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Formula 1's 2026 rules: New sustainability rules are changing the way races are won
The first races under Formula 1's new regulations delivered exactly what the sport's rule-makers had hoped for: more overtaking. At the recent Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, passes on track nearly tripled compared with the previous year. At the Chinese Grand Prix over the weekend, the increase was less extreme,... Read more
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Cargo ships willing to travel farther reach greater efficiency, tanker tracking shows
In shipping, efficiency is everything. Take the shortest (safe) route between two points. Offload cargo as quickly as possible to the person who will pay you the most. Pick up your next load as fast as you can and start it all over. But the effective management of these shipping... Read more
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About the Low Boom Flight Demonstrator project
The Low Boom Flight Demonstrator project (LBFD) is part of NASA's effort to help enable new aircraft noise standards that are required to open the market to commercial supersonic flight over land. The federal government banned all civilian supersonic flights over land more than 50 years ago due to sonic... Read more
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Electric trucks are finally ready for prime time. Could high oil prices speed up the shift?
For years, long-range electric trucks seemed impossible. But much has changed in a short time. Rapid improvements to batteries and chargers mean battery electric trucks are already viable for urban and short-range trucks. In December, battery-electric and hybrid trucks outsold conventional trucks in China for the first time.... Read more
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New model aims to keep remote robotaxi operators alert and ready
So-called "driverless" cars often have human operators remotely controlling the vehicles to help navigate tricky driving situations and avoid accidents. But this setup poses a number of challenges. How do you ensure the operators stay alert? And what happens when operators are asked to monitor multiple vehicles at once, particularly... Read more
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Facing the music: Detecting dangerous driving through AI facial analysis
Researchers from Edith Cowan University (ECU) are developing new technology that could change how drunk and dangerous drivers are identified. Using a single 3D deep learning model, researchers are able to detect three major causes of road accidents simultaneously: blood alcohol concentration, fatigue and expression, such as anger.... Read more
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How driverless vehicles can be made safer for deaf and hard of hearing people
Self-driving cars are very much a reality and no longer a vision from science fiction. In the UK, automated vehicles (AVs) such as self-driving shuttles are already being tested on public roads.... Read more
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China's 10-passenger electric aircraft, the Matrix, hints at how big flying taxis can be
A glimpse of what the future of flying taxis might look like can be seen in this southeastern Chinese city.... Read more
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Americans don't just fear driverless cars will crash—they fear mass job losses
While much of the public debate about self-driving cars focuses on safety, a new national study from the University of California San Diego reveals Americans' doubts about driverless cars aren't just about the fear of a crash. Many Americans also fear the technology's economic ripple effects—especially job losses in driving... Read more
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Petrol prices too high? Here's how quickly an EV could save you money
Petrol prices began rising even before the conflict in Iran drove oil prices higher. Australia imports around 80% of its fuel, which means prices can spike when geopolitical shocks ripple through supply chains.... Read more
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Cheaper EV batteries? How a fabrication tweak makes sulfur work in solid-state cells
Spurred by EVs and electrified aviation, global demand for lithium-ion batteries is expected to more than double its 2023 levels by 2030, far outstripping demand, according to S&P Global Insights. New batteries must be powerful, but also affordable enough for industry to adopt on a massive scale. As a battery... Read more
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These are the new EVs we're most excited about in 2026
After years of experimentation and early adoption, automakers are rolling out the next generation of electric vehicles that better align with people's needs and expectations. This year, you can expect to see new EVs that have more range, easier charging, lower pricing and distinctive designs. The experts at Edmunds have... Read more
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Improved EV battery gains will outmatch degradation from climate change, research shows
Climate change was poised to create an interesting catch-22 for electric vehicles. Electrifying transportation can go a long way to reducing carbon emissions that are driving up global temperatures. But warmer temperatures also accelerate the degradation of batteries, whose performance can be a make-or-break factor for people considering an EV... Read more
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Platforms for charging wireless cars now fit on a bench, no test track needed
Scientists from Tokyo Metropolitan University have devised a rotating tabletop device to study wireless charging in electric vehicles. Testing on real tracks takes up vast areas at significant cost. The team not only built a prototype but used simulations to demonstrate safety and similar charging to a linear track. They... Read more
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How an overlooked electrostatic force could drive the motor of the future
When we hear about moving objects with electricity, most of us imagine a "pulling force." Positive and negative charges attract each other, drawing objects together. It is natural to think that this attractive force—known as electrostatic force—is what makes things move.... Read more
