Researchers at University of Tsukuba have developed a technology for real-time estimation of the valence state and growth rate of iron oxide thin films during their formation. This novel technology was realized by analyzing the full-wavelength data of plasma emission spectra generated during reactive sputtering using machine learning. It is expected to enable high-precision control of the film deposition process.

Australia produces over 31 million tonnes of food waste each year, creating serious challenges for both the environment and the economy. Researchers at the University of New South Wales and their international partners have reviewed how converting food waste into biochar, a carbon-rich material produced by heating organic matter without oxygen—could help tackle the country’s waste crisis while improving soil fertility and fighting climate change.

How does 3D printing precisely control battery stress?

In International Journal of Extreme Manufacturing, Wei Yuan and coworkers from South China University of Technology introduce a new manufacturing method for gel polymer electrolytes (GPEs) using digital light processing (DLP) 3D printing. This technique allows precise control over the structure of GPEs through layer-by-layer curing. It improves the uniformity of microscopic pores and macroscopic dimensions, which helps regulate interfacial stress effectively. This study offers a practical strategy to enhance the stability of the anode-electrolyte interface (AEI), contributing to zinc batteries with longer cycle lives.

Researchers from SANKEN at The University of Osaka have successfully developed a groundbreaking “self-evolving” edge AI technology that enables real-time learning and forecasting capabilities directly within compact devices. This innovation, termed MicroAdapt, achieves unprecedented speed and accuracy. It processes data up to 100,000 times faster and achieves up to 60% higher accuracy compared to conventional state-of-the-art deep learning methods. This achievement represents a major advance toward next-generation real-time AI applications across manufacturing, automotive IoT, and medical wearables, addressing critical limitations of existing cloud-dependent AI.

Researchers have designed a new energy-absorbing component for cars using a regular hexagonal polyether ether ketone (PEEK) honeycomb core. This innovative design boosts the average crash load by 18.1% compared to standard hollow structures while being approximately 19% lighter than conventional aluminum foam fillers. It achieves an ideal balance between superior crash protection and vehicle lightweighting, demonstrating significant potential for the next generation of vehicles.

Researchers at Osaka Metropolitan University uncovered early hepatic changes associated with type 2 diabetes by analyzing primary hepatocytes from prediabetic Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty rats.

Computational method accurately predicts the optimal ligand for a photochemical palladium catalyst that enables new alkyl ketone radical reactions.