Science X Newsletter Wed, Jan 31

Dear manoj dole,

Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for January 31, 2024:

Technology news

	Exploring the impact of grid-connected hydrogen production on carbon emissions Countries worldwide have been introducing new policies aimed at mitigating climate change and reducing carbon emissions. Many of these interventions focus on deploying more sustainable systems to supply electricity on a large scale and introducing new technologies powered by electric power, such as electric vehicles and electrolyzers (i.e., electrically powered devices that can split water into hydrogen and oxygen atoms).
	Decarbonizing the world's industries is technically possible, say experts Harmful emissions from the industrial sector could be reduced by up to 85% across the world, according to new research. The sector, which includes iron and steel, chemicals, cement, and food and drink, emits around a quarter of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions—planet-warming gases that result in climate change and extreme weather.
	Lifelong learning will power next generation of autonomous devices Look up "lifelong learning" online, and you'll find a laundry list of apps to teach you how to quilt, play chess or even speak a new language. Within the emerging fields of artificial intelligence (AI) and autonomous devices, however, "lifelong learning" means something different—and it is a bit more complex. It refers to the ability of a device to continuously operate, interact with and learn from its environment—on its own and in real time.
	Microsoft profit soars 33% on AI, cloud-computing investments Microsoft Corp. said Tuesday that its profit for the October-December quarter soared 33%, powered by its significant investments in artificial intelligence technology. The company said that increase largely reflected growth in its cloud-computing unit, where Microsoft focuses most of its AI investments.
	China overtakes Japan as world's biggest vehicle exporter China's global dominance in electric cars helped it overtake Japan as the world's biggest vehicle exporter last year, official data confirmed Wednesday.
	Germany's mine-to-motor lithium supply chain takes shape Once a byword for environmental disaster due to its heavy industry and mining, the city of Bitterfeld-Wolfen is poised to become a key site for Germany's ambitious green transition.
	Samsung reports sharp drop in operating profits Samsung Electronics on Wednesday reported a 34.57 percent drop in operating profits for the fourth quarter of 2023, as the company struggles with weak demand for consumer devices.
	Microsoft, Google ride AI wave as revenues surge Microsoft and Google delivered solid corporate earnings on Tuesday as the tech giants said demand for artificial intelligence services stoked revenue.
	Google says AI helped it beat profit expectations Google parent Alphabet on Tuesday credited artificial intelligence with helping boost profits in the final quarter of last year.
	Here's why you may still experience spotty cell service Many consumers, telecommunications experts, and even reporters nationwide who have been the questions: Why is my cell service still so bad in 2024? And is it getting worse, or am I just noticing it more?
	Humanoid robot startup Figure AI in funding talks with Microsoft, OpenAI Figure AI Inc., a startup developing humanlike robots, is in talks to raise as much as $500 million in a funding round led by Microsoft Corp. and OpenAI, according to a person with knowledge of the matter.
	What you actually need to know about wintertime driving with an electric vehicle As a big winter storm rolled across the United States in mid-January, many news outlets reported on drivers of electric vehicles dealing with dramatically reduced range and multi-hour waits at public charging stations. It's true that driving an EV in freezing weather poses extra challenges compared to a gasoline-powered vehicle. But it's also possible to employ techniques that can make EV winter driving less challenging. The car experts at Edmunds report on what you can do.
	Netherlands fines Uber over data protection Dutch regulators on Wednesday imposed a 10 million euro ($10.8 million) fine on ride-hailing app Uber for lack of transparency in treating the personal data of its drivers.
	Boeing CEO says company focused on safety, won't discuss financial targets Boeing will refrain from commenting on its long-term financial outlook while it focuses on quality control after a near-catastrophic 737 MAX flight earlier this month, the company's CEO said Wednesday.
	Key LiDAR sensor elements for autonomous vehicles made with Korean technology LiDAR sensors are indispensable for the realization of advanced technologies such as advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), autonomous driving, and AR/VR. In particular, short- and mid-range LiDAR used in AR/VR devices and smartphones requires better distance (depth) resolution to detect the shape of a person or object more accurately, and so a single-photon detector with better timing jitter performance is required.
	Crash tests indicate nation's guardrail system can't handle heavy electric vehicles Electric vehicles that typically weigh more than gasoline-powered cars can easily crash through steel highway guardrails that are not designed to withstand the extra force, raising concerns about the nation's roadside safety system, according to crash test data released Wednesday by the University of Nebraska.
	Why AI can't replace air traffic controllers After hours of routine operations, an air traffic controller gets a radio call from a small aircraft whose cockpit indicators can't confirm that the plane's landing gear is extended for landing. The controller arranges for the pilot to fly low by the tower so the controller can visually check the plane's landing gear. All appears well. "It looks like your gear is down," the controller tells the pilot.
	AI companies are merging or collaborating to even out gap in access to vital datasets Some recent mergers, acquisitions and investments in the business world have highlighted the strategic value of data to companies. These businesses are not just buying assets or market share—they are also acquiring or investing in large, complementary datasets. This process is known in the business world as horizontal integration.
	Teens on social media need both protection and privacy. AI could help get the balance right Meta announced on Jan. 9, 2024, that it will protect teen users by blocking them from viewing content on Instagram and Facebook that the company deems to be harmful, including content related to suicide and eating disorders. The move comes as federal and state governments have increased pressure on social media companies to provide safety measures for teens.
