Science X Newsletter Mon, Nov 27

Dear manoj dole,

Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for November 27, 2023:

Technology news

	A tin-based tandem electrocatalyst for the synthesis of ethanol via CO₂ reduction The electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2) into various multi-carbon products is highly desirable, as it could help to easily produce useful chemicals for a wide range of applications. Most existing catalysts to facilitate CO2 reduction are based on copper (Cu), yet the processes underpinning their action remain poorly understood.
	Creating artistic collages using reinforcement learning Researchers at Seoul National University have recently tried to train an artificial intelligence (AI) agent to create collages (i.e., artworks created by sticking various pieces of materials together), reproducing renowned artworks and other images. Their proposed model was introduced in a paper pre-printed on arXiv and presented at ICCV 2023 in October.
	A sensing paw that could improve the ability of legged robots to move on different terrains Legged robots that artificially replicate the body structure and movements of animals could efficiently complete missions in a wide range of environments, including various outdoor natural settings. To do so, however, these robots should be able to walk on different terrains, such as soil, sand, grass, and so on, without losing balance, getting stuck or falling over.
	Development of a high flow rate cantilever fan Cantilever fans move air through a flapping action, similar to hand-fans. Commercially available, they are combined with a piezoelectric bender, which provides their motive force. These fans are low noise, low power and have a low flow rate. They have a useful niche for increasing the cooling of electronics beyond that of natural convection, without requiring high flow rate.
	New method uses crowdsourced feedback to train robots To teach an AI agent a new task, like how to open a kitchen cabinet, researchers often use reinforcement learning—a trial-and-error process where the agent is rewarded for taking actions that get it closer to the goal.
	Study shows how wind and solar projects could profit from bitcoin mining Bitcoin mining is often perceived as environmentally damaging because it uses huge amounts of electricity to power its intensive computing needs, but a new study demonstrates how wind and solar projects can profit from bitcoin mining during the pre-commercial development phase—when a wind or solar farm is generating electricity, but has not yet been integrated into the grid.
	Study shows ChatGPT writes better school essays than students In a study published in Scientific Reports, a research team from the University of Passau compared the quality of machine-generated content with essays written by secondary school students. The upshot: The AI-based chatbot performed better across all criteria, especially when it came to language mastery.
	Study: Immersive engagement in mixed reality can be measured with reaction time In the real world/digital world cross-over of mixed reality, a user's immersive engagement with the program is called presence. Now, UMass Amherst researchers are the first to identify reaction time as a potential presence measurement tool. Their findings, published in IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics, have implications for calibrating mixed reality to the user in real time.
	Self-healing robotic gripper could be the future of sustainable soft robotics Researchers have developed a self-healing robotic gripper for use in soft robotics that is adaptable, recyclable and resilient to damage, thanks to heat-assisted autonomous healing.
	Defending your voice against deepfakes Recent advances in generative artificial intelligence have spurred developments in realistic speech synthesis. While this technology has the potential to improve lives through personalized voice assistants and accessibility-enhancing communication tools, it also has led to the emergence of deepfakes, in which synthesized speech can be misused to deceive humans and machines for nefarious purposes.
	Next generation semiconductors: Diamond device shows highest breakdown voltage To reach the world's goal of carbon neutrality by 2050, there must be a fundamental change in electronic materials to create a more reliable and resilient electricity grid. A diamond might be a girl's best friend, but it might also be the solution needed to sustain the electrification of society needed to reach carbon neutrality in the next 30 years.
	Inside two mining operations turning Texas power into crypto profits Amid the loud fans and a towering wall of supercomputers, a digital gold rush is taking place in Texas.
	New research sheds light on enhanced performance of thin-film VCSELs on composite metal substrate Researchers led by Prof. Ray-Hua Horng, a leading expert in semiconductor device technology at Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (NYCU), Hsinchu, Taiwan, China have published a research paper titled "Study on the performance of thin-film VCSELs on composite metal substrate" in the journal Frontiers of Optoelectronics. This work introduces innovative methods that are poised to reshape the landscape of semiconductor technology.
	New method verifies carbon capture in concrete Carbon capture is essential to reduce the impact of human carbon dioxide emissions on our climate. Researchers at the University of Tokyo and Nagoya University in Japan have developed a method to confirm whether carbon in concrete originates from the raw materials, or from carbon in the air which has been trapped when it reacts with the concrete to form the mineral calcium carbonate. The work has been published in the Journal of Advanced Concrete Technology.
	Recycling cigarette waste to produce green fuel Stricter environmental norms and fossil fuel pollution call for cleaner fuels such as biodiesel. This vegetable oil- or animal fat-based diesel is biodegradable—up to four times faster than petroleum diesel—and nontoxic.
	Why public policy must adjust to new energy source preference Support for renewable energy sources such as solar and wind is linked to a belief that climate change will be catastrophic, while supporters of nuclear power tend to be less concerned about climate risks, says a study from the Energy Policy Research Group at Cambridge Judge Business School.
	Green Climate Fund fails to strengthen private sector engagement, finds study The Green Climate Fund (GCF) is the world's largest dedicated multilateral climate fund, and aims to support climate mitigation and adaptation efforts in developing countries. Mobilizing financial resources from the private sector is an important priority for the donor countries backing the GCF. However, so far the GCF has underperformed in this respect.
	Casual, distant, aesthetically limited: Five ways smartphone photography is changing how we see the world Smartphones are a staple of modern life and are changing how we see the world and show it to others. Almost 90% of Aussies own one, and we spend an average of 5.6 hours using them each day. Smartphones are also responsible for more than 90% of all the photographs made this year.
