Tech Xplore news

Tech Xplore / New model measures how AI sycophancy affects chatbot accuracy and rationality

If you've spent any time with ChatGPT or another AI chatbot, you've probably noticed they are intensely, almost overbearingly, agreeable. They apologize, flatter and constantly change their "opinions" to fit yours.

Nov 25, 2025 in Computer Sciences
Tech Xplore / Uncovering hidden losses in solar cells: New analysis method reveals the nature of defects

A joint research team has successfully identified, for the first time, the specific types of defects responsible for efficiency loss in silicon heterojunction (SHJ) solar cells.

Nov 25, 2025 in Engineering
Tech Xplore / Stretchable battery uses natural acids and gelatin for greener wearables

Researchers with McGill's Trottier Institute for Sustainability in Engineering and Design have developed a stretchable, eco-friendly battery suitable for use in wearable and implantable devices. The battery, which uses citric ...

Nov 25, 2025 in Energy & Green Tech
Tech Xplore / Low-cost green hydrogen: New electrode design dramatically reduces wear in membrane electrolyzers

A University of California, Berkeley chemist has engineered a new technology that could make hydrogen-producing fuel cells last longer and hasten the arrival of cost-competitive, eco-friendly versions of the fuel source.

Nov 24, 2025 in Engineering
Tech Xplore / 3D printing researchers develop fast-curing, environmentally friendly concrete substitute

Researchers at Oregon State University have developed a quick-setting, environmentally friendly alternative to concrete they hope can one day be used to rapidly 3D print homes and infrastructure.

Nov 24, 2025 in Engineering
Tech Xplore / Why the long interface? AI systems don't 'get' the joke, research reveals

Powerful artificial intelligence (AI) systems, like ChatGPT and Gemini, simulate understanding of comedy wordplay, but never really "get the joke," a new study suggests.

Nov 24, 2025 in Computer Sciences
Tech Xplore / Moisture-driven power generator delivers stable electricity even in dry air conditions

As artificial intelligence (AI) and smart gadgets become more common, our need for reliable power sources grows. Renewable energy options like solar and wind are great, but they depend on specific conditions. A research team ...

Nov 24, 2025 in Engineering
Tech Xplore / A new route to optimize AI hardware: Homodyne gradient extraction

A team led by the BRAINS Center for Brain-Inspired Computing at the University of Twente has demonstrated a new way to make electronic materials adapt in a manner comparable to machine learning. Their study, published in ...

Nov 24, 2025 in Hardware
Tech Xplore / AI tool helps visually impaired users 'feel' where objects are in real time

Over the last few years, systems and applications that help visually impaired people navigate their environment have undergone rapid development, but still have room to grow, according to a team of researchers at Penn State. ...

Nov 24, 2025 in Consumer & Gadgets
Tech Xplore / Direct approach can bond and debond 2D semiconductors without any glue-like materials

A key objective of electronics engineers is to further reduce the size of devices, while also boosting their speed, performance and efficiency. Two-dimensional (2D) semiconductors, single-layer and thin materials with a controllable ...

Nov 22, 2025 in Engineering
Tech Xplore / A brain-like chip interprets neural network connectivity in real time

The ability to analyze the brain's neural connectivity is emerging as a key foundation for brain-computer interface (BCI) technologies, such as controlling artificial limbs and enhancing human intelligence. To make these ...

Nov 21, 2025 in Hardware
Tech Xplore / Carbon electrode enables 1-Wh-class stacked lithium-air battery with enhanced output and lifespan

A joint research team from NIMS and Toyo Tanso has developed a carbon electrode that enables stable operation of a 1-Wh-class stacked lithium-air battery, achieving higher output, longer life and scalability simultaneously.

Nov 21, 2025 in Energy & Green Tech