Science X Newsletter Mon, Mar 18

Dear manoj dole,

Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for March 18, 2024:

Technology news

	A skating, tri-pedal robot capable of highly stable locomotion Researchers at University of Michigan recently developed SKOOTR, a tri-pedal skating robot that can efficiently move around in its surroundings without repeatedly flipping over. This robot, introduced in a paper posted to the preprint server arXiv, was found to be more stable than other three-legged robots, which often exhibit poor stability due to the lack of a fourth leg to better balance their body.
	A new framework to collect training data and teach robots new manipulation policies In recent years, roboticists and computer scientists have been trying to develop increasingly efficient methods to teach robots new skills. Many of the methods developed so far, however, require a large amount of training data, such as annotated human demonstrations of how to perform a task.
	Two artificial intelligences talk to each other Performing a new task based solely on verbal or written instructions, and then describing it to others so that they can reproduce it, is a cornerstone of human communication that still resists artificial intelligence (AI).
	New composite decking could reduce global warming effects of building materials Buildings and production of the materials used in their construction emit a lot of carbon dioxide (CO2), a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming and climate change. But storing CO2 in building materials could help make them more environmentally friendly.
	Using wood waste products to produce ink for 3D printing of wood objects A combined team of materials scientists from Rice University and Oak Ridge National Laboratory has developed a way to convert wood waste into a type of ink that can be used for the 3D printing of wood-like objects. The paper is published in the journal Science Advances.
	Study explores how wind turbine visibility affects property values across the US Renewable energy sources are essential for transitioning towards a decarbonized energy system and making the electricity grid more environmentally sustainable. Clean energy alternatives like wind power can effectively replace fossil fuels, contributing to reduced air pollution and slowing down climate change.
	Two-faced solar panels can generate more power at up to 70% less cost Researchers have built a new kind of two-faced (bifacial) panel. They used single-walled carbon nanotubes as both front and back electrodes.
	Research could advance soft robotics manufacturing and design Soft robots use pliant materials such as elastomers to interact safely with the human body and other challenging, delicate objects and environments. A team of Rice University researchers has developed an analytical model that can predict the curing time of platinum-catalyzed silicone elastomers as a function of temperature. The model could help reduce energy waste and improve throughput for elastomer-based component manufacturing.
	Bridge in a box: Unlocking origami's power to produce load-bearing structures For the first time, load-bearing structures like bridges and shelters can be made with origami modules—versatile components that can fold compactly and adapt into different shapes—University of Michigan engineers have demonstrated.
	Novel design enhances thermal insulation and impact resistance in composite glass A research team led by Prof. Ni Yong and Prof. He Linghui from the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) has developed a new composite glass combining the nacre-inspired structure and shear stiffening gel (SSG) material, maintaining transparency while exhibiting excellent thermal insulation and impact resistance. Their work was published in Advanced Materials.
	Machine learning model detects indoor or outdoor walks based only on movement data The wide availability of wearable sensors allows for rich data collection on a person's walking patterns, providing valuable health insights. But factors like location, terrain or the built environment alter walking behavior, making data difficult to interpret without context.
	Reimagining the future of solar energy Scientists are always on the lookout for ways to make our world a better place, and one area they're focusing on is solar energy. One idea in this area is to make solar cells more efficient by concentrating more solar light on them.
	Scientists develop bifunctional catalyst performance enhancement technology to lower the cost of hydrogen production Researchers have developed a methodology to improve the reversibility and durability of electrodes using bifunctional platinum-nickel alloy catalysts with an octahedral structure that exhibits both oxygen reduction and generation reactions. The study is published in the journal Advanced Energy Materials.
	An innovative mixed light field technique for immersive projection mapping A novel mixed light field technique that utilizes a mix of ray-controlled ambient lighting with projection mapping (PM) to obtain PM in bright surroundings has been developed by scientists at Tokyo Institute of Technology. This innovative technology utilizes a novel kaleidoscope array to achieve ray-controlled lighting and a binary search algorithm for removing ambient lighting from PM targets. It provides an immersive augmented reality experience with applications in various fields.