	Overhead vs underground: Rewiring Australia for renewable energy goals A new report by Curtin University and The University of Queensland has provided insights into the trade-offs between overhead and underground transmission lines and the challenges of expanding Australia's grid for renewable energy initiatives.
	New study shows how heat can be used in computing Physicists at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU) and Central South University in China have demonstrated that, by combining specific materials, heat in technical devices can be used in computing. Their discovery is based on extensive calculations and simulations. The new approach demonstrates how heat signals can be steered and amplified for use in energy-efficient data processing. The team's research findings have been published in the journal Advanced Electronic Materials.
	Google will start deleting 'inactive' accounts in December. Here's what you need to know Have a Google account you haven't used in a while? If you want to keep it from disappearing, you should sign in before the end of the week.
	VW weighs staff reductions as electric shift stalls German car giant Volkswagen on Monday said that it was considering staff reductions, possibly in the form of early retirement, to help it meet vital cost-cutting targets imposed in its sputtering transition to electromobility.
	Can AI push the boundaries of privacy and reach the subconscious mind? Influencing the U.S. election or the U.K.'s political future by using a combination of the personal information posted on Facebook by millions of people and powerful data analysis technology—it wasn't that long ago that this would have seemed like something out of a sci-fi novel, but the 2018 Cambridge Analytica scandal proved that it can happen and that, as a result of advancing technology and machine intelligence, we are now facing fundamental dilemmas that we never had to think about before.
	Advances in characterization and evaluation of oil shale based on terahertz spectroscopy The current understanding of the oil generation potential of oil shale and the dynamic process of organic matter pyrolysis is still unclear, leading to the relatively slow progress in its development technology. Due to characteristics such as fingerprint property, low energy, penetration, and broadband, terahertz (THz) spectroscopy as an emerging evaluation method in the field of oil and gas resources has demonstrated research and application value in multiple aspects.
	An ultra-thin tattoo that gives a tactile sensation An ultra-thin wearable device capable of reproducing the localized sensation of touch had been developed at the Center for Materials Interfaces of the Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (Italian Institute of Technology, IIT), in Pontedera, Italy. The technology is described in a recent paper published in the journal Advanced Electronic Materials.
	A graphical diagnostics tool for high-speed railway internet connectivity As the high-speed railway network in China extends beyond 40,000 kilometers, maintaining seamless internet connectivity for passengers is becoming increasingly challenging. The demand for consistent and reliable online access is particularly crucial for travelers who spend extended hours on trains, relying on the expectation of undisturbed work, study, or entertainment. Addressing this need, a team of researchers from the School of Computer Science at Peking University has developed "HiMoDiag"—an innovative tool designed to enhance the understanding and management of network performance in extremely high-mobility scenarios.
	Tensor networks: Enhancing interpretability and efficiency in quantum-inspired machine learning Deep machine learning has achieved remarkable success in various fields of artificial intelligence, but achieving both high interpretability and high efficiency simultaneously remains a critical challenge. Shi-Ju Ran of Capital Normal University and Gang Su of the University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences have reviewed an innovative approach based on tensor networks, drawing inspiration from quantum mechanics. This approach offers a promising solution to the long-standing challenge of reconciling interpretability and efficiency in deep machine learning.
	Pentagon's AI initiatives accelerate hard decisions on lethal autonomous weapons. Artificial intelligence employed by the U.S. military has piloted pint-sized surveillance drones in special operations forces' missions and helped Ukraine in its war against Russia. It tracks soldiers' fitness, predicts when Air Force planes need maintenance and helps keep tabs on rivals in space.
	'Get Ready With Me': Video genre that focuses on everyday life is everywhere—and not slowing down "Get Ready with Me"—to go on a date, go to work or ... get fired? "Get Ready with Me" videos are everywhere these days, and they're as straightforward as the name suggests. Social media users, often influencers, invite viewers to watch them get ready to do something or go somewhere. And embedded in the storyline are the skin care, the makeup, the hairdo and all the glam that goes into looking hot—and, of course, the personal stories about life or love that arrest your attention.
	Struggling cities face more pain from AI boom Artificial intelligence is likely to transform our world in many ways, but one that hasn't received much attention is the technology's looming impact on real estate. As AI becomes an essential component of both business and daily life, the value of places where those who work on AI want to live will rise, provided these locales have reasonable infrastructure. At the same time, the value of lower-tier cities left out of the AI boom will diminish.
	BIM-based digital collaboration platform, initiating construction digitalization A Korean research team has developed a BIM-based digital collaboration platform that allows construction owners and engineers to collaborate with each other on digital design tasks.
	Cyber Monday marks the year's biggest online shopping day, and one more chance to save on gifts Consumers are scouring the internet for online deals as they begin to cap off the five-day post-Thanksgiving shopping bonanza with Cyber Monday.
	Seeing 3D images through the eyes of AI Image recognition technology has come a long way since 2012 when a group of computer scientists at the University of Toronto created a convolutional neural network (CNN)—dubbed "AlexNet" after its creator Alex Krizhevsky—that correctly identified images much better than others. Its findings have propelled successful use of CNNs in related fields such as video analysis and pattern recognition, and now researchers are now focusing on 3D deep learning networks.
	UK police to trial new forensic footwear identification process Forensic experts in the U.K. are taking new steps to identify criminals caught on CCTV using the shoes they are wearing.

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