	Research team launches first-of-its-kind mini AI model with three trillion-token punch It's called TinyLlama and it's taken the research world by storm because of how much power it packs.
	Bringing together real-world sensors and VR to improve building maintenance A new system that brings together real-world sensing and virtual reality would make it easier for building maintenance personnel to identify and fix issues in commercial buildings that are in operation. The system was developed by computer scientists at the University of California San Diego and Carnegie Mellon University.
	NASA search and rescue technology saves explorers, enables exploration In 2023, NASA-developed search and rescue technologies aided first responders in locating and saving 350 lives in the United States. Now, NASA is incorporating that same technology in astronaut missions.
	Perspective paper explores the debate over sentient machines A researcher from the New Jersey Institute of Technology has published a perspective paper that examines sentience and its application to artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics. Sentience describes the ability to sense and feel, drawing its meaning from the Latin word sentire which means "to feel." The paper addresses a set of ideological commitments at stake in debates over sentient machines. The author proposes that artificial sentience is both necessary and impossible.
	New strategies for restructuring lithium-ion batteries Lithium-ion batteries have been pivotal in powering modern technology, from mobile devices to electric vehicles. As demand for higher performance batteries grows, the focus has shifted from merely optimizing battery materials to rethinking the entire cell design and architecture.
	Proposed system shows how IoT could reduce household energy costs Mathematicians from RUDN University have proposed a system that helps to use energy more efficiently. It is based on the Internet of Things and the digital twin of the household. The neural network optimally distributes tasks and decides how to divide energy between devices. The study is published in Sensors.
	Research team presents design and technology details for space solar-powered satellite A space solar-powered satellite (SSPS) is a tremendous energy system that collects and converts solar power to electric power in space, and then transmits the electric power to Earth, spacecraft, or moving targets via microwave. It is regarded as one of the most potential ways to solve the problem of energy crisis.
	The use of biofuels may reduce black smoke emissions of cars by 90% The University of Malaga (UMA) has participated in an international study with the Future Power Systems Group of the University of Birmingham (UK) that investigates how to reduce pollutant emissions from vehicles without affecting engine performance.
	Researchers overview recent progress and challenges in silicon-based anode materials for lithium-ion batteries Research in recent years displays that several chemical modifications (binders, composite materials, and electrolytes) provide superior stability and enhance electrochemical performance in Si-based anodes in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). Thus far, several different chemical interactions on structural alterations to Si-based anode materials have been tried to enhance Li+ kinetics, structural stability, and volume development control throughout the delithiation/lithiation process.
	Matching energy supply and demand in buildings As power grids evolve to incorporate new variable renewable energy sources and adapt to growing peak electricity demands, balancing the grid—scheduling appropriate electricity supply to match demand—will become increasingly challenging.
	Engineers develop hack to make automotive radar hallucinate A black sedan cruises silently down a quiet suburban road, driver humming Christmas carols quietly while the car's autopilot handles the driving. Suddenly, red flashing lights and audible warnings blare to life, snapping the driver from their peaceful reprieve. They look at the dashboard screen and see the outline of a car speeding toward them for a head-on collision, yet the headlights reveal nothing ahead through the windshield.
	Universal Music warns it will pull songs from TikTok Universal Music Group warned Tuesday that it would pull its songs, which include those by Taylor Swift and The Weeknd, from TikTok after a breakdown in talks over issues such as the compensation of artists.
	US judge voids Elon Musk's $56 billion Tesla compensation A judge in the US state of Delaware voided the $56 billion compensation package of Tesla chief executive Elon Musk on Tuesday, siding with a shareholder who claimed the entrepreneur was overpaid.
	US lawmakers win apology from Zuckerberg in tech grilling Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg gave a public apology in US Congress on Wednesday as hostile lawmakers grilled tech chiefs over the dangers that children face on social media platforms.
	Bringing supercomputers and experiments together to accelerate discoveries The seamless integration of DOE's large-scale experimental facilities and powerful computing resources will help researchers keep pace with the ever-increasing influx of scientific data.
	Waiting out Bukele's 'Bitcoin City' on a Salvadoran beach When President Nayib Bukele announced plans to create the world's first "Bitcoin City," a futuristic metropolis financed by cryptocurrency bonds, American Corbin Keegan packed up his life in Chicago and headed for El Salvador.
	The evolution of GPS: What to expect from global navigation satellite systems in the next 50 years More robust and more accurate positioning systems are needed to meet the demands of the global economy—and Australia is set to enjoy the benefits of its very own system.
	Surgical robot developed at Nebraska launches into space A surgeon's hands could stretch 250 miles above Earth, should an upcoming test of a miniaturized surgical robot aboard the International Space Station prove successful.
	Fairly sharing the pains and the gains of energy systems Our energy systems are characterized by two important injustices. First of all, not all people have the same degree of access to these systems (and their advantages). Secondly, the negative consequences of the systems—particularly climate change—are distributed unfairly. TU/e researcher Natascha van Bommel investigated how the current energy transitions can be used to mitigate these injustices.

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