Here is the daily technology #threadcast for 4/13/24. The goal is to make this a technology "reddit".
Drop all question, comments, and articles relating to #technology and the future. The goal is make it a technology center.
Here is the daily technology #threadcast for 4/13/24. The goal is to make this a technology "reddit".
Drop all question, comments, and articles relating to #technology and the future. The goal is make it a technology center.
The FOunder of E-Cash is still alive and giving talks. He was a contemporary of the famous Satoshi Nakamoto.
https://inleo.io/@shortsegments/bitcoin-was-not-the-first-cryptocurrency-4fu?referral=shortsegments
https://inleo.io/@shortsegments/bitcoin-was-not-the-first-cryptocurrency-4fu?referral=shortsegments
BItcoin was not the first cryptocurrency, E-Cash was and it is still used in peer to peer transactions!
https://inleo.io/@shortsegments/bitcoin-was-not-the-first-cryptocurrency-4fu?referral=shortsegments
Fusion device wall mystery could be unlocked for pure plasma with new nuclear research
The project is expected to provide data on tungsten ion properties under fusion-relevant plasma conditions.
A top global nuclear body has launched a new project to assemble, validate, and distribute data on tungsten impurity processes in fusion plasmas. International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) new five-year Coordinated Research Project (CRP F43028) could help advance nuclear fusion energy development.
Planned to be used as wall material in next-step fusion devices (even in ITER), tungsten offers favourable thermal and mechanical properties for future fusion reactors.
However, there are speculations that interactions between plasma particles and tungsten walls can lead to erosion, which can release tungsten impurities into the plasma.
Impurities in plasma core can increase radiative energy losses
IAEA highlighted that these impurities in plasma core can severely impact stability and performance by increasing radiative energy losses and triggering disruptive instabilities.
The new project would work on understanding the behavior of tungsten ions in fusion plasmas to mitigate risks.
Slovenian scientists develop clean cooling technology, replace toxic refrigerants
While traditional refrigerants rely on change of state from liquid to gas and visa versa to power cooling, solid materials like a nickel-titanium alloy only require mechanical stress to do so, offering a sustainable alternative.
Slovenian researchers are developing a new approach to cooling technology that offers a more sustainable way to stay cool in a warming world without relying on harmful refrigerants.
The vapor-compression technology used in most fridges and air conditioners is over a century old, relatively inefficient, and harmful to the environment. Although the most damaging refrigerants were banned in 1989, their replacements—hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)—were found to have greenhouse gas effects thousands of times greater than Carbon dioxide.
I wonder if this is being used for cryptocurrency mining, to cool the miners?
#shortsegments #bitsocial
Now, scientist Jaka Tušek, assistant professor at University of Ljubljana’s faculty of mechanical engineering in Slovenia, and his team are testing a technology that is aimed at replacing toxic refrigerants with metal tubes. Tušek’s study is in extension to a EU research project titled SUPERCOOL which was conducted at the university from 2019 to 2023.
Outdated cooling systems come with a hidden climate cost
Tušek points out that if just 2.2 pounds of certain refrigerants escape into the atmosphere, the environmental impact is comparable to driving a car for about 18,600 miles. Because of this, hydrofluorocarbons are now being phased out. However, natural alternatives like ammonia and isobutane come with their own set of challenges, including toxicity, flammability, and reduced efficiency in hot climates.
!summarize #bci #brain #technology
NOw that's a nice advancement.
#shortsegments
!summarize #google #agi #gemini #ai
China’s Unitree to livestream world’s first robot boxing match, G1 humanoids to take part
Unitree has announced that it is planning to livestream what could be the world’s first robot boxing match very soon.
Chinese robotics company Unitree has announced that it will soon livestream a boxing match between two humanoid robots. According to reports, the company plans to use a pair of G1 robots for the fight.
Unitree has already released a promotional video to support the announcement, showing its robots sparing with a human and another robot. The company has announced that the robot-versus-robot fight, entitled “Unitree Iron Fist King: Awakening!” will take place “in about a month.”
No other information has been released about the planned fight. It is also unclear exactly which models of Unitree’s robots will be used for the match.
The 4.3-foot (1.32 m) tall Unitree G1 is the most likely candidate for the fight. Another option is the company’s H1 model, which stands at 5 feet 11 inches (1.8 meters) and could also appear.
