The Melbourne City Council recently made the decision to terminate its contracts with operators of shared e-scooter schemes due to safety concerns. This move has raised questions about the long-term impacts on sustainable transport and environmental goals. Despite the positive effects of reducing emissions by 400 metric tons since the introduction of e-scooters in the
Technology
Donald Trump’s recent shift towards embracing cryptocurrency at the Bitcoin 2024 conference in Nashville has caught the attention of many, especially given his previous skepticism towards digital assets. This newfound enthusiasm for crypto begs the question of whether it is a strategic move to appeal to a specific voter base or a genuine ideological shift.
In a bold move to challenge the dominance of Apple and Google in the mobile app store market, Fortnite-creator Epic Games has launched its own app store. The Epic Games Store aims to provide users with an alternative to the established app stores run by tech giants, allowing them to directly access Epic’s games on
Lithium-metal batteries have long been hailed as the next big thing in battery technology, promising significantly higher energy densities than the current lithium-ion batteries. However, one of the most significant limitations of lithium-metal cells has been their short lifespan. Researchers at the University of Science and Technology of China, in collaboration with other institutes, have
Robotic grippers have come a long way in recent years, with researchers worldwide designing various models capable of picking up and manipulating different types of objects. While grippers inspired by human hands are known for their effectiveness in tackling complex manipulation tasks, they often come with advanced mechanisms and programming tools that make them impractical
Cognitive flexibility, the ability to rapidly switch between different thoughts and mental concepts, is a crucial aspect of human intelligence. This ability enables individuals to multitask, learn new skills quickly, and adapt to new situations. While artificial intelligence (AI) systems have made significant advancements, they still lack the same level of cognitive flexibility as humans.
Solar energy has long been hailed as a renewable and sustainable alternative to traditional fossil fuels. With the rise of technology, there have been continuous efforts to improve the efficiency and scalability of solar energy capture. One such innovation is the development of luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs), which aim to enhance the collection and concentration
Having airtight homes is crucial for ensuring comfort, lower energy bills, and healthier indoor air quality for residents. The new research conducted by CSIRO has shown that Australian homes built in the last four years are up to 50% more airtight compared to those tested in 2015. This is a positive finding as it indicates
Wireless internet has become an integral part of our daily lives, serving as a crucial tool for various activities such as professional communication, web browsing, and entertainment streaming. However, the increasing demand for wireless internet access has led to a surge in power consumption, contributing to the rise of carbon emissions globally. As a result,
Soft robotics have been a growing field of interest due to their flexibility and adaptability in various applications. The traditional push puppet toys, with their ability to move or collapse with a simple push, have served as an inspiration for a team of engineers at UCLA. This team has developed a new class of tunable