Technology
Here we bring you all the latest technological news both here on Earth and in space.
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Gold Nanoclusters Could Supercharge Quantum Computers
Gail McCormick / Penn State / SciTechDaily
Researchers found that gold “super atoms” can behave like the atoms in top-tier quantum systems—only far easier to scale.
These tiny clusters can be customized at the molecular level, offering a powerful, tunable foundation for the next generation of quantum device
Gold Clusters as Scalable Quantum Building Blocks… Quantum computers, sensors, and other advanced technologies depend heavily on the behavior of electrons, especially the way they spin. One of the most precise approaches for high-performance quantum systems uses the spin characteristics of electrons in atoms held within a gas. These gaseous setups offer exceptional accuracy but are extremely difficult to scale into larger quantum devices, including full quantum computers. A research team from Penn State and Colorado State has now shown that a gold cluster can imitate the behavior of these trapped gas-phase atoms, making it possible to access similar spin properties in a format that can be expanded far more easily.
“For the first time, we show that gold nanoclusters have the same key spin properties as…Read more here.
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The 1950s Material Making a Massive Comeback To Transform Modern Computing
By University of Warwick – SciTechDaily
Researchers are investigating hole mobility in compressively strained germanium on silicon to improve the performance of next-generation electronics.
Scientists from the University of Warwick and the National Research Council of Canada have set a new record by creating and measuring the highest “hole mobility” ever observed in a material that works with standard silicon technology.
Today’s semiconductor devices are typically built from Silicon (Si). As these components become increasingly compact and tightly packed, they generate more heat and begin to approach fundamental performance limits. Germanium (Ge), which appeared in some of the earliest transistors of the 1950s, is gaining renewed attention as researchers look for ways to take advantage of its stronger electronic performance while still relying on the well-established manufacturing methods used for silicon.
According to a new study published in Materials Today, a research group headed by…Read more here.
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The Weird Hybrid Material That Could Turbocharge Photonic Computing
New York University / SciTechDaily
Researchers have created gyromorphs, a new material that controls light more effectively than any structure used so far in photonic chips.
These hybrid patterns combine order and disorder in a way that stops light from entering from any angle. The discovery solves major limitations found in quasicrystals and other engineered materials. It may open the door to faster, more efficient light-powered computers.
Light-Based Computers and the Need for Better Materials… Researchers are working on computers that use light, or photons, instead of electrical currents to store information and perform calculations. Machines built around light have the potential to run faster and use far less energy than today’s electronics.
One of the biggest obstacles in building these systems—still an emerging technology—is the difficulty of redirecting extremely small light signals inside a chip without reducing their strength. Solving this requires new approaches to materials design. These devices must include a lightweight substance capable of blocking unwanted light arriving from every direction, an ability provided by an “isotropic bandgap…Read more here.
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Why Your AI Therapist Might Be Doing More Harm Than Good
By Kevin Stacey, Brown University – SciTechDaily
Summary: A Brown University study shows that AI chatbots marketed for mental health support often violate core ethical principles, even when instructed to use established therapy techniques.
AI mental health bots often violate ethical norms, prompting calls for stronger oversight.
As increasing numbers of people seek mental health support from ChatGPT and other large language models (LLMs), new research has found that these systems, despite being instructed to follow evidence-based therapeutic methods, often fail to meet ethical standards set by organizations such as the American Psychological Association.
The study, led by computer scientists at Brown University in collaboration with mental health professionals, revealed that LLM-based chatbots can commit multiple ethical breaches. These include mishandling crisis situations, offering misleading feedback that reinforces harmful self-perceptions, and…Read more here.
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