With the holiday season in full swing, gifts of all shapes and sizes are being shipped around the world. But all that packaging generates lots of waste, including cardboard boxes and plastic-based foam cushioning. Rather than discard those boxes, researchers have developed a cushioning foam from cardboard waste. Their upcycled material was stronger and more …

Upcycling leftover cardboard to make a new type of foam packaging Read More »

Researchers have identified a welding technique that can be used to join composite metal foam (CMF) components together without impairing the properties that make CMF desirable. CMFs hold promise for a wide array of applications because the pockets of air they contain make them light, strong and effective at insulating against high temperatures. ​Researchers have …

Researchers find way to weld metal foam without melting its bubbles Read More »

While screen time is generally known to affect sleep, new research suggests that interactive engagement, such as texting friends or playing video games, delays and reduces the time spent asleep to a greater extent than passive screen time, like watching television — especially for teens.   ​While screen time is generally known to affect sleep, …

Interactive screen use reduces sleep time in kids Read More »

In a new study, researchers present an adaptive tile, which when deployed in arrays on roofs, can lower heating bills in winter and cooling bills in summer, without the need for electronics. ​In a new study, researchers present an adaptive tile, which when deployed in arrays on roofs, can lower heating bills in winter and …

This adaptive roof tile can cut both heating and cooling costs Read More »

In the largest study yet of deep neural networks trained to perform auditory tasks, researchers found most of these models generate internal representations that share properties of representations seen in the human brain when people are listening to the same sounds. ​In the largest study yet of deep neural networks trained to perform auditory tasks, …

Deep neural networks show promise as models of human hearing Read More »

A research team has unveiled a remarkable breakthrough in the form of a two-dimensional (2D) Metal Organic Framework (MOF) that showcases unprecedented origami-like movement at the molecular level. This pioneering study represents a significant leap forward in the field of dynamic materials, while also hinting at futuristic applications in metamaterials and quantum computing. ​A research …

Unveiling molecular origami: A breakthrough in dynamic materials Read More »

A new study advances fundamental knowledge about the role of solvation in ion binding and presents a new pathway for electrochemically controlling ion selectivity. ​A new study advances fundamental knowledge about the role of solvation in ion binding and presents a new pathway for electrochemically controlling ion selectivity. A new study advances fundamental knowledge about the …

Study presents new pathway for electrochemically controlling ion selectivity Read More »

For the first time, researchers have shown that 3D-printed polymer-based micro-optics can withstand the heat and power levels that occur inside a laser. The advance enables inexpensive compact and stable laser sources that would be useful in a variety of applications, including the lidar systems used for autonomous vehicles. ​For the first time, researchers have …

Researchers create stable hybrid laser by 3D printing micro-optics onto fibers Read More »

Protein-splitting enzymes play an important role in many physiological processes. Such proteases are generally present in an inactive state, only becoming activated under certain conditions. Some are linked to diseases like infections or cancer, making it important to have methods that can selectively detect active proteases. Scientists have introduced a new class of protease-activity sensors: …

Nanoprobe with a barcode Read More »

Tech giants are gearing up for a series of potentially bitter legal battles over claims they used copyrighted material in training the latest generation of artificial intelligence ​Tech giants are gearing up for a series of potentially bitter legal battles over claims they used copyrighted material in training the latest generation of artificial intelligence Tech giants …

AI firms will face copyright infringement lawsuits in 2024 Read More »