Science X Newsletter Thu, Feb 29

Dear manoj dole,

Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for February 29, 2024:

Technology news

	Scientists use food industry byproduct to recover gold from electronic waste Transforming base materials into gold was one of the elusive goals of the alchemists of yore. Now Professor Raffaele Mezzenga from the Department of Health Sciences and Technology at ETH Zurich has accomplished something in that vein. He has not of course transformed another chemical element into gold, as the alchemists sought to do. But he has managed to recover gold from electronic waste using a byproduct of the cheesemaking process.
	Research team develops insect-mimicking sensor to detect motion The recent development of an intelligent sensor that mimics the optic nerve of insects while operating at ultra-high speeds and low power offers extensive expandability into various innovative technologies. This technology is expected to be applied to various fields including transportation, safety, and security systems, contributing to both industry and society.
	Researchers create new compound to build space-age antennas In a first-of-its-kind development, UBC Okanagan researchers, in collaboration with Drexel University, have created a new compound that can be used to 3D print telecommunication antennas and other connectivity devices. These 3D printed products, created by combining a two-dimensional compound called MXenes with a polymer, can be used as an alternative for metallic counterparts and can make a vast improvement in communication technology including elements such as antennas, waveguides and filters.
	Fire-resistant sodium battery balances safety, cost and performance A sodium battery developed by researchers at The University of Texas at Austin significantly reduces fire risks from the technology, while also relying on inexpensive, abundant materials to serve as its building blocks.
	All-light communication network bridges space, air and sea for seamless connectivity Researchers have developed an all-light communication network that enables seamless connectivity across space, air, and underwater environments. The new network design combines different types of light sources to ensure connectivity no matter the environment.
	EU consumers challenge Meta paid service as privacy 'smokescreen' Consumer groups from eight EU countries lodged complaints against Meta on Thursday, accusing the Facebook and Instagram owner of illegally processing user data and using its "pay or consent" system as a "smokescreen" for privacy breaches.
	'Iron Man' pilots race in jet suits against a backdrop of Dubai skyscrapers Pilots lined up on a runway in Dubai on Wednesday and fired up their seven jet engines with an ear-splitting roar. But they weren't preparing to fly an airplane—they were the aircraft.
	Southwest Airlines spending $30 million on green fuel refinery, investment fund Southwest Airlines is buckling down on its environmental goals with a $30 million investment into a sustainable aviation fuel technology provider and launching a new subsidiary dedicated to it.
	Google's AI isn't too 'woke.' It's too rushed Did you hear? Google has been accused of having a secret vendetta against white people. Elon Musk exchanged tweets about the conspiracy on X more than 150 times over the past week, all regarding portraits generated with Google's new AI chatbot Gemini.
	We've been here before: AI promised humanlike machines—in 1958 A roomsize computer equipped with a new type of circuitry, the Perceptron, was introduced to the world in 1958 in a brief news story buried deep in The New York Times. The story cited the U.S. Navy as saying that the Perceptron would lead to machines that "will be able to walk, talk, see, write, reproduce itself and be conscious of its existence."
	'Urban mines': How to unlock our electronic junk's potential Instead of developing new mining infrastructures, what if we recovered the metal deposits contained in the electronic objects we no longer use, such as smartphones or computers? There are very good reasons for focusing on the potential of these "urban mines", also known as secondary mines to distinguish them from the "primary" mines where resources in the ground are exploited directly.
	How to make difficult-to-cut materials and components 'easy-to-cut' Difficult-to-cut materials such as titanium alloys, high-temperature alloys, metal/ceramic/polymer-matrix composites, hard and brittle materials, as well as geometrically complex components such as thin-walled structures, micro channels and complex surfaces, are widely used in aerospace community.
	Synthesizing avatars into a 360-degree video provides a virtual walking experience Researchers have developed a system that provides a virtual walking experience to a seated person by real-time synthesis of a walking avatar and its shadow on a 360-degree video with vibrations to the feet. The shadow of the avatar induces an illusory presence of their body. In the future, it is expected to provide an immersive experience for any recorded medium with a virtual embodiment.
	Examining the potential benefits and dangers of AI Generative artificial intelligence is rapidly advancing and soon will be ubiquitous in everyday life, making us more productive and helping to solve complex problems while simultaneously creating new legal and ethical issues, a University of Cincinnati professor said.
	Research explores industrial integration of artificial intelligence Artificial Intelligence (AI) has very quickly transitioned from science fiction to practical applications, particularly in industrial sectors such as manufacturing, logistics, and retail. A study in the International Journal of Technology Transfer and Commercialisation looks at the AI landscape and sheds light on its evolution, implications, and integration challenges across industries.
	One Tech Tip: Don't use rice for your device. Here's how to dry out your smartphone You were walking next to a swimming pool when you slipped and dropped your phone into the water. Or it slipped out of your hand when you were next to a filled bathtub or toilet.
	Humanoid robot-maker Figure partners with OpenAI and gets backing from Jeff Bezos and tech giants ChatGPT-maker OpenAI is looking to fuse its artificial intelligence systems into the bodies of humanoid robots as part of a new deal with robotics startup Figure.
