Synthetic neurons that mimic human processes could lead to smarter robotics

Scientists 'mimic real biological processes' using synthetic neurons
Credit: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2025). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2414879122

Artificially engineered biological processes, such as perception systems, remain an elusive target for organic electronics experts due to the reliance of human senses on an adaptive network of sensory neurons, which communicate by firing in response to environmental stimuli.

A new collaboration between Northwestern University and Georgia Tech has unlocked new potential for the field by creating a novel high-performance organic electrochemical neuron (OECN) that responds within the frequency range of human neurons...

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The hidden power of the smallest microquasars

Researchers found for the first time evidence that even microquasars containing a low-mass star are efficient particle accelerators, which leads to a significant impact on the interpretation of the abundance of gamma rays in the universe.

Our home planet is bombarded with particles from outer space all the time. And while we are mostly familiar with the rocky meteorites originating from within our solar system that create fascinating shooting stars in the night sky, it’s the smallest particles that help scientists to understand the nature of the universe. Subatomic particles such as electrons or protons arriving from interstellar space and beyond are one of the fastest particles known in the universe and known as cosmic rays.

The origins and the acceleration mechanisms of the mo...

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Innovative one-minute video game boasts 80% success rate in diagnosing autism

child viewed from behind as they copy the movements of a video avatar on a screen in front of them
The kids were asked to watch and copy dance-like movements performed by a video game character on the screen in front of them. 
Image courtesy of Nottingham Trent University

A new one-minute video game is able to accurately and efficiently identify children with autism from those who have ADHD or are neurotypical.

Developed by researchers at Kennedy Krieger Institute and Nottingham Trent University, the tool, called the Computerized Assessment of Motor Imitation (CAMI), uses motion-tracking technology to detect differences in motor imitation skills. The research is published in The British Journal of Psychiatry.

In the study, 183 children, ages 7–13, were asked to copy the dance-like movements of a video avatar for one minute, while their imitation performance was measured using ...

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Case study demonstrates practical applications for quantum machine learning

CSIRO shows practical application for quantum machine learning
Schematic illustration of the data processing procedure, emphasizing self-adaptive quantum kernel (SAQK) PCA. Credit: Advanced Science (2025). DOI: 10.1002/advs.202411573

Quantum researchers from CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, have demonstrated the potential for quantum computing to significantly improve how we solve complex problems involving large datasets, highlighting the potential of using quantum in areas such as real-time traffic management, agricultural monitoring, healthcare, and energy optimization.

By leveraging the unique properties of quantum computing, like superposition and entanglement, researchers compressed and analyzed a large dataset with speed, accuracy, and efficiency that traditional computers cannot match.

The work is published in the journa...

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