futuretech | TechieTonics

Book Review: Regenesis by George M. Church and Edward Regis

July 19, 2023July 21, 2023 Pooja Kashyap

Regenesis: How Synthetic Biology Will Reinvent Nature and Ourselves is an exhilarating journey that re-shapes our understanding of life itself. The book is written by George M. Church and Edward Regis. It was first published in 2012. The renowned geneticist and science writer collaborated to present an all-encompassing exploration of synthetic biology. And highlighting its thrilling potentialities along with obvious challenges. In this remarkable masterpiece, they have woven following three distinct levels of exploration.

Chip-scale Optical Quantum Simulation System: Quantum Computing Milestone

June 30, 2023June 30, 2023 Pooja Kashyap

A team of researchers have successfully simulated complex natural phenomena at the quantum level. Scientists at the University of Rochester’s Hajim School of Engineering & Applied Sciences have developed a chip-scale optical quantum simulation system. Conventionally, photonics-based computing involves controlling the paths of photons. This time, the team led by Qiang Lin has taken a different approach. According to which, they have simulated the phenomena in a synthetic space. And they have manipulated the frequency, or color, of quantum entangled photons as time progresses.

Lithography-Free Photonic Chip: Redefining AI Architecture

June 29, 2023June 30, 2023 Pooja Kashyap

When it comes to data-heavy applications and sustainable computing, photonic chips have emerged as a promising technology. The use of photonic circuits, powered by laser light, offers an edge over traditional electronic circuits. Some of its remarkable advantages over electronic circuits are: Speed of light: Photonic chips make use of light to transmit and process information, which of course happens at the “speed of light”. Thus, leveraging the feature of light makes them move faster than electrons in electronic circuits.

ILT and SMO continue to push the Boundaries of Resolution: Semiconductor Manufacturing

June 27, 2023June 30, 2023 Pooja Kashyap

Semiconductor manufacturing is experiencing rapid and dynamic growth. The exponential evolution is making it one of the most swiftly evolving industries globally. As technology is advancing, the electronic devices are progressively shrinking in size. Behind this constant innovation lies the incredible field of “computational lithography”. It is the heart of semiconductor industry. After all, it blends the power of computers, mathematics, and precision engineering. Only to create intricate microscale structures on silicon wafers.

Game-Changing Diode Enhances Quantum Computers and AI Performance: Quantum Leap

June 16, 2023June 30, 2023 Pooja Kashyap

Researchers at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities have created a ground-breaking superconducting diode, which is a crucial element in electronic devices. This innovation has the potential to not only enhance the development of quantum computers for industrial applications but it will also boost the performance of artificial intelligence systems.

Plant-inspired Controller for Robotic Arms: Biomimicry

June 6, 2023June 6, 2023 Pooja Kashyap

Biomimicry is the practice of imitating biological systems and processes. So far, it has been a valuable approach in robotics. By copying animals’ designs, engineers have tried to replicate billions of years of evolution. It has resulted in highly efficient and adaptable designs that nature has already passed on to. For instance, energy-efficient walking patterns inspired by animal gaits or bio inspired vision systems or lizard inspired four-legged robot.

An Organic Electrochemical Transistor: AI Hardware

June 5, 2023June 5, 2023 Pooja Kashyap

Lately, there has been growing interest in creating brain-inspired hardware for enhancing efficiency of AI models. Conventional hardware architectures are specialized in three specific tasks, which are: Researches across the globe, however, are exploring the possibility of combining these functionalities into a single device. They aim to mimic the parallel and distributed nature of the human brain.

Artificial Skin to Mimic Sensory Feedback of Biological Skin: E-Skin talking to Brain

May 22, 2023May 22, 2023 Pooja Kashyap

Researchers at Stanford University have created a special kind of electronic skin that can sense things like heat and pressure and send signals to the brain. Electronic skin has been around for a while, but in the past, the devices used to convert these sensations into signals were bulky and inflexible. However, the new electronic skin is as soft and thin as real skin.

Bio-Inspired Device that Mimics Human Eye: Artificial Vision Systems

May 15, 2023June 7, 2023 Pooja Kashyap

Inspired by the natural design of our retinas, scientists at Penn State have created a sensor array using narrowband perovskite photodetectors to replicate the function of our cone cells. Cone cells in our eyes are responsible for color vision. And they are sensitive to red, green, and blue light wavelengths.

Antineutrinos Detected at SNO+ Collaboration: Water Cherenkov Detector

April 12, 2023April 12, 2023 Pooja Kashyap

Antineutrinos falls under the category of elusive particles. They are extremely difficult to detect due to their weak interaction with matter. These exotic particles have the same properties as neutrinos but with opposite charges. And have very little mass.

Piezoelectric Effect observed in Ionic Liquids: Pressure Electricity

April 3, 2023April 3, 2023 Pooja Kashyap

Certain materials like crystals, ceramics, and at times even biological matter (bone, DNA, and proteins), can generate an electrical charge. The effect is seen when the material is put under the influence of some mechanical stress – such as pressure or vibration – this phenomenon is termed as piezoelectricity. The charge is accumulated on the surface of the material. From there, it can be used for various applications.

Zinc Batteries for Sustainable Development: The New Hybrid Electrolyte

March 28, 2023March 28, 2023 Pooja Kashyap

Zinc batteries have been explored as an alternative to lithium-ion batteries for large-scale energy storage since long. Zinc-based batteries is preferred over li-ion batteries because it is abundant, low-cost, and environmentally friendly compared to other metals. However, their efficiency has been limited due to issues with the zinc metal anode. However, with the recent development of a new electrolyte that improves the efficiency of the zinc metal anode to nearly 100%, researchers envision that it could make zinc batteries a viable alternative.

Platform for Building Quantum Networks: Entanglement of Trapped-ion

February 6, 2023February 6, 2023 Pooja Kashyap

The researchers at the University of Innsbruck and the Université Paris-Saclay have developed a method for linking multiple quantum systems by trapping atoms in optical cavities. And then transferring the quantum information to light particles which can then be sent through optical fibers. They have successfully entangled two trapped ions located more than a few meters apart for the first time.

Wearable Electrotactile Feedback System: Skin VR

December 29, 2022December 29, 2022 Pooja Kashyap

Haptic systems are mainly designed to control virtual objects. Their efficacy is good, but when it comes to controllers, joysticks, and steering wheels, things look slightly bulky. And tangled wires is another task to deal with. Researchers at City University of Hong Kong have come up with a portable solution to enhance the tactile VR experience.

Microbial Miners to Colonize the Moon and Mars: Biomimetic Mining

December 13, 2022December 13, 2022 Pooja Kashyap

Evolutionary biological processes take time but what if we introduce microbial catalysis to the system? The phenomenon of how cyanobacteria obtain nutrients for its survival from rocks in Atacama Desert inspired an international team of collaborators from University of California and Johns Hopkins University to consider the microbes as tools that may help humans to develop colonies on the moon and Mars.