Technology
Here we bring you all the latest technological news both here on Earth and in space.
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New Artificial Neurons Physically Replicate the Brain
By University of Southern California – SciTechDaily
A breakthrough in neuromorphic computing could lower the energy consumption of chips and accelerate progress toward artificial general intelligence (AGI).
Researchers from the USC Viterbi School of Engineering and the School of Advanced Computing have created artificial neurons that closely mimic the complex electrochemical behavior of real brain cells. Their breakthrough, described in Nature Electronics, represents a major step forward in neuromorphic computing. This new approach could dramatically shrink chip size, cut energy use by several orders of magnitude, and bring us closer to achieving artificial general intelligence (AGI).
Unlike standard digital processors or existing silicon-based neuromorphic chips that only simulate neural activity, these artificial neurons physically reproduce the analog processes of biological neurons. In the same way that neurochemicals trigger brain activity, specific chemicals can now be used to initiate computation in brain-inspired, or neuromorphic, hardware. Because they replicate the…Read more here.
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Mystery Solved: Scientists Discover Why Perovskite Solar Cells “Melt”
University of Colorado at Boulder SciTechDaily
Scientists have revealed how microscopic defects trigger catastrohic failure in perovskite solar cells.
A research collaboration led by RASEI Fellow Mike McGehee at the University of Colorado Boulder, together with scientists from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), has published new findings in the journal Joule that could help overcome a major challenge in scaling up the production of next-generation perovskite solar cells.
To understand the issue, picture a line of garden hoses connected end to end. Water flows from the faucet through each hose and exits through the final nozzle. When all sections are clear, the flow is steady and strong. This setup is similar to how solar cells are linked together in a panel: sunlight generates electrons (the “water”) that move through each cell to produce electricity.
Now imagine one hose becomes kinked. The flow stops at that point, but pressure from the faucet continues to build until the weak spot bursts. Read more here.
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What Happens When a Semiconductor Becomes a Superconductor?
New York University / SciTechDaily
Researchers have turned germanium, a common semiconductor, into a superconductor through precise atomic engineering. The advance could revolutionize future electronics and quantum circuits by eliminating energy loss.
For years, researchers have sought to design semiconductor materials that can also act as superconductors, thereby dramatically improving the performance and efficiency of technologies such as computer chips and solar cells. Combining the two properties could open the door to faster, energy-saving devices and help power next-generation quantum systems.
Turning this vision into reality has proven difficult. Materials such as silicon and germanium, the foundation of today’s electronics, have resisted efforts to achieve superconductivity because maintaining the precise atomic structure required for seamless electron movement is exceptionally challenging.
A team of international scientists has now taken a major step forward. In a recent Nature…Read more here.
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AI Is Learning to Be Selfish, Study Warns
By Carnegie Mellon University – SciTechDaily
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University have discovered that certain AI models can develop self-seeking behavior.
A new study from Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Computer Science suggests that as artificial intelligence systems become more advanced, they also tend to behave more selfishly.
Researchers from the university’s Human-Computer Interaction Institute (HCII) discovered that large language models (LLMs) capable of reasoning show lower levels of cooperation and are more likely to influence group behavior in negative ways. In simple terms, the better an AI is at reasoning, the less willing it is to work with others.
As people increasingly turn to AI for help in resolving personal disputes, offering relationship advice, or answering sensitive social questions, this tendency raises concern. Systems designed to reason may end up promoting choices that favor individual gain rather than mutual understanding.
“There’s a growing trend of research called anthropomorphism in AI,” said Yuxuan Li, a Ph.D…Read more here.
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