Category Physics

The secret to building superconducting quantum computers with massive processing power may be an ordinary telecommunications technology – optical fiber.

Physicists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have measured and controlled a superconducting quantum bit (qubit) using light-conducting fiber instead of metal electrical wires, paving the way to packing a million qubits into a quantum computer rather than ...

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Researchers developed a deep learning neural network to aid the design of soft-bodied robots. The algorithm optimizes the arrangement of sensors on the robot, enabling it to complete tasks as efficiently as possible.

There are some tasks that traditional robots — the rigid and metallic kind — simply aren’t cut out for. Soft-bodied robots, on the other hand, may be able to interact with people more safely or slip into tight spaces with ease. But for robots to reliably complete their programmed duties, they need to know the whereabouts of all their body parts...

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Engineers have developed self-cooling fabrics from polyethylene, a material commonly used in plastic bags. They estimate that the new fabric may be more sustainable than cotton and other common textiles....Read More

Technology paves way for intelligent solar cells, other highly efficient devices programmed at the macro and nano scale. Engineers created light-activated materials that execute precise movements and form complex shapes without the need for wires, motors or other energy sources. The research could lead to smart light-driven systems such as high-efficiency solar cells that automatically follow the sun’s direction.

Researchers at Tufts University School of Engineering have created light-activated composite devices...

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