Tech & AI

Researchers have chemically modified pine wood to make it electrically conductive and pressure-sensitive, creating a material that could detect touch or strain while remaining lightweight and biodegradable. The advance opens a path for low-cost, sustainable alternatives to conventional electronics in wearables, robotics, and industrial sensors.EN

A new review shows artificial intelligence is transforming how engineers design mechatronic products—from cars to robots—by automating design choices and predicting performance. But the research warns that human experts remain irreplaceable for making trade-offs and ensuring products meet real-world needs.EN

Researchers deployed a machine-learning model to predict sludge consistency at a Stockholm water treatment facility, bypassing a chronically failing physical sensor. The software-based approach could cut maintenance costs and improve plant efficiency across the wastewater industry, where sensor clogging remains a widespread operational headache.EN

A new study reveals the decision-making process behind teachers' use of digital technology in early science education, identifying the specific pedagogical factors that drive adoption. Understanding these considerations could help edtech companies, school administrators, and policymakers design more effective digital learning tools that teachers will actually integrate into classrooms.EN

Researchers deployed Microsoft HoloLens technology to guide factory workers through complex assembly tasks, improving accuracy while dramatically speeding up how manufacturers measure worker productivity. The system could replace time-consuming traditional time-study methods that factories have relied on for decades.EN

Scientists have created a microfluidic device that rapidly tests how human cells respond to various biomaterials in realistic conditions, complete with fluid flow and mechanical stress. The platform could accelerate development of implants, tissue engineering products, and regenerative medicine therapies by cutting months off material testing cycles.EN

Researchers have found a naturally occurring protein that self-assembles into intricate fractal patterns, a geometric feat previously thought impossible outside laboratories. The discovery suggests that complex, highly organized protein structures can emerge through simple evolutionary mutations, potentially opening new pathways for designing enzymes and industrial catalysts with enhanced control and precision.EN

Researchers shaped organic molecules into S-curves instead of O-curves to boost polymer solar cell performance, achieving 18.1% efficiency with record-low energy waste. The finding could accelerate commercialization of flexible, lightweight solar technology for consumer electronics and building-integrated applications.EN

Researchers discovered that dangerous bacteria like E. coli survive antibiotics by amplifying resistance genes through multiple genetic tricks—tandem copying, plasmid multiplication, and mobile gene insertion. These mechanisms are unstable and reversible, but can still cause treatment failures in patients, forcing a rethink of how hospitals should dose and monitor antibiotic therapy.EN

Scientists discovered that diatoms—single-celled algae used in biofuels and food supplements—evolved a distinct way to produce a key membrane lipid by distributing it across multiple cellular locations rather than concentrating it in chloroplasts. The finding could unlock new strategies for engineering algae to boost productivity or create custom lipid products for pharma and nutrition markets.EN

Researchers have developed a faster computational model for simulating wind turbine performance that reduces processing time by three-quarters without sacrificing accuracy. The advance could accelerate wind farm design and optimization, lowering costs for developers and speeding up deployment of renewable energy infrastructure.EN

Researchers used advanced X-ray analysis to map exactly how a five-metal alloy oxidizes and breaks down in acidic conditions. The findings reveal a precise sequence for how nitrogen bonds with different metals in the material—intelligence that could guide the design of more durable coatings for aerospace, chemical processing, and other harsh-environment industries.EN

Researchers are investigating whether heavy metals and fine particulate pollution increase tuberculosis risk in children, a finding with major implications for public health policy in South Asia. The work could reshape how governments weigh air quality regulations against disease burden in developing regions.EN

Researchers have identified how plants split water molecules to produce oxygen—a breakthrough that could accelerate development of artificial photosynthesis systems for clean fuel production. The discovery pinpoints the exact molecular mechanisms in photosystem II, potentially enabling companies to engineer more efficient solar-to-fuel technologies worth billions in green energy markets.EN

Scientists have discovered that Semliki Forest virus breaks into the brain via a specific molecular doorway in the choroid plexus—not through the blood-brain barrier as previously assumed. The finding could reshape how companies develop treatments for viral brain infections and inform clinical strategies for blocking neurotropic viruses before they establish CNS infections.EN

A survey of 174 researchers and data managers found that poor metadata, inconsistent quality standards, and lack of funding are preventing aquatic scientists from sharing data openly. These bottlenecks slow down climate research and water management decisions—and fixing them requires dedicated investment in infrastructure and skilled personnel.EN

Information scientists are cataloging how blockchain, digital archives, and other emerging technologies are reshaping what "trustworthy" means in the digital age. The work matters because businesses and platforms now compete on trust mechanisms themselves—and the old gatekeepers no longer control the game.EN

Researchers have identified why FEMC, a widely used non-flammable chemical in lithium-ion battery electrolytes, degrades rapidly and loses capacity. The culprit: the solvent seeps into graphite anodes and breaks them down. Adding a small amount of another compound prevents this damage, offering battery makers a simple fix to improve performance and longevity.EN

As companies deploy sensors and computing power everywhere—from factories to cities—managing that flood of information requires new machine learning approaches. A new survey identifies critical gaps in how businesses can intelligently handle, secure, and optimize data flowing between cloud centers and edge devices.EN

Researchers have mapped how gold nanostructures can detect diabetes biomarkers with high precision, potentially enabling continuous glucose monitoring outside clinics. The technology could reshape diabetes care by moving diagnostics to wearables and home devices, creating new markets for portable health sensors while improving patient outcomes through earlier detection.EN

Researchers have identified a new antibiotic targeting a vulnerability in Gram-negative bacteria that no current drugs exploit. The compounds showed potent efficacy against dangerous infections like E. coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae in animal tests, offering a potential solution as bacterial resistance to existing antibiotics grows worldwide.EN

A new study challenges the push for mandatory data sharing in science, identifying three distinct research cultures with different needs. The finding matters to policy makers and research institutions drafting data rules—one-size-fits-all mandates may hinder rather than help innovation in fields where data sharing makes less sense.EN

A research team has created a practical guide for using machine learning in science education studies, identifying which analytical tasks humans should handle versus those machines can automate. The framework could help institutions scale up educational research while maintaining the critical thinking that prevents algorithmic bias and ensures meaningful results.EN

A comprehensive review of 30 years of sustainability projects in Swedish cities reveals what works in energy-efficient urban planning, but fragmented research has prevented cities elsewhere from adopting proven solutions. The study identifies seven critical success factors, from stakeholder buy-in to governance frameworks, that could accelerate sustainable development in cities worldwide.EN

Autonoma leveransrobotar möter ojämn acceptans i svenska småsamhällen — ett faktum som påverkar utrullningsplaner för logistikteknologer. Forskare från Göteborgs universitet och Vrije Universiteit Brussel undersökte intressenternas preferenser i Veberöd för att kartlägga lokala förutsättningar för adoption. Studien identifierar vilka faktorer — från säkerhetsbetänkanden till infrastrukturkrav — som påverkar beredskapen bland invånare, kommunala beslutsfattare och näringslivets aktörer. Resultaten är inte specificerade här, men studien publiceras i Research in Transportation Economics och utgör underlag för framtida implementeringsstrategier. För AI-produktchefer och digitaliseringsledare är fynden relevanta: småsamhällen utgör testmarknader där acceptanshinder kan lösas innan storskalig utrullning. Lokal förankring blir en kostnadsparameter redan i pilotfasen, inte i efterhand.