	Ford electric vehicle owners can now charge on Tesla's network, but they'll need an adapter first Owners of Ford electric vehicles can now use much of Tesla's charging network in the U.S. and Canada, but there's a hitch.
	EU lawmakers back transparency rules for Airbnb-style rentals The European Parliament approved new data-sharing rules Thursday that clamp down on illegal short-term rentals to protect the residents of European cities—many of whom face shortages of affordable housing.
	Device that withstands 1,400°C temperatures could improve solar energy production An innovative probe which can operate in temperatures as high as molten lava has been created by researchers.
	Critical infrastructure systems are vulnerable to a new kind of cyberattack In recent years, browser and web-based technology has become a powerful tool for operators of infrastructure and industrial systems. But it also has opened a new pathway for bad actors to seize control of these systems, potentially endangering critical power, water, and other infrastructure.
	Unlocking the secrets of social bots: Research sheds light on AI's role in spreading disinformation In a world where social media influences opinions and shapes narratives, the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) is both a boon and a challenge.
	From organics to fuels: Computational models can accelerate and scale up biomass conversion Your yard clippings could eventually fuel an airplane. National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) researchers are tackling the difficult task of using agricultural waste generated from plant-to-food processing to make fuels that can power an airplane or a ship rather than relying on fossil fuels.
	Improving energy security with policies focused on demand-side solutions Governments typically rely on policies focused on energy supply to enhance energy security, ignoring demand-side options. Current indicators and indexes that measure energy security focus mostly on energy supply. This aligns with the International Energy Agency's view, which defines energy security only in terms of security of supply. However, this approach does not fully capture the extent of vulnerability for states, businesses, and individuals during an energy crisis.
	Fast, precise and wear-free process for laser drilling of carbon fiber-reinforced plastics Composite materials such as carbon fiber-reinforced plastics (CFRP) are excellent for lightweight construction and are used, among other things, in automotive and aircraft construction.
	Driving an electric car is cheaper in some parts of Canada than others Electric vehicles are a critical part of Canada's climate strategy, but a new UBC study highlights how it's cheaper in some regions than others to drive electric—making it more challenging for certain households to make the switch.
	Some doorbell cameras sold on Amazon and other online sites have major security flaws, report says Some doorbell cameras sold by Amazon and other online retailers have security flaws that could allow bad actors to view footage from the devices or control them completely, according to an investigation published Thursday by Consumer Reports.
	Nintendo sues company for piracy on 'colossal scale' "Super Mario" giant Nintendo has filed a lawsuit against a US maker of software that allows video gamers to play games intended for its hugely popular Switch device on their PC or smartphone.
	Researchers improve the stability of perovskite solar cells Perovskite solar cells are thought of as the strongest contender to replace conventional silicon solar cells in next-generation photovoltaics. They are made of an A+ cation, a B2+ divalent cation, and an X- halide. Generally containing Pb2+ or Sn2+, they achieve high power conversion energy that is suitable for commercial use.
	Zero carbon dioxide emissions: Successful production of ammonia-based clean hydrogen Dr. Jung Unho's research team at the Hydrogen Research Department of the Korea Institute of Energy Research (KIER) has developed Korea's first clean hydrogen production technology. This technology is based on ammonia decomposition and does not use fossil fuels.
	Guiding future research on 'extraordinary potential' of next-generation solar cells Today's commercial solar panels can convert about 15% to 20% of the sunlight they absorb into electrical energy—but they could be much more efficient, according to researchers at Soochow University. The next generation of solar cells has already demonstrated 26.1% efficiency, they said, but more specific research directions are needed to make such efficiency the standard and expand beyond it.
	Colorado's air-monitoring settlement with Suncor is flawed prioritizes energy company's interests, environmentalists say Six environmental groups on Feb. 27 filed a legal brief saying they do not support a recent settlement between Colorado and Suncor Energy over an air-quality monitoring program at the company's Commerce City oil refinery.
	European airlines, facing jet delivery delays, see profits soar Europe's aviation industry is extending its bounceback from the COVID pandemic, as British Airways owner IAG and Franco-Dutch rival Air France-KLM posted bumper 2023 profits Thursday.
	First drone probe of melted fuel inside Fukushima Daiichi reactor halted due to equipment glitch Japanese authorities said they were forced to abandon plans Thursday to send in drones for a second day to probe one of the damaged reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant because of equipment failure.
	Electronic Arts cutting about 5% of workforce with layoffs ongoing in gaming and tech sector Electronic Arts is cutting about 5% of its workforce, or approximately 670 employees, as layoffs in the technology and gaming sector continue after a surge of hiring in recent years.
	US probes security risks posed by Chinese tech in cars US President Joe Biden announced an investigation Thursday into the national security risks posed by Chinese tech in cars, warning they could be used to collect sensitive data.
	Eco-label strategy selection for green product development in supply chain The green lifestyle has been increasingly popular in recent years. According to the 2023 China Consumption Trend Report, 73.8% of customers prioritize buying environmentally friendly products. Tools such as eco-labels are widely used by companies to show consumers how green their products are.

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