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Rallying more T-cells to immunotherapy's fight against cancer (medicalxpress.com)

Immune Checkpoint Blockade (ICB) has revolutionized the treatment of cancers like melanoma, but up to 60% of patients don't respond to this immunotherapy for reasons not yet fully understood. Australian scientists have found a way to improve the effectiveness of cancer-fighting T cells within tumors, a potential step toward enabling more patients to respond to a life-saving immunotherapy.

2026-02-12 21:00:01 +0100
New sound-based 3D-printing method enables finer, faster microdevices (techxplore.com)

Concordia researchers have developed a new 3D-printing technique that uses sound waves to directly print tiny structures onto soft polymers like silicone with far greater precision than before. The approach, called proximal sound printing, opens new possibilities for manufacturing microscale devices used in health care, environmental monitoring and advanced sensors. It is described in the journal Microsystems & Nanoengineering.

2026-02-12 20:58:30 +0100
Lung cancer drug offers a surprising new treatment against ovarian cancer (medicalxpress.com)

A new study published by Mayo Clinic researchers suggests that ovarian cancer cells quickly activate a survival response after PARP inhibitor treatment, and blocking this early response may make this class of drugs work better. The research is published in the journal Science Translational Medicine.

2026-02-12 20:55:39 +0100
Pareto-optimized windbreak designs proposed for sustainable arid agriculture (phys.org)

In a new review, researchers from the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography (XIEF) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences synthesized evidence and proposed a multi-objective optimization framework for designing farmland windbreak systems that can better sustain agriculture in arid regions. Published in Agricultural Systems, the review emphasizes that shelterbelts function as green, aerodynamic infrastructure that reduces wind erosion, mitigates harsh microclimates, and stabilizes arid cropping systems.

2026-02-12 20:50:22 +0100
Betting on floating ports: Researchers test technology for faster construction (techxplore.com)

Building a port on land takes time. On water, the job can be done quickly. Hagbart Skage Alsos and his research colleagues at SINTEF are investigating how to build floating ports. Ports in Northern Europe are full. Offshore wind and other projects need a port for everything that requires transport to those construction sites. Such as when a landslide obliterates and closes a road or railway for a long time. A solution has to be found—and SINTEF researchers think running test scenarios in the fjord is the place to start.

2026-02-12 20:47:15 +0100
3D imaging traces vascular amyloid spread in the human brain, from surface arteries to deeper vessels (medicalxpress.com)

Researchers at Niigata University have used advanced three-dimensional (3D) imaging to reveal how amyloid β (Aβ) deposits spread along blood vessels in the human brain in cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA). By analyzing postmortem brain tissue, the team showed that vascular amyloid deposition is most prominent in surface arteries and extends continuously toward deeper vascular branches, providing insight into the spatial organization of amyloid pathology in CAA.

2026-02-12 20:43:43 +0100
New AI method advances prediction of Brazil's national soybean yield (phys.org)

A new AI-based system can generate high-resolution soybean yield maps across Brazil using only limited local data, improving yield estimates for this key agricultural region and potentially providing strategic benefits to global soybean markets. The newly published work by researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign demonstrates an innovative approach that enables high-performance national yield estimates for Brazilian soybeans, even in areas where directly reported local yield data are very limited.

2026-02-12 20:41:29 +0100
Antibody-drug conjugate achieves high response rates as frontline treatment in aggressive, rare blood cancer (medicalxpress.com)

Seventy-five percent of patients with blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN) who were treated with the antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) pivekimab sunirine (PVEK) had a complete response, according to new data from the Phase I/II multicenter international CADENZA trial led by researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

2026-02-12 20:40:30 +0100
'Virgin' frescoes emerge from Pompeii suburb (phys.org)

Amid the remains of a sumptuous villa near Pompeii, the hard-hatted conservationist scraped away centuries-old ash to reveal a vibrant red fresco.

