Computer America

Show Notes 28 March 2025Story 1: Ultra-Accurate Optical Atomic Clocks Could Enable True Self-Driving CarsSource: TopSpeed.com Story by Craig ColeLink: https://www.topspeed.com/ultra-accurate-optical-atomic-clocks-could-enable-true-self-driving-cars/See Chalmers University of Technology news article here: https://www.chalmers.se/en/current/news/mc2-microcomb-chips-help-pave-the-way-for-thousand-times-more-accurate-gps-systems/Story 2: This is the first quantum computer you can actually buy (and use, and power): Equal1's Bell-1 uses a standard power socketSource: TechRadar.com Story by Efosa UdinmwenLink: https://www.techradar.com/pro/this-is-the-first-quantum-computer-you-can-actually-buy-and-use-and-power-equal1s-bell-1-uses-a-standard-power-socketSee also: https://www.equal1.com/post/equal1-launches-bell-1-the-first-quantum-system-purpose-built-for-the-hpc-eraStory 3: Shape-shifting robot that swims now explores Mariana Trench, reaching a depth of 34,776-ftSource: InterestingEngineering.com Story by Jijo MalayilLink: https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/shape-shifting-robot-mariana-trench-explorationSee research paper here: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-00489-ySee video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZ-2USuQEuUStory 4: Wi-Fi-based technology developed to detect depression in older adultsSource: MedicalXpress.com Story by JMIR PublicationsLink: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-03-wi-fi-based-technology-depression.html#google_vignetteSee research paper here: https://aging.jmir.org/2025/1/e67715/See also: https://www.digitalhealthscience.org/2025/03/03/ai-meets-mental-health-wi-fi-based-depression-detection-for-aging-populations/Honorable Mentions This week all medical newsStory: MIT engineers turn skin cells directly into neurons for cell therapySource: MIT News Story by Anne TraftonLink: https://news.mit.edu/2025/mit-engineers-turn-skin-cells-into-neurons-for-cell-therapy-0313Story: Rosemary and Sage Could Lead to Better Alzheimer’s TreatmentSource: Discover Magazine Story by Jenny LehmannLink: https://www.discovermagazine.com/the-sciences/rosemary-and-sage-could-lead-to-better-alzheimers-treatmentSee research paper here: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/14/3/293Story: Scientists develop magnesium-enriched nanofiber patches for safer wound healingSource: Phys.org Story from Shibaura Institute of TechnologyLink: https://phys.org/news/2025-02-scientists-magnesium-enriched-nanofiber-patches.html#google_vignetteStory: Rapidly self-healing electronic skin for machine learning–assisted physiological and movement evaluationSource: ScienceAdvances.orgLink: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.ads1301

Show Notes 21 March 2025Story 1: Lithium needed for the battery revolution could be harvested from salt-lake brines or geothermal brine solutionsSource: Imperial College announcement by Ian MundellLink: https://www.imperial.ac.uk/news/261774/lithium-needed-battery-revolution-could-harvested/See also: https://techxplore.com/news/2025-03-lithium-battery-revolution-harvested-saltwater.htmlSee research paper here: https://www.nature.com/articles/s44221-025-00398-8Story 2: Nanoparticle breakthrough could bring 'holy grail' of solar power within reachSource: LiveScience.com Story by Ben TurnerLink: https://www.livescience.com/chemistry/nanoparticle-breakthrough-could-bring-holy-grail-of-solar-power-within-reachSee the research paper here: https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2025/el/d4el00029cStory 3: Mimicking Human Skin, This Self-Healing Gel Could be Applied to Soft RoboticsSource: Discover Magazine Story by Monica CullLink: https://www.discovermagazine.com/technology/mimicking-human-skin-this-self-healing-gel-could-be-applied-to-soft-roboticsSee the research paper here: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41563-025-02146-5#Sec5See also: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250307130138.htmStory 4: Man survives with titanium heart for 100 days – a world firstSource: Nature Magazine Story by Smriti MallapatyLink: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-00782-0See video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wW3MMFmDobsHonorable MentionsStory: Scientists Use Amino Acid to Extract 99.99% of Lithium from Old BatteriesSource: Technology NetworksLink: https://www.technologynetworks.com/applied-sciences/news/scientists-use-amino-acid-to-extract-9999-of-lithium-from-old-batteries-397175Story: Spinning, Twisted Light for Next-Generation ElectronicsSource: RealClearScience.comLink: https://www.realclearscience.com/2025/03/14/spinning_twisted_light_for_next-generation_electronics_1097501.htmlStory: Nanoparticle Could Act as Switch in Optical Computers - New nanoparticles can switch between dark and bright statesSource: IEEE Spectrum Story by Katherine BourzacLink: https://spectrum.ieee.org/nanoparticle-optical-switchesStory: James Webb telescope's view of the Flame Nebula is a 'quantum leap' forward for astronomersSource: LiveScience.com Story by Jamie CarterLink: https://www.livescience.com/space/astronomy/space-photo-of-the-week-james-webb-telescopes-view-of-the-flame-nebula-is-a-quantum-leap-forward-for-astronomers

