Science X Newsletter Wed, Mar 27

Dear manoj dole,

Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for March 27, 2024:

Technology news

	A solar cell you can bend and soak in water Researchers from the RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science and collaborators have developed an organic photovoltaic film that is both waterproof and flexible, allowing a solar cell to be put onto clothes and still function correctly after being rained on or even washed.
	New software enables blind and low-vision users to create interactive, accessible charts A growing number of tools enable users to make online data representations, like charts, that are accessible for people who are blind or have low vision. However, most tools require an existing visual chart that can then be converted into an accessible format.
	Solar-powered emission-free technology converts saltwater into drinking water Scientists have developed a new solar-powered system to convert saltwater into fresh drinking water which they say could help reduce dangerous waterborne diseases like cholera.
	Engineers find a new way to convert carbon dioxide into useful products MIT chemical engineers have devised an efficient way to convert carbon dioxide to carbon monoxide, a chemical precursor that can be used to generate useful compounds such as ethanol and other fuels.
	'Near perfect' control of single atoms is major advance toward quantum computing A new fabrication process that could be used to build a quantum computer achieves an almost zero failure rate and has the potential to be scaled up, according to new research from engineers and physicists at UCL.
	Heat, cold extremes hold untapped potential for solar and wind energy, climate scientist suggests A Washington State University-led study found that widespread, extreme temperature events are often accompanied by greater solar radiation and higher wind speeds that could be captured by solar panels and wind turbines. The research, which looked at extensive heat and cold waves across the six interconnected energy grid regions of the U.S. from 1980–2021, also found that every region experienced power outages during these events in the past decade.
	Findings pave way for longer-lasting solid-state batteries Lithium-ion batteries contain flammable materials that could pose a safety risk under certain conditions. Dr. Yaser Abu-Lebdeh is one of the researchers using the Canadian Light Source (CLS) at the University of Saskatchewan to develop a safer alternative: solid-state batteries.
	Lighting up the future with organic semiconductors New multidisciplinary research from the University of St Andrews could lead to more efficient televisions, computer screens, and lighting.
	Robotic face makes eye contact, uses AI to anticipate and replicate a person's smile before it occurs What would you do if you walked up to a robot with a human-like head and it smiled at you first? You'd likely smile back and perhaps feel the two of you were genuinely interacting. But how does a robot know how to do this? Or a better question, how does it know to get you to smile back?
	California looks to Europe to rein in AI California, home to Silicon Valley, is eager to rein in the deployment of artificial intelligence and is looking to Europe's tough-on-big-tech approach for inspiration.
	Sweden aims to boost plastic recycling with giant plant Discarded crisp bags, ketchup bottles and Tupperware containers speed along conveyer belts at a massive high-tech sorting plant dubbed "Site Zero", which Sweden hopes will revolutionize its plastic recycling.
	Hyundai to invest more than $50 bn in South Korea in major EV push Hyundai on Wednesday revealed plans to invest more than $50 billion in South Korea by 2026, with a huge chunk dedicated to boosting the development and production of electric vehicles.
	Vast Vienna wastewater heat pumps showcase EU climate drive In a large hall on the outskirts of Vienna, shiny pipes carry treated wastewater through three giant heat pumps, part of Austria's drive to reduce carbon emissions and its dependence on Russian gas, with more and more European cities eyeing this alternative.
	Japan unveils next-generation passenger plane project Japan announced plans on Wednesday to develop a next-generation passenger jet over the next decade after the last struggling attempt, led by a private company, was scrapped a year ago.
	Amazon's pharmacy will offer same-day delivery in LA and NYC and plans to expand Amazon will soon offer same-day delivery of several prescription medications in Los Angeles and New York, yet another example of the online shopping giant's bet on consumers' growing dependence on ease and speed.
	Two new video game studios form with 'Star Wars' and id Software pedigrees Video game studios like other tech industry has seen plenty of tumult this year. Publishers have announced several layoffs while others have said they will refocus their approach. That means plenty of talent is out there, and in this uncertain time, two studios have emerged boasting several big names and hints of promising AAA projects.
	At GDC 2024, tech companies offer a glimpse of AI-powered characters Glimpses of the future often emerge at the Game Developers Conference. It's where indie games generate a buzz or the kernel of a big idea is planted. This year, artificial intelligence took center stage as Nvidia showed off jaw-dropping capabilities of its chipsets and software companies such as Convai and Ubisoft revealed intriguing gameplay opportunities.
