Science X Newsletter Fri, Apr 26

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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for April 26, 2024:

Technology news

	A framework to compare lithium battery testing data and results during operation Reliably monitoring the amount of lithium (Li) present in rechargeable batteries, specifically in the so-called cathode active material (CAM), is key to understanding the condition of batteries from the time when it is fabricated to the end of its operation. However, a reliable methodology to directly track the active Li in batteries without damaging them does not exist yet.
	New circuit boards can be repeatedly recycled A recent United Nations report found that the world generated 137 billion pounds of electronic waste in 2022, an 82% increase from 2010. Yet less than a quarter of 2022's e-waste was recycled. While many things impede a sustainable afterlife for electronics, one is that we don't have systems at scale to recycle the printed circuit boards (PCBs) found in nearly all electronic devices.
	New approach could make reusing captured carbon far cheaper, less energy-intensive Engineers at Georgia Tech have designed a process that converts carbon dioxide removed from the air into useful raw material that could be used for new plastics, chemicals, or fuels.
	Scientists create new atomic clock that is both ultra-precise and sturdy A team of physicists and engineers at Vector Atomic, Inc., a maker of navigation and communications equipment, has developed a new kind of atomic clock that they claim is both ultra-precise and sturdy. In their paper published in the journal Nature, the group describes the factors that went into building their new clock and how well it has worked during field tests aboard a ship in the Pacific Ocean.
	Researcher develop high-performance amorphous p-type oxide semiconductor Researchers have collaborated on the development of a tellurium-selenium composite oxide semiconductor material. Their efforts led to the successful creation of a high-performance and highly stable p-type thin-film transistor (TFT). The research has been published online in Nature.
	Researchers outline path forward for tandem solar cells As the old saying goes, two heads are better than one. The same is true when it comes to solar cells working in tandem. Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) have prepared a roadmap on how to move tandem solar cells—particularly those that mesh different photovoltaic technologies—closer to commercialization.
	Custom-made catalyst leads to longer-lasting and more sustainable green hydrogen production Researchers led by Ryuhei Nakamura at the RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science (CSRS) in Japan have improved on their green and sustainable method of extracting hydrogen from water by using a custom-made catalyst for the chemical reaction.
	Built-in bionic computing: Researchers develop method to control pneumatic artificial muscles Creating robots to safely aid disaster victims is one challenge; executing flexible robot control that takes advantage of the material's softness is another. The use of pliable soft materials to collaborate with humans and work in disaster areas has drawn much recent attention. However, controlling soft dynamics for practical applications has remained a significant challenge.
	Team develops new testing system for carbon capture in fight against global warming More than 100 facilities designed to remove carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere are in various stages of development around the world. In the United States, the first direct air capture (DAC) plant opened last fall in Northern California. The U.S. Department of Energy is funding four more regional DAC hubs with billions of dollars in seed money.
	US probes whether Tesla Autopilot recall did enough to make sure drivers pay attention The U.S. government's auto safety agency is investigating whether last year's recall of Tesla's Autopilot driving system did enough to make sure drivers pay attention to the road.
	Researchers develop an automated benchmark for language-based task planners If instructed to "Place a cooled apple into the microwave," how would a robot respond? Initially, the robot would need to locate an apple, pick it up, find the refrigerator, open its door, and place the apple inside. Subsequently, it would close the refrigerator door, reopen it to retrieve the cooled apple, pick up the apple again, and close the door. Following this, the robot would need to locate the microwave, open its door, place the apple inside, and then close the microwave door.
	Proof of concept study shows path to easier recycling of solar modules The use of femtosecond lasers to form glass-to-glass welds for solar modules would make the panels easier to recycle, according to a proof-of-concept study conducted by researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).
	Google parent Alphabet's Q1 profits beat estimates: company Google's parent Alphabet on Thursday trounced revenue and profit expectations for the first quarter of this year, causing shares to leap more than 12 percent.
	Microsoft expands its AI empire abroad Microsoft, the tech titan most closely associated with AI, has announced nearly $10 billion in investments in artificial intelligence abroad in recent months, the price it is willing to pay to remain a top player in this crucial market.
	ByteDance says 'no plans' to sell TikTok after US ban law Chinese tech giant ByteDance has said it has no plans to sell TikTok after a new US law put it on a deadline to divest from the hugely popular video platform or have it banned in the United States.
	California battery storage increasing rapidly, but not enough to end blackouts, Gov. Newsom says Gov. Gavin Newsom said on April 25 that California continued to rapidly add the battery storage that is crucial to the transition to cleaner energy, but admitted it was still not enough to avoid blackouts during heat waves.
	Cybersecurity firm Darktrace accepts $5 bn takeover Cybersecurity firm Darktrace said Friday it had accepted a $5.3-billion takeover bid from US private equity firm Thoma Bravo, which highlighted the British group's "capability in artificial intelligence".
	Japan to levy big fines with new app rules Japan's cabinet approved Friday legislation that would slap major fines on tech giants like Google or Apple if they block access to third-party smartphone apps and payment systems.
	Cat hides in Amazon return package—then ends up in California 700 miles from home A cat went missing after hiding in an Amazon return package. Then her Utah owner got a call—from hundreds of miles away—that "changed everything."
	Researchers propose framework for future network systems In a new study published in Engineering, Wu Jiangxing's research team unveils a theoretical framework that could revolutionize the landscape of network systems and architectures.
	Reducing operation emissions and improving work efficiency using a pure electric wheel drive tractor Electric tractors are intended to be used in the field instead of traditional fuel tractors and can be used in greenhouse planting, indoor farming, mountainous operations, and other special operating scenarios. Unlike traditional fuel tractors, electric tractors have no exhaust emissions, rapid drive system response, flexible power output, or other advantages.
	A high-fidelity model for designing efficient thermal management surfaces In the past decade, fires from electronic devices and batteries, from small smartphones to electrical vehicles and airplanes, have repeatedly made headlines. Enhanced computational power has led to a large amount of waste heat generation and undesirable temperature rise of electronics.

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