https://techxplore.com/rss-feed/hi-tech-news/ en-us The latest news on hi-tech, innovation and new inventions technology, computer news and information Optical fiber has already transformed the modern world. New research now suggests it could do even more. A new flat-fiber fabrication technique produces a high-fidelity sensor for a wide range of applications, from batteries to bridges, according to a recently published study. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-08-ribbon-fiber-pressure-sensitivity-higher.html Engineering Thu, 13 Aug 2026 12:00:03 EDT news705840781 Researchers at the A*STAR Quantum Innovation Center (A*STAR Q.InC), part of the Research, Innovation and Enterprise (RIE) Flagship in Semiconductors, have developed a levitated, millimeter-scale rotor that continued spinning for more than 10 hours after its drive was switched off, achieving the lowest energy loss reported for a mechanical rotor of its size. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-08-levitated-device-gps-unavailable.html Engineering Thu, 13 Aug 2026 10:20:05 EDT news705834601 For the first time, researchers have developed a technology that could enable 6G antennas to be mass-produced on wafers in much the same way as semiconductor devices. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-08-platform-6g-antennas.html Telecom Wed, 12 Aug 2026 12:00:06 EDT news705751802 Researchers have developed a full-color near-eye display that uses three stacked holographic gratings, each engineered to direct red, green or blue light. The new design could help advance compact, energy-efficient augmented reality (AR) glasses for use in a variety of professional and consumer applications. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-08-holographic-layers-red-green-blue.html Engineering Tue, 11 Aug 2026 16:00:06 EDT news705682502 Researchers at Aalto University, together with international partners, have developed the most accurate model yet of how humans read. The new model uses reinforcement learning, a type of AI used in robotics, to explain—and recreate—the choices readers make as they move through text. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-08-ai-captures-humans-paving-personalized.html Hi Tech & Innovation Mon, 10 Aug 2026 17:00:11 EDT news705599283 The ability to change focus instantly is something most people take for granted. Every day, our eyes effortlessly switch between reading a book, recognizing a face across the room or watching a bird fly overhead. Replicating that remarkable technological flexibility, however, has proved far more difficult. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-08-graphene-powered-soft-lens-pave.html Electronics & Semiconductors Mon, 10 Aug 2026 16:20:01 EDT news705596001 Recent advances in miniaturized and portable electronics, particularly wearable and flexible devices, have increased the demand for self-powered sensing technologies. Among these, triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) have received considerable attention for developing highly sensitive tactile sensors. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-08-electronic-skin-enables-tunable-proximity.html Robotics Mon, 10 Aug 2026 12:20:03 EDT news705580442 Improving the efficiency of solar cells is key to reducing the cost of solar power. Now, scientists have developed a new synergistic metallization strategy for tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon) solar cells. The approach achieved a certified power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 26.31%, among the highest reported for this technology. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-08-laser-strategy-topcon-solar-cells.html Energy & Green Tech Thu, 06 Aug 2026 11:00:08 EDT news705159302 Imagine a bottle of hazardous chemicals sitting on a laboratory shelf that changes its appearance to alert scientists that its lid is not properly secured, potentially preventing a dangerous spill. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-08-3d-theyre-properly.html Engineering Wed, 05 Aug 2026 14:00:09 EDT news705155390 The explosive growth of AI data centers has brought the commercialization of "giant batteries" one step closer. A KAIST research team has developed a process that cuts the production time for a core material used in large-capacity batteries by 67%, resolving the largest production bottleneck standing in the way of commercialization. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-08-giant-batteries-closer-commercialization-ai.html Energy & Green Tech Wed, 05 Aug 2026 13:20:03 EDT news705153961 A research team led by Professor Kang Bosoek of the SKKU Advanced Institute of Nano Technology (SAINT), Department of Nano Engineering and Department of Semiconductor Convergence Engineering at Sungkyunkwan University has developed two new molecular design technologies to enhance the electrical conductivity of organic electronic materials. One technology generates a greater number of charge carriers within a polymer, while the other connects transport pathways so that charge can move without interruption. