeze on five industrial-sized offshore wind projects off the East Coast, including the Vineyard Wind 1 windfarm off of Nantucket. Go to…
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The evolution of digital nomadism: From hi-tech hacker spaces to crypto coworking
The evolution of digital nomadism: From hi-tech hacker spaces to crypto coworking One of the first modern coworking spaces, C-Base in Berlin, was launched 30 years ago by a group of computer engineers as a “hacker space” in which to share their tech and techniques. Similarly, many of the people we first encountered in our…
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New AI-based technology offers real-time electric vehicle state estimation for safer driving
New AI-based technology offers real-time electric vehicle state estimation for safer driving A research team led by Professor Kanghyun Nam from the Department of Robotics and Mechanical Engineering at DGIST has developed a physical AI-based vehicle state estimation technology that accurately estimates the driving state of electric vehicles in real time. Go to techxplore
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The origami wheel that could explore lunar caves
The origami wheel that could explore lunar caves Beneath the moon’s cratered surface lie networks of lava tubes and deep pits, natural caves that could shelter future lunar bases from cosmic radiation and wild temperature swings. These underground structures represent some of the most scientifically valuable areas in the solar system, but they come with…
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Bio-inspired copper composite achieves zero thermal expansion and high heat transfer
Bio-inspired copper composite achieves zero thermal expansion and high heat transfer Zero-thermal-expansion (ZTE) materials are widely used in precision optics, cryogenic equipment and sensors, where even small temperature changes can cause performance problems. Yet creating ZTE materials that also conduct heat efficiently and remain mechanically robust has long been a challenge. Most conventional ZTE materials…
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Researchers create world’s smallest programmable, autonomous robots
Researchers create world’s smallest programmable, autonomous robots Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania and University of Michigan have created the world’s smallest fully programmable, autonomous robots: microscopic swimming machines that can independently sense and respond to their surroundings, operate for months and cost just a penny each. Go to techxplore
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How ChatGPT could change the face of advertising, without you even knowing about it
How ChatGPT could change the face of advertising, without you even knowing about it Online adverts are sometimes so personal that they feel eerie. Even as a researcher in this area, I’m slightly startled when I get a message asking if my son still needs school shirts a few hours after browsing for clothes for…
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First Bond game in a decade hit by two-month delay
First Bond game in a decade hit by two-month delay A Danish video game studio said it was delaying the release of the first James Bond video game in over a decade by two months to “refine the experience.” Go to techxplore
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AI overestimates how smart people are, according to economists
AI overestimates how smart people are, according to economists Scientists at HSE University have found that current AI models, including ChatGPT and Claude, tend to overestimate the rationality of their human opponents—whether first-year undergraduate students or experienced scientists—in strategic thinking games, such as the Keynesian beauty contest. While these models attempt to predict human behavior,…
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Redesigned carbon molecules boost battery safety, durability and power
Redesigned carbon molecules boost battery safety, durability and power Research published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society demonstrates a new way to make carbon-based battery materials much safer, longer lasting, and more powerful by fundamentally redesigning how fullerene molecules are connected. Go to techxplore
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For computational devices, talk isn’t cheap: Research reveals unavoidable energy costs across all communication channels
For computational devices, talk isn’t cheap: Research reveals unavoidable energy costs across all communication channels Every task we perform on a computer—whether number crunching, watching a video, or typing out an article—requires different components of the machine to interact with one another. “Communication is massively crucial for any computation,” says former SFI Graduate Fellow Abhishek…
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Unlocking corrosion-free Zn/Br flow batteries for grid-scale energy storage
Unlocking corrosion-free Zn/Br flow batteries for grid-scale energy storage Scientists have found a way to push zinc–bromine flow batteries to the next level. By trapping corrosive bromine with a simple molecular scavenger, they were able to remove a major barrier to the performance and lifespan of flow batteries. Go to techxplore
