Using syrup and baking soda, research at Niigata University has demonstrated the formation mechanism of rootless cones, small volcanic landforms commonly found on Earth and Mars. The study clarified, through an experimental approach, that a self-organization process determines the spatial distribution and size of these landforms. This research will enhance our understanding of explosive eruption phenomena caused by the interaction of lava and water and provide new insights into geological phenomena on the red planet.

As the electricity consumption of AI is projected to double by 2026, neuromorphic computing emerges as a promising solution. Researchers at The University of Texas at San Antonio are advancing neuromorphic computing, a field that applies principles of neuroscience to computing systems to mimic the brain’s function and structure. Neuromorphic chips have the potential to outpace traditional computers in energy and space efficiency as well as performance, presenting substantial advantages across various domains, including artificial intelligence, health care and robotics. To achieve scale in neuromorphic computing, the team proposes several key features that must be optimized, including sparsity, a feature observed in the biological brains. 

New Jersey Institute of Technology physicist Dale Gary has been named AAS Fellow for his pioneering contributions to radio astronomy and solar physics.

As the demand for high-speed wireless communication grows, millimeter-wave frequencies, such as the 27 GHz band, have become increasingly important for 5G and beyond. However, operating at these frequencies poses technical challenges, such as high propagation losses and atmospheric interference. Now, researchers from China have developed an innovative 2-bit phased array antenna that effectively addresses these issues. Its compact, cost-effective design offers a promising and experimentally verified solution for the future of wireless communications.

SAN ANTONIO — January 22, 2025 —Four small suitcase-sized spacecraft, designed and built by Southwest Research Institute, have made a final Earth-side pit stop at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. NASA’s Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere, or PUNCH, mission is sharing a ride to space with the Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization and Ices Explorer (SPHEREx) observatory.