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-08-polar-molecules-polymer-bridges-key.html Electronics & Semiconductors Tue, 04 Aug 2026 14:52:50 EDT news705073895 Semiconductors such as silicon are the cornerstone of today's essential technologies, but the variety of materials available to power devices is limited. While metal oxides are durable, only a small subset are semiconducting because they are naturally insulating. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-08-resilient-semiconductor-materials.html Electronics & Semiconductors Tue, 04 Aug 2026 14:20:06 EDT news705071342 Some physical injuries and neurological conditions can temporarily or permanently impair movement, leaving some people unable to speak, type on keyboards or use electronic devices. Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs), systems that can decode brain activity patterns and convert them into computer commands or written text, could be of great value for paralyzed patients. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-08-noninvasive-ai-based-brain-written.html Hi Tech & Innovation Mon, 03 Aug 2026 15:40:04 EDT news704987420 Molecules are among the smallest building blocks available for making next-generation devices. Their unique, customizable properties enable promising applications in emerging computing, sensing, optical and quantum technologies. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-08-molecules-reliable-electronic-devices-fabrication.html Electronics & Semiconductors Mon, 03 Aug 2026 14:40:03 EDT news704985721 Wearable electronics are gradually evolving from simple sensors into feature-rich devices that can make basic decisions and support medical care in real time. To fully realize this vision, wearable systems must be soft and versatile enough to adapt naturally to the body while performing tasks without sacrificing comfort or reliability. Creating electronics that combine flexibility and computing in a single device remains a difficult challenge. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-08-transistor-wearable-electronics-roles-salt.html Electronics & Semiconductors Mon, 03 Aug 2026 12:40:04 EDT news704979241 The human eye, as good as it is, misses out on so much of the world because it is limited in what it can perceive. It can't see X-rays, ultraviolet rays or infrared light. While X-ray goggles are still the stuff of science fiction, we may be moving closer to wearable glasses that make infrared light look almost like everyday vision. Scientists at the Beijing Institute of Technology have developed a device that transforms infrared light into a full-color visible image. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-08-prototype-glasses-infrared-vision.html Consumer & Gadgets Mon, 03 Aug 2026 10:00:04 EDT news704969949 Multimodal large language models (MLLMs), which process multiple types of sensory information, such as text, images and audio, at the same time, are rapidly expanding the range of applications for artificial intelligence (AI). However, in real-world environments, these models can misinterpret the physical characteristics of sensors, mistakenly identify objects or claim to hear sounds that are not actually present simply because a certain object appears in a video. These errors are known as hallucinations. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-07-ai-sensory-hallucinations-night.html Hi Tech & Innovation Sat, 01 Aug 2026 09:40:01 EDT news704715832 Using neutrons at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory, researchers from The Ohio State University are studying residual stress caused by friction stir welding (FSW) to reveal how to strengthen armor steel welds, like those used in military vehicles. Their findings were published in the Journal of Materials Processing Technology. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-07-neutrons-reveal-friction-welding-steel.html Energy & Green Tech Thu, 30 Jul 2026 17:20:08 EDT news704649661 University of Queensland researchers have developed new noninvasive sensors that measure muscle forces, unlocking new possibilities for wearable robotic mobility devices. Ultra-wideband radar sensors measure electromagnetic changes in muscles as they contract, allowing researchers to collect data in a way that's never been done before. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-07-muscle-radar-potential-future-robotic.html Robotics Thu, 30 Jul 2026 12:20:01 EDT news704631961 Wireless charging is nothing new for our phones, watches, earbuds and other tech. Now, researchers want to bring wireless power to the skies—recharging drones in flight by beaming a laser under their wings. