Technology
press releases.

Technology26 Nov 2024

China focuses on improving air quality via the coordinated control of fine particles and ozone

A recent special issue of the journal Atmospheric and Oceanic Science Letters has brought together some of China's top scientists to provide a picture of the latest progress in understanding and controlling air pollution. Fine particulate matter, referred to as PM2.5, and ground-level ozone (O3) are the main pollutants degrading the air quality of China’s cities and wider urban regions. Both have serious human health effects, such as heart disease, asthma, and lung damage. The World Health Organization (WHO) provides clear guidelines regarding acceptable concentrations ...

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Technology26 Nov 2024

Cooling with light: Exploring optical cooling in semiconductor quantum dots

Cooling systems are an integral part of many modern technologies, as heat tends to wear down materials and decrease performance in several ways. In many cases, however, cooling can be an inconvenient and energy-intensive process. Accordingly, scientists have been seeking innovative and efficient methods to cool substances down. Solid-state optical cooling is a prominent example that leverages a very unique phenomenon called anti-Stokes (AS) emission. Usually, when materials absorb photons from incoming light, their electrons transition into an “excited” state. Under ideal conditions, as electrons return to their original ...

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Technology26 Nov 2024

Predicting the weather: New meteorology estimation method aids building efficiency

Due to the growing reality of global warming and climate change, there is increasing uncertainty around meteorological conditions used in energy assessments of buildings. Existing methods for generating meteorological data do not adequately handle the interdependence of meteorological elements, such as solar radiation, air temperature, and absolute humidity, which are important for calculating energy usage and efficiency. To address this challenge, a research team at Osaka Metropolitan University’s Graduate School of Human Life and Ecology—comprising Associate ...

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Technology26 Nov 2024

Inside the ‘swat team’ – how insects react to virtual reality gaming

Humans get a real buzz from the virtual world of gaming and augmented reality but now scientists have trialled the use of these new-age technologies on small animals, to test the reactions of tiny hoverflies and even crabs. In a bid to comprehend the aerodynamic powers of flying insects and other little-understood animal behaviours, the Flinders University-led study is gaining new perspectives on how invertebrates respond to, interact with and navigate virtual ‘worlds’ created by advanced entertainment technology. Published in the ...

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Technology25 Nov 2024

Managing forests with smart technologies

Deforestation has remained a significant issue globally, with primary forests contributing to 16 per cent of the total tree cover loss in the last two decades, driven by climate change and intensive human activity. This threatens natural resources, biodiversity, and people’s quality of life. To protect forests, Lithuanian scientists, in collaboration with Swedish experts, have developed Forest 4.0, an intelligent forest data processing model integrating blockchain, Internet of Things (IoT), and Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies. The system ...

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Technology25 Nov 2024

The next evolution of AI begins with ours

In a sense, each of us begins life ready for action. Many animals perform amazing feats soon after they’re born. Spiders spin webs. Whales swim. But where do these innate abilities come from? Obviously, the brain plays a key role as it contains the trillions of neural connections needed to control complex behaviors. However, the genome has space for only a small fraction of that information. This paradox has stumped scientists for decades. Now, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) Professors Anthony Zador and Alexei Koulakov have devised a potential solution using artificial intelligence. When Zador first encounters this problem, he puts a ...

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Technology25 Nov 2024

Wildlife monitoring technologies used to intimidate and spy on women, study finds

Remotely operated camera traps, sound recorders and drones are increasingly being used in conservation science to monitor wildlife and natural habitats, and to keep watch on protected natural areas. But Cambridge researchers studying a forest in northern India have found that the technologies are being deliberately misused by local government and male villagers to keep watch on women without their consent. Cambridge researcher Dr Trishant Simlai spent 14 months interviewing 270 locals living around the Corbett Tiger Reserve, a national park in northern India, including many women from nearby villages. His report, published today in the journal Environment and Planning ...

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Technology23 Nov 2024

Reality check: making indoor smartphone-based augmented reality work

Osaka, Japan – Smartphone-based augmented reality, in which visual elements are overlaid on the image of a smartphone camera, are extremely popular apps. These apps allow users to see how furniture would look in their house, or navigate maps better, or to play interactive games. The global phenomenon Pokémon GO, which encourages players to catch digital creatures through their phone, is a well-known example. However, if you want to use augmented reality apps inside a building, prepare to lower your expectations. ...

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Technology22 Nov 2024

Exploring factors affecting workers' acquisition of exercise habits using machine learning approaches

Tsukuba, Japan—Physical inactivity is the fourth leading mortality risk factor, following hypertension, smoking, and hyperglycemia. Therefore, acquiring an exercise habit is crucial to maintain and improve health. In Japan, Specific Health Guidance is provided to support the improvement of lifestyle habits, including exercise habits. To develop more efficient health guidance, it is important to identify factors that influence its effectiveness (e.g., characteristics and lifestyle of the target ...

