Technology
press releases.

Technology10 Dec 2024

Choosing between human and algorithmic decision-makers

Society increasingly uses algorithms to make weighty decisions in contexts including criminal justice, healthcare, and finance, a trend that has been criticized for institutionalizing bias and sacrificing fairness. In a pre-registered study, Kirk Bansak and Elisabeth Paulson asked 9,000 US-based study participants to choose between decision-makers for two high stakes situations: pretrial release and bank loan applications. Participants chose either between two human decision-makers, between two algorithmic decision-makers, or between ...

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Technology10 Dec 2024

Machine learning prediction of human intelligence

AI can predict human intelligence by looking at the connections of a working human brain. Neuroscientists can predict intelligence from brain structure and function—to a point. Previous studies have suggested that intelligence is widely distributed across the brain. Kirsten Hilger and colleagues used machine learning models to predict multiple kinds of intelligence from brain connections of 806 healthy adults while resting and while completing tasks. Fluid intelligence includes inductive and deductive reasoning abilities that do not rely on context, while crystallized intelligence reflects the ability to apply knowledge from ...

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Technology10 Dec 2024

Empowering older adults with home-care robots

Advances in medicine have led to an increase in human longevity. Estimates suggest that by 2030, one in every six individuals globally will be aged over 60 years. This rapid increase in the aging population implies a larger number of aged individuals requiring care. Family members and professional caregivers may not be able to meet this increasing demand. Furthermore, reports suggest a significant shortage of workforce, including nurses, in several developed countries, underscoring the need for additional strategies that ...

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Technology10 Dec 2024

AI predicts that most of the world will see temperatures rise to 3°C much faster than previously expected

Three leading climate scientists have combined insights from 10 global climate models and, with the help of artificial intelligence (AI), conclude that regional warming thresholds are likely to be reached faster than previously estimated. The study, published in Environmental Research Letters by IOP Publishing, projects that most land regions as defined by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) will likely surpass the critical 1.5°C threshold by 2040 or earlier. Similarly, several regions are on track to exceed the 3.0°C threshold ...

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Technology10 Dec 2024

EPA study finds that US public schools with the highest potential exposure risk to air toxics have higher proportions of disabled Latino, Hispanic, and Asian children

EPA study finds that U.S. public schools with the highest potential exposure risk to air toxics have higher proportions of disabled Latino, Hispanic, and Asian children Children are at greater risk from inhaled air pollutants than adults, as they have higher respiratory rates. Research has shown that air pollutants in the form of respiratory toxicants (such as some pesticides and solvents) can represent a significant health risk to children. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has completed a nationwide study to assess the estimated non-cancer exposure risks of public school ...

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Technology9 Dec 2024

SwRI announces joint industry program aimed at advancing heavy-duty hydrogen refueling infrastructure

SAN ANTONIO — December 9, 2024 —Southwest Research Institute has announced a groundbreaking joint industry project (JIP) to help spur the growth and innovation of fueling technologies and infrastructure for hydrogen-powered heavy-duty vehicles. SwRI’s H2HD REFUEL (Hydrogen Heavy Duty Refueling Equipment and Facilities Utilization Evaluation Laboratory) JIP aims to strengthen the acceptance of hydrogen fuel use by heavy-duty vehicles to help the mobility industry meet its decarbonization and zero-emissions goals by advancing hydrogen refueling station (HRS) technologies. Over the next four years, SwRI researchers will use hands-on ...

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Technology9 Dec 2024

By age six, children think boys are better than girls at computing and engineering, new American Institutes for Research study shows

Arlington, Va. – Children as young as age 6 develop gender stereotypes about computer science and engineering, viewing boys as more capable than girls, according to new results from an American Institutes for Research (AIR) study. However, math stereotypes are far less gendered, showing that young children do not view all science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields as the same. These new findings come from the largest-ever study on children’s gender stereotypes about STEM and verbal abilities, based on data from 145,000 children across 33 nations, synthesizing more than 40 years of ...

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Technology9 Dec 2024

New AI cracks complex engineering problems faster than supercomputers

Modeling how cars deform in a crash, how spacecraft responds to extreme environments, or how bridges resist stress could be made thousands of times faster thanks to new artificial intelligence that enables personal computers to solve massive math problems that generally require supercomputers. The new AI framework is a generic approach that can quickly predict solutions to pervasive and time-consuming math equations needed to create models of how fluids or electrical currents propagate through different ...

