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Category: transportation

Low-cost gelators nearly double the performance of aircraft anti-icing fluids, finds new study

Tiny molecules already used to thicken everyday products like lotions and adhesives may soon help keep aircraft safe in icy conditions. These molecules, known as low-molecular-weight gelators (LMWGs), can self-assemble into soft, gel-like structures and have long been used in industrial formulations.

In a study published in Langmuir, researchers report that adding just small amounts of these molecules can significantly improve the performance of aircraft anti-icing fluids.

The team modified commercial deicing and anti-icing fluids—which already contain polymers for protective coating—by incorporating LMWG molecules to produce a hybrid gel formulation. They tested three variants of a gelator, known as DBS (1,3:2,4-dibenzylidenesorbitol), at varying levels of aviation-grade agents used to remove existing ice and prevent new ice formation on aircraft surfaces during ground operations.

New sensor measures strain, strain rate and temperature with single material layer

Researchers from the Institute of Metal Research (IMR) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences have developed an innovative flexible sensor that can simultaneously detect strain, strain rate, and temperature using a single active material layer, representing a significant advance in multimodal sensing technology.

The study, published in Nature Communications, addresses the longstanding challenge of conventional sensors requiring complex multilayer designs that integrate different materials for distinct sensing functions. These traditional approaches often involve complicated signal acquisition and external power supplies, limiting their reliability in continuous monitoring applications.

Led by Prof. Tai Kaiping, the researchers designed the sensor based on a specially designed network of tilted tellurium nanowires (Te-NWs). Through material and structural engineering, they overcame a fundamental limitation where thermoelectric and piezoelectric signals could not be collected in the same direction within conventional materials. In this unique architecture, both signals are simultaneously detected and output in the out-of-plane direction.

Tesla Cybercab is changing the look of Austin’s roads, and it’s not even in production yet

Even before entering production, Tesla’s Cybercab is already transforming the appearance of Austin’s streets, with multiple prototypes spotted testing in downtown areas recently.

Videos and photos showed the sleek, two-seat autonomous vehicles navigating traffic. Interestingly enough, the vehicles were equipped with temporary steering wheels and human safety drivers.

Over the weekend, enthusiasts captured footage of two Cybercabs driving together in central Austin, their futuristic silhouettes standing out amid regular traffic. While the vehicles featured temporary steering wheels and side mirrors for now, they retained their futuristic, production-intent exterior design.

Boosting the Coherence of X-Ray Free-Electron Lasers

Mode locking—a laser technique that revolutionized optical physics—has been extended to x rays, producing stable trains of attosecond pulses with unprecedented phase coherence.

X-ray free-electron lasers (XFELs) have transformed the study of matter by delivering femtosecond and attosecond pulses at angstrom wavelengths, enabling direct observation of ultrafast structural and electronic dynamics. Despite these successes, XFELs have long lacked a capability central to precision optical science: stable temporal phase coherence. Most XFEL facilities operate in the self-amplified spontaneous-emission (SASE) regime, in which radiation originates from microscopic shot noise in an electron beam. This mechanism produces extremely bright pulses, but shot-to-shot fluctuations in their temporal structure limit their use in phase-sensitive experiments useful for metrology, interferometry, and ultrafast spectroscopy [1].

The Robot Revolution Is Closer Than You Think

A robot revolution, driven by advancements in robotics and AI, is imminent and will drastically transform the economy, labor, and society, leading to a post-labor, post-scarcity system with abundant energy and labor ##

## Questions to inspire discussion.

Investment & National Strategy.

🚀 Q: Why should governments prioritize humanoid robot investment now? A: Governments must treat humanoid robots as a national priority for transforming productivity and defense, with enormous investments justified because there’s no time to lose as both the US and China have already recognized this imperative.

💰 Q: What economic growth rates become possible with early humanoid robot adoption? A: Spinning up the humanoid robot flywheel early enables exponential economic growth rates of 20–100% per year, unlocking unprecedented prosperity and catapulting societies up the curve over the next 15 years.

⚡ Q: Which countries or entities will likely lead the humanoid robot transformation? A: Outsiders rather than incumbents or centers of power will lead the transformation to a new economic paradigm, as history shows leadership typically comes from the edge rather than the status quo.

Continue reading “The Robot Revolution Is Closer Than You Think” | >

Safe and affordable fast-charging batteries: Multi-layered alkali metal structures open the door to energy of the future

Skoltech scientists conducted a study that advances research on future batteries. Their paper, published in Small, sheds light on recent advances in designing multilayered structures of alkali metals, such as lithium, sodium, and potassium, within carbon anode materials.

This technology has the potential to transform the energy storage market, enabling electric vehicles to charge in minutes and providing green energy with stable, safe, and affordable storage systems.

How multilayered structures improve batteries For years, ions were believed to form only single-atom layers in a battery’s carbon materials, such as graphite. In 2018, researchers used a high-precision electron microscope and discovered a new configuration with ultradense, multiatom layers of lithium forming between two sheets of graphene.

Dan Ives On Why 2026 Is The Start Of Tesla’s $3 Trillion AI Chapter

Tesla is poised to reach a $3 trillion valuation by 2026, driven by its advancements in AI, autonomous vehicles, and robotics, which are expected to outweigh its challenges in EV sales and regulatory pressures ## Questions to inspire discussion.

Autonomous Driving Deployment Timeline.

🚕 Q: What are Tesla’s specific robotaxi deployment targets for 2026?

A: Tesla aims to launch robotaxis without safety drivers in 30 cities by 2026 while significantly expanding geo-fenced areas in cities like Austin, leveraging its 10 million cars on the road to scale autonomy faster than competitors through superior data collection advantage.

🎯 Q: What evidence do investors need to see in 2026 to validate Tesla’s autonomous strategy?

A: Investors must see city-by-city proof of autonomous accuracy, achievement of true level 5 autonomy, measurable regulatory progress, and rapid scaling capability across multiple markets to confirm the long-term bullish thesis.

Continue reading “Dan Ives On Why 2026 Is The Start Of Tesla’s Trillion AI Chapter” | >

Redesigned carbon molecules boost battery safety, durability and power

Research published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society demonstrates a new way to make carbon-based battery materials much safer, longer lasting, and more powerful by fundamentally redesigning how fullerene molecules are connected.

Today’s lithium-ion batteries rely mainly on graphite, which limits fast-charging speed and poses safety risks due to lithium plating. These research findings mean progress toward safer electric vehicles, longer-lasting consumer electronics, and more reliable renewable-energy storage.

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