Science

The weather forecast for plasma storms is to become more accurate. To this end, ESA is sending a satellite 100 million miles on a journey to provide much earlier and more reliable warnings of solar flares.

MonoCab is a self-driving train cab that can be ordered like a taxi via an app and does not require a driver. With its sustainable design and ability to run two cabs on one track, this innovative transport offers a promising alternative to driving, especially in rural areas.

Researchers have discovered differences in AI when presented with virtual nation-building scenarios. Some AI like Claude-2.0 are biased towards non-violent solutions while others like GPT-3.5 are biased towards violent solutions in multi-national conflict simulations. Autonomous AI decision making is problematic due to biases and hallucinations.

OK-Robot, a new AI system, enables robots to tidy up homes that are new to them. The system recognises objects and puts them in the right place. OK-Robot still struggles in very cluttered rooms, but Meta's project is much more successful in rooms that are less messy.

It is definitely energy-saving. Genetically modified petunias light up thanks to built-in bioluminescence, which replaces the good old night light and saves electricity at the same time. But the different ways of dealing with risks are also impressive.

Oxygen and calcium, two extremely common elements, can match the performance of lithium-ion and lithium-polymer batteries. The fact that this works reliably is due to the special design of the batteries presented.

Wild claims about climate change are piling up on social media sites such as YouTube, and the platform is making a fortune out of disinformation campaigns. Now, in a major study, scientists have found that the old views of "climate deniers" have changed drastically, and they see a worrying trend.

The latest experiments at the Joint European Torus (JET) in the UK show just how much energy can be achieved with nuclear fusion. The comparison with coal is particularly impressive.

Improving the efficiency of solar panels is a key factor in meeting the climate change targets. The first perovskite panels are due to be launched this year. However, the new class of materials has proved sensitive to heat, light and moisture. Researchers are working feverishly to improve their durability. They are developing reliable practical tests that simulate the use of solar modules outdoors over long periods of time.

Solar parks with gigantic dimensions are particularly worthwhile in dry, inhospitable areas with many hours of sunshine. A study using weather models shows that the dark areas have an even greater effect on the environment.

Nuclear fusion can be achieved without powerful magnetic fields, without gold sealing, but with a highly efficient laser. An actual energy yield is reachable, with moderate technical effort.

Apple's latest AI model is hailed as "revolutionary" due to its ability to perform tasks such as "Photoshop-style modifications" based on prompts processed using multimodal large language models (MLLMs). Accordingly, it is called MLLM-Guided Image Editing (MGIE), and is rated to "manipulate" images at the pixel level.

Around 8 percent of global CO2 emissions are attributable to iron and steel production. As much as the entire transport sector. The potential for savings is therefore huge and even a negative CO2 balance is conceivable, as new research shows.

JLab touts its latest wireless earbuds as an industry first in that they introduce Preferred Listening Response Curve tuning from Knowles to their market. The Epic Lab Edition buds also support the LC3 codec, Spatial Audio and "Smart" ANC. They are also Hi-Res Audio certified and are rated to get up to 56 hours of battery life thanks to their "dual-mode" charging case.

It is about 50 percent of the oxygen on earth and 90 percent of our sunlight. This is no small task for a spectacularly expensive satellite that is supposed to investigate many unanswered questions about the global climate.

It is well known that the small hobby computer can be used for a variety of purposes. However, the fact that it can also be used to control a Formula SAE Brazil racing car was not necessarily to be expected. Especially as the technology used is by no means up to date.

False claims, misleading reports, lack of context: nothing new. Accompanied by AI-generated photos, videos and sound, however, the whole thing takes on unexpected credibility. But at least there are a few insights that can help with debunking.

EVs, wind turbines and high-end appliances often rely on permanent magnets containing 'rare earths'. As the production of these high-performance magnets could become scarce in the future due to increasing demand, scientists are working on new solutions to speed up the energy transition. Tesla has also announced its intention to move away from rare earth metals.

The iPhone 15 Pro Max and Galaxy S24 Ultra are both top-end mobile devices with titanium edges. However, Apple and Samsung have gone about the integration of the premium material into their flagships in very different ways, according to a famous vlogger. One method also apparently results in a thinner titanium frame than another.

The Magic6 Pro has one of the most unique and advanced rear camera systems of any Android flagship smartphone thus far in 2024. Now, its maker Honor also asserts that it is one of the most robust premium handsets of the year, staying on even after a trip to the edge of space thanks to its new custom battery technology.

Apple considers iPhone 15 Pro models running warmer than previous iPhones to be “expected behavior”, we have learned. However, iPhone 16 Pro owners might look forward to different device behavior with Apple rumored to be exploring the use of graphene to mitigate lingering thermal issues.

Passwords are not at risk. Instead, researchers are showing what data sensors on cell phones and other smart devices can intentionally or unintentionally collect. Creepy at the very least or quite normal.

Advertised as the first Alzheimer's drug capable to treat the cognitive decline coming with this infamous disease, Biogen's Aduhelm has just been withdrawn from the market. The only treatment for this brain disorder approved in the US remains Leqembi, co-manufactured by Biogen and Japanese company Eisai.

Three years of observations show that water must be present on an exoplanet. This is the first time that the molecule has been detected on such a small planet. It is the starting signal for further investigations.