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Anode-free battery can double electric vehicle driving range
Anode-free battery can double electric vehicle driving range Could an electric vehicle travel from Seoul to Busan and back on a single charge? Could drivers stop worrying about battery performance even in winter? A Korean research team has taken a major step toward answering these questions by developing an anode-free lithium metal battery that can…
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New calibration module offers improved measurement of thermoelectric device performance
New calibration module offers improved measurement of thermoelectric device performance A standard reference thermoelectric module (SRTEM) for objectively measuring thermoelectric module performance has been developed in Korea for the first time. A research team led by Dr. Sang Hyun Park at the Korea Institute of Energy Research developed the world’s second standard reference thermoelectric module,…
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Smart composite combines ceramic strength with metal flexibility for large-scale manufacturing
Smart composite combines ceramic strength with metal flexibility for large-scale manufacturing Since his postdoctoral days at MIT, Hang Yu, associate professor of materials science and engineering, has been wrestling with the challenge of creating a shape-memory ceramic that can be manufactured at scale without breaking. Now, in tandem with Ph.D. student Donnie Erb ’15, M.S.…
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Technology that helps robots read human intentions could lead to safer, smarter, more trustworthy machines
Technology that helps robots read human intentions could lead to safer, smarter, more trustworthy machines Robots are becoming part of our everyday lives, from health care to home assistance. But for humans to truly trust and collaborate with them, robots need more than technical skill—they need to understand us. Go to techxplore
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Multi-agent AI could change everything—if researchers can figure out the risks
Multi-agent AI could change everything—if researchers can figure out the risks You might have seen headlines sounding the alarm about the safety of an emerging technology called agentic AI. Go to techxplore
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When disasters strike, home batteries could be a lifeline
When disasters strike, home batteries could be a lifeline Extreme weather is placing greater strain on Australia’s power grids. In 2022, the record-breaking Northern Rivers floods blacked out almost 70,000 households. A powerful storm in 2024 cut electricity to more than half a million Victorians. In 2025, Cyclone Alfred left 320,000 homes without power. Go…
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AI-driven assistant calculates best injection molding settings and explains decisions in multiple languages
AI-driven assistant calculates best injection molding settings and explains decisions in multiple languages Most of the plastic products we use are made through injection molding, a process in which molten plastic is injected into a mold to mass-produce identical items. However, even slight changes in conditions can lead to defects, so the process has long…
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Who should get paid when AI learns from creative work?
Who should get paid when AI learns from creative work? As generative AI systems become more deeply woven into the fabric of modern life—drafting text, generating images, summarizing news—debates over who should profit from the technology are intensifying. Go to techxplore
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Feral AI gossip with the potential to spread damage and shame will become more frequent, researchers warn
Feral AI gossip with the potential to spread damage and shame will become more frequent, researchers warn “Feral” gossip spread via AI bots is likely to become more frequent and pervasive, causing reputational damage and shame, humiliation, anxiety, and distress, researchers have warned. Go to techxplore
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Sentinel-6B extends global ocean height record
Sentinel-6B extends global ocean height record On November 16, 2025, the Sentinel-6B satellite launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base (VSFB) in California. Go to techxplore
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Ionic liquids slow perovskite degradation: Solar cells retain 90% performance at 90°C
Ionic liquids slow perovskite degradation: Solar cells retain 90% performance at 90°C Solar cells, devices that can generate electricity from sunlight, are already helping to reduce fossil fuel emissions in many countries worldwide. In recent years, energy engineers have been assessing the potential of materials other than silicon for the development of efficient, durable and…
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Virtual reality tool helping Indigenous people connect with Country
Virtual reality tool helping Indigenous people connect with Country “It makes me feel like I am right there on Country.” This was the response of a student after they used a new virtual reality (VR) tool I codeveloped to help Indigenous people around Australia learn on Country. Go to techxplore