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Technology9 Dec 2024

Breakthrough AI model can translate the language of plant life

A pioneering Artificial Intelligence (AI) powered model able to understand the sequences and structure patterns that make up the genetic “language” of plants, has been launched by a research collaboration. Plant RNA-FM, believed to be the first AI model of its kind, has been developed by a collaboration between plant researchers at the John Innes Centre and computer scientists at the University of Exeter. The model, say its creators, is a smart technological breakthrough that can drive discovery and innovation in plant science and potentially across the study of invertebrates ...

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Technology9 Dec 2024

Toxic air in Texas high schools

AUSTIN, TX, Dec 9, 2024 – Semivolatile organic compounds (SVOCs) are found in building materials and consumer products like carpeting, furniture and electronics. Gases released by these chemicals in homes, offices and schools pose potential human health risks such as cancers, reproductive disorders, and nervous system damage. A recent study of the indoor air in central Texas high schools revealed that two groups of SVOCs, phthalates and PBDEs, are prevalent in high school environments. The ...

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Technology8 Dec 2024

Could online technology be a clue as to why boys in Norway are outperforming girls in learning English as a second language?

Bucking conventionality, boys in Norway are making early gains in reading English as a second language and even outperforming girls at age 10 and 13 – a new a study of more than one million students suggests. Publishing their findings in the peer-reviewed journal Assessment in Education: Principles, Policy & Practice, experts from the University of Oslo propose the perhaps unexpected results might be explained by online gaming and experiences with other digital technologies such as YouTube – with English being the language of the internet. “Our ...

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Technology6 Dec 2024

UTIA team wins grant to advance AI education and career preparation

Future farmers and leaders in agriculture need to understand and implement technologies that use artificial intelligence. A team of University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture faculty are working toward creating new curriculum to train the next generation of agriculture students. Led by Hao Gan, assistant professor in the Department of Biosystems Engineering and Soil Science, the team won a four-year grant for $741,102 from the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. The project, “Development of a Smart Agricultural Experiential Learning Program for Youth,” will create hands-on curriculum about using drones, ground robots, computer ...

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Technology6 Dec 2024

A connection between quantum theory and information theory proved

“Our results have no clear or direct application right now. It’s basic research that lays the foundation for future technologies in quantum information and quantum computers. There’s enormous potential for completely new discoveries in many different research fields,” says Guilherme B Xavier, researcher in quantum communication at Linköping University, Sweden. But to understand what the researchers have shown, we need to start at the beginning. That light can be both particles and waves is one of the most illogical – but at the same time fundamental – characteristics ...

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Technology6 Dec 2024

AI beats experts in predicting future quality of “mini-organs”

Fukuoka, Japan – Organoids—miniature, lab-grown tissues that mimic organ function and structure—are transforming biomedical research. They promise breakthroughs in personalized transplants, improved modeling of diseases like Alzheimer’s and cancer, and more precise insights into the effects of medical drugs. Now, researchers from Kyushu University and Nagoya University in Japan have developed a model that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to predict organoid development at an early stage. The model, which is faster and more accurate than expert researchers, ...

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Technology6 Dec 2024

Speaking crystal: AI learns language of atom arrangements in solids

A new artificial intelligence model that can predict how atoms arrange themselves in crystal structures could lead to faster discovery of new materials for everything from solar panels to computer chips. The technology, called CrystaLLM, was developed by researchers at the University of Reading and University College London. It works similarly to AI chatbots, by learning the "language" of crystals by studying millions of existing crystal structures. Published today (Friday, 6 December) in Nature Communications, the new system will be distributed to the scientific community to aid the discovery of new materials. Dr ...

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Technology6 Dec 2024

Developing highly efficient recovery materials for precious 'rare earth metals' and improving resource circulation for digital infrastructure

Korea imports 95% of its core minerals such as lithium, nickel, and rare earths. Rare earths, in particular, are characterized by chemical, electrical, magnetic, and luminescent properties that can be achieved by adding only a small amount, and their use has recently increased significantly as core materials in the eco-friendly automobile and renewable energy industries. China, a major producer of rare metals, is controlling the supply through its strategy of weaponizing resources, putting great pressure on the domestic industry. Dr. Jae-Woo Choi and his team at the Center for Water Cycle Research at the Korea Institute of Science ...

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Technology6 Dec 2024

A quantum leap in carotenoid analysis: Speed and precision unlocked

Carotenoids, the pigments responsible for the vibrant hues of tomatoes, carrots, and some seafood, are well-regarded for their antioxidant effects and health benefits. A few examples of commercially significant carotenoids are lycopene, β-carotene, and astaxanthin. These compounds are frequently used in functional foods, skincare products, and dietary supplements. However, the bioactivity of these carotenoids depends heavily on their isomeric form, with Z-isomers typically showing higher biological activity but being more challenging to quantify. Traditional methods often require months of analysis and can produce error rates reaching up to 100 %. In this view, a team ...