2026-02-12 20:40:01 +0100
Multi-country malaria trial shows a more efficient way to treat the disease (medicalxpress.com)

Landmark findings from a major malaria clinical trial led by Menzies School of Health Research (Menzies) and international collaborators have confirmed the safety and effectiveness of two Plasmodium vivax (P. vivax) malaria medications in G6PD-normal patients—high-dose primaquine and single-dose tafenoquine—supporting more efficient treatment regimens to address the liver stage of the disease.

2026-02-12 20:32:55 +0100
Mpox transmission model sheds light on a medical mystery (medicalxpress.com)

In a groundbreaking new study, a team of researchers from South Dakota State University—led by associate professor Saikat Basu—determined the critical exposure durations for inhaled transmission of pox viruses, including smallpox and mpox, and may have provided key insights into a medical mystery.

2026-02-12 20:28:36 +0100
A new microscope for the quantum age: Single nanoscale scan measures four key material properties (phys.org)

Physicists in Leiden have built a microscope that can measure no fewer than four key properties of a material in a single scan, all with nanoscale precision. The instrument can even examine complete quantum chips, accelerating research and innovation in the field of quantum materials. The study is published in the journal Nano Letters.

2026-02-12 20:25:43 +0100
A new turbulence equation for eddy interactions: AI and physics team up to tackle notoriously difficult question (phys.org)

The currents of the oceans, the roiling surface of the sun, and the clouds of smoke billowing off a forest fire—all are governed by the same laws of physics and give rise to a complex phenomenon known as turbulence. But precisely modeling this chaotic motion of fluids, encompassing many scales of time and space, has remained out of reach of scientists for more than a century.

2026-02-12 20:20:35 +0100
Cancer cell study sheds light on cachexia's origins (medicalxpress.com)

New research from the University of Oklahoma, published today in Cancer Cell, describes for the first time a "triangle regulation theory" of cancer-induced cachexia and anorexia. Cachexia is a muscle-wasting and fat-loss condition that most often occurs in people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Cachexia is frequently accompanied by cancer-induced anorexia, a severe loss of appetite that adds to the patient's debilitation.

2026-02-12 20:20:04 +0100
Failed supernova provides clearest view yet of a star collapsing into a black hole (phys.org)

Astronomers have watched a dying star fail to explode as a supernova, instead collapsing into a black hole. The remarkable sighting is the most complete observational record ever made of a star's transformation into a black hole, allowing astronomers to construct a comprehensive physical picture of the process.

2026-02-12 20:00:16 +0100
How plants balance woody xylem and fleshy tissues: Thermospermine targets methylated ribosomes (phys.org)

Scientists have identified a crucial mechanism that allows plants to shape their vascular systems, determining whether they grow soft edible storage organs or develop the rigid woody tissue characteristic of trees. Published in Science, research led by the University of Cambridge and University of Helsinki, reveals the regulatory dynamics that guide xylem formation, offering new insights into how plants build both structural and storage tissues.

2026-02-12 20:00:15 +0100
Unique 'inside out' planetary system reveals rocky outer world (phys.org)

A global team of astronomers, led by the University of Warwick, have used a European Space Agency (ESA) telescope to discover a planetary system that turns our understanding of planet formation upside down, with a distant rocky world. In our solar system, the inner planets (Mercury to Mars) are rocky, and the outer planets (Jupiter to Neptune) are gaseous. This planetary pattern—rock then gas—is consistently observed across the Milky Way. That was, until an international team of scientists, led by Dr. Thomas Wilson from the University of Warwick, took a closer look at a star called LHS 1903. Their observations, published in Science, reveal a system of four planets that breaks this convention.

2026-02-12 20:00:13 +0100
mRNA fragments reveal a hidden process that protects cells from harmful mutations (phys.org)

Some genetic mutations that are expected to completely stop a gene from working surprisingly cause only mild or even no symptoms. Researchers in previous studies have discovered one reason why: cells can ramp up the activity of other genes that perform similar functions to make up for the loss of an important gene's function. A new study from the lab of Whitehead Institute Member Jonathan Weissman now reveals insights into how cells can coordinate this compensation response. The findings are published in the journal Science.