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Industrial solar cells achieve 26.09% efficiency with reduced silver use and better bifacial performance
Industrial solar cells achieve 26.09% efficiency with reduced silver use and better bifacial performance A research team led by Prof. Ye Jichun from the Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering (NIMTE) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, in collaboration with partners, has proposed a synergistic technical solution enabling industrial tunnel oxide passivating contact (TOPCon)…
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Spanish consumer group seeks to sue Google in data row
Spanish consumer group seeks to sue Google in data row A Spanish consumer rights association on Friday said it had launched preliminary legal action against Google for allegedly collecting sensitive personal data and violating their right to privacy. Go to techxplore
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Basalt and cotton fiber composite yarn advance textile industry’s green transition
Basalt and cotton fiber composite yarn advance textile industry’s green transition A research team from the Xinjiang Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, has developed a basalt fiber/cotton fiber composite yarn that integrates weavability with multiple functional properties. The study was published in Composites Communications. Go to techxplore
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Creating realistic 3D scenes from everyday online photos
Creating realistic 3D scenes from everyday online photos A new approach is making it easier to visualize lifelike 3D environments from everyday photos already shared online, opening new possibilities in industries such as gaming, virtual tourism and cultural preservation. Go to techxplore
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Ultra-low power, fully biodegradable artificial synapse offers record-breaking memory
Ultra-low power, fully biodegradable artificial synapse offers record-breaking memory In Nature Communications, a research team affiliated with UNIST present a fully biodegradable, robust, and energy-efficient artificial synapse that holds great promise for sustainable neuromorphic technologies. Made entirely from eco-friendly materials sourced from nature—such as shells, beans, and plant fibers—this innovation could help address the growing…
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Vapor-deposition method delivers unprecedented durability in perovskite–silicon tandem solar cells
Vapor-deposition method delivers unprecedented durability in perovskite–silicon tandem solar cells NUS researchers have developed a vapor-deposition method that dramatically improves the long-term and high-temperature stability of perovskite-silicon (Si) tandem solar cells. The findings were published in Science. Go to techxplore
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Austria rules against Meta in marathon online privacy case
Austria rules against Meta in marathon online privacy case Austria’s Supreme Court on Thursday ordered Meta to provide an online privacy rights campaigner with access to all of his personal data within two weeks, after a marathon 11-year legal battle. Go to techxplore
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Putting the squeeze on dendrites: New strategy addresses persistent problem in next-generation solid-state batteries
Putting the squeeze on dendrites: New strategy addresses persistent problem in next-generation solid-state batteries New research by Brown University engineers identifies a simple strategy for combating a major stumbling block in the development of next-generation solid-state lithium batteries. Go to techxplore
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Mussel shell grit offers suitable, sustainable abrasive for denim sandblasting
Mussel shell grit offers suitable, sustainable abrasive for denim sandblasting An EHU study, now published in the Journal of Cleaner Production, has found a way of using mussel shells, which usually end up in landfills, in the textile industry. Go to techxplore
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Human language inspired AI—now, we can use that AI to learn about language
Human language inspired AI—now, we can use that AI to learn about language Ph.D. candidate Yuchen Lian (LIACS) wants to understand why human languages look the way they do—and find inspiration to improve AI along the way. She defended her thesis on 12 December. Go to techxplore
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Batteries lose charge when they ‘breathe’: Understanding deterioration is a step toward longer-lasting batteries
Batteries lose charge when they ‘breathe’: Understanding deterioration is a step toward longer-lasting batteries Researchers have identified a key reason why the batteries used to power everything from smartphones to electric vehicles deteriorate over time, a critical step toward building faster, more reliable and longer-lasting batteries. Go to techxplore
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Optical fiber bundles offer promising solution for high-altitude laser communication systems
