Many dams in Georgia are more than 50 years old and are inspected only once a year. Kennesaw State University researchers are working to build a low-cost wireless system to detect problems in aging dams.

Researchers at Berkeley Lab used the Frontier supercomputer at Oak Ridge National Laboratory to develop the most advanced simulations to date for studying earthquake dynamics. The simulations reveal in stunning new detail how geological conditions influence earthquake intensity — and, in turn, how those complex ground motions directly impact buildings and infrastructure. The data is already being shared with the broader earthquake science and engineering communities to deepen understanding of seismic behavior and to guide the designs of earthquake-resistant infrastructure and improved emergency response.

Within the next 25 years, China may become the first country in the world to build a nationwide genomic database covering its entire population, as futurist and Wired founding executive editor Kevin Kelly predicts. As one of the main participants in the HGP, China has accelerated the integration of genomics into national proactive health management in the last two decades. This success was driven by advanced genetic technologies, supportive policies, and pressing public health needs.

New technology for safe self-driving: using artificial intelligence to predict pedestrian behaviour and prevent accidents

Recipient of Paderborn University Research Award

A ball rolls into the road, there is a child on the pavement – which would immediately set alarm bells ringing for drivers. The result: they brake because they assume that the child will run into the road. Drivers are similarly able to guess how pedestrians will behave in other potentially dangerous situations. Self-driving vehicles, which will be increasingly dominating our streets, cannot do this. Although current technologies are able to react to critical situations, they do not have the ability to predict behaviour. A new research project is beginning at Paderborn University seeking to fill this gap and enable self-driving vehicles to identify pedestrians’ intentions before they act.

EIRSAT-1, Ireland’s first satellite, has successfully tested an advanced onboard control system that allows it to orient itself accurately in space. The breakthrough was achieved using a payload called Wave-Based Control (WBC), a software platform designed by a team at UCD School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering to test new satellite manoeuvring techniques while in orbit.

The Texas rice harvest is in full swing, and growers hope a good second crop can bring a positive end to a challenging season, said a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service expert.

Sam Rustom, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension agronomist and assistant professor in the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Eagle Lake, said it’s looking like an average year for Texas rice despite some challenges. Overall, rice production dropped 6,000 acres to around 143,000 acres.

Mitochondria are no longer viewed solely as the cell’s “powerhouses.” They are now recognized as central regulators of human health, disease, and aging, influencing everything from energy production and metabolism to immune function and cell fate. Advances in mitochondrial research are driving new frontiers in precision medicine, offering novel approaches for diagnosing, preventing, and treating a broad range of conditions, including neurodegenerative disorders, metabolic syndromes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and age-related decline.