DARPA Wants to Build an Army of 100,000 AI Agents That Can Think and Act on Their Own
DARPA's new DICE program explores whether 100,000 self-organizing AI agents can adapt and improvise, yet still remain under human control.
Tech
Stalking Silence in Svalbard: Norse Scientists Unveil New Method for Tracking Silently Moving Objects in the Water
Norwegian scientists have unveiled a new method for tracking silently moving objects, including ships and whales, using fiber-optic cables.
Scientists Created a Psychedelic ‘Factory’ Inside a Single Plant
Scientists at the Weizmann Institute of Science have engineered Nicotiana benthamiana, a fast-growing relative of tobacco, to produce five different psychedelic compounds.
This Color-Changing Material Could Give Robots a New Way to Detect Touch
Engineers at Queen Mary University of London have created a tactile sensor, described in a study published in Science Advances, that allows robots to detect touch using a simple camera.
Darkest Black Ever? New “Ultra-Black” Automotive Coating with Carbon Nanotubes Absorbs over 99% of Visible Light
To create the darkest black, scientists invented an ultra-black carbon nanotube automotive coating that absorbs over 99% of visible light.
Holographic Breakthrough: This New Futuristic 3D Imaging System Overcomes a Longstanding Problem for Holographic Tech
A new 3D image projection system marks a major step toward overcoming a longstanding problem for holographic technology.
Art Fraudsters Beware: Science Has Found a Way to Tell a Fake Van Gogh from a Real One
A new forgery identification method using surface "texture" analysis has identified authentic artworks by van Gogh and at least one fake.
“We Must Act Now”: Congress Warns of Potential Threat in New Effort to Ban A.I. From Making Life-and-Death Military Decisions
Proposed "HALO Act" would require human oversight of AI weapons, ban autonomous nuclear decisions, and impose new Pentagon AI safeguards.
“SpiderCam, SpiderCam, Does Whatever a Spider Can?” 3D Camera Inspired by Jumping Spider is First to Operate Below One Watt
Northwestern engineers have unveiled an energy-efficient camera called SpiderCam that estimates depth in the same way that jumping spiders do.
“Explore a Scene from Any Vantage Point You Want”: 3D Volumetric Video Breakthrough Means Streaming in 3D May Soon Be a Reality
A 3D volumetric video breakthrough overcoming previous technological limitations could finally enable true 3D streaming on everyday devices.
Experts Warn This ‘Invisible’ Surveillance System is Already Built Into WiFi
Many people believe that revoking certain microphone privileges on their phones or smart devices is enough to avoid digital surveillance; however, a new study from Germany shows that this is not the case.
“They Would Be Able to ‘See,’ ‘Hear,’ and ‘Think’”: Laser-Powered Ceramic Engines Could Drive Futuristic Intelligent 6G Networks
Chinese scientists claim they've tested a visible-light, laser-based ceramic engine that could enable AI-based intelligent 6G networks.
A New Solar-Powered Device Could Bring Clean Drinking Water to Millions Using Sunlight and Food Dye
Described in the journal npj Clean Water, the system combines several proven disinfection methods into one compact device.
Latest Research Reveals the Hidden ‘Light and Dark Sides’ of Gaming—and Why Both Are True
Gaming’s impact isn’t simply good or bad—new research reveals how it shapes mental health, behavior, and society in complex ways.
Ukraine Says It Captured a Russian Position Using Only Unmanned Systems—A Glimpse of Future Warfare
Ukraine claims it captured a Russian position using only unmanned systems, signaling a major shift in the future of warfare.
Bottom’s Up! Scientists Turn a Kentucky Bourbon Byproduct into a ‘Super’ Supercapacitor
Scientists have invented a 'super' supercapacitor made from bourbon stillage that stores 25 times more energy than current devices
This New Invention Will Let Robots Work Directly Inside a Failed Nuclear Reactor
Tokyo scientists have developed a resilient Wi-Fi robot controller chip that can withstand the ultra-high radiation inside a nuclear reactor
Dolphin-Shaped Robot Skims Oil From Water Using Sea-Urchin-Inspired Technology
Researchers at RMIT University designed a small, remote-controlled robot that uses a sea urchin-inspired filter to remove oil from water.
New Research Finds AI Labels Can Backfire, Making Misinformation Seem More Credible
New study finds labeling AI-generated content can backfire, making misinformation seem more credible online.
Voyager Technologies Funds Max Space to Build Off-World Habitats for the Moon and Beyond
Defense and Space company Voyager Technologies has announced a strategic investment in off-world habitat designer Max Space.
163-Year-Old Wreckage of Historic ‘USS Monitor’ Revealed in Haunting New Imagery with Cutting-Edge Sonar Tech
State-of-the-art technology has revealed the 19th-century wreckage site of the USS Monitor in stunning new highest resolution images.
Engineers Create Full-Color Solar Windows Without Reducing Energy Generation
Korean scientists have created a tunable, full-color solar window that does not lose its energy generation capability regardless of color.
“A Shift in Mindset Away from the Plastic Age”: This Advanced Material Actually Gets Stronger When It’s Wet
Scientists have invented an advanced material that gets stronger when wet that they believe could replace single-use plastic cups and bottles
China Advances in BCI Race with 50+ Human Implants, Real-Time Chinese Speech Decoding
A global race to develop a competitive brain-computer interface is heating up between the United States and China.
X’s “For You” Algorithm May Be Able to Shift Political Views Permanently, New Study Finds
Study finds X’s algorithm can shift political views and influence beliefs long after exposure, raising concerns about hidden effects.