Optical fiber bundles offer promising solution for high-altitude laser communication systems Free-space optical communications (FSOC), which use lasers for data transmission, are a promising approach for achieving high-speed links between aircraft, spacecraft, and ground stations. However, achieving 360-degree coverage requires multiple articulated terminals installed on the fuselage of aircraft, exceeding size, weight, and power limits.…
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Apple’s ATT leads to significant revenue losses for SMEs
Apple’s ATT leads to significant revenue losses for SMEs Apple’s data protection measure “App Tracking Transparency” (ATT) strengthens user privacy, but causes significant revenue losses in e-commerce, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The reason for this is the mandatory opt-in for users introduced by ATT. This is shown by a study co-authored by…
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New interface engineering strategy developed for efficient and stable back-contact solar cells
New interface engineering strategy developed for efficient and stable back-contact solar cells As the demand for renewable energy grows, scientists are developing new types of solar cells that are both highly efficient and scalable. The back-contact perovskite solar cell (BC-PSC) is one such innovative architecture, emerging as a promising alternative to traditional front-contact designs. Go…
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We may never be able to tell if AI becomes conscious, argues philosopher
We may never be able to tell if AI becomes conscious, argues philosopher A University of Cambridge philosopher argues that our evidence for what constitutes consciousness is far too limited to tell if or when artificial intelligence has made the leap—and a valid test for doing so will remain out of reach for the foreseeable…
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Netflix to launch FIFA World Cup video game
Netflix to launch FIFA World Cup video game Netflix is set to release a FIFA soccer simulation game exclusively on its gaming platform in summer 2026, timed to coincide with the World Cup, the streaming giant said Wednesday. Go to techxplore
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The quiet experiment that changed solar power: First solid-state solar cell based on a perovskite semiconductor
The quiet experiment that changed solar power: First solid-state solar cell based on a perovskite semiconductor Long before perovskite solar cells began smashing efficiency records and transforming the future of clean energy, their modern design first emerged from a quiet experiment at Northwestern University. Go to techxplore
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Long-standing limitation in thin-film solar cells resolved with nanometric germanium oxide layer
Long-standing limitation in thin-film solar cells resolved with nanometric germanium oxide layer As the world urgently seeks clean energy solutions, solar power stands out for its abundance and scalability compared to other renewable energy sources. In recent years, researchers have turned to thin-film solar cell technologies as alternatives to traditional crystalline silicon solar cells, owing…
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Should the US be worried about AI bubble?
Should the US be worried about AI bubble? Tech giants Amazon, Meta, Alphabet, Microsoft, and Oracle have been taking on enormous new debt in a race to build out their artificial intelligence ventures in the last year, fueling Wall Street fears of a bubble capable of disrupting the entire economy. Go to techxplore
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More safety and comfort for protective clothing thanks to auxetic fabrics
More safety and comfort for protective clothing thanks to auxetic fabrics When everyday materials are pulled, they stretch or elongate in the direction of the pull and become narrower in cross-section. We can also observe this property in two-dimensional textiles. Auxetic structures behave differently here. They have the striking property of not changing under tensile…
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AI-powered robotic hands learn dexterity by mimicking human movements and anatomy
AI-powered robotic hands learn dexterity by mimicking human movements and anatomy Step inside the Soft Robotics Lab at ETH Zurich, and you find yourself in a space that is part children’s nursery, part high-tech workshop and part cabinet of curiosities. The lab benches are strewn with foam blocks, stuffed animals—including a cuddly squid—and other colorful…
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How 3D printing creates stronger vehicle parts by solving aluminum’s high-temperature weakness
How 3D printing creates stronger vehicle parts by solving aluminum’s high-temperature weakness Aluminum is prized for being lightweight and strong, but at high temperatures it loses strength. This has limited its use in engines, turbines, and other applications where parts must stay strong under high temperature conditions. Researchers at Nagoya University have developed a method…
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New software could reduce dependency on big data centers for AI
