The transition to renewable electricity in the United States has been a topic of concern and debate for many years. While state mandates have helped push for change, it is the utilities themselves that are taking the lead in this transition. A recent study conducted by researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder reveals that
Technology
Robotic systems have already made their way into numerous real-world settings, particularly in the industrial and manufacturing sectors. These systems have proven to be invaluable in assisting human workers in assembly lines and warehouses, where they can perform precise tasks and hand over the completed work to humans for further action. In recent years, researchers
Small robots have long been hailed as essential tools for exploring and inspecting confined spaces. Their ability to carefully navigate obstacles and reach areas that larger robots cannot access has proven invaluable in various scenarios, from machinery inspection to search and rescue missions in disaster-stricken environments. However, the creation of small robots that are capable
Efforts to transition away from fossil fuels have intensified, prompting scientists to explore new sources of low-carbon energy. In this regard, researchers have developed a deep learning model to scan the Earth’s surface for indications of subsurface reservoirs of naturally occurring free hydrogen. By leveraging this algorithm, they have successfully identified the presence of semicircular
In a groundbreaking achievement, a research team led by Professor Chan Chi-hou from City University of Hong Kong (CityU) has made a significant advancement in antenna technology. Through software control, the team has successfully developed a universal metasurface antenna that has the ability to manipulate all five fundamental properties of electromagnetic waves. This unprecedented feat
The Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory has made a groundbreaking discovery that could revolutionize the manufacturing of lithium-ion batteries. Through innovative research, their team has developed a cost-effective method for synthesizing single-crystal, high-energy, nickel-rich cathodes. This advancement has the potential to significantly improve the energy storage capacity and lifespan of electric vehicle (EV)
Transportation is a significant contributor to global carbon emissions, ranking as the third largest source. Governments worldwide recognize the urgency of addressing this issue. High-speed railways (HSR) have emerged as a promising solution for intercity transportation due to their high degree of electrification. However, a lack of substantial data has hindered efforts to understand the
After months of waiting, internet users in the European Union (EU) may finally have the opportunity to sign up for Threads, the highly anticipated Instagram app. Although Threads was launched by Meta-owned Instagram in the United States and other countries back in July, EU users were left unable to access the platform due to concerns
In the quest to enhance the capabilities of robots and enable them to navigate in their environments and perform complex tasks, scientists and roboticists have been keen on developing computational techniques that replicate the human ability to plan, coordinate, and execute movements. A recent study published in Nature Machine Intelligence explores the use of hierarchical
After 36 hours of negotiations, EU member states and lawmakers have reached an agreement on the drafting of “historic” rules regulating artificial intelligence (AI) models, such as ChatGPT. This breakthrough development took place during a meeting in Brussels, where negotiators successfully established limitations on the use of AI in Europe. According to European Union Internal
Britain’s competition watchdog, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), has recently announced its intention to investigate the partnership between Microsoft, the US tech giant, and OpenAI, an artificial intelligence developer. The CMA aims to determine if this collaboration can be deemed a merger and assess its potential impact on competition in the UK. This inquiry
Quadruped robots have become increasingly popular in various industries and military applications due to their ability to perform tasks that are unsafe or challenging for humans. However, most of these robots have a fixed strong and stiff back, which limits their nimbleness and agility. In an effort to overcome this limitation, a team of roboticists
As the global population continues to grow, the demand for energy and freshwater resources is reaching critical levels. This has become particularly challenging for coastal cities that are grappling with droughts and a lack of clean drinking water. However, Cornell engineers have developed an innovative solution that not only addresses these issues but also promotes
Power plants in the United States consume an astronomical amount of water in their operations. However, a recent study conducted by researchers at West Virginia University offers an innovative solution that has the potential to drastically reduce water usage in power plants. By utilizing a co-treatment process that involves the exchange of two types of
Electric bikes (e-bikes) have gained popularity as an alternative mode of transportation, but how do they affect overall mobility? Can they provide the same level of access to opportunities as cars, while being time-, cost-, and energy-efficient? To answer these questions and evaluate the impact of e-bikes, researchers at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
