AI is advancing at such speed that speculative moral questions, once the province of science fiction, are suddenly real and pressing, says Finnish philosopher and psychology researcher Frank Martela. Martela’s latest study finds that generative AI meets all three of the philosophical conditions of free will —  the ability to have goal-directed agency, make genuine choices and to have control over its actions. This development brings us to a critical point in human history, as we give AI more power and freedom, potentially in life or death situations.

Biochar, once limited to soil and environmental management, now offers a breakthrough opportunity for advancing ESG goals at both local and global levels. In a recent study, Prof. Yong Sik Ok presents a strategic analysis of biochar’s market potential, scalability, and reliability as a carbon-negative solution. The study outlines clear pathways to drive innovation, enabling institutions and industries to leverage biochar to meet UN Sustainable Development Goals and align corporate climate strategies with major global initiatives.

A first-of-its-kind 256-element Ka-band phased-array receiver, designed at Institute of Science Tokyo, Japan, can control two circular polarization beams independently, revolutionizing satellite communications with greater energy efficiency and better performance. Introduction of a novel switch-type quadrature-hybrid in the CMOS chip of the receiver effectively doubles the number of controllable beams, paving the way for enhanced data throughput and broader satellite coverage.

Medulloblastoma is the most common malignant pediatric brain tumor with a high risk of metastasis and poor survival outcomes. To delineate the metastatic microenvironment, researchers in China have developed an explainable machine learning model that identifies key immune cells and cytokine markers linked to tumor dissemination and prognosis. Their model offers a transparent, data-driven approach that could help clinicians better assess risk and personalize treatment for children with this life-threatening disease.

Researchers at the University of Turku in Finland have developed a simple method to explore a complex area of quantum science. The discovery makes research in this field cheaper and more accessible, which could significantly impact the development of future laser, quantum and high-tech display technologies.

As industries seek innovative solutions for carbon capture, scientists have turned to advanced materials that efficiently trap and store carbon dioxide (CO₂) from industrial emissions. A recent study of a team from the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Dresden University of Technology (TUD), and Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin (Poland) sheds light on the gas adsorption physics of so-called Calgary Framework 20 (CALF-20), a zinc-based metal-organic framework (MOF). While applying a combination of advanced techniques, the scientists reveal the material’s unique adaptability under varying conditions, as they report in the journal Small (DOI: 10.1002/smll.202500544). The research highlights how CALF-20 efficiently captures CO₂ while resisting interference from water – a common issue in carbon capture materials.

Achromatic metasurface waveguide technology is revolutionizing augmented reality (AR) displays by addressing the longstanding issue of chromatic aberration. Developed by a research team from China, this innovative approach combines inverse-designed metasurface couplers with a high refractive index waveguide, achieving superior color accuracy and uniformity across a wide field of view. The technology promises to enhance the visual experience in compact AR systems, paving the way for advanced applications in various fields by overcoming the limitations of traditional diffractive waveguides.