The wing dynamics of flying animal species, such as birds, bats, and insects, have long been a source of inspiration for the development of flying robots. While the muscle-driven wing flapping of birds and bats is well understood, the mechanisms behind the wing movements of many insects, particularly herbivorous species like rhinoceros beetles, have remained
Technology
The increasing popularity of e-commerce has led to a significant rise in parcel deliveries worldwide. In 2022, a staggering 161 billion parcels were delivered, a number that has doubled in just four years. Australia, in particular, has seen a surge in online shopping, with 5.6 million households making monthly purchases online in 2023. This trend
As France moves towards phasing out new combustion engine cars by 2035, the auto industry in the country is experiencing a mix of optimism and pessimism. While regions like the north of France are seeing the emergence of a “Battery Valley” with the construction of battery gigafactories, workers at parts suppliers in other areas are
In the realm of artificial intelligence (AI), a fierce battle is being fought between companies that advocate for open-source AI and those that prefer closed-source AI. Open-source AI proponents believe in transparency and community collaboration, while closed-source AI supporters prioritize intellectual property protection and profit maximization. Meta, the parent company of Facebook, recently made a
New Zealand’s ambitious plans for introducing hydrogen-powered trucks suffered a major setback with the recent failure of a deal involving Hyzon, a US company specializing in hydrogen fuel-cell trucks. The removal of a significant government rebate scheme further complicates the transition to green hydrogen, casting doubts on the feasibility of the much-touted energy technology. Despite
In a recent study published in PNAS Nexus, researchers from Stanford University have proposed a revolutionary approach to achieving the United Nations climate goal of net zero emissions by 2050. The technology involves the use of heat-absorbing firebricks assembled in insulated containers to store heat generated by renewable sources like solar or wind power. These
The integration of cellulose nanofibrils in 3D-printed concrete technology has the potential to revolutionize the construction industry. A research team led by engineers at the University of Virginia School of Engineering and Applied Science has delved into the possibilities of enhancing the benefits of 3D-printed concrete through the use of cellulose nanofibrils. Cellulose nanofibrils, derived
The recent lawsuit filed by the United States against TikTok has brought to light serious allegations regarding the popular video-sharing app’s practices when it comes to handling children’s personal information. The Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission have accused TikTok of violating the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) by collecting data about young
Artificial intelligence (AI) technology has seen rapid advancement in recent years, especially with the rise of generative AI applications. However, the scalability of existing digital hardware, such as CPUs, GPUs, and ASICs, has been pushed to its limits. This has led to active research into analog hardware specialized for AI computation. The Potential of Analog
Software development is a complex process that often involves dealing with numerous files and millions of lines of code. Debugging, the process of finding and correcting faults in code, is a crucial aspect of software development. However, traditional methods of debugging, such as manual fault-finding, can be time-consuming and inefficient. Developers often spend a significant