New software could reduce dependency on big data centers for AI EPFL researchers have developed new software—now spun-off into a start-up—that eliminates the need for data to be sent to third-party cloud services when AI is used to complete a task. This could challenge the business model of Big Tech. Go to techxplore
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The ‘AI homeless man prank’ reveals a crisis in AI education
The ‘AI homeless man prank’ reveals a crisis in AI education The new TikTok trend “AI homeless man prank” has sparked a wave of outrage and police responses in the United States and beyond. The prank involves using AI image generators to create realistic photos depicting fake homeless people appearing to be at someone’s door…
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What makes a good proton conductor? New metric reveals key traits for advanced energy materials
What makes a good proton conductor? New metric reveals key traits for advanced energy materials A number of advanced energy technologies—including fuel cells, electrolyzers, and an emerging class of low-power electronics—use protons as the key charge carrier. Whether or not these devices will be widely adopted hinges, in part, on how efficiently they can move…
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What’s at stake in Trump’s executive order aiming to curb state-level AI regulation
What’s at stake in Trump’s executive order aiming to curb state-level AI regulation President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Dec. 11, 2025, that aims to supersede state-level artificial intelligence laws that the administration views as a hindrance to innovation in AI. Go to techxplore
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Tech savvy users have most digital concerns, study finds
Tech savvy users have most digital concerns, study finds Digital concerns around privacy, online misinformation, and work-life boundaries are highest among highly educated, Western European millennials, finds a new study from researchers at UCL and the University of British Columbia. Go to techxplore
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Big batteries are now outcompeting gas in the grid—and gas-rich Western Australia is at the forefront
Big batteries are now outcompeting gas in the grid—and gas-rich Western Australia is at the forefront Australia’s electricity grids are undergoing a profound transformation. Solar and wind have provided 99% of new generating capacity since 2015. Last month, renewables hit parity with fossil fuels for the first time. Go to techxplore
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AI agents debate their way to improved mathematical reasoning
AI agents debate their way to improved mathematical reasoning Large language models (LLMs), artificial intelligence (AI) systems that can process and generate texts in various languages, are now widely used worldwide to create written content, source information and even to code websites or applications. While these models have improved significantly over the past couple of…
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With Nvidia’s second-best AI chips headed for China, the US shifts priorities from security to trade
With Nvidia’s second-best AI chips headed for China, the US shifts priorities from security to trade This week, US President Donald Trump approved previously banned exports of Nvidia’s powerful H200 artificial intelligence (AI) chips to China. Go to techxplore
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Power when parked: EVs could help save money and reduce emissions by providing energy to homes
Power when parked: EVs could help save money and reduce emissions by providing energy to homes Using electric vehicle batteries to power households could save their owners thousands of dollars in bills while cutting emissions from the power grid, according to new research from the University of Michigan and Ford Motor Company. Go to techxplore
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EU 2035 combustion-engine ban review: What’s at stake
EU 2035 combustion-engine ban review: What’s at stake The European Commission is expected to announce on Tuesday measures relaxing a 2035 ban on new gasoline and diesel car sales. Go to techxplore
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Instacart is charging different prices to different customers in a dangerous AI experiment, report says
Instacart is charging different prices to different customers in a dangerous AI experiment, report says The grocery delivery service Instacart is using artificial intelligence to experiment with prices and charge some shoppers more than others for the same items, a new study found. Go to techxplore
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Making clean energy investments more successful with forecasting tools
Making clean energy investments more successful with forecasting tools Governments and companies constantly face decisions about how to allocate finite amounts of money to clean energy technologies that can make a difference to the world’s climate, its economies, and to society as a whole. The process is inherently uncertain, but research has been shown to…
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Crypto firm Tether bids for Juventus, is quickly rebuffed
Crypto firm Tether bids for Juventus, is quickly rebuffed Cryptocurrency firm Tether said Friday it had submitted a bid to Juventus’s main shareholder, Exor, to acquire its entire stake in the Turin football club—but was quickly rebuffed. Go to techxplore