2026-02-12 20:00:11 +0100
Genomics offers a faster path to restoring the American chestnut (phys.org)

For more than a century, the American chestnut, once a dominant tree across eastern North American forests, has been devastated by an invasive fungal disease that killed billions of trees in the early 1900s. A study published in Science shows that modern genomic tools can dramatically accelerate restoration while preserving the species' ecological identity.

2026-02-12 20:00:09 +0100
Elephant trunk whiskers exhibit material intelligence, revealing the secret behind an amazing sense of touch (phys.org)

A new study from an interdisciplinary German research collaboration, led by the Haptic Intelligence Department at the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems (MPI-IS), reveals the secret to the gentle dexterity of the elephant trunk. The 1,000 whiskers that cover an elephant's trunk have unusual material properties that highlight where contact happens along each whisker, giving elephants an amazing sense of touch that compensates for their thick skin and poor eyesight.

2026-02-12 20:00:07 +0100
Creatinine muscle index can identify deadly complication of chronic kidney disease (medicalxpress.com)

Scientists from The University of Manchester and Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust have discovered that the combination of two biomarkers can reliably identify sarcopenia, a serious condition of the muscle linked to higher mortality in chronic kidney disease (CKD). The test, say the researchers, could identify individuals at risk of the condition which is typified by loss of muscle mass and strength as well as an overall poorer quality of life.

2026-02-12 20:00:01 +0100
AI model may predict when MND patients need feeding tubes within months (medicalxpress.com)

A new AI tool that accurately predicts the need for a feeding tube could transform patient care and improve quality of life for people living with Motor Neuron Disease (MND). The new tool, developed by a team at the University of Sheffield, will improve patient care by providing doctors and patients with the crucial information to plan the life-extending intervention at the ideal time.

2026-02-12 19:40:04 +0100
AI can predict success of hip operations (medicalxpress.com)

Artificial intelligence can help to predict how well patients with hip osteoarthritis will be able to walk again after an operation. Researchers at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) have developed an AI model to analyze movement patterns. This gait biomechanics analysis also enables rehabilitation programs to be tailored to patients' personal needs. The researchers consider it possible that this approach, developed for the hip joint, could be extended to other joints in the future. They present their results in the journal Arthritis Research & Therapy.

2026-02-12 19:36:44 +0100
A little protein with a big role in building Earth's carbon fixing machinery (phys.org)

An international team of scientists has discovered that a small, low-abundance protein plays a surprisingly big role in assembling carboxysomes—specialized bacterial microcompartments that enable efficient carbon fixation and underpin much of life on Earth. The study, published in Nature Plants, reveals how the shell adaptor protein ApN (also known as CcmN), despite being present at very low abundance, is essential for orchestrating the early stages of carboxysome formation.

2026-02-12 19:32:38 +0100
Exploring how the Gulf Stream affects the climate system and the carbon cycle (phys.org)

It is well documented that the Gulf Stream plays a pivotal role in the climate system through its transfer of heat, which ultimately supplies warmth to northern latitudes in the North Atlantic. What remains less well understood is how the Gulf Stream influences the climate system by transporting nutrients and carbon. These materials stimulate plankton growth, which in turn plays a vital role in naturally absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

2026-02-12 19:24:58 +0100
A DNA 'on-off' switch? Light and redox cues reversibly link strands for nanotech (phys.org)

DNA, the blueprint of life, is best known for its fundamental role as genetic material—storing and transmitting biological information through the precise sequence of its bases. For decades, this information-storage function has defined how we think about DNA. But what if DNA could do more than encode life? What if it could act as a reaction vessel that precisely guides and controls specific chemical reactions?

