Science X Newsletter Thu, Jan 4

Dear manoj dole,

Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for January 4, 2024:

Technology news

	Researchers 3D print components for a portable mass spectrometer Mass spectrometers, devices that identify chemical substances, are widely used in applications like crime scene analysis, toxicology testing, and geological surveying. But these machines are bulky, expensive, and easy to damage, which limits where they can be effectively deployed.
	Researchers develop high-performance, stretchable solar cells With the market for wearable electric devices growing rapidly, stretchable solar cells that can function under strain have received considerable attention as an energy source. To build such solar cells, it is necessary that their photoactive layer, which converts light into electricity, shows high electrical performance while possessing mechanical elasticity. However, satisfying both of these two requirements is challenging, making stretchable solar cells difficult to develop.
	Researchers develop AI-driven machine-checking method for verifying software code A team of computer scientists led by the University of Massachusetts Amherst recently announced a new method for automatically generating whole proofs that can be used to prevent software bugs and verify that the underlying code is correct.
	US teen becomes first human to beat Tetris A US teenager has beaten classic computer game Tetris, forcing it into a game-ending glitch in a feat previously achieved only by artificial intelligence.
	A jet's carbon-composite fiber fuselage burned on a Tokyo runway. Is the material safe? The fuselage of the jetliner involved in a collision on a Tokyo runway was made from carbon-composite fibers, and the incident is renewing concern about the challenges of putting out fires involving the material.
	Microsoft's new AI key is first big change to keyboards in decades Computer keyboards are making room for an artificial intelligence chatbot button as Microsoft unveils its first major keyboard redesign in three decades.
	AI is our 'Promethean fire': Using it wisely means knowing its true nature and our own minds Future historians may well regard 2023 as a landmark in the advent of artificial intelligence (AI). But whether that future will prove utopian, apocalyptic or somewhere in between is anyone's guess.
	Electric vehicles and the challenge of fire risks in car parks Due to the urgent need to cut fossil fuel emissions, the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) is both inevitable and essential. The EU is aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transport by 90% by 2040, and foresees 13 million zero and low-emission vehicles on the roads by 2025. Several European countries have introduced their own measures to encourage the uptake of EVs.
	Driverless cars that default to stopping when encountering a problem can cause chaos on roads While self-driving vehicles are being deployed in numerous cities globally, persistent controversies continue to challenge their deployment.
	Viewpoint: AI could make cities autonomous, but that doesn't mean we should let it happen You are walking back home. Suddenly the ground seems to open and a security drone emerges, blocking your way to verify your identity. This might sound far-fetched but it is based on an existing technology—a drone system made by the AI company Sunflower Labs.
	AI is here, and everywhere: Three AI researchers look to the challenges ahead in 2024 2023 was an inflection point in the evolution of artificial intelligence and its role in society. The year saw the emergence of generative AI, which moved the technology from the shadows to center stage in the public imagination. It also saw boardroom drama in an AI startup dominate the news cycle for several days. And it saw the Biden administration issue an executive order and the European Union pass a law aimed at regulating AI, moves perhaps best described as attempting to bridle a horse that's already galloping along.
	Electric vs. gasoline vehicles: Is EV ownership competitive in your area? Is it actually cheaper to own an electric vehicle instead of a gas vehicle? It depends. University of Michigan researchers say that where you live matters. For instance, a midsize SUV costs more to own in Detroit than in San Francisco—one of the most expensive cities in the country.
	Want to share a ride? New study identifies factors that influence ride-splitting New research from a group including a University of Massachusetts Amherst engineer has helped identify the most important characteristics to increase adoption of ride-splitting platforms like UberX Share.
	Spain generated record 50% of power from renewables in 2023 Spain generated more than half of its electricity from renewable sources such as wind and solar power in 2023 in a "historic" record, the national power grid said Thursday.
	Breaking new ground in aerial imaging: The AVIID dataset and visible-to-infrared image translation A study published on 10 November 2023, in the Journal of Remote Sensing, has made significant strides in aerial visible-to-infrared image translation. It offers advantages like lower cost, higher efficiency, and enhanced downstream task performance, addressing issues like lack of datasets, methodological surveys, and comprehensive evaluation systems for image quality.
	Resurrection consent: It's time to talk about our digital afterlives Should the deceased be digitally resurrected by grieving friends, lovers and relatives? A new study captures current attitudes and highlights the need for urgent research and policy work.
	New report identifies types of cyberattacks that manipulate behavior of AI systems Adversaries can deliberately confuse or even "poison" artificial intelligence (AI) systems to make them malfunction—and there's no foolproof defense that their developers can employ. Computer scientists from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and their collaborators identify these and other vulnerabilities of AI and machine learning (ML) in a new publication.
	Biden administration announces $162 million to expand computer chip factories in Colorado and Oregon The Biden administration is providing $162 million to Microchip Technology to support the domestic production of computer chips—the second funding announcement tied to a 2022 law designed to revive U.S. semiconductor manufacturing.
	German car sales up in 2023 but electric models lose ground Sales of new cars in Germany increased in 2023, official data showed Thursday, but an end to government subsidy programs saw electric vehicles lose ground on fossil-fuel models.
	Ford US vehicle sales neared two million in 2023 Auto giant Ford sold almost two million vehicles in the United States last year, the company said Thursday, buoyed by accelerating electric vehicle sales and continued growth in internal combustion engine trucks.
	SpaceX accused of unlawfully firing employees who were critical of Elon Musk A U.S. labor agency has accused SpaceX of unlawfully firing employees who penned an open letter critical of CEO Elon Musk and creating an impression that worker activities were under surveillance by the rocket ship company.
	Amazon shutters last Fresh Pickup grocery store Amazon has shuttered the last of its two Fresh Pickup facilities, marking the end of its experiment with a drive-in and drop-off grocery service.
	Opinion: Hydrogen isn't clean if it adds to climate pollution The Inflation Reduction Act, signed by President Joe Biden more than a year ago, is a game-changing law that invests hundreds of billions of dollars to fight climate change and boost renewable energy.
	Connecting rural African communities one bus at a time In urban African communities, communication infrastructure has made it possible for people to share information quickly and easily. However, the same cannot be said for rural areas where there are tight resource constraints and a lack of investment opportunities. In these isolated regions where houses are kilometers apart, residents are not able to reliably communicate, regardless of what kind of information they are transmitting.

---

This email is a free service of Science X Network
You received this email because you subscribed to our list.
If you do not wish to receive such emails in the future, please unsubscribe here.
You are subscribed as manojdole1.consumerelectronic@blogger.com. You may manage your subscription options from your Science X profile