A new type of structure can considerably simplify water electrolysis for the production of hydrogen as an energy carrier. A simple modification could significantly reduce material costs while speeding up the production process.

People who have lost control of their limbs will be able to control phones and computers with a Neuralink device called Telepathy. Elon Musk just announced the first successful Neuralink brain implant.

Three satellites with floating cubes of gold and laser light are to detect gravitational waves. The system is set up millions of miles away from Earth, is gigantic and can make the previously unknown visible.

Melt down a block of aluminum, set up the 3D printer and have a frame or stand made. Sturdy enough for further processing. The goal: aluminum recycling in a new dimension.

Aluminum mining is a dirty business. Toxic red mud remains, containing millions of tons of iron. Researchers are showing how steel, chrome and more can be extracted from it at the same cost and without CO2 emissions.

The rare, expensive and highly controversial mined cobalt can be replaced in batteries by widely available organic materials. The result is a durable, powerful and long-lasting battery. Lithium is also on the researchers' to-do list.

Researchers at the Cleveland Clinic have developed a virtual reality grocery shopping simulator that measures declines in cognitive and motor abilities that occur as one ages. This opens the door to improved tests that will better measure and detect decline in patients earlier.

Disney Imagineer Lanny Smooth has unveiled the Holotile VR treadmill for multiple users. This device users to stand on the platform and walk in any direction for any distance during VR sessions and games without physically moving off the treadmill.

No battery change and no separate power supply are required to obtain measured values such as the current temperature. This means that sensors can be better positioned and provide continuous data.

Currently conducting research in the battery field with a team of around 30 people, Varta's Graz site will expand later this year. The new facility will accommodate a team of 50 members in charge of developing post-lithium solutions for IoT applications, the automotive industry, and beyond.

The patent-free CORBEVAX COVID-19 vaccine developed by researchers at Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development and Baylor College of Medicine has received World Health Organization Emergency Use Listing. This gives billions of unvaccinated access to a cheaper alternative that is safe, stable in storage, and easy to manufacture.

Seagate has announced its trailblazing Exos 30 TB hard drive for the enterprise market. Breakthrough Mozaic3+ technologies are used in this drive to lower power consumption by 40% while increasing recording densities. This paves the way for future 50+ TB hard drives and enables datacenters to store more information.

Japan has successfully landed its Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) spacecraft on the lunar surface, making it only the fifth country to achieve this feat. However, the spacecraft is facing power challenges due to a malfunction in its solar battery.

A team at MIT has investigated the fundamental chemical reactions involved in hydrogen production and is calling previous models into question. With consequences for fuel cells, batteries and the industrial production of hydrogen.

CheckMag Since landing on Mars on August 5, 2012, NASA's Curiosity Mars rover has been investigating the planet's past ability to support life. In 2023, Curiosity captured 3 significant images and videos, crucial for future Mars exploration missions. These captures underscore Curiosity's success in collecting important data on Mars' environment and landscape.

The BV100 micro nuclear energy battery is said to provide 100 mW at 3V continuously without recharge or any maintenance for 50 years. Despite using the radioactive nickel-63 isotope, the battery can safely power even pacemakers inside the human body and is environment-friendly as well.

Solar modules using perovskite tandem solar cells are highly efficient, which is why they are of great interest to some of the world's largest solar companies as a renewable energy source for power generation. There have been problems with the instability of perovskites, but research is progressing rapidly and several start-ups are competing to bring them to market.

Instead of improving the electricity yield of existing technology, a research team has been able to convert light into electricity that has not yet been used. Efficiency is expected to increase by two thirds - and all without rare-earth elements.

Producing hydrogen on a large scale using electricity from coal and gas, and precisely when there is a shortage of energy elsewhere, can cause enormous emissions and endanger the power grid. A smart approach is required.

United Launch Alliance (ULA) debuts Vulcan rocket, carrying the first U.S. moon lander in decades. The Peregrine lunar lander is set to land on the moon on February 23. This marks the first U.S. moon landing attempt in over half a century.

Hundreds of typical errors in laboratory diagnostics can be eliminated with a few fundamental changes, an MIT study has found. By looking at the system as a whole, problems known from aerospace technology could be identified - solution included.

The Hubble Space Telescope has discovered a cyclone on a planet almost 1,000 light years away. An astonishing observation when you realize the dimensions.

The AiDot brand WELOV asserts that its latest air purifier is a world first in that it is the first device of its kind officially approved to work with the Matter standard for smart home IoT and devices. The company believes that this is a significant upgrade as it allows the P200 Pro to integrate with Apple Health in order to keep on optimizing air quality even when the user is asleep.

In the end, more electric cars also mean more scrap containing valuable elements and components that are still intact. The development of an electric motor that is easy to repair and dismantle should prevent such mountains of waste from being created in the first place.

Computer scientists from Nanyang Technological University (NTU) of Singapore could "jailbreak" AI chatbots by setting them against each other. After "jailbreaking" them, the researchers got valid responses to queries that chatbots, such as ChatGPT, Google Bard, and Microsoft Bing Chat, generally don't respond to.

Nanotech Energy has announced its 18650 lithium-ion battery utilizing graphene and a proprietary electrolyte. Unlike traditional lithium batteries that catch fire and explode when subject to excessive pressure, charge, or heat, Nanotech batteries remain safe. This innovation will help reduce injuries caused by burning EV cars and electronics.