Robot boxing is now a thing
This model features greater computing power and smoother motion control; it’s considered the company’s flagship robot. Whatever the case, the promo video that Unitree released gives us a flavor of what such a fight could look like.
As previously mentioned, the first section of the video shows a Unitree robot fighting a human opponent.
New perovskite solar cell retains 85% efficiency after operating for 1,000 hours at 185°F
The resulting cell produced a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 25.56%.
Scientists have developed a new type of perovskite solar cell (PSC) that can withstand high-temperature encapsulation processes. The PSC demonstrates remarkable resilience even in high heat conditions with the help of an innovative protective film.
With the initial efficiency of 25.56%, the solar cell retained 85% of its efficiency despite operating for upto 1,000 hours under conditions of 185°F (85°C) and 85% relative humidity.
Developed by researchers from UNIST Graduate School of Carbon Neutrality, in collaboration with Gyeongsang National University (GNU), the PSC replaces the conventional additive 4-tert-butylpyridine (tBP) with ethylene carbonate (EC) in the composition of the PSCs.
High efficiency
Researchers also revealed that while tBP improves efficiency, it significantly lowers the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the hole transport layer to below 80°C, compromising the stability of the cell in high-temperature environments. Reports highlighted that the The glass transition represents the point at which the hole transport layer becomes nearly liquid.
Quantum rain falls observed: Liquid behavior detected in ultracold gas
Surface tension is not just limited to normal liquids. It can also make ultracold atomic gases break into quantum droplets.
A team of European researchers has observed the spontaneous formation of droplets in an ultradilute quantum gas, driven by surface tension effects similar to those in classical liquids.
This is quite a rare phenomenon because quantum gases are millions of times less dense than liquids and typically lack the surface tension needed to hold droplets together. The formation of quantum droplets indicates that something highly unusual is happening at such low densities.
The findings could pave the way for new methods to control and manipulate quantum matter and contribute to the development of novel materials and quantum technologies.
Understanding the basics of surface tension
Before diving into the observation made by the researchers, you first need to understand three interconnected concepts.
The first is surface tension — a cohesive force at the surface of a liquid that pulls its molecules together, reducing the surface area. This occurs because molecules at the surface are attracted more strongly to each other than to the air above.
EV battery concept offers longer life, fast charging, slashes 96% wiring with EU project
Ultra-fast charging is achieved through a uniform cooling system and optimized charging algorithms.
A European Union-funded project, MARBEL, has unveiled a new electric vehicle (EV) battery concept, which is aimed at significantly extending battery lifespan through innovative second-life applications.
Coordinated by the Eurecat Technology Center, MARBEL’s focus on modular and eco-design principles could benefit the automotive industry by minimizing environmental impact and fostering a circular economy.
“The focus on circularity creates a pathway to more sustainable electric vehicle technology,” said Eduard Piqueras, MARBEL Project Coordinator at Eurecat.
“By optimizing battery performance, we address the main hurdles that hinder electric vehicles’ acceptance and adoption, such as limited range and lengthy charging times, enabling longer trips.”
Eco-design and advanced recovery strategies
The project’s prototypes prioritize ease of assembly and disassembly, with the goal of facilitating efficient repairs, reuse, and recyclability.
“The developed battery packs incorporate up to 60 percent of post-consumer recycled aluminium—equating to a savings of up to 777 kg of CO₂ emissions per pack,” noted the researchers in a press release.
Korean scientists achieve 23.64% efficiency with lift-off perovskite tandem solar cell
The innovative lift-off process involves coating a polyimide layer onto a glass substrate, fabricating the perovskite-CIGS tandem solar cell on top of it, and then separating the glass.
Scientists from Korea Institute of Energy Research (KIER) have announced that their new tandem solar cell has achieved a record efficiency of 23.64%. The new cell consists of a top layer of perovskite and a bottom based on copper, indium, gallium and diselenide (CIGS) technology.
Tandem solar cells combine two or more layers of different materials to capture more sunlight and boost efficiency. Each layer absorbs a different solar spectrum, allowing the device to convert more sunlight into electricity than traditional single-layer cells. The design improves performance and energy output.
According to KIER, its technology represents a world record for lightweight, flexible tandem perovskite-CIGS devices. However, an independent third-party entity has not yet confirmed the results.
“The lift-off process developed by the research team involves coating a polyimide layer onto a glass substrate, fabricating the perovskite-CIGS tandem solar cell on top of it, and then separating it from the glass,” KIER said in a statement.