Show Notes 14 March 2025Story 1: No Fiber Needed: New Chip Uses Light to Beam 10Gig Speeds Through the AirSource: PC Magazine Story by Michael KanLink: https://www.pcmag.com/news/no-fiber-taara-chip-uses-light-to-beam-10gig-speeds-through-the-airSee also: https://www.wired.com/story/plaintext-google-taara-chip-internet-by-light/Side note - for more about the Taara Project, see: https://x.company/projects/taara/Story 2: Self-healing Asphalt Could Prevent Potholes and Save Costs on Vehicle RepairsSource: ZME Science Story by Tibi PuiuLink: https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/self-healing-asphalt-could-prevent-potholes-and-save-costs-on-vehicle-repairs/Story 3: A protein from tiny tardigrades may help cancer patients tolerate radiation therapySource: MIT News Website Story by Anne TraftonLink: https://news.mit.edu/2025/tiny-tardigrades-protein-may-help-cancer-patients-tolerate-radiation-therapy-0226Story 4: New Implant May Help Patients Regenerate Their Own Heart ValvesSource: Georgia Tech News AnnouncementLink: https://research.gatech.edu/feature/heart-valvesSee video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fMI4VcPiLAHonorable MentionsStory: A private mission to Venus aims to look for signs of life - A probe would bring samples of the planet’s atmosphere to EarthSource: ScienceNews.org Story by Lisa GrossmanLink: https://www.sciencenews.org/article/venus-life-signs-private-missionStory: 11 Emerging Construction Technology Trends in 2025Source: Construction News and Review Story by Alex RadchenkoLink: https://mycnr.com/guest-column/11-emerging-construction-technology-trends-in-2025/?form=MG0AV3Story: Common Mushroom Fiber May Protect Against Flu, Study FindsSource: ScienceAlert.com Story by David NieldLink: https://www.sciencealert.com/common-mushroom-fiber-may-protect-against-flu-study-findsStory: Physicists achieve fully optical readout of superconducting qubitsSource: Phys.org Story by Institute of Science and Technology AustriaLink: https://phys.org/news/2025-02-physicists-fully-optical-readout-superconducting.html

Show NotesStory 1: US team creates ‘holey’ battery with 180-degree flexibility for wearablesSource: InterestingEngineering.com Story by Christopher McFaddenLink: https://interestingengineering.com/energy/holey-battery-for-wearablesStory 2: Stretchable, flexible, recyclable. This plastic is fantasticSource: Princeton Engineering Story by John SullivanLink: https://engineering.princeton.edu/news/2024/12/12/stretchable-flexible-recyclable-plastic-fantasticStory 3: NASA's 'SPHEREx' infrared space telescope is launching this week [note, launched on February 28]. Here's why it's a big dealSource: Space.com Story by Sharmila KuthunurLink: https://www.space.com/space-exploration/missions/nasas-spherex-infrared-space-telescope-is-launching-this-week-heres-why-its-a-big-dealStory 4: The US military wants to explore blood biohacks to boost warfighter performance in extreme conditionsSource: Business Insider Story by Kelsey BakerLink: https://www.businessinsider.com/darpa-exploring-how-blood-biohacks-could-help-warfighters-2025-1

Computer America Stories 02/28/2025The next chapter: Skype Endshttps://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/blog/2025/02/28/the-next-chapter-moving-from-skype-to-microsoft-teams/ Microsoft launches native Mac app for Copilothttps://www.engadget.com/ai/microsoft-launches-native-mac-app-for-copilot-235945829.html Amazon’s subscription-based Alexa+ looks highly capable—and questionablehttps://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/02/amazons-subscription-based-alexa-looks-highly-capable-and-questionable/ Apple Launches the iPhone 16ehttps://www.nbcnews.com/select/shopping/apple-iphone-16e-preorder-rcna193702  Misc. Movie Time! The Best, Worst, and Everything Else Movies of 2024https://www.popzara.com/podcast/movie-time-the-best-worst-and-everything-else-movies-of-2024/

