Tech Xplore news

Tech Xplore / Q&A: Robots can't feel, but novel sensors could change that

A research team, including Huanyu "Larry" Cheng, James L. Henderson Jr. Memorial Associate Professor of Engineering Science and Mechanics at Penn State, is using pressure sensors—tiny devices, roughly the size of a paperclip, ...

Mar 30, 2026
Tech Xplore / OpenClaw's creator says 2026 could be the year of general AI agents

Peter Steinberger's artificial intelligence agent tool OpenClaw has taken the tech world by storm with its ability to execute real-life tasks such as checking him in for his flight to Tokyo.

Mar 30, 2026
Tech Xplore / New technique turns everyday surfaces like walls and desks into touch panels

Augmented reality (AR) and mixed reality (MR) headsets let us see the world around us with virtual elements superimposed on top. For example, many modern AR/MR headsets use hand-tracking cameras to detect hand gestures in ...

Mar 30, 2026
Tech Xplore / Concrete's distinct microbial zones could change how building health is assessed

Concrete may be one of the world's most familiar materials, yet much is still unknown about its inner microbial world. Researchers from Hiroshima University and Kyoto University found that once concrete hardens, microbes ...

Mar 30, 2026
Tech Xplore / New lithium-ion battery design could power longer-lasting electric vehicles and portable devices

A new battery design that could significantly extend the range of electric vehicles and the lifespan of portable electronics has been developed by researchers at the University of Surrey's Advanced Technology Institute (ATI). ...

Mar 29, 2026
Tech Xplore / AI benchmark helps robots plan and complete their chores in the real world

No matter how sophisticated they are, robots can often be indecisive and struggle with multi-step chores in the real world. For example, if you tell a robot to tidy a messy room, it might understand the goal but not know ...

Mar 29, 2026
Tech Xplore / Why AI still can't beat a new video game

For decades, video games have served as a proving ground for artificial intelligence. From early checkers programs to systems that conquered chess and Go, each milestone has seemed to bring machines closer to human-like intelligence. ...

Mar 29, 2026
Tech Xplore / Human creativity still resists automation: Artists rank highest, with unguided AI coming in last

New research confirms it: the creativity of artificial intelligence (AI) is a myth. Although current generative AI models may appear to be autonomous creative agents, analyzing their imaginative process step by step reveals ...

Mar 28, 2026
Tech Xplore / Molecular 'anchors' could be key to weather-resistant perovskite solar cells

Perovskite solar cells are among the most promising technologies for making solar power cheaper and more efficient. Working with partners from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), DESY (Deutsches Elektronen-Synchroton), ...

Mar 28, 2026
Tech Xplore / Brain-inspired AI hardware helps autonomous devices operate efficiently and independently

The human brain constantly makes decisions. It requires minimal power to move bodies in a desired direction or avoid an object. A Purdue University engineer uses the brain's efficiency as inspiration to help autonomous vehicles, ...

Mar 27, 2026
Tech Xplore / Building facade solar panels on outside walls can generate power while cutting cooling costs

A team of Chinese researchers has modeled the potential global benefits of installing solar panels on outside building walls, a concept known as facade-integrated photovoltaics (FIPV). They found that solar panels installed ...

Mar 27, 2026
Tech Xplore / Perovskite solar cells achieve over 25% efficiency and long lifespan simultaneously

A KAIST research team has solved the "solar cell dilemma," in which increasing efficiency shortens lifespan, while extending lifespan lowers efficiency. The team developed a technology to precisely control the internal structure ...

Mar 27, 2026