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Rapid, cost-effective inspection of nuclear power plant equipment using a single seismic sensor
Electrical equipment housed within auxiliary buildings of nuclear power plants—such as control panels, transformers, and emergency generators—are particularly vulnerable to vibrations. Notably, during the 2016 Gyeongju earthquake, while concrete structures remained intact, power facilities had to be shut down for safety inspections. Now, a new technology allows for quick identification... Read more
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AI-guided drones use 3D printing to build structures in hard-to-reach places
Disaster has just struck, roads are inaccessible, and people need shelter now. Rather than wait days for a rescue team, a fleet of AI-guided drones takes flight carrying materials and the ability to build shelters, reinforce infrastructure, and construct bridges to reconnect people with safety.... Read more
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AI-powered bots increase social media post engagement but do not boost overall user activity
A recent study shows that AI-powered social media bots can increase user engagement on posts, but they fall short of encouraging users to post more overall.... Read more
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Extent of AI-created content in American news and opinion pages revealed
A new research study released today finds that more than 9% of all news in U.S. newspapers contains at least some AI-created text.... Read more
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Strength of gender biases in AI images varies across languages
Researchers at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and TU Darmstadt have studied how text-to-image generators deal with gender stereotypes in various languages. The results show that the models not only reflect gender biases, but also amplify them. The direction and strength of the distortion depends on the language in... Read more
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Firefly-inspired algorithm tackles resource allocation problem
Bio-inspired computational methods have gained popularity recently. These methods mimic the seemingly complex behavior of organisms to tackle difficult and often overwhelming problems. For example, algorithms have been inspired by honeybees' flight patterns when searching for nectar, ants' social foraging strategies, the evasive murmurations of birds and fish, and even... Read more
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AI bots could match scientist-level design problem solving
Engineers at Duke University have constructed a group of AI bots that together can solve complex design problems nearly as well as a fully trained scientist. The results, the researchers say, show how AI might soon automate straightforward but niche design problems, opening opportunities for explosive advancements.... Read more
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Anonymity's ARX nemesis
A team of faculty and students from George Mason University recently discovered a vulnerability in a widely used anonymization tool. They presented their findings last week in Taiwan at the Association for Computing Machinery Conference on Computer and Communications Security (ACM CCS 2025). The paper is available on the arXiv... Read more
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Powering the future: Critical minerals explained
What makes a mineral critical? Put simply, critical minerals help create the essential everyday items we all use. But these minerals may not be easy to get.... Read more
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Solid electrolyte's unique atomic structure helps next-generation batteries keep their cool
A team of UC Riverside engineers has discovered why a key solid-state battery material stays remarkably cool during operation—a breakthrough that could help make the next generation of lithium batteries safer and more powerful.... Read more
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AI teaches itself and outperforms human-designed algorithms
Like humans, artificial intelligence learns by trial and error, but traditionally, it requires humans to set the ball rolling by designing the algorithms and rules that govern the learning process. However, as AI technology advances, machines are increasingly doing things themselves. An example is a new AI system developed by... Read more
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Liquid metal composite material enables recyclable, flexible and reconfigurable electronics
Electronic waste is piling up around the world at a rate that far outpaces recycling efforts, partly because it's so costly and time-consuming to recover useful materials from discarded gadgets. When processed improperly, spent electronics can expose workers and the environment to lead, mercury and other toxic chemicals.... Read more
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Pure metallic gel opens door to more powerful liquid metal batteries
Researchers at Texas A&M University have developed the first known metallic gel. Unlike everyday gels, like those used in hand sanitizers, hair products or soft contact lenses, this new material is made entirely of metals and can withstand extreme heat. The discovery could be a game changer for energy storage.... Read more
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Moth-like drone navigates autonomously without AI
Researchers at the University of Cincinnati are developing a drone with flapping wings that can locate and hover around a moving light like a moth to a flame.... Read more
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What Americans think about the environmental impact of AI, according to a new poll
As the United States rapidly builds massive data centers for the development of artificial intelligence, many Americans are concerned about the environmental impact.... Read more
