How quickly we reply, how active we really are in chats – many people misjudge their own behavior. Researchers at Bielefeld University have, for the first time, used anonymized WhatsApp metadata to make such misperceptions visible. 

Energy-efficient buildings are promising for sustainable development and energy consumption as per environmental, social, and economic criteria. Recently, researchers from Hanbat National University, and Kongju National University, Republic of Korea, have proposed polymer-dispersed liquid crystal-impregnated switchable thermochromic transparent woods that demonstrate excellent ultraviolet blocking performance for smart windows, promoting indoor illumination, privacy, and human health. The novel innovation can help pave the way for next-generation energy-efficient buildings.

Despite rapid robotic automation advancements, most systems struggle to adapt their pre-trained movements to dynamic environments with objects of varying stiffness or weight. To tackle this challenge, researchers from Japan have developed an adaptive motion reproduction system using Gaussian process regression. By learning the relationship between human motion and object properties, their method enables robots to accurately replicate human grasping behaviors using small training datasets and manipulate unfamiliar objects with remarkable precision and efficiency.

Mechanical cues are key regulators of cardiac development, yet their role in organoid maturation remains underexplored. In a new study, researchers introduce a magnetic torque stimulation (MTS) system that delivers precisely controlled rotational forces to stem cell-derived cardiac organoids via surface-bound magnetic particles. Application of MTS significantly improves cardiac organoid maturation and vascularization by activating mechanotransduction pathways, offering a powerful platform for studying cardiac diseases and testing drug safety.

University of Groningen researchers have developed a method for the customer service department of the company AFAS to check answers generated by AI. The system uses the same methods as human experts and is based on internal documentation as a knowledge base.

Electric vehicles could become economically competitive in many African countries before 2040. Off-grid solar solutions make charging possible even in places with no or unreliable electrical grids. Major challenges remain in terms of financing, with high interest rates slowing down adoption, despite drops in cost of technology.