Hi Tech & Innovation news

Hi Tech & Innovation

Harnessing extended reality to reduce the fear of water

Monash University human-computer interaction researchers have developed a playful water-inspired extended reality system using floatation tanks to help reduce aquaphobia.

Energy & Green Tech

Proof-of-concept study develops battery that would use Martian atmosphere as fuel during discharge

Mars presents a highly complex natural environment, characterized by a variety of gas components—95.32% carbon dioxide, 2.7% nitrogen, 1.6% argon, 0.13% oxygen, and 0.08% carbon monoxide—as well as extreme temperature ...

Electronics & Semiconductors

There's two sides to this semiconductor, and many simultaneous functions

Gallium nitride-based semiconductors have been a boon for high-frequency and power electronics. They've also revolutionized energy-efficient LED lighting. But no semiconductor wafer has been able to do both at the same time ...

Other

Can we find hidden graves of murder victims with soil imaging? New Australian study gives it a try

To avoid being caught, murderers often attempt to hide bodies using various methods. This can include shallow or deep burials, submersion in water, encasing in concrete or even disposing of remains in rubbish bins and suitcases.

Engineering

New device simplifies manipulation of 2D materials for twistronics

A discovery six years ago took the condensed-matter physics world by storm: Ultra-thin carbon stacked in two slightly askew layers became a superconductor, and changing the twist angle between layers could toggle their electrical ...

Hi Tech & Innovation

Japan plans driverless bullet trains

Shinkansen bullet trains could be whizzing around Japan without drivers from the mid 2030s, one of its main rail operators said, motivated in part by the country's demographic crisis.

Engineering

Revolutionizing 3D printing through microwave technology

In the rapidly evolving world of 3D printing, the pursuit of faster, more efficient and versatile production methods is never-ending. Traditional 3D printing techniques, while groundbreaking, are often time-consuming and ...

Hi Tech & Innovation

Apple has designs on blood pressure management system

Counting calories or how many steps you will need to take to work off a wedding feast are not the only features of fitness monitoring. Patients today may be asked to check their blood pressure at home and will be interested ...

Hi Tech & Innovation

Connected cars can lie, posing a new threat to smart cities

The day when cars can talk to each other – and to traffic lights, stop signs, guardrails and even pavement markings – is rapidly approaching. Driven by the promise of reducing traffic congestion and avoiding crashes, ...

What are these 'levels' of autonomous vehicles?

As automated and autonomous vehicles become more common on U.S. roads, it's worth a look at what these machines can – and can't – do. At the University of Michigan's Mcity, where I serve as director, we're working to ...

Hi Tech & Innovation

Study helps driverless cars change lanes more like humans do

In the field of self-driving cars, algorithms for controlling lane changes are an important topic of study. But most existing lane-change algorithms have one of two drawbacks: Either they rely on detailed statistical models ...

Hi Tech & Innovation

Google showcases AI advances at its big conference

Google put the spotlight on its artificial intelligence smarts at its annual developers conference Tuesday, where it announced new features and services imbued with machine learning.

Hi Tech & Innovation

Using your arm as a smartwatch touchscreen

Smartwatches as devices for messaging and search are far eclipsed by the desktop, laptop, tablet and phones, for obvious reasons, namely their tiny touchscreens. In tech parlance, the smartwatch "input-output bottleneck" ...

Hi Tech & Innovation

Bosch engineers focus on brightening the future of diesel

Robert Bosch GmbH said its engineers have developed a new diesel-exhaust system that cuts emissions significantly below legal limits taking effect in 2020. Bosch is positioning the diesel technology as a solution to the NOx ...

Hi Tech & Innovation

A system for influencing hypnagogic micro-dreams

A team of researchers at MIT has created a hand-worn device that they claim can influence a person's micro-dreams during hypnagogia. The group has announced their device by posting a page describing it on an MIT website. ...