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-07-drones-mid-flight-lasers.html Engineering Wed, 29 Jul 2026 11:00:12 EDT news704447641 A KAIST research team has developed a next-generation world model, an internal model an AI builds to understand and predict the world, that learns executable theories from observation alone. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-07-children-ai-framework-theorize-world.html Hi Tech & Innovation Mon, 27 Jul 2026 14:20:03 EDT news704380215 A new type of 3D-printable material developed by researchers at The University of Texas at Austin mimics human tissue's ability to sort and filter, allowing certain molecules to pass through while keeping others out. This broad functionality means the material can be used in a variety of applications across medicine, water and robotics. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-07-3d-printable-material-body-robots.html Engineering Sun, 26 Jul 2026 13:30:01 EDT news704037605 Researchers have created a wearable patch that can detect hazards in the environment—such as dangerous gases or heavy metals in water—and then notify wearers by vibrating against their skin. The researchers have also extended the work to create an "e-skin" for robotic devices, allowing robots to detect and avoid hazards in their environment. The paper is published in the journal Device. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-07-wearable-patch-vibrates-environmental-hazards.html Consumer & Gadgets Fri, 24 Jul 2026 14:40:08 EDT news704114278 Researchers at the Universities of Konstanz and Stuttgart have demonstrated a new approach to computation: a computer made from a few hundred microscopic particles oscillating in a liquid. Instead of processing information through carefully fabricated electronic circuits, their system performs computations by harnessing the complex collective dynamics of interacting particles. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-07-liquid-hundreds-oscillating-particles-complex.html Computer Sciences Thu, 23 Jul 2026 13:40:04 EDT news704030423 Inspired by the cracked, water-trapping skin of elephants, Penn researchers have developed a low-cost cement tile that cools buildings by capturing and slowly evaporating water—turning a structural flaw into a climate solution. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-07-elephant-cement-tiles-cool-electricity.html Energy & Green Tech Wed, 22 Jul 2026 12:00:06 EDT news703939623 Researchers from the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA) presented two papers at SIGGRAPH in Los Angeles. One paper introduces new methods for texturing highly deformable surfaces, and the other proposes a faster, more precise way to compute geometric properties of shapes. Both show how to boost graphics accuracy while cutting computational cost, with potential applications across video gaming, visual effects and simulation. The studies have been published in ACM Transactions on Graphics. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-07-graphics-advances-textures-tenfold.html Computer Sciences Wed, 22 Jul 2026 11:20:01 EDT news703937758 The same class of chemical additive that makes plastic wrap pliable and vinyl flooring soft could be the key to unlocking the next generation of wearable displays. Researchers at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering (UChicago PME) have discovered that blending a common plastic softener into light-emitting polymer films makes those films both brighter and more stretchable. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-07-common-plastic-additive-stretchable-oled.html Electronics & Semiconductors Tue, 21 Jul 2026 16:00:09 EDT news703868041 Along the vast ocean floor lives a species of glass sponge known as Venus' flower basket. Though delicate-looking, its exterior belies an exceptionally strong, lightweight skeleton that has intrigued scientists for the past 185 years. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-07-deep-sea-sponge-geometry-metamaterials.html Engineering Tue, 21 Jul 2026 13:40:03 EDT news703858201 Webtoons are coming to life in the physical world, ushering in a new era in which comics are not merely viewed but experienced. A KAIST research team has developed the world's first next-generation extended reality (XR) comics platform that enables a wide range of readers to enjoy immersive, three-dimensional comics in physical space. By expanding webtoons beyond the screen and into the real world, the team has opened up new possibilities for the future of comics. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-07-source-xr-webtoons-3d-comics.html Consumer & Gadgets Tue, 21 Jul 2026 12:40:04 EDT news703853761 Researchers at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) have developed a novel chip architecture that enables the miniature acoustic devices inside smartphones to withstand more than 12 times higher power loads while maintaining cooler, more stable operation. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-07-ultra-robust-acoustic-chip-power.html Telecom Tue, 21 Jul 2026 12:00:06 EDT news703852801