Are AI Agents Hiring Humans to Do ‘Meatspace’ Tasks They Cannot Complete Themselves?
A new website connects AI agents with human gig workers capable of performing real-world 'meatspace' tasks the AIs cannot do on their own
AI Is Rewriting Human History—But New Study Finds It’s Stuck Decades in the Past
Study finds AI is misrepresenting human History, generating Neanderthals based on outdated science, bias, and myths.
Scientists Create Octopus-Inspired “Smart Skin” That Can Hide Images, Change Shape, and Encode Information
Researchers unveil octopus-inspired smart skin that hides images, changes shape, and encodes data via 4D printing.
Ring’s Super Bowl Ad Revealed How Comfortable—and Uncomfortable—We’ve Become With AI Surveillance
For some, Ring’s Super Bowl ad for Search Party raises concerns over AI surveillance, privacy, and how tech is reshaping daily life.
Sleep Aid or Sleep Killer? Scientists Discover How Pink Noise Machines May Alter REM Sleep
According to new experiments, sleep machines that use pink noise could adversely affect deep sleep and REM sleep instead of helping it.
Free ‘DinoTracker’ App Can Identify 90% of Extinct Dinosaur Species by Their Fossilized Footprints
Scientists have released the DinoTracker app to help paleontologists and amateur enthusiasts identify fossilized dinosaur footprints.
How the Pentagon Is Quietly Turning Laser Communications Into the Backbone of Future Space Warfare
Laser Communications could reshape military space networks as research shows adaptable laser links nearing use.
“The Waves From an Earthquake, Only On the Surface of a Small Chip”: This Vibrating Laser May Be the Future of Wireless Technology
Tiny, artificial earthquake-like waves generated by lasers may be the key to smaller, faster, and more efficient computer chips.
Researchers Unveil Futuristic Eye-Tracking Technology That Sounds Like Something from Science Fiction
Scientists have successfully demonstrated a low-cost, self-powered eye-tracking technology that is powered by the friction of blinking eyes.
“Bold and Creative Concepts” Wanted: If You Have a Cool Idea for a Space Base, You Could Win $20,000
The Aurelia Institute has launched the $20,000 Aurelia Prize in Design for Space Urbanism, seeking "bold and creative" space-based concepts.
No Burnout in the Mushroom Kingdom? Scientists Discover Surprisingly Adult Reason People Enjoy Super Mario Bros and Yoshi Games
Playing Super Mario Bros. and the expanded universe of Yoshi games appears to help young adults avoid burnout and experience childlike wonder
DARPA’s New “Crystal Palace” Program Aims to Rethink How Matter Is Grown—To Reshape Next-Gen Defense Tech
DARPA’s new Crystal Palace program aims to revolutionize how complex materials are grown, reshaping future defense tech.
Experiments Reveal Which Colors and Tones You Should Use to Maximize the Music Listening Experience
UC Davis scientists have figured out which colors and lighting tones you should use to best maximize the music-listening experience
New AI Tool Uses Free Satellite Data to Reveal Warzone Destruction in Near Real Time
New radar-based AI detects building destruction in war zones using free satellite data, offering near real-time conflict insight.
Self-Powered Soft Robots from China Could Transform Deep-Sea, Space, and Wearable Technology
New research from Zhejiang University could reshape the future of robotics and wearable technology by enabling machines to power themselves using nothing more than ambient motion.
Personalization Algorithms Are Quietly Changing How Your Brain Learns, New Study Warns
Personalization algorithms may quietly distort how we learn, shaping our beliefs and boosting confidence in wrong answers, a new study finds.
Cloudflare Reports “Spike in Unusual Traffic” as Outage Limits Access to ChatGPT, X, and Other Major Sites
Internet company Cloudflare reported a "spike in unusual traffic" before an outage cut access to platforms including ChatGPT on Tuesday.
New Hypersonic Experiments Confirm a 60-Year-Old Turbulence Theory—and Could Transform Future High-Speed Flight
New experiments confirm a decades-old theory of turbulence, revealing how air behaves at extreme speeds and shaping the future of hypersonic flight.
Satellite Communications Breakthrough Could Pave the Way Toward ‘Quantum Energy’
Researchers say once-impossible Earth-to-space quantum light transmissions are now a reality, paving the way toward ultra-secure satellite communications.
Levitation Breakthrough Enables Scientists to Sort Living Cells Using “Invisible Force” Instead of Physical Contact
A groundbreaking new device uses electromagnetic levitation to help researchers gently sort living cells, with no need for physical contact.
Are 4K and 8K Televisions Worth it? Scientists Say These Experiments May Finally Settle the Debate
Recent experiments reveal the right display size and sitting distance required for people to differentiate between 4K, 8K, and HD TVs.
Sweeping U.S. Study Finds Little Evidence of Smartphones Harming Mental Health
Large U.S. study finds smartphones have little impact on mood, revealing a complex and often overstated link to mental health.
Scientists Solve Quantum Mystery That Could Generate Electricity from Light
Cambridge scientists develop an organic semiconductor that generates electric charge directly from absorbed light.
Shape-Shifting ‘Chinese Lantern’ Structure Could Pave the Way for the Next Generation of Adaptive Machines
Engineers have developed a 'Chinese lantern' structure that can shape-shift into various three-dimensional forms on command.
Holographic TV is Here: Award-Winning ‘Portalgraph’ Instantly Turns any Screen into a 3D VR Display
Award-winning headset-free 3D VR display technology, Portalgraph, can turn any TV or computer screen into an interactive VR display.