Show Notes 28 February 2025Story 1: This Chip Could Be the Massive Breakthrough We’ve Been Waiting for in Quantum ComputingSource: Popular Mechanics Story by Darren OrfLink: https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/a63872181/majorana-1-topological-qubit/See Microsoft’s official announcement here: https://news.microsoft.com/source/features/innovation/microsofts-majorana-1-chip-carves-new-path-for-quantum-computing/See Mircosoft’s video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSHmygPQukQ&t=18sSee also: https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/quantum/2025/02/19/microsoft-unveils-majorana-1-the-worlds-first-quantum-processor-powered-by-topological-qubits/See also: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/microsoft-s-majorana-1-what-a-new-state-of-matter-means-for-quantum-computing/ar-AA1znhjkStory 2: Scientists Reveal "Artificial Leaf" That Turns Carbon into Sustainable FuelsSource: Futurism.com Story by Noor Al-SibaiLink: https://futurism.com/artificial-leaf-carbon-sustainable-fuelSee research paper here: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41929-025-01292-y*Story 3: AI-designed chips are so weird that humans cannot really understand them — but they perform better than anything we've createdSource: LiveScience.com Story by Tim DantonLink: https://www.livescience.com/technology/computing/humans-cannot-really-understand-them-weird-ai-designed-chip-is-unlike-any-other-made-by-humans-and-performs-much-betterSee research paper here: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-54178-1#Fig1Story 4: Biohybrid hand gestures with human muscles - Complex finger movements made possible with rolls of tendon like human muscle tissueSource: University of Tokyo Press ReleaseLink: https://www.u-tokyo.ac.jp/focus/en/press/z0508_00386.htmlSee video here: https://www.msn.com/en-xl/news/other/terminator-like-hand-that-uses-lab-grown-muscle-tissue-developed/vi-AA1zddSI

Story 1: Scientists develop a compact camera that can identify objects at the speed of lightSource: Digital Camera World Story by Leonie HelmLink: https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/cameras/scientists-develop-a-compact-camera-that-can-identify-objects-at-the-speed-of-lightSee the research paper here: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adp0391See video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfgzAGpwHv4Story 2: This Solar-Powered Reactor Sucks CO2 From the Air and Turns It into FuelSource: Gizmodo.com Story by Margherita BassiLink: https://gizmodo.com/this-solar-powered-reactor-sucks-co2-from-the-air-and-turns-it-into-fuel-2000563558See the research paper here: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41560-025-01714-yStory 3: Engineers develop a soft robot that crawls, climbs, and shape-shifts to move in new directionsSource: TechXplore.com Story from Seoul National UniversityLink: https://techxplore.com/news/2025-02-soft-robot-climbs-shifts.html#google_vignetteSee also the research paper here: https://www.cell.com/cell-reports-physical-science/fulltext/S2666-3864(25)00047-5Story 4: New assistive device enhances grasping for people with spinal cord injuriesSource: UC Berkeley Engineering News Page Story by Marni ElleryLink: https://engineering.berkeley.edu/news/2025/02/new-assistive-device-enhances-grasping-for-people-with-spinal-cord-injuries/Honorable MentionsStory: A spine-zapping implant helped 3 people with a muscle-wasting disease walk betterSource: AP News Service Story by Lauran NeergaardLink: https://apnews.com/article/spinal-muscular-atrophy-stimulate-neurodegenerative-826a3ea658d4daa36b6b0671b162af3cStory: Scientists Invent Device That Straps to Any Car's Tailpipe, Transforming Exhaust Into ElectricitySource: Futurism.com Story by Frank LandymoreLink: https://futurism.com/the-byte/device-tailpipe-exhaust-electricityStory: Photon-powered quantum battery breakthrough could boost solar cell efficiencySource: Interesting Engineering Story by Aman TripathiLink: https://interestingengineering.com/energy/photon-powered-quantum-batteryStory: New holistic Apple Health Study launches today [February 14] in the Research appSource: Apple NewsroomLink: https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2025/02/new-holistic-apple-health-study-launches-today-in-the-research-app