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Technology22 Nov 2024

Nano-patterned copper oxide sensor for ultra-low hydrogen detection

Hydrogen is becoming an increasingly popular choice as we shift towards cleaner energy. It can be burned like traditional fuels, producing only water as a byproduct, and can generate electricity when used in fuel cells. However, as hydrogen production, use, and transportation increase, so do safety concerns. Hydrogen is highly flammable at concentrations as low as 4% and is odorless and colorless, making leaks challenging to detect. To address these concerns, researchers led by Professor Yutaka Majima from Institute of Science Tokyo (Science Tokyo) have developed a sensor that detects hydrogen at ultra-low concentrations ...

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Technology22 Nov 2024

Maintaining bridge safer; Digital sensing-based monitoring system

Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology (KICT, President Kim Byung-Suk) developed a smart monitoring system that applies digital sensing technology to maintain and manage small- and medium-sized aging bridges. This study was conducted as an international matching joint research funded by KICT, and established a foundation for technology diffusion to ASEAN countries through joint research with University of Transport and Communications (UTC) in Vietnam. In general, bridge maintenance monitoring technology is applied to long-span bridges such as cable-stayed bridges and suspension bridges. This monitoring system consumes a lot of resources for design and installation, ...

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Technology22 Nov 2024

CD Laboratory at Graz University of Technology researches new semiconductor materials

The global production of semiconductors is growing rapidly and with it the demand for primary products, especially crystalline silicon. However, its production is very energy-intensive and only half of the raw silicon used is actually utilised. This leads to large quantities of waste. In the Christian Doppler Laboratory for New Semiconductor Materials Based on Functionalized Hydrosilanes, which opened today, a team led by laboratory manager Michael Haas from the Institute of Inorganic Chemistry at Graz University of Technology (TU Graz) is carrying out research on alternatives. Funded by the Austrian Ministry of Economics and Labour, the researchers are working with ...

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Technology22 Nov 2024

Scientists develop novel high-fidelity quantum computing gate

Researchers from the RIKEN Center for Quantum Computing and Toshiba have succeeded in building a quantum computer gate based on a double-transmon coupler (DTC), which had been proposed theoretically as a device that could significantly enhance the fidelity of quantum gates. Using this, they achieved a fidelity of 99.92 percent for a two-qubit device known as a CZ gate and 99.98 percent for a single-qubit gate. This breakthrough, which was carried out as part of the Q-LEAP project, not only boosts the performance ...

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Technology21 Nov 2024

Using the world’s fastest exascale computer, ACM Gordon Bell Prize-winning team presents record-breaking algorithm to advance understanding of chemistry and biology

ACM, the Association for Computing Machinery, named an eight-member team drawn from Australian and American institutions as the winner of the 2024 ACM Gordon Bell Prize for the project, “Breaking the Million-Electron and 1 EFLOP/s Barriers: Biomolecular-Scale Ab Initio Molecular Dynamics Using MP2 Potentials.” The members of the team are Ryan Stocks, Jorge L. Galvez Vallejo, Fiona C.Y. Yu, Calum Snowdon, Elise Palethorpe (all of Australian National University); Jakub Kurzak (Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.); Dmytro Bykov (Oakridge National ...

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Technology21 Nov 2024

Unveiling nature of metal-support interaction: AI-driven breakthrough in catalysis

How can Artificial Intelligence (AI) help accelerate scientific discovery based on vast amounts of experimental data? A new study by Prof. LI Weixue's team from the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences shows how this can be achieved in heterogonous catalysis. The results were recently published in Science. By integrating‎ interpretable AI with experimental data, domain knowledge, and first-principles simulations, the researchers established a general theory of metal-support interaction (MSI), which is one of the most important pillars in catalysis. Supported metal catalysts ...

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Technology21 Nov 2024

From traditional to technological: Advancements in fresco conservation

MELVILLE, N.Y., Nov. 21, 2024 – Fresco painting, a technique that dates back to antiquity, involves applying dry pigments to wet plaster, creating stunning artwork that can last for centuries. Over time, however, these masterpieces often face degradation due to delamination, where decorative plaster layers separate from the underlying masonry or structural plaster. This deterioration can compromise the structural integrity of the artwork, necessitating restoration efforts. Historically, conservators have gently knocked on the plaster with their knuckles or small mallets to assess the condition of the fresco. By listening to the emitted sound, they could identify the delaminated areas ...