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Technology5 Dec 2024

What’s next for science: NRL to showcase advanced technology and research at AGU 2024

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) will feature advanced technologies and research ranging from Earth to space sciences during the 24th Annual American Geophysical Union (AGU) Conference at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C., Dec. 9-13. In addition to more than 70 NRL oral presentations and poster displays and an exhibit hall booth, attendees will have the opportunity to view the premier of the 5-minute CCOR-1 (Compact Coronagraph) film which details ...

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Technology5 Dec 2024

Shaking sensor continuously monitors inflammation

Northwestern University scientists have designed a new implantable device that can monitor fluctuating levels of proteins within the body in real time. Inspired by fruit shaking off the branches of a tree, the device comprises strands of DNA that stick to proteins, shake them off and then grab more proteins. This creative strategy enables the device to sample various proteins over time to measure changes in inflammatory markers. In proof-of-concept experiments, the sensors accurately and sensitively measured protein biomarkers of inflammation in diabetic rats. ...

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Technology5 Dec 2024

Implantable sensors unlock ability to continuously monitor inflammation

Implantable Sensors Unlock Ability to Continuously Monitor Inflammation The Chan Zuckerberg Biohub Chicago’s milestone achievement tracks protein levels in real time, enabling monitoring of inflammation at the cellular level Proteins are the building blocks of life, and changes in protein levels can indicate improving health or impending illness, including signs of inflammation. While protein levels can be measured in periodic blood or urine tests, it has been an uphill challenge to figure out how to continuously monitor protein levels in the human body in real time. Now, a team of bioengineers at Chan Zuckerberg Biohub Chicago, supported by the ...

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Technology5 Dec 2024

Women pay for AI to boost mammogram findings

CHICAGO – More than a third of women across 10 health care practices chose to enroll in a self-pay, artificial intelligence (AI)-enhanced breast cancer screening program, and the women who enrolled were 21% more likely to have cancer detected, according to research being presented today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA). AI has shown great promise in mammography as a “second set of eyes” for radiologists providing decision support, risk prediction and other benefits. Despite its promise, AI is not yet reimbursed by insurance, which likely is slowing its adoption ...

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Technology5 Dec 2024

Superconducting qubit baths give clean simulation of quantum transport

Researchers from Singapore and China have used a superconducting quantum processor to study the phenomenon of quantum transport in unprecedented detail. A better understanding of quantum transport, which can refer to the flow of particles, magnetisation, energy or information through a quantum channel, could propel advances in technologies such as nanoelectronics and thermal management. “We’re quite excited because this is, practically, a new paradigm of doing quantum transport experiments,” says Centre for Quantum Technologies (CQT) Fellow Dario Poletti, whose co-corresponding authors for the new work published in Nature ...

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Technology4 Dec 2024

AI fact checks can increase belief in false headlines

Although many tech companies and start-ups have touted the potential of automated fact-checking services powered by artificial intelligence to stem the rising tide of online misinformation, a new study led by researchers at Indiana University has found that AI-fact checking can, in some cases, actually increase belief in false headlines whose veracity the AI was unsure about, as well as decrease belief in true headlines mislabeled as false. The work also found that participants given the option to view headlines fact checked by large language model-powered AI were significantly more likely to share both true and false news – but only ...

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Technology4 Dec 2024

ETSU researcher earns grant to build flood dashboard using generative AI

An East Tennessee State University researcher is developing a cutting-edge dashboard using generative artificial intelligence to assist in monitoring flooding in Central Appalachia. The pilot project, titled "Leveraging Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Automated Climate Resilience Dashboards: A Case Study on Flood Monitoring in Central Appalachia," has recently secured $20,000 in funding from the Earth Science Information Partners (ESIP) Lab. Dr. Qian Huang from ETSU’s Center for Rural Health and Research, in collaboration with Dr. ...

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Technology4 Dec 2024

Manta rays inspire the fastest swimming soft robot yet

A team of researchers has beaten its own record for the fastest swimming soft robot, drawing inspiration from manta rays to improve their ability to control the robot’s movement in the water. “Two years ago, we demonstrated an aquatic soft robot that was able to reach average speeds of 3.74 body lengths per second,” says Jie Yin, corresponding author of a paper on the work and an associate professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at North Carolina State University. “We have improved on that design. Our new soft robot is more energy efficient and reaches a speed of 6.8 body lengths per second. In addition, the previous model could only swim on the surface ...

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