	Baltimore bridge collapse: A bridge engineer explains what happened, and what needs to change When the container ship MV Dali, 300 meters long and massing around 100,000 tons, lost power and slammed into one of the support piers of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, the bridge collapsed in moments. Six people are presumed dead, several others injured, and the city and region are expecting a months-long logistical nightmare in the absence of a crucial transport link.
	Climate change puts global semiconductor manufacturing at risk. Can the industry cope? Semiconductors are the basic building blocks of microchips. These technological marvels are in everything from lightbulbs and toothbrushes to cars, trains and planes, not to mention the vast array of electronics that have become integral to many people's daily lives.
	How long before quantum computers can benefit society? That's Google's US$5 million question Google and the XPrize Foundation have launched a competition worth US$5 million (£4 million) to develop real-world applications for quantum computers that benefit society—by speeding up progress on one of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, for example. The principles of quantum physics suggest quantum computers could perform very fast calculations on particular problems, so this competition may expand the range of applications where they have an advantage over conventional computers.
	New study finds invisible 'human work' allows robots to make deliveries A new study has shown that people modify their behavior to accommodate autonomous delivery robots, and it is this invisible "human work" that allows robots to run smoothly on the streets and needs to be considered when designing their routes.
	Why our data might need protection from the future: Apple's 'Post-Quantum' security move Computing giant Apple recently announced it was taking steps to protect the more than 1 billion people worldwide who use its iMessage app—from a threat that doesn't yet exist.
	Is it possible to survive a fall from a bridge like the one in Baltimore, then escape a submerged vehicle? A container ship struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore on Tuesday morning, causing it to partially collapse into the river below.
	Q&A: The flip side of safety is an attack on privacy—regulating face recognition technology If you bought a phone in the past few years, chances are you barely ever type your password anymore: your face unlocks not only your phone, but also your social media, your Duke MyChart portal and even your banking app.
	Apple announces Worldwide Developers Conference dates, in-person event Apple has announced their annual developers conference will take place June 10 through June 14.
	French cyberdefence chief warns Paris Olympics a 'target' The head of France's national cybersecurity agency said the Paris Olympics would be a "target" this year including for foreign states interested in "disrupting the opening ceremony or causing problems on public transport".
	High-resolution solar data enables renewable energy expansion across two continents More than 20 years of research in solar radiation at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is now poised to advance power system planning and solar energy deployment across Africa, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East.
	Customized silicon chips for material characterization of printed electronics How efficient are new materials? Does changing the properties lead to better conductivity? The Fraunhofer Institute for Photonic Microsystems IPMS develops and manufactures silicon substrates for this purpose. This enables the fundamental electrical characterization of materials such as a novel graphene emulsion. Customized designs enable the optimal measurement of semiconductors and conductors.
	Paving new paths for sustainable construction The construction sector today faces several challenges. Natural sand is fast becoming a scarce resource—we might run out of it by 2050. Carbon dioxide emissions, especially from manufacturing cement or fired clay bricks, are increasing every year. The amount of construction and demolition (C&D) waste is on the rise—about 150 million tons are generated annually in India and the recycling rate is only about 1%.
	Amazon pours an additional $2.75 billion into AI startup Anthropic Amazon said Wednesday it is pouring an additional $2.75 billion into Anthropic, bringing its total investment in the artificial intelligence startup to $4 billion.
	Critical materials assessment tags potential supply chain bottlenecks Global sales of electric vehicles (EVs) increased from 716,000 vehicles in 2015 to 10.6 million vehicles in 2022. Meanwhile, demand rose for the materials used in EV batteries such as graphite, cobalt and lithium.
	Highest power efficiency achieved in flexible solar cells using new fabrication technique Flexible solar cells have many potential applications in aerospace and flexible electronics, but low energy conversion efficiency has limited their practical use. A new manufacturing method has increased the power efficiency of flexible solar cells made from perovskite, a class of compounds with a specific crystalline structure that facilitates the conversion of solar energy into electricity.
	Some Minnesota cities want to impose fees on internet providers, but customers could pay the price Minnesota cities are asking the Legislature for power to slap internet providers with new fees, an idea they say will lead to more broadband in the state with the added bonus of helping to pay for basic government access programming like video of council meetings.

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