Adaptive Ferroelectric Materials show Promise for Energy-Efficient Supercomputing

Artistic rendering showing light pulses striking a computer chip.
Artistic rendering representing light pulses yielding adaptive transformations in nanodomain structures applicable to neuromorphic computing. (Image by Argonne National Laboratory/Haidan Wen and Ellen Weiss.)

Researchers have revealed an adaptive response with a ferroelectric device, which responds to light pulses in a way that resembles the plasticity of neural networks. This behavior could find application in energy-efficient microelectronics.

“Today’s supercomputers and data centers demand many megawatts of power,” said Haidan Wen, a physicist at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory. “One challenge is to find materials for more energy-efficient microelectronics...

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Are Nearby Planets Sending Radio Signals to Each Other?

Illustration of star with two orbiting planets communicating with radio signals
Illustration showing communication between planets beyond our solar system looking from the perspective of Earth. New research using the Allen Telescope Array looked for this type of communication, similar to communication between Earth and our rovers on Mars, in the TRAPPIST-1 star system. Credit: Zayna Sheikh

Researchers have developed a new method using the Allen Telescope Array to search for interplanetary radio communication in the TRAPPIST-1 star system.

A new technique allows astronomers to home in on planets beyond our solar system that are in line with each other and with Earth to search for radio signals similar, for example, to ones used to communicate with the rovers on Mars...

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Hubble Captures Intricacies of R Aquarii, a Symbiotic Binary Star roughly 700 Light-Years from Earth

Hubble's view on symbiotic binary star R Aquarii

The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has provided a dramatic and colorful close-up look at one of the most rambunctious stars in our galaxy, weaving a huge spiral pattern among the stars. Hubble’s images capture its details and its evolution is featured by a unique timelapse video.

Residing only roughly 700 light-years from Earth in the constellation Aquarius, R Aquarii is a symbiotic binary star: a type of binary star system consisting of a white dwarf and a red giant that is surrounded by a large, dynamic nebula. As the closest symbiotic star to Earth, R Aquarii was studied by none other than Edwin Hubble in an effort to understand the mechanism that powers the system.

R Aquarii undergoes violent eruptions that blast out huge filaments of glowing gas...

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Researchers Develop System Cat’s Eye-Inspired Vision for Autonomous Robotics

Optical simulation of the characteristics of the feline eye–inspired vision system

Feline-inspired vision technology enhances accuracy in challenging environments, paving the way for smarter, more efficient autonomous systems

Researchers have unveiled a vision system inspired by feline eyes to enhance object detection in various lighting conditions. Featuring a unique shape and reflective surface, the system reduces glare in bright environments and boosts sensitivity in low-light scenarios. By filtering unnecessary details, this technology significantly improves the performance of single-lens cameras, representing a notable advancement in robotic vision capabilities.

Autonomous systems like drones, self-driving cars, and robots are becoming more common in our daily lives...

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