2026-02-12 19:20:01 +0100
Study strengthens evidence supporting lung-sparing surgery, offering hope for mesothelioma patients (medicalxpress.com)

A new study from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and the Mount Sinai Tisch Cancer Center finds that pleurectomy/decortication, a lung-sparing surgery, can be performed safely with low mortality in carefully selected patients with pleural mesothelioma, a rare and aggressive cancer most often caused by asbestos exposure.

2026-02-12 19:00:28 +0100
Ketamine may fight chronic fatigue, study suggests (medicalxpress.com)

Ketamine, a decades-old anesthetic and fast-acting treatment for severe depression, may also offer some people rapid relief from chronic fatigue, according to a small proof-of-concept study led by researchers at Rutgers Health and the National Institutes of Health. The study is published in the journal Pharmacological Reports.

2026-02-12 18:58:38 +0100
Newly identified brain circuit and cells link prior experiences to appetite (medicalxpress.com)

Our past experiences shape how much we eat and where and what we choose to eat. Using preclinical models, researchers from Mass General Brigham and the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard have identified brain cells that translate contextual information into appetite control.

2026-02-12 18:22:39 +0100
From cold to gold: How winter temperatures shape athletic performance (medicalxpress.com)

As the world's best athletes take to frozen tracks, snow-covered courses and ice-lined arenas at the Winter Olympics, the cold is more than a backdrop, it is a force shaping every movement. From explosive starts on the bobsled track to endurance efforts in cross-country skiing, frigid temperatures alter how muscles fire, how quickly nerves transmit signals and how long the body can sustain peak performance. For Olympic athletes, mastering the cold is not just about mental toughness, but about understanding and working with the body's physiological limits.

2026-02-12 18:12:44 +0100
AI-built maps reveal causal gene regulation across Alzheimer's brain cell types (medicalxpress.com)

Researchers led by Min Zhang and Dabao Zhang of the University of California, Irvine's Joe C. Wen School of Population & Public Health have created the most detailed maps to date showing how genes causally regulate one another across different types of brain cells affected by Alzheimer's disease.

2026-02-12 18:08:45 +0100
Earthquake data provide solid footing for AI foundation science model (phys.org)

There's been a seismic shift in science, with scientists developing new AI tools and applying AI to just about any question that can be asked. Researchers are now putting actual seismic waves to work, using data from the world's largest repository of earthquake data to develop "SeisModal," an AI foundation model designed to explore big questions about science. The effort, known as Steel Thread, involves researchers from five national laboratories operated by the U.S. Department of Energy.

2026-02-12 18:02:27 +0100
Drones with low-cost air quality sensors can improve air quality monitoring (phys.org)

A drone equipped with low-cost air quality sensors has revealed unexpectedly high concentrations of particulate matter at around 100 meters above ground level in Delhi. These new vertical insights could play an important role in urban haze understanding and mitigation. The findings, published in npj Clean Air, demonstrate the feasibility of measuring air pollution up to 100 meters using an affordable, custom-built drone platform.

2026-02-12 18:00:44 +0100
The insect-inspired bionic eye that sees, smells and guides robots (techxplore.com)

The compound eyes of the humble fruit fly are a marvel of nature. They are wide-angle and can process visual information several times faster than the human eye. Inspired by this biological masterpiece, researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences have developed an insect-scale compound eye that can both see and smell, potentially improving how drones and robots navigate complex environments and avoid obstacles.

2026-02-12 18:00:02 +0100
Unraveling the mystery of why some cancer treatments stop working (medicalxpress.com)

Cancer researchers working on immunotherapies have made a big discovery: SLAMF6, a molecule on the surface of immune cells that prevents T cells from effectively attacking tumors—and, in mice, they've found a way to neutralize it.

2026-02-12 17:55:53 +0100
New research shows that spending less on tobacco, gambling and sweets is good for the UK economy (phys.org)

A new study from the Sheffield Addictions Research Group (SARG) has found that public health policies that reduce spending on harmful products can actually provide a significant boost to U.K. jobs and the wider economy. The research, published in the journal Addiction, challenges the long-standing industry argument that curbing the sale of tobacco, gambling or unhealthy foods harms the national economy. To test this, SARG researchers developed a sophisticated new model to track how shifts in consumer spending flow through different sectors of the U.K. economy.