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Technology21 Nov 2024

MSU expert: How AI can help people understand research and increase trust in science

EAST LANSING, Mich. – Have you ever read about a scientific discovery and felt like it was written in a foreign language? If you’re like most Americans, new scientific information can prove challenging to understand — especially if you try to tackle a science article in a research journal. In an era when scientific literacy is crucial for informed decision-making, the abilities to communicate and comprehend complex content are more important than ever. Trust in science has been declining for years, and one ...

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Technology21 Nov 2024

Photon qubits challenge AI, enabling more accurate quantum computing without error-correction techniques

The just-announced Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to University of Washington Professor David Baker, Google DeepMind CEO Hershavis, and Principal Investigator John Jumper for their work using AI to predict the structure of proteins, enabling the discovery of new drugs and new materials. In an era where AI and data are driving the scientific revolution, quantum computing technology is emerging as another game-changer in the development of new drugs and new materials. Dr. Hyang-Tag Lim's ...

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Technology20 Nov 2024

In the ‘Wild West’ of AI chatbots, subtle biases related to race and caste often go unchecked

Recently, LinkedIn announced its Hiring Assistant, an artificial intelligence “agent” that performs the most repetitious parts of recruiters’ jobs — including interacting with job candidates before and after interviews. LinkedIn’s bot is the highest-profile example in a growing group of tools — such as Tombo.ai and Moonhub.ai — that deploy large language models to interact with job seekers. Given that hiring is consequential — compared with, say, a system that recommends ...

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Technology20 Nov 2024

Visual experience in a Pompeian domestic space: analysis using virtual reality-based eye tracking and GIS

Many scholars have examined the ways in which ancient Roman house design emphasized views and viewing within the domestic space; indeed, the role of the vista in the architecture of this period was so important that Roman law codified “the right to an unobstructed view.” Most villas were constructed on the principle of axiality, providing a view through the entire house, but other techniques were utilized, too, often to complement certain domestic rituals or patterns of movement. Parts of the interior that were visible to an outsider walking past the entrance, for instance, often favored “easily legible decorative schemes,” while rooms where a guest was intended to relax ...

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Technology20 Nov 2024

Robot flies like a bird

Have you ever wondered why an airplane has a vertical tailfin? The plane needs it to stabilize its flight. Since flying without a vertical tail is much more energy-efficient, the aviation industry has worked hard to accomplish this – so far without much success. However, birds don’t need a vertical fin, which raises the question: how do they do it? David Lentink, Professor of Biomimetics at the University of Groningen, has developed a robotic bird model with real pigeon feathers to show how they do it. In previous work, he found that birds continuously ...

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Technology20 Nov 2024

Research aims to roll back contamination caused by toxic tires

University of Delaware researchers have developed a method for mitigating the decontamination that tires release into the environment at the end of their lifespan. In a new study published in Nature Chemical Engineering, the team demonstrated a way to upgrade 6PPD – a molecule that provides UV protection to help the rubber found in tires last longer – into safe chemicals. The method would also turn the leftover crumb rubber into aromatics and carbon black, a soot-like material found in everything from pigments to cosmetics to electronics. ...

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Technology20 Nov 2024

Real-world chemists are more diverse than generative AI images suggest

Asking children “What does a scientist look like?” now results in more illustrations of women and people of color than decades ago. But do generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools also depict the diversity among scientists? Researchers reporting in the Journal of Chemical Education prompted AI image generators for portraits of chemists. They found that none of the collections accurately represents the gender, racial or disability diversity among real chemists today. Millions of images are being created by generative AI each day. And the output of these tools is only as good as their algorithms and the initial images used to train ...

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Technology20 Nov 2024

Cigarette smoke alters microbiota, aggravates flu severity

Highlights: Cigarette smoke exposure is associated with many different respiratory diseases. A new study shows that cigarette smoke alters the microbial community in the gut and the oropharynx. The study shows that the cigarette-smoke induced changes to the microbiota resulted in increased severity of disease in mice infected with influenza A virus. Washington, D.C.—New research has shown that cigarette smoke can induce disordered oropharyngeal microbiota that aggravates the severity of influenza A ...

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Technology20 Nov 2024

Virtual reality could be gamechanger in police-civilian crisis encounters

Mental illness significantly increases the risk of arrest during police encounters, with 25% of those with mental health conditions reporting arrest histories. Studies reveal frequent use of excessive force and 25% of fatal police encounters involve individuals with mental illness. Traditional police training offers limited opportunities for officers to practice handling complex civilian interactions, especially with individuals experiencing mental health crises. This lack of hands-on experience leaves officers ill-prepared to navigate these situations with the necessary empathy and de-escalation ...

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