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A two-stage decision-making framework for lithium governance in Latin America
A two-stage decision-making framework for lithium governance in Latin America The evolving global order, intense geopolitical competition, and anxiety over supply chain vulnerabilities in this century have led to urgent concerns over supply chain resilience as well as national security. Amidst these upheavals, governments across the globe are making substantial efforts to reaffirm control over…
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New system efficiently explains AI judgments in real-time
New system efficiently explains AI judgments in real-time A research team led by Professor Jaesik Choi of KAIST’s Kim Jaechul Graduate School of AI, in collaboration with KakaoBank Corp, has developed an accelerated explanation technology that can explain the basis of an artificial intelligence (AI) model’s judgment in real-time. Go to techxplore
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Humanoid robots take center stage at Silicon Valley summit, but skepticism remains
Humanoid robots take center stage at Silicon Valley summit, but skepticism remains Robots have long been seen as a bad bet for Silicon Valley investors—too complicated, capital-intensive and “boring, honestly,” says venture capitalist Modar Alaoui. Go to techxplore
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Beyond mimicry: Fiber-type artificial muscles outperform biological muscles
Beyond mimicry: Fiber-type artificial muscles outperform biological muscles Biological muscles act as flexible actuators, generating force naturally and with an impressive range of motion. Unsurprisingly, scientists and engineers have been striving to build artificial muscles that mimic these abilities. A new review study, published in Nature, takes a deep dive into recent developments surrounding fiber-type…
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User privacy in digital databases: New metric allows for more accurate assessment
User privacy in digital databases: New metric allows for more accurate assessment Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M), in collaboration with the National Cybersecurity Institute (INCIBE), an entity under the Ministry for Digital Transformation and Public Administration through the Secretariat of State for Telecommunications and Digital Infrastructure, have promoted the development of a new probabilistic…
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Why new kinds of steel are needed to build lead-cooled reactors
Why new kinds of steel are needed to build lead-cooled reactors Safer operation, better fuel efficiency and lower waste mark lead-cooled nuclear power as a potentially dramatic shift from the water-cooled nuclear stations the world has relied on since the mid 20th century. A recent Swedish study casts new light on how to avoid corrosion…
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New window insulation blocks heat, but not your view
New window insulation blocks heat, but not your view Physicists at the University of Colorado Boulder have designed a new material for insulating windows that could improve the energy efficiency of buildings worldwide—and it works a bit like a high-tech version of Bubble Wrap. Go to techxplore
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New method improves the reliability of statistical estimations
New method improves the reliability of statistical estimations MIT researchers have developed a method that generates more accurate uncertainty measures for certain types of estimation. This could help improve the reliability of data analyses in areas like economics, epidemiology, and environmental sciences. Go to techxplore
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Transistor ‘design limitation’ actually improves performance, scientists find
Transistor ‘design limitation’ actually improves performance, scientists find What many engineers once saw as a flaw in organic electronics could actually make these devices more stable and reliable, according to new research from the University of Surrey and Joanneum Research Materials. Go to techxplore
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AI can pick up cultural values by mimicking how kids learn
AI can pick up cultural values by mimicking how kids learn Artificial intelligence systems absorb values from their training data. The trouble is that values differ across cultures. So an AI system trained on data from the entire internet won’t work equally well for people from different cultures. Go to techxplore
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From early cars to generative AI, new technologies create demand for specialized materials
From early cars to generative AI, new technologies create demand for specialized materials Generative artificial intelligence has become widely accepted as a tool that increases productivity. Yet the technology is far from mature. Large language models advance rapidly from one generation to the next, and experts can only speculate how AI will affect the workforce…
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Star power: How energy efficient is your home?
