Computers

Videos of squirrels leaping from bendy branches across impossibly large gaps, parkouring off walls, scrambling to recover from tricky landings. Just more YouTube content documenting the crazy antics of squirrels hell-bent on reaching peanuts? No, these videos are part of a research study to understand the split-second decisions squirrels make routinely as they race through the … [Read more...] about Leaping squirrels! Parkour is one of their many feats of agility: Robots could learn from how squirrels assess their ability to leap and land successfully

A new article in Science magazine gives an overview of almost three decades of research into colloidal quantum dots, assesses the technological progress for these nanometer-sized specs of semiconductor matter, and weighs the remaining challenges on the path to widespread commercialization for this promising technology with applications in everything from TVs to highly efficient … [Read more...] about Decades of research brings quantum dots to brink of widespread use

When you pick up a balloon, the pressure to keep hold of it is different from what you would exert to grasp a jar. And now engineers at MIT and elsewhere have a way to precisely measure and map such subtleties of tactile dexterity. The team has designed a new touch-sensing glove that can "feel" pressure and other tactile stimuli. The inside of the glove is threaded with a … [Read more...] about This touchy-feely glove senses and maps tactile stimuli: The design could help restore motor function after stroke, enhance virtual gaming experiences.

A UNSW mathematician has revealed the origins of applied geometry on a 3700-year-old clay tablet that has been hiding in plain sight in a museum in Istanbul for over a century. The tablet -- known as Si.427 -- was discovered in the late 19th century in what is now central Iraq, but its significance was unknown until the UNSW scientist's detective work was revealed today. Most … [Read more...] about Mathematician reveals world’s oldest example of applied geometry

People with autism spectrum disorder have difficulty interpreting facial expressions. Using a neural network model that reproduces the brain on a computer, a group of researchers based at Tohoku University have unraveled how this comes to be. The journal Scientific Reports published the results on July 26, 2021. "Humans recognize different emotions, such as sadness and anger by … [Read more...] about Neural network model shows why people with autism read facial expressions differently

KAIST researchers fabricated a brain-inspired highly scalable neuromorphic hardware by co-integrating single transistor neurons and synapses. Using standard silicon complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) technology, the neuromorphic hardware is expected to reduce chip cost and simplify fabrication procedures. The research team led by Yang-Kyu Choi and Sung-Yool Choi … [Read more...] about Brain-inspired highly scalable neuromorphic hardware

Modern portable devices are the result of great progress in miniaturization and wireless communications. Now that these devices can be made even smaller and lighter without loss of functionality, it's likely that a great part of next-generation electronics will revolve around wearable technology. However, for wearables to truly transcend portables, we will need to rethink the … [Read more...] about All in your head: Exploring human-body communications with binaural hearing aids: Scientists show how head tissue can be safely used as the transmission medium for head-worn electronics

A new Monash review throws the spotlight on recent research in heterostructures of topological insulators and magnetic materials. In such heterostructures, the interesting interplay of magnetism and topology can give rise to new phenomena such as quantum anomalous Hall insulators, axion insulators and skyrmions. All of these are promising building blocks for future low-power … [Read more...] about Mixing a cocktail of topology and magnetism for future electronics: Joining topological insulators with magnetic materials for energy-efficient electronics

Car manufacturing workers, long haul airline pilots, coal workers, shop assistants -- many employees are forced to undertake the difficult and sometimes distressing challenge of finding a new occupation quickly due to technological and economic change, or crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic. To make the job transition process easier, and increase the chances of success, … [Read more...] about Researchers develop a new AI-powered tool to identify and recommend jobs

Scientists in Australia and in the USA have solved a long-standing mystery about the Sun that could help astronomers predict space weather and help us prepare for potentially devastating geomagnetic storms if they were to hit Earth. The Sun's internal magnetic field is directly responsible for space weather -- streams of high-energy particles from the Sun that can be triggered … [Read more...] about Solving solar puzzle could help save Earth from planet-wide blackouts