Researchers at the College of Design and Engineering, National University of Singapore, have created an untethered soft robot that embodies deformation-resilient flexible batteries enabled by  the same magnetic fields that drive its movement. The team developed flexible batteries that endure constant bending and perform better under magnetic fields, improving capacity retention from 31% to 57% after 200 cycles. Integrated with sensors and circuits in a manta-ray-shaped design, the soft robot can swim freely, detect temperature changes, avoid obstacles and correct its path in real time, advancing embodied intelligence for soft robotics in confined, fragile and dynamic environments.

A new paper in Biology Methods and Protocols finds that we can now distinguish wild from farmed salmon using deep learning, potentially greatly improving strategies for environmental protection.

A team of astronomers from the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR) has released new data from the Deep Extragalactic Visible Legacy Survey (DEVILS), highlighting how a galaxy's environment influences its evolution. Focusing on galaxies that existed up to five billion years ago, the survey reveals that galaxies in crowded regions grow more slowly and have different structures compared to isolated ones.

In an exciting exploration of environmental sustainability, researchers at Zhaoqing University, China, have uncovered groundbreaking insights into the carbon dynamics of waterlogged pond fields. Led by Dr. Guodong Yuan from the Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Eco-Environmental Studies and Low-Carbon Agriculture in Peri-Urban Areas and the Guangdong Technology and Equipment Research Center for Soil and Water Pollution Control, this study, titled "Unveiling Carbon Dynamics in Year-Round Waterlogged Pond Fields: Insights into Soil Organic Carbon Accumulation and Sustainable Management," offers a fresh perspective on how these unique ecosystems can contribute to carbon sequestration and sustainable land management.

Over the last few years, systems and applications that help visually impaired people navigate their environment have undergone rapid development, but still have room to grow, according to a team of researchers at Penn State. The team recently combined recommendations from the visually impaired community and artificial intelligence (AI) to develop a new tool that offers support specifically tailored to the needs of people who are visually impaired. 

Researchers have demonstrated a new approach to building quantum convolutional neural networks (QCNNs) using photonic circuits, paving the way for more efficient quantum machine learning. The method, reported in Advanced Photonics, introduces an adaptive step called “state injection,” allowing the circuit to adjust its behavior based on real-time measurements. Using single photons and integrated quantum photonic processors, the team achieved over 92 percent classification accuracy on simple image patterns, closely matching theoretical predictions. This proof-of-concept shows that QCNNs can be implemented with existing photonic technology and highlights a path toward scalable quantum processors for future applications in AI and data processing.