By rethinking how thin metal threads are woven into a flexible textile, EPFL researchers have created a lightweight fabric capable of lifting over 400 times its own weight. The work advances the development of wearables that provide physical assistance without mechanical bulk.By rethinking how thin metal threads are woven into a flexible textile, EPFL researchers have created a lightweight fabric capable of lifting over 400 times its own weight. The work advances the development of wearables that provide physical assistance without mechanical bulk.[#item_full_content]
Autonomous vehicles have made remarkable progress over the past decade. Driverless cars and buses that once struggled to stay in lane can now navigate busy city streets, recognize pedestrians and cyclists, and respond smoothly to traffic signals.Autonomous vehicles have made remarkable progress over the past decade. Driverless cars and buses that once struggled to stay in lane can now navigate busy city streets, recognize pedestrians and cyclists, and respond smoothly to traffic signals.Automotive[#item_full_content]
Elon Musk finally responded last week to widespread outrage about his social media platform X letting users create sexualized deepfakes with Grok, the platform’s artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot.Elon Musk finally responded last week to widespread outrage about his social media platform X letting users create sexualized deepfakes with Grok, the platform’s artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot.Consumer & Gadgets[#item_full_content]
Before DeepSeek shook up the tech world and put Chinese artificial intelligence on the map, Wu Chenglin’s own startup had nearly folded three times—but in the past year it has raised $30 million.Before DeepSeek shook up the tech world and put Chinese artificial intelligence on the map, Wu Chenglin’s own startup had nearly folded three times—but in the past year it has raised $30 million.Machine learning & AI[#item_full_content]
It has been over a decade since Google Glass smart glasses were announced in 2013, followed by their swift withdrawal—in part because of low adoption. Their subsequent (and lesser known) second iteration was released in 2017 and aimed at the workplace. They were withdrawn in 2023.It has been over a decade since Google Glass smart glasses were announced in 2013, followed by their swift withdrawal—in part because of low adoption. Their subsequent (and lesser known) second iteration was released in 2017 and aimed at the workplace. They were withdrawn in 2023.Business[#item_full_content]
For as long as humans have buried their dead, they’ve dreamed of keeping them close. The ancient Fayum portraits—those stunningly lifelike images wrapped in Egyptian mummies—captured faces meant to remain present even after life had left the body.For as long as humans have buried their dead, they’ve dreamed of keeping them close. The ancient Fayum portraits—those stunningly lifelike images wrapped in Egyptian mummies—captured faces meant to remain present even after life had left the body.Consumer & Gadgets[#item_full_content]
While artificial intelligence (AI) models have proved useful in some areas of science, like predicting 3D protein structures, a new study shows that it should not yet be trusted in many lab experiments. The study, published in Nature Machine Intelligence, revealed that all of the large-language models (LLMs) and vision-language models (VLMs) tested fell short on lab safety knowledge. Overtrusting these AI models for help in lab experiments can put researchers at risk.While artificial intelligence (AI) models have proved useful in some areas of science, like predicting 3D protein structures, a new study shows that it should not yet be trusted in many lab experiments. The study, published in Nature Machine Intelligence, revealed that all of the large-language models (LLMs) and vision-language models (VLMs) tested fell short on lab safety knowledge. Overtrusting these AI models for help in lab experiments can put researchers at risk.Engineering[#item_full_content]
One more reason things cost more today: cybercrime.One more reason things cost more today: cybercrime.Security[#item_full_content]
In a Nature Communications study, researchers from China have developed an error-aware probabilistic update (EaPU) method that aligns memristor hardware’s noisy updates with neural network training, slashing energy use by nearly six orders of magnitude versus GPUs while boosting accuracy on vision tasks. The study validates EaPU on 180 nm memristor arrays and large-scale simulations.In a Nature Communications study, researchers from China have developed an error-aware probabilistic update (EaPU) method that aligns memristor hardware’s noisy updates with neural network training, slashing energy use by nearly six orders of magnitude versus GPUs while boosting accuracy on vision tasks. The study validates EaPU on 180 nm memristor arrays and large-scale simulations.Hardware[#item_full_content]
To reliably complete household chores, assemble products and tackle other manual tasks, robots should be able to adapt their manipulation strategies based on the objects they are working with, similarly to how humans leverage information they gain via the sense of touch. While humans attain tactile information via nerves in their skin and muscles, robots rely on sensors, devices that sense their surroundings and pick up specific physical signals.To reliably complete household chores, assemble products and tackle other manual tasks, robots should be able to adapt their manipulation strategies based on the objects they are working with, similarly to how humans leverage information they gain via the sense of touch. While humans attain tactile information via nerves in their skin and muscles, robots rely on sensors, devices that sense their surroundings and pick up specific physical signals.[#item_full_content]
