Tech Xplore news
Tech Xplore / Ultrafast 3D printing method creates complex objects in under a second
High-speed 3D printing has just gotten a lot faster. Researchers from Tsinghua University in China have developed a new high-speed printing technology capable of creating complex millimeter-scale objects in just 0.6 seconds. ...
Tech Xplore / The giant fire tornado that could save our oceans
In the frantic hours following an offshore oil spill, emergency responders face a destructive decision: let the oil spread or ignite it. Once ignited, it creates an "in-situ" fire pool that stops the oil from spreading and ...
Tech Xplore / Hydrogen-bond networks boost all-perovskite solar cell efficiency
The use of solar cells, devices that can convert sunlight into electricity, has grown exponentially over the past decades. These devices are enabling the production of clean and renewable energy, which could contribute to ...
Tech Xplore / New electrolyzer turns plastic-waste syngas into ethylene with less energy
For every ton of ethylene created, one ton of carbon dioxide is produced. With more than 300 million tons of ethylene produced each year, the production system has a huge carbon footprint that scientists and engineers are ...
Tech Xplore / Converting human urine into clean energy: Researchers optimize the process
Researchers at McGill University have improved the efficiency of a method for converting human urine into clean energy. The method employs microbial fuel cells (MFCs), which use bacteria to turn organic waste into electricity, ...
Tech Xplore / Can AI build a machine that draws a heart? What automated mechanism design could mean for mechanical engineering
Can you design a mechanism that will trace out the shape of a heart? How about the shape of a moon, or a star? Mechanism design—the art of assembling linkages and joints to create machines with prescribed motion—is one ...
Tech Xplore / Fiber batteries promise 'smart clothing,' but two obstacles stand in the way
Fiber batteries are an emerging technology which could one day be used to create smart clothing with a wide array of functions, from charging electronic devices to acting as wearable controllers. However, a new study finds ...
Tech Xplore / Woven nickel-titanium structures unlock new flexibility in 3D-printed shape-memory materials
At first glance, few materials would seem to have less in common than metals and textiles. And yet, by manufacturing nickel-titanium alloys as a highly deformable, interwoven material, more similar to fabric than a typical ...
Tech Xplore / Why 'zero-knowledge encryption' may not stop password theft if servers are hacked
People who regularly use online services have between 100 and 200 passwords. Very few can remember every single one. Password managers are therefore extremely helpful, allowing users to access all their passwords with just ...
Tech Xplore / Organic solar cells degrade quickly, but a solid additive could help them last longer
Solar power continues to grow—accounting for most new capacity added to U.S. electric grids in 2024—but the mid-1950s technology most often used to capture the sun's energy comes with environmental costs.
Tech Xplore / Why AI may overcomplicate answers: Humans and LLMs show 'addition bias,' often choosing extra steps over subtraction
When making decisions and judgments, humans can fall into common "traps," known as cognitive biases. A cognitive bias is essentially the tendency to process information in a specific way or follow a systematic pattern. One ...
Tech Xplore / LLMs violate boundaries during mental health dialogues, study finds
Artificial intelligence (AI) agents, particularly those based on large language models (LLMs) like the conversational platform ChatGPT, are now widely used daily by numerous people worldwide. LLMs can generate texts that ...