Show Notes 14 February 2025Story 1: New fabric can heat up more than 50 degrees to keep people warm in ultracold weatherSource: LiveScience.com Story by Victoria AtkinsonLink: https://www.livescience.com/chemistry/new-fabric-can-heat-up-almost-50-degrees-to-keep-people-warm-in-ultracold-weatherSee the team’s research paper here: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s42114-024-00994-4Story 2: MIT engineers develop breakthrough technology that could change the way we process \[recycled\] aluminumSource: Yahoo\!Tech "Today in Tech" Story by Jeremiah BudinLink: https://www.yahoo.com/tech/mit-engineers-develop-breakthrough-technology-110053323.html?guccounter=1See also: https://www.techexplorist.com/capturing-recycling-aluminum-manufacturing-waste/95378/See also: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acssuschemeng.4c07268Story 3: Machine Learning Designs Materials as Strong as Steel and as Light as FoamSource: Technology Networks Story from University of TorontoLink: https://www.technologynetworks.com/applied-sciences/news/machine-learning-designs-materials-as-strong-as-steel-and-as-light-as-foam-395414See also: https://advanced.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/adma.202410651Story 4: New Smart Glasses Use Insect Vision Tech to Restore Full 3D Visual Experience - offering treatment of macular degenerationSource: WonderfulEngineering.com Story by Jannat Un NisaLink: https://wonderfulengineering.com/new-smartglasses-use-insect-vision-tech-to-restore-full-3d-visual-experience/Check out the great video on the opening page of the company behind this technology, see: https://www.soliddd.com/For more info, interviews, reviews, news, radio, podcasts, video, and more, check out ComputerAmerica.com!

Show Notes 7 February 2025Story 1: More Sustainable Tires in Sight as Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and Bridgestone Team UpSource: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Story by JoAnna WendelLink: https://www.pnnl.gov/news-media/more-sustainable-tires-sight-pnnl-and-bridgestone-teamStory 2: Scientists Develop Printable Droplet Laser DisplaysSource: Photonics SpectraLink: https://www.photonics.com/Articles/Scientists_Develop_Printable_Droplet_Laser/a70594Story 3: US firm to bury nuclear reactors 1-mile underground to power data centersSource: InterestingEngineering.com Story by Aman TripathiLink: https://interestingengineering.com/energy/bury-nuclear-reactor-1-mile-undergroundSee also: https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/why-this-startup-wants-to-bury-nuclear-reactors-a-mile-underground/See also: https://deepfission.com/Story 4: New biomaterial offers treatment for central nervous system injuriesSource: ScientistLive.comLink: https://www.scientistlive.com/content/new-biomaterial-offers-treatment-central-nervous-system-injuriesSee also: https://www.bath.ac.uk/announcements/piezoelectric-biomaterial-offers-new-treatment-potential-for-central-nervous-system-injuries/For more info, interviews, reviews, news, radio, podcasts, video, and more, check out ComputerAmerica.com!

Show Notes 31 January 2025Story 1: Scientists use plasma to enable futuristic 3D-printed food — here's how it could revolutionize an industrySource: The Cool Down Story by Leslie SattlerLink: https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/nutrition/scientists-use-plasma-to-enable-futuristic-3d-printed-food-here-s-how-it-could-revolutionize-an-industry/ar-AA1wXca4See also: https://phys.org/news/2024-12-3d-pea-gels-potential-food.htmlSee also: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2212429224004802?via%3DihubStory 2: Koreans Create EV Battery That Puts Out Its Own Fires and Holds 87% Power After 1000 CyclesSource: CarScoops.com Story by Brad AndersonLink: https://www.carscoops.com/2025/01/korean-researches-create-ev-battery-that-can-extinguish-itself-in-a-fire/See also: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/smll.202406200Story 3: Quantum computers that are actually useful and 1 step closer thanks to new silicon processor that could pack millions of qubitsSource: LiveScience.com Story by Owen HughesLink: https://www.livescience.com/technology/computing/quantum-computers-that-are-actually-useful-1-step-closer-thanks-to-new-silicon-processor-that-could-pack-millions-of-qubitsSee also: https://www.equal1.com/post/equal1-new-major-quantum-computing-breakthroughStory 4: New knit haptic sleeve simulates realistic touchSource: Stanford University News Link: https://news.stanford.edu/stories/2024/12/new-knit-haptic-sleeve-simulates-realistic-touchSee also: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/scirobotics.ado3887For more info, interviews, reviews, news, radio, podcasts, video, and more, check out ComputerAmerica.com!