2026-02-12 17:54:18 +0100
Brexpiprazole add-on may speed information processing in schizophrenia patients (medicalxpress.com)

Cognitive impairment, including decreased attention and memory, remains one of the most disabling aspects of schizophrenia, affecting the social life of patients. However, no effective treatment has yet been established for it.

2026-02-12 17:53:35 +0100
Surviving slavery: Family ties were vital (phys.org)

Young children who grew up in slavery on Surinamese plantations were much more likely to die if they were without a mother. This is evident from a historical analysis of Surinamese slave registers by researchers at Radboud University and Wageningen University & Research. Their work was published this month in Demography. The presence of grandmothers, aunts and uncles also significantly increased children's chances of survival.

2026-02-12 17:51:17 +0100
What makes us human? A unique brain perspective in new book (medicalxpress.com)

The cover of the new book "Whole-brain modeling. Cartography of the dynamics of mind" poses the central question of what makes us human. Written by Professors Gustavo Deco and Morten L Kringelbach and published with Oxford University Press, the book is concerned with the central mystery; namely, how the brain, a strange but hugely powerful object weighing around 1.5 kilos of mostly fat and a combination of water, protein, carbohydrates and salts, can somehow give rise to our complex minds.

2026-02-12 17:50:24 +0100
Guidelines released for safe telehealth use in cardiovascular care (medicalxpress.com)

A new position statement from the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand (CSANZ) and the Australian Cardiovascular Health and Rehabilitation Association (ACRA) underscores telehealth as a critical tool for cardiovascular care, and provides best practice guidance for safe use by clinicians.

2026-02-12 17:45:45 +0100
Pre-exercise sexual activity does not harm strength or endurance in male athletes, finds new study (medicalxpress.com)

Athletes may not have to observe pre-game abstinence before a big event after all. According to new research, sexual activity before intense exercise doesn't slow down an athlete's performance—in some cases, it may even help.

2026-02-12 17:40:01 +0100
France bets on nuclear power to phase out fossil fuels (techxplore.com)

France's government on Thursday presented an energy plan to use less imported fossil fuels, including by ramping up nuclear-fueled power production over the next decade.

2026-02-12 17:30:07 +0100
Novel AI model accurately detects placenta accreta in pregnancy before delivery, new research shows (medicalxpress.com)

A novel artificial intelligence (AI) model accurately detected the presence of placenta accreta spectrum (PAS), a dangerous pregnancy condition that often goes undetected with current screening methods, according to new research presented today at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) 2026 Pregnancy Meeting. PAS is a leading cause of maternal mortality and morbidity, but only half of all cases are diagnosed during pregnancy, researchers say.

2026-02-12 17:30:01 +0100
Simple SMS 'nudge' a powerful prompt for timely vaccination (medicalxpress.com)

10,000 families participating in research by The Kids Research Institute Australia have demonstrated the effectiveness of a simple text message for increasing the number of children receiving their vaccinations on time. Throughout 2021–2024, over 20,000 text messages were sent to Australian parents as part of the AuTOMATIC trial—thought to be the most automated clinical trial ever conducted.

2026-02-12 17:01:52 +0100
Exercise may train the brain to build endurance via SF1 neuron activity (medicalxpress.com)

Exercise does more than strengthen muscles; it also rewires the brain. In a study published in Neuron, researchers reveal that the lasting gain in endurance from repeated exercise—such as the ability to run farther and faster over time—involves changes in brain activity that help muscles and hearts to become stronger.

2026-02-12 17:00:04 +0100
Power of the collective: Modular robot boosts resilience by sharing resources (techxplore.com)

EPFL roboticists have shown that when a modular robot shares power, sensing, and communication resources among its individual units, it is significantly more resistant to failure than traditional robotic systems, where the breakdown of one element often means a loss of functionality.

