IEEE Spectrum

Here's how you do coverage of #quantum computing right. First, actually have deep knowledge of what you are reporting on, like Dina Genkina does. Then, solicit opinions from extremely knowledgeable people who have no vested interest in the development you're covering, such as (in this case) Microsoft's topological qubits. Which may not have actually been topological qubits. https://lnkd.in/gD-kJTTZ

The central struggle of the #Ukraine war is between #drones and electronic warfare. Drones are the cause of 70% of the casualties, so strategists on both sides are constantly trying to increase their lethality. An innovative idea from Ukraine involves using sophisticated controllers that can control and coordinate swarms of both drones and robotic ground vehicles. Tereza Pultarova got the inside story from Ark Robotics, on the front lines of this advancement. https://lnkd.in/e4wGDBUF

All of the world's major carmakers are working on solid-state batteries for their EVs, which will provide big increases in range, or decreases in pack size (or both). As a step towards that goal, Mercedes-Benz AG is doing road tests on semi-solid-state batteries from Factorial Energy that could appear in production vehicles in a couple of years. The batteries can store about 25 percent more energy than conventional traction batteries per unit weight. https://lnkd.in/eXXkfu8p

Low-earth-orbit satellite networks, such as SpaceX's Starlink, are arguably the most important development in broadband communications since coaxial cable internet, 30 years ago. And now, with Amazon's Kuiper system getting (literally) off the ground as a competitor to Starlink, it's a good time to consider the immense potential—and looming problems—of these remarkable systems. You can't do better than this excellent, insightful analysis by Margo Anderson https://lnkd.in/ehaniMvk

Tiny drones the size of a housefly have been a scifi staple and a research thrust for a couple of decades, because they'd be very useful for reconnaissance, search and rescue, and spying. But useful models have eluded researchers, because of fundamental difficulties in powering the tiny craft. For example, the piezoelectric actuators that let them fly need tens to hundreds of volts—far more than the several volts that can be provided by lithium-ion cells. Now, research at CEA-Leti has produced tiny cells using semiconductor manufacturing techniques that appear to be the most promising candidates so far https://lnkd.in/guHBKWCf

What we need now are electric vehicle chargers that are simpler and cheaper, say wally rippel and Alan Cocconi. Many analyses have found that lack of public chargers is slowing the transition to EVs. But can you make public chargers much cheaper and just as safe--if not safer--than they are now? Rippel and Cocconi, who between them designed the most important EVs of the early and mid-1990s, insist that it's possible and in this article, they explain how to do it. https://lnkd.in/enyhmE7D

Do #chatbots really understand our world? Join the Computer History Museum for a debate hosted by Spectrum's #AI editor Eliza Strickland where experts tackle the big questions about #LLMs. Register here: https://lnkd.in/ebr5d-ae

Why would you want to put a data center on the moon? Turns out there are some very good reasons, including a cold, very stable environment, and also data sovereignty: no country has sovereignty over the moon, so the data can be free of national restrictions or stipulations. https://lnkd.in/ecC_F79v

This machine makes following the strict rules for cryptographic one-time pads a little bit easier. Read how to build one yourself: https://lnkd.in/ejc5e8hV

A Chinese rocket launch last March intended to put 2 satellites in lunar orbit, but failed in Earth orbit. The Chinese Academy of Sciences then got to work trying to salvage the mission. They did, but it took 167 days, during which they initiated five orbital maneuvers, five further trajectory corrections to fine-tune the course, and three gravity assists from the Earth and moon. Andrew Jones reports https://lnkd.in/e_Evyzmq