New nanoscale brain sensor exhibits 96.4% accuracy in identifying neural signals
The new minuscule brain sensor, developed by Georgia Tech, uses microneedles to stay attached to the wearer, eliminating the need for conductive gel.
Researchers from Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) have developed a microscopic brain sensor which is so tiny that it can be placed in the small gap between your hair follicles on the scalp, slightly under the skin. The sensor is discreet enough not to be noticed and minuscule enough to be worn comfortably all day.
Brain sensors offer high-fidelity signals, allowing your brain to communicate directly with devices like computers, augmented reality (AR) glasses, or robotic limbs. This is part of what’s known as a Brain-Computer Interface (BCI).
To date, brain signals are typically captured non-invasively with electrodes mounted on the surface of the human scalp using conductive electrode gel for optimum impedance and data quality. However, these electrodes are generally uncomfortable to wear, especially when moving around.
While more invasive signal capture methods, such as brain implants, are possible, research by Georgia Tech sought to create sensors that are easily placed and reliably manufactured.
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An important step towards super-efficient devices
Many of the machines we use today, such as microwave ovens, smartphones, speakers, smart watches, work using resonators that amplify different waves (ex., sound waves, electromagnetic waves, etc).
However, the currently used resonators come with a big limitation. They continuously lose energy and need a constant power supply to remain active. Bound State in the Continuum (BIC) and Bound Band in the Continuum (BBIC) can change this.
With BIC inside resonators, a system can store energy without losing it, which could help in making more efficient devices that don’t need constant energy input. With BBIC, when multiple systems are connected, the trapped waves can still move through the system without losing energy. This could lead to devices that work longer and more efficiently.
The Harrisburg Bureau of Fire was called to the residence and, while they worked to put out the fire, police evacuated Shapiro and his family from the residence safely, Shapiro said.
“Thank God no one was injured and the fire was extinguished,” Shapiro said in a statement.
On Sunday, fire damage was visible on the residence's south side, primarily to a large room often used for entertaining crowds and art displays. There was still a police presence early Sunday afternoon as yellow tape cordoned off an alleyway and an officer led a dog outside a iron security fence.
State police are leading the investigation. The agency offered a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction.
The research will also experimentally assess the low and medium ionization stages of tungsten in the unresolved transition array (UTA) and quasi-continuum regions.
Tungsten-based materials considered promising plasma-facing materials
Multiple studies have also claimed that tungsten-based materials are considered to be one of the most promising plasma-facing materials, but there are still many problems in practical application.
Previously, researchers have stressed that plasma-facing materials are subjected to the multi-field coupling effect of thermal shock and multiple radiations, which requires tungsten-based materials to have not only good mechanical properties but also a certain resistance to irradiation.
Casap, in custody at the Waukesha County jail on a $1 million bond, is due in court next month to enter a plea. County prosecutors have offered a glimpse of the federal allegations, which were outlined in an FBI warrant unsealed Friday.
Federal authorities accuse Casap of planning his parents' murders, buying a drone and explosives, and sharing his plans with others, including a Russian speaker. His intentions are detailed in a three-page antisemitic manifesto praising Adolf Hitler. The warrant filed at the federal court in Milwaukee also contains excerpts of communications on TikTok and the Telegram messenger app.
Until now, it’s been considered a theoretical concept that could never occur in reality. However, for the first time, a team of Korean researchers has successfully realized BIC in a particle.
They performed an interesting experiment during which they trapped mechanical waves inside a single resonator. Here’s how they achieved this nearly impossible feat.
On Sunday, however, senior White House trade adviser Peter Navarro told NBC's "Meet the Press" they were "not exclusions," adding that the Trump administration could still impose tariffs on computer chips, according to the report.
Likewise, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick told ABC on Sunday that Trump could announce new tariffs on semiconductors "in the next month or two."
The assertions made by Navarro and Lutnick came the same day that China reacted to the exemptions, calling them a "small step by U.S. to correct its wrong practice of unilateral 'reciprocal tariffs.'" Trump on Wednesday increased tariffs on Chinese imports effectively to 145%.
Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives said in a note to investors Sunday that "the mass confusion created by this constant news flow out of the White House is dizzying for the industry and investors and creating massive uncertainty and chaos for companies trying to plan their supply chain, inventory and demand," the Times reported.
Tušek and his team are collaborating with a tech company from Ireland, as well as universities in Germany and Italy, to develop an advanced air conditioner based on the technology. The partnership has been named SMACool.
