23 Feb 2018

Stretchable, touch-sensitive electronics
Researchers have set the stage for an evolution in electronics by taking the concept of 'artificial skin' to the next level, demonstrating not only a stretchable circuitry that can feel the touch of a ladybug, but a manufacturing process to mass produce this circuitry, as reported in Printed Electronics World.
5 Feb 2018

Autonomous mobile picking robots learn, fast
In the past five years or so several major research groups have demonstrated that robots can learn to grasp novel varied objects with accuracy levels around 80-85%. Still performance levels, even in the labs, are sub-human but this is changing fast.
29 Jan 2018

Ideal material for smart photovoltaic windows
Imagine that when a window is darkened, it simultaneously produces electricity. Such a material - a photovoltaic glass that is also reversibly thermochromic - is a green technology researchers have long worked toward, and now, scientists have demonstrated a way to make it work.
25 Jan 2018

Next big breakthrough in robotics
While drones and driverless cars dominate the headlines, another breakthrough—robot dexterity—is likely to have an even greater impact in both business and everyday life.
24 Jan 2018

Making fuel cells for a fraction of the cost
Fuel cells have the potential to be a clean and efficient way to run cars, computers, and power stations, but the cost of producing them is limiting their use. That's because a key component of the most common fuel cells is a catalyst made from the precious metal platinum.
17 Jan 2018

Artificial Intelligence reads better than humans
A new AI-powered robot is outperforming humans on a reading test.
12 Jan 2018

Health monitoring device that makes existing clothes smart
From clunky wristbands to restrictive chest straps, the first generation of wearables have been marred by user adoption challenges and impractical product design.
11 Jan 2018

Ultra-thin transparent flexible sensors on winning selfie stick
Instead of physical buttons found on traditional selfie sticks, multi-function flexible sensors wrap around the device handle and allow users to easily control all camera functions such as: focus, filter selection, front and rear camera selection, recording, shutter, and more.
8 Jan 2018

AI can determine a neighborhood's political leanings by its cars
Using computer algorithms that can see and learn, they have analyzed millions of publicly available images on Google Street View. The researchers say they can use that knowledge to determine the political leanings of a given neighborhood just by looking at the cars on the streets.
28 Dec 2017

New photovoltaic production technique reduces cost, boosts stability
Perovskite solar cells are cheap to produce and simple to manufacture. Improving their efficiency, as one EU-backed project has just done, makes them an ever-more compelling alternative source of energy.
24 Nov 2017

Double-duty textile could warm or cool
Clothing made from a reversible fabric could warm or cool wearers and keep them comfortable, bringing down buildings' energy costs.
16 Nov 2017

Algorithm can diagnose pneumonia better than radiologists
Researchers have developed a deep learning algorithm that evaluates chest X-rays for signs of disease. In just over a month of development, their algorithm outperformed expert radiologists at diagnosing pneumonia.
1 Nov 2017

Tool to debug black box deep learning algorithms
Computers can now beat humans at chess and Go, but it may be a while before people trust their driving. The danger of self-driving cars was highlighted last year when Tesla's autonomous car collided with a truck it mistook for a cloud, killing its passenger.
1 Nov 2017

Finger-like growths that trigger battery fires
Scientists have captured the first atomic-level images of finger-like growths called dendrites that can pierce the barrier between battery compartments and trigger short circuits or fires.
18 Oct 2017

Flexible Electronics: The Big Winner So Far in Printed Electronics
Exploring the commercialization of flexible electronics, one of the key focus points of this year's Printed Electronics USA event on November 15-16 in Santa Clara, CA.
13 Oct 2017

Sodium may offer more cost-effective storage than lithium
As a warming world moves from fossil fuels toward renewable solar and wind energy, industrial forecasts predict an insatiable need for battery farms to store power and provide electricity when the sky is dark and the air is still.
4 Sep 2017

Insect eyes inspire perovskite design
Packing tiny solar cells together, like micro-lenses in the compound eye of an insect, could pave the way to a new generation of advanced photovoltaics.
28 Aug 2017

Genome analysis with near-complete privacy possible
Researchers used cryptography to cloak irrelevant genetic information in individuals' genomes while revealing disease-associated mutations. They say the technique could vastly improve patient privacy.
25 Aug 2017

Using machine learning to improve patient care
In a new pair of papers, researchers explore ways for computers to help doctors make better medical decisions.