Welcome to In the Spotlight, where each month we shine a light on something exciting, timely, or simply fascinating from the world of science.
This month, we’re focusing on artificial intelligence (AI), a topic that continues to capture attention everywhere. Here, you’ll find the latest research news, insights, and discoveries shaping how AI is being developed and used across the world.
Latest News Releases
Updates every hour. Last Updated: 17-Dec-2025 05:11 ET (17-Dec-2025 10:11 GMT/UTC)
ECMWF - delivering forecasts over 10 times faster and cutting energy usage by 1000
ECMWFBusiness Announcement
New AI method brings safer decisions to autonomous vehicles and healthcare
Higher Education PressPeer-Reviewed Publication
Researchers have developed an innovative AI approach that embeds causal reasoning into offline reinforcement learning, enabling autonomous systems like driverless cars and medical support devices to make safer, more reliable decisions by accurately discerning true cause-and-effect relationships in historical data.
- Journal
- Frontiers of Computer Science
Developed an AI-based classification system for facial pigmented lesions
Kindai UniversityPeer-Reviewed Publication
A research team led by Haruyo Yamamoto, Chisa Nakashima, and Atsushi Otsuka from Department of Dermatology, Kindai University Faculty of Medicine, in collaboration with the Faculty of Engineering at Kindai University and other institutions, has developed a diagnostic system that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to accurately identify the type of facial pigmented lesions and support laser treatment decisions. A paper on this study was published online in Cureus, an international medical journal on June 5, 2025.
- Journal
- Cureus
Harnessing clean energy from the sun and deep space: A breakthrough in thermoelectric generators
FAR Publishing LimitedA new review highlights advancements in thermoelectric generators (TEGs) that use solar energy and radiative cooling to produce clean electricity. This breakthrough technology shows promise for off-grid power solutions and sustainable energy applications.
- Journal
- Energy Engineering
- Funder
- The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, The NSFC/RGC Joint Research Scheme sponsored by the Research Grants Council of Hong Kong and the National Natural Science Foundation of China
Killer whales, kind gestures: Orcas offer food to humans in the wild
American Psychological AssociationPeer-Reviewed Publication
- Journal
- Journal of Comparative Psychology
3D-printed magnetoelastic smart pen may help diagnose Parkinson’s
University of California - Los AngelesPeer-Reviewed Publication
- Journal
- Nature Chemical Engineering
- Funder
- Office of Naval Research, NIH/National Institutes of Health, U.S. National Science Foundation, American Heart Association