!summarize #carbon #carboncapture #technology
Nickel-titanium alloy can ensure cooling while remaining solid
Tušek notes that there are currently around two billion air conditioning units worldwide, and the IEA expects this number to nearly triple by 2050. This rapid growth, coupled with the fact that many air conditioning units are environmentally harmful, could contribute to a significant environmental crisis.
Cooling relies on the fundamental chemistry of phase changes, where matter shifts between different states—solid, liquid, or gas. In traditional cooling systems, the process of transforming from liquid to gas and back again drives the cooling cycle. However, certain materials, like the nickel-titanium alloy nitinol, can undergo a phase change while remaining in a solid state.
Published in the journal Energy & Environmental Science, the research reveals that in scaled-up applications, perovskite solar mini-modules with aperture areas of 25 and 100 cm2 demonstrated PCEs of 23.22% and 22.14%, respectively.
“The elevated glass transition temperature and robustly sequestered Li+ ions endow the devices with resilience against damp-heat conditions (85 °C/85% RH) for 1000 hours. Our findings signify a crucial leap towards commercialization by addressing thermal stability issues,” said researchers in the study.
The resulting cell produced a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 25.56%—the highest among tBP-free solar cells.
The study authors examined this process in great detail using numerical simulations and some experiments and noticed a type of capillary instability in action. They found that the breakdown happened in a way similar to the Plateau–Rayleigh instability of classical liquids.
“While the Plateau–Rayleigh instability is well-known in classical liquids and has also been observed in superfluid helium, it has never before been seen in atomic gases,” Chiara Fort, one of the study authors and a physicist at the University of Florence, said.
The study authors claim that their measurements not only deepen the understanding of this unusual liquid phase but also show the potential for creating quantum droplet arrays, which could be useful in future technologies such as hi-tech quantum sensors and simulators.
“These busbars can be easily assembled and disassembled with standard screwed fasteners, and their flexible formats have been refined to simplify assembly operations and withstand potential vibrations in the vehicle’s battery pack,” highlighted the researchers.
Real-time smart energy monitoring
The technological advancements extend to the battery’s internal management. The Battery Management System (BMS) incorporates wireless communication and real-time smart energy monitoring, which reduces weight, cost, and complexity.
An intelligent Smart Cell Manager (iSCM) provides localized cell monitoring and Bluetooth communication with the BMS and drastically reduces wiring lengths.
Furthermore, the project integrates advanced recovery strategies to reclaim high-purity graphite, lithium, nickel, manganese, and cobalt from used cells, adhering to European regulations on battery sustainability.
“By integrating eco-design principles such as modularity, second-life applications, and materials with a high percentage of recycled content, MARBEL has extended battery usage while maintaining material value, effectively reducing waste and advancing both sustainability and economic viability,” explained Violeta Vargas, a researcher at Eurecat’s Waste, Energy, and Environmental Impact Unit.
!summarize #tesla #tariffs #battery
The new cell’s efficiency is impressive but somewhat lower than other record tandem cells developed in recent times. One example is that of the solar cell by King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) which reported 33.2% efficiency in April 2023.
China’s JinkoSolar also produced a 33.85% efficient perovskite tandem solar in January this year. However, the new tandem cell stands out not necessarily for its efficiency but for its novel and defect-reduced manufacturing process.
!summarize #dealers #automotive #laws #tesla
“I firmly believe in the power of collaboration, as many of today’s challenges are too complex for any individual to solve,” noted Yeo. “Therefore, I would like to express my gratitude to all the researchers in my group and the amazing collaborators who made this work possible. I will continue collaborating with the team to enhance BCI technology for rehabilitation and prosthetics,” he said.
Sensor classified neural signals with over 96% accuracy
The sensor developed by Georgia Tech uses extremely small microneedles which are imperceptible to the user. These sensors are also wireless and flexible, removing the need for conductive gel to work.
This combination of factors lets the sensor stay in place all day, even if the wearer walks, runs, or performs other daily tasks. Because of this, the sensor can get closer to brain signals and collect cleaner, more accurate data.
When tested, the new sensor successfully recorded and classified neural signals indicating the objects the user focused on in the environment with 96.4% accuracy. Wearers could also browse through phone logs and accept augmented reality video calls completely hands free because the sensor was picking up visual stimuli.
#shortsegments
#shortsegments