2026-02-12 16:20:01 +0100
Beyond the Fitbit: Why your next health tracker might be a button on your shirt (techxplore.com)

Measuring human movement with tracking devices on looser clothing is more accurate than on tight body suits or straps. This discovery by scientists at King's College London could mark a potential breakthrough for a range of technologies, including improving accuracy of personal health devices, such as Fitbits and smart watches, and enhancing motion capture for CGI movie characters. It could also support health and medical research by making it easier to gather data on conditions affecting mobility such as Parkinson's.

2026-02-12 15:40:01 +0100
Power in motion: Transforming ocean wave energy harvesting with gyroscopes (techxplore.com)

Ocean waves are one of the most abundant and predictable renewable energy sources on the planet, yet efficiently harnessing their power remains a major challenge. Traditional devices typically operate efficiently only within a narrow range of wave conditions, highlighting the need for more novel, constructive converters.

2026-02-12 15:20:01 +0100
Next-generation batteries could redefine the future of energy storage (techxplore.com)

Drawing on an extensive survey of emerging battery chemistries and design innovations, researchers at the University of Sharjah are pointing to transformative technologies poised to meet the escalating energy demands of an increasingly electrified world.

2026-02-12 15:00:04 +0100
Rethinking rush hour with vehicle automation (techxplore.com)

It's often the worst part of many people's day—bottlenecked, rush-hour traffic. When the daily commute backs up, drivers lose time, burn fuel and waste energy. Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's National Transportation Research Center at Oak Ridge National Laboratory are tackling this problem with cooperative driving automation (CDA), an emerging technology that allows vehicles and traffic infrastructure to communicate, keeping traffic flowing efficiently and safely.

2026-02-12 14:33:29 +0100
Washington considers requiring AI companies to add mental health safeguards (techxplore.com)

As artificial intelligence chatbots become better at mimicking human conversations, the potential for damage has grown, particularly for people who turn to them for mental health advice and to discuss plans to harm themselves.

2026-02-12 13:10:01 +0100
Supercomputer provides high-fidelity insights into turbine aerothermal performance (techxplore.com)

In a long-running collaboration with GE Aerospace, researchers at the University of Melbourne in Australia have been steadily working to improve the performance of high-pressure turbine (HPT) engines through computer simulations on leadership-class computing systems. These turbines are the heart of jet engines used in many commercial and military aircraft.

2026-02-12 11:15:21 +0100
Samsung starts mass production of next-gen AI memory chip (techxplore.com)

Samsung Electronics announced Thursday it had started mass production of next-generation memory chips to power artificial intelligence, touting an "industry-leading" breakthrough.

2026-02-12 10:00:01 +0100
Dimethyl ether production process could significantly advance the hydrogen economy (techxplore.com)

To ensure energy security and achieve its climate protection goals, Germany will import large quantities of hydrogen in the future. Dimethyl ether (DME) is an environmentally friendly, non-toxic, efficient, and economically attractive gas that shows great promise as an energy source for hydrogen and its derivatives. The Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE has developed a new, particularly energy-efficient synthesis process for its production, which could become a game changer for DME production and thus for the hydrogen economy.

2026-02-12 01:00:01 +0100
Data from a Swedish rail switch may reduce train delays in cold climates (techxplore.com)

Rail commuters in cold climates like Sweden's are all too familiar with winter train delays and cancellations. The culprit is usually rail switches that freeze up or clog with snow even though they're heated. A new study offers a more affordable and sustainable solution to keep these crucial, track-moving components in working order.

2026-02-12 00:00:01 +0100
An assistive robot learns to set and clear the table by observing humans (techxplore.com)

Researchers at Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M) have developed a new methodology for a robot to learn how to move its arms autonomously by combining a type of observational learning with intercommunication between its limbs. This work represents a further step toward achieving more natural and easily teachable service robots capable of performing assistive tasks in domestic environments, such as setting and clearing the table, ironing, or tidying up the kitchen.

