Weatherwatch: The surprisingly complex science of ice skating

Pressure, frictional heating and a disordered layer of molecules on top of the ice make skating possible Ice skating is counterintuitive: why should a narrow blade make it easier to slide over the ice? The science is surprisingly complex, but unscientific people worked out the practical application a long time...

Brain-inspired chip is helping robots to see faster and in real time

The breakthrough builds on neuromorphic engineering, a field that designs hardware modeled after the human brain. Unlike traditional processors, which separate memory and computation, neuromorphic chips integrate both functions, enabling faster and more energy-efficient data handling. This biologically inspired approach has long been considered a promising way to narrow the......

Sony has an idea to make 300GB game installs less painful

A newly unveiled patent confirms Sony's commitment to making extra-large video games far more manageable in size. The patent, recently added to the World Intellectual Property Organization's database, describes an "asset streaming" technology that relies heavily on internet connectivity, but Sony emphasizes that this is not related to cloud gaming......

Automakers lose emissions credits for start-stop technology under new EPA rules

Start-stop is a relatively small feature with a dense engineering stack behind it. Modern systems tie together the engine control unit, starter-alternator hardware, beefed-up 12-volt or dual-battery architectures, and climate-control logic to shut the engine off during idle while keeping steering assist, brake boosting, and cabin comfort online. Read Entire...