	New algorithm unlocks high-resolution insights for computer vision Imagine yourself glancing at a busy street for a few moments, then trying to sketch the scene you saw from memory. Most people could draw the rough positions of the major objects like cars, people, and crosswalks, but almost no one can draw every detail with pixel-perfect accuracy. The same is true for most modern computer vision algorithms: They are fantastic at capturing high-level details of a scene, but they lose fine-grained details as they process information.
	Pixel perfect: Engineers' new approach brings images into focus Johns Hopkins researchers have developed an efficient new method to turn blurry images into clear, sharp ones. Called Progressively Deblurring Radiance Field (PDRF), this approach deblurs images 15 times faster than previous methods while also achieving better results on both synthetic and real scenes.
	Speaking without vocal cords, thanks to a new AI-assisted wearable device People with voice disorders, including those with pathological vocal cord conditions or who are recovering from laryngeal cancer surgeries, can often find it difficult or impossible to speak. That may soon change.
	Reddit reveals FTC inquiry into deals licensing its users' data for AI training Reddit said Friday that the Federal Trade Commission has opened an inquiry into the social media platform's sale, licensing or sharing of its users' posts and other content to outside organizations for use in training artificial intelligence models.
	Things to know about Uber and Lyft saying they will halt ride-hailing services in Minneapolis Lyft and Uber have said they will halt operations in Minneapolis because of a new city ordinance that increase wages for app-based drivers, the latest salvo in a longtime fight between gig economy workers and the tech giants.
	Boeing urges airlines to check switches after LATAM plane plunge Boeing on Friday warned airlines flying its 787 Dreamliner model to inspect certain switches in the cockpit, after a New Zealand-bound LATAM plane dropped violently mid-flight, injuring dozens of travelers.
	Gemini's flawed AI racial images seen as warning of tech titans' power For people at the trend-setting tech festival here, the scandal that erupted after Google's Gemini chatbot cranked out images of Black and Asian Nazi soldiers was seen as a warning about the power artificial intelligence can give tech titans.
	US to investigate Texas fatal crash that may have involved Ford partially automated driving system The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating a fatal crash in San Antonio, Texas, involving a Ford electric vehicle that may have been using a partially automated driving system.
	Meta investigated over illicit drug sales: Report US authorities are investigating Meta over its role in the illicit sale of medications, The Wall Street Journal reported Saturday.
	Australian taxi drivers win $178 million payout from Uber Australian taxi drivers impacted by the rise of ridesharing giant Uber have won US$178 million in compensation, their lawyers said Monday after settling a grueling legal battle.
	'Art and science:' How bracketologists are using artificial intelligence this March Madness College hoops fans might want to think again before pinning their hopes of a perfect March Madness bracket on artificial intelligence.
	Apple must face lawsuit claiming AirTags are weapon of stalkers Apple Inc. lost a bid to dismiss a lawsuit alleging that its AirTag devices help stalkers track their victims.
	Health insurers split with US over relief after cyberattack Health insurers and U.S. government officials are expected to meet next week to hash out differences over how to assist cash-strapped medical practices, as a cyberattack last month continues to hold up billions of dollars in payments.
	Emissions impossible? How the transport sector can help make the 2050 net-zero goal a reality Meeting Canada's ambitious net-zero emissions target by 2050 necessitates significant technological, behavioral and systemic changes in the transportation sector, a major contributor to global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Indeed, the transportation sector alone is responsible for a quarter of all GHG emissions worldwide, with road transport accounting for about 80 percent of this figure.
	Smart meters haven't delivered the promised benefits to electricity users. Here's a way to fix the problems Billions of dollars are being spent worldwide to modernize electricity grids with smart meters. These meters promise to save households money by making it easier for us to understand and manage our energy use. However, our new research suggests these promises might not be fully delivered due to a lack of access to high-resolution, real-time energy data.
	Even as the fusion era dawns, we're still in the Steam Age Steam locomotives clattering along railway tracks. Paddle steamers churning down the Murray. Dreadnought battleships powered by steam engines.
	Nvidia backs little-known upstart in India's biggest AI bet yet It's a sultry March evening in the suburbs of Mumbai and a group of men hovers anxiously at the back gate of a startup called Yotta Data Services. They pace, pause and fret. It's approaching midnight, 10 hours late, when a truck pulls up with the precious cargo they've been waiting for: semiconductors from Nvidia Corp.
	Is Reddit's IPO worth it? Social media site aims to go public 'out of necessity,' says finance expert Despite never having made a profit in its nearly 20-year history, Reddit, the site that bills itself as "the front page of the internet," is gearing up to go public, targeting a valuation of about $6.5 billion.
	Google is trying to reduce its food waste without irritating employees It's not just the headcount at Google that's getting smaller.
