Tech Xplore news

Tech Xplore / Why AI fiction still feels flat: New test shows characters lack mystery and complexity

Researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have found that while artificial intelligence can spin increasingly convincing stories, its characters may still lack one of the qualities that make human-written ...

Jul 1, 2026
Tech Xplore / Tandem solar cell sets 25.5% efficiency record with CIGS-perovskite design

A Berlin-based team from HZB and Center for the Science of Materials Berlin (CSMB) at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin has set a new record for a tandem solar cell. Using a combination of a CIGS semiconductor layer and perovskite, ...

Jul 1, 2026
Tech Xplore / Custom prosthetic hand adapts to each user, decoding 19 gestures in real time

Most prosthetic hands today still struggle with a fundamental problem: No two amputees are the same, yet most devices are designed as if they are. That mismatch makes natural, intuitive control difficult, often turning what ...

Jul 1, 2026
Tech Xplore / Moisture-driven tech can power green batteries—and destroy spy gear

Researchers from North Carolina State University and Rice University have created a nontoxic, stretchable battery that operates by extracting moisture from the ambient environment—even in climates as dry as the desert. The ...

Jul 1, 2026
Tech Xplore / Horror-movie cue inspires wearable that turns robot movements into warning music

In horror movies, music is a dead giveaway. Tension builds with each note, and you brace for the inevitable jump scare. The same sense of anticipation has taken a leading role in an unlikely venue: a Georgia Tech robotics ...

Jul 1, 2026
Tech Xplore / Smarter diagnostics could extend the lives of silicon EV batteries

Electric vehicle batteries could last twice as long, preventing costly replacement, with a new approach to heating and cooling the batteries, according to a study led by University of Michigan Engineering. The system is designed ...

Jul 1, 2026
Tech Xplore / Data centers may emit 57% more CO₂ than expected in 2025, study finds

Data centers, whose expansion is being fueled dramatically by the artificial intelligence boom, have a far bigger carbon footprint than previously estimated, a study said Tuesday.

Jun 30, 2026
Tech Xplore / Physical pressure could make EV batteries last twice as long and reduce environmental impact

The key to making longer-lasting electric vehicle batteries may not be specialized materials or new chemistry, but simple physical pressure, according to new research.

Jun 30, 2026
Tech Xplore / Aquifer 'thermal batteries' may cut AI data center cooling demand and save water

Aquifer-based geothermal systems, known as aquifer thermal energy storage, could help ease the environmental stress stemming from artificial intelligence data centers in the United States. Researchers at the Prairie Research ...

Jun 30, 2026
Tech Xplore / Drone-mounted camera can detect plastic landmines without an internet connection

Today's antipersonnel land mines are small and often have plastic casings that standard metal detectors cannot register. Geophysical techniques such as ground-penetrating radar, magnetometry and electromagnetic induction ...

Jun 30, 2026
Tech Xplore / 3D-printed battery electrolyte could let devices store power in almost any shape

Researchers at The University of Texas at El Paso have developed a way to 3D-print an essential battery component in nearly any shape. Their innovation could free engineers from the constraints of standard rechargeable battery ...

Jun 30, 2026
Tech Xplore / New smart bicycle can tell when riders mean to turn—and when they may be falling

Two-wheeled vehicles with conventional stability-control systems must lean to change direction, making it difficult for rider-assistance systems to determine whether a rider is intentionally cornering or experiencing instability ...

Jun 30, 2026