Star power: How energy efficient is your home? Ever wondered how energy efficient your home is? Go to techxplore
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Driverless taxis are heading to the UK, but it’s still not clear who to blame when something goes wrong
Driverless taxis are heading to the UK, but it’s still not clear who to blame when something goes wrong Driverless taxis are a bit like buses. You wait ages for one, and then a fleet arrives all at once. The US firms Waymo and Uber have both said their vehicles will be on the streets…
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New industry standards and tech advances make pre-owned electronics a viable holiday gift option
New industry standards and tech advances make pre-owned electronics a viable holiday gift option Electronic gifts are very popular, and in recent years, retailers have been offering significant discounts on smartphones, e-readers and other electronics labeled as “pre-owned.” Research I have co-led finds that these pre-owned options are becoming increasingly viable, thanks in part to…
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Data-driven framework predicts electric vehicle range with improved real-world accuracy
Data-driven framework predicts electric vehicle range with improved real-world accuracy “Range anxiety” remains one of the major issues of electric vehicles (EVs). Most of the existing range prediction technologies rely on simulated conditions or limited datasets, making it difficult to accurately capture variations caused by regional climate, road conditions, and vehicle types. Go to techxplore
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Why Grand Designs-style eco-homes aren’t a good blueprint for sustainable living
Why Grand Designs-style eco-homes aren’t a good blueprint for sustainable living A family builds an off-grid home in rural Wales. TV celebrates it as a blueprint for net-zero living. But what if this vision of sustainability simply doesn’t scale up? Go to techxplore
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Everything from air fryers to TVs suck up our personal data. Here’s how to give gadgets that respect privacy this Xmas
Everything from air fryers to TVs suck up our personal data. Here’s how to give gadgets that respect privacy this Xmas Smart gadgets collect vast amounts of our personal data through their apps. It’s usually unclear why the manufacturers need this information or what they do with it. And I don’t just mean smartphones. All…
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AI headphones automatically learn who you’re talking to—and let you hear them better
AI headphones automatically learn who you’re talking to—and let you hear them better Holding a conversation in a crowded room often leads to the frustrating “cocktail party problem,” or the challenge of separating the voices of conversation partners from a hubbub. It’s a mentally taxing situation that can be exacerbated by hearing impairment. Go to…
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AI predicts complex social group behavior using individual attributes
AI predicts complex social group behavior using individual attributes Professor Kijung Shin’s research team at the Kim Jaechul Graduate School of AI has developed an AI technology that predicts complex social group behavior by analyzing how individual attributes such as age and role influence group relationships. Go to techxplore
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What’s my age again? The tech behind Australia’s social media ban
What’s my age again? The tech behind Australia’s social media ban Tech giants will apply multiple layers of security to weed out young users under Australia’s world-first ban on social media for under-16s. Go to techxplore
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A multifunctional carbon-titanium composite material enhances the performance of lithium-sulfur batteries
A multifunctional carbon-titanium composite material enhances the performance of lithium-sulfur batteries A research team led by Professor Jongsung Yu of the Department of Energy Science and Engineering at DGIST has successfully developed a new electrode material that can significantly enhance the performance of lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries. The main achievement of this research is the simple…
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AI is perpetuating unrealistic body ideals, objectification and a lack of diversity—especially for athletes
AI is perpetuating unrealistic body ideals, objectification and a lack of diversity—especially for athletes What does it look like to have an “athletic body?” What does artificial intelligence think it looks like to have one? Go to techxplore
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Blue jean dye could make batteries greener
Blue jean dye could make batteries greener Sustainability is often described in shades of green, but the future of clean energy may also carry a hint of deep blue. Electric vehicles and energy storage systems could soon draw power from a familiar pigment found in denim. Go to techxplore
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EU pushes back 2035 combustion-engine ban review to Dec. 16
EU pushes back 2035 combustion-engine ban review to Dec. 16 A highly anticipated review of the EU’s 2035 ban on new petrol and diesel car sales has been pushed back to next week, the European Commission said Monday. Go to techxplore
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Paving the way for solar fuels from CO₂
Paving the way for solar fuels from CO₂ Researchers at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), in collaboration with Stanford University, Antwerp University and Hasselt University, have achieved an advance in the development of sustainable materials for the production of solar fuels. The research was conducted by Dr. Beatriz de la Fuente within the SUME (Sustainable…
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Number’s up: Calculators hold out against AI
Number’s up: Calculators hold out against AI The humble pocket calculator may not be able to keep up with the mathematical capabilities of new technology, but it will never hallucinate. Go to techxplore