	Team develops blockchain-based method to protect and manage personal data on the internet Entering a website and accepting cookies is a very common and oft-repeated gesture when navigating the Internet. But this small action, which is often done automatically and without thought, entails security risks: By consenting to cookies, you lose control over your sensitive information, as you cannot review the conditions you have just accepted.
	Enhancing rechargeable batteries with carbon solutions In a new review published in Resources Chemicals and Materials, a team of researchers from China examined the potential of biomass-derived carbon materials for high-performance rechargeable battery electrodes.
	New technique helps AI tell when humans are lying Researchers have developed a new training tool to help artificial intelligence (AI) programs better account for the fact that humans don't always tell the truth when providing personal information. The new tool was developed for use in contexts when humans have an economic incentive to lie, such as applying for a mortgage or trying to lower their insurance premiums.
	New telerobotic system for hazardous waste clean-up successfully demonstrated Because they can go where humans can't, robots are especially uniquely suited for safely working with hazardous nuclear waste. But first, those robots need to become like the humans they are replacing, with arms and fingers that can closely mimic the movements of a person.
	Pan-sharpening methodology enhances remote sensing images Researchers led by Prof. Xie Chengjun and Assoc. Prof. Zhang Jie from the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science of the Chinese Academy of Sciences have introduced an innovative pan-sharpening method to improve remote sensing images.
	Self-heating concrete is one step closer to putting snow shovels and salt out of business There's a patch of concrete on Drexel University's campus that could portend a frost-free future for sidewalks and highways in the Northeast.
	Apple in talks to bring Google's Gemini AI to iPhone: Report Apple is in advanced negotiations with Google to adopt its powerful Gemini AI models for the iPhone, Bloomberg reported on Monday.
	Sustainable biomass production capacity could triple US bioeconomy, report finds The United States could triple its current economy by producing more than 1 billion tons per year of plant-based biomass for renewable fuels while meeting projected demands for food, feed, fiber, conventional forest products, and exports, according to the Department of Energy's latest Billion-Ton Report led by Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
	Prosecutors urge 40-50 years for crypto fraudster Bankman-Fried US prosecutors have requested that a court sentence disgraced crypto mogul Sam Bankman-Fried to between 40 and 50 years imprisonment for massive fraud that cost customers $8 billion, court documents showed Friday.
	Monsters, asteroids, vampires: AI conspiracies flood TikTok From vampires and wendigos to killer asteroids, TikTok users are pumping out outlandish end-of-the-world conspiracy theories, researchers say, in yet another misinformation trend on a platform whose fate in the United States hangs in the balance.
	TikTok and its 'secret sauce' caught in US-China tussle As a US campaign to sever TikTok from its Chinese parent heads to the Senate, analysts say Beijing's response to a forced sale of the app—and its 'secret sauce' algorithm—will be clear: Hands off.
	Australia demands tech giants tackle 'extremist' content Australia's internet watchdog hit Google, X and Meta with legal notices on Tuesday, demanding the tech giants explain how they are clamping down on "violent extremist material".
	Amazon reports 'measurable progress' on worker safety: Critics object Amazon's safety data shows a decline in its warehouse injury rate in 2023, marking an improvement for the second consecutive year, but critics disagree with how the company measures its worker safety.
	Is TikTok's parent company an agent of the Chinese state? In China Inc., it's a little more complicated Does the Chinese government have officials inside TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, pulling the strings? And does the storing of data from the popular social media app outside of China protect Americans?
	Does TikTok pose a security threat to Canadians? Concerns about the threats TikTok poses to privacy and liberty were raised again, as a bill to divest TikTok of its Chinese ownership or ban it gathered steam in the United States Congress. And Canada's federal government revealed that it began investigating months ago whether foreign control of the app poses a threat to national security.
	US Supreme Court skeptical of curbing govt contact with social media firms A majority of justices on the US Supreme Court appeared skeptical on Monday of efforts to impose restrictions on federal government efforts to curb misinformation online.
	Apex Legends eSports event postponed by hacking claims Organizers of the Apex Legends Global Series eSports tournament have postponed an event after two competitors appeared to be hacked while playing separate games during the North American finals.
	Analysis of transient linear flow-oriented straight-line analysis technique to capture fracking data As an efficacious solution to conventional resource depletion, unconventional reservoirs have emerged in a dominant role in furnishing substantial oil and gas supplies worldwide.

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