2026-02-11 23:16:23 +0100
New drones provide first-person thrill to Olympic coverage (techxplore.com)

Whether chasing skiers as they fly down the mountain or tracking the luge as it tears around bends, new drone-mounted cameras are offering Winter Olympics viewers a wild ride.

2026-02-11 23:10:01 +0100
AI learns to perform analog layout design (techxplore.com)

Researchers at Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) have developed an artificial intelligence approach that addresses a key bottleneck in analog semiconductor layout design, a process that has traditionally depended heavily on engineers' experience. The work was recently published in the journal IEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems I: Regular Papers.

2026-02-11 22:36:16 +0100
AI-guided micromachining advances next-generation biocompatible titanium alloys (techxplore.com)

Researchers have developed a new machine-learning-assisted approach to optimize micro-electro-discharge machining (µ-EDM) of a next-generation biocompatible titanium alloy, potentially improving the manufacturing of advanced medical and aerospace components.

2026-02-11 22:19:18 +0100
Next-gen AI delivers accurate battery diagnostics and explosion risk assessments (techxplore.com)

As demand for electric vehicles (EVs) and energy storage systems (ESS) continues to grow, batteries in various configurations are entering the market to achieve desired voltage and capacity characteristics. However, current battery health assessment tools often require collecting new data and retraining models for each specific configuration, leading to significant inefficiencies.

2026-02-11 22:16:23 +0100
Novel bond coat material enables thermal barrier coatings to operate at 1,200°C (techxplore.com)

A research team has developed a novel bond coat material that significantly improves the oxidation resistance of thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) at 1,200°C, a critical advancement for next-generation ultra-high-thrust aero-engines. The study was published in Advanced Science on February 6.

2026-02-11 21:51:30 +0100
Water-based electrolyte helps create safer and long-lasting Zn-Mn batteries (techxplore.com)

Many countries worldwide are increasingly investing in new infrastructure that enables the production of electricity from renewable energy sources, particularly wind and sunlight. To make the best of these energy solutions, one should also be able to reliably store the excess energy created during periods of intense sunlight or wind, so that it can be used later in times of need.

2026-02-11 21:40:06 +0100
Bio-inspired chip helps robots and self-driving cars react faster to movement (techxplore.com)

Robots and self-driving cars could soon benefit from a new kind of brain-inspired hardware that can allegedly detect movement and react faster than a human. A new study published in the journal Nature Communications details how an international team built their neuromorphic temporal-attention hardware system to speed up automated driving decisions.

2026-02-11 20:20:02 +0100
Q&A: Could light-powered computers reduce AI's energy use? (techxplore.com)

A key problem facing artificial intelligence (AI) development is the vast amount of energy the technology requires, with some experts projecting AI datacenters to be responsible for over 13% of global electricity usage by 2028. According to Xingjie Ni, associate professor of electrical engineering at the Penn State School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, the key to addressing this roadblock could lie in computers powered by light instead of circuitry.

2026-02-11 20:00:17 +0100
What chatbots can teach humans about empathy (techxplore.com)

Over half of U.S. adults are using large language models (LLMs)—such as ChatGPT, Gemini and Copilot—in some capacity. Whether using artificial intelligence to create grocery lists, turn oneself into a Muppets character or divulge one's deepest, darkest secrets, humans are relying more on AI models in their everyday lives, possibly because AI chatbots have been shown to generate responses that make people feel validated, seen and heard.

2026-02-11 19:01:50 +0100
Building batteries that don't break in the cold (techxplore.com)

Extreme winter weather can strain power systems, stall electric vehicles and leave backup batteries unable to deliver energy when it is most needed. Researchers at Texas A&M University have now developed a battery design that continues operating through the coldest conditions. The team, led by Dr. Jodie Lutkenhaus, professor of chemical engineering and associate dean for research in the College of Engineering, published findings on a polymer-based battery in the Journal of Materials Chemistry A.