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Tech & Engineering

Updates every hour. Last Updated: 30-Oct-2026 14:17 ET (30-Oct-2026 18:17 GMT/UTC)

The use of robots increases productivity in SMEs, but does not boost exports

Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC)
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A UOC study based on data from nearly 5,000 manufacturing firms concludes that robotization improves efficiency, especially that of smaller and less innovative companies

Journal: Journal of the Knowledge Economy

SUTD study shows why comfort at home is more than a temperature issue

Singapore University of Technology and Design
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Research led by the Singapore University of Technology and Design finds that comfort in Singapore homes depends not only on air-conditioning and building design, but also on airflow, daily routines and how families share their living spaces.

Journal: Urban Climate

Large language model guides discovery of catalysts for clean energy tech

Advanced Institute for Materials Research (AIMR), Tohoku University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

An AI assistant for high-entropy alloy (HEA) electrocatalysis named ChatHEA provided a helping hand not just to extract data from the literature, but provide suggestions for promising catalysts, design experiments, and analyze data.

Journal: National Science Review

Social norms can accelerate or undermine climate action, new model finds

University of Waterloo
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A new mathematical model suggests that social norms may be just as important as economics in determining how the world responds to climate change. The research shows that efforts to reduce emissions in one region can unintentionally influence climate action elsewhere, with consequences that could either strengthen or weaken global progress.

Journal: Nature Communications

Research spotlight: A new standard to better align implantable brain devices with users’ needs

Mass General Brigham
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Gabriel Lázaro-Muñoz, PhD, JD, and Amanda R. Merner, PhD, of the Health Technology Performance Lab within the Mass General Brigham Neuroscience Institute, are the authors of a paper published in The American Journal of Psychiatry, “Implantable Neuromodulation Devices in Psychiatry: Human Fidelity and Implementation Challenges.”

KRICT solves internal cracking in sulfide all-solid-state batteries with elastic ion-conductive polymer

National Research Council of Science & Technology
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A research team has developed a technology that enhances the lifespan and stability of all-solid-state batteries by utilizing a rubber-like elastic ion-conductive material. Dr. Dong Wook Kim and his research team at the Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT), in collaboration with Professor Seong-Ju Hwang’s team at Yonsei University and Professor Ho Seok Park’s team at Sungkyunkwan University, developed a technology that incorporates an “elastic ion-conductive polymer” into sulfide-based all-solid-state batteries to reduce cracking and interfacial degradation generated during charge-discharge cycling and thereby improve battery durability.

Journal: Energy Storage Materials
Funder: Ministry of Science and ICT

Global warming and increasing wildfire risk threaten viability of elite wine-growing regions in California – but others may boom

Frontiers
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Scientists modeled the evolution of the suitability of different areas across California for wine grapes over the 21st century, using two IPCC emission scenarios. They then used the projected local climate to calculate the wildfire weather index, which tracks the changing weather conditions that trigger wildfires. They also estimated the expected quality of the wine with a machine learning model trained on vintage rankings by professional tasters. They showed that established regions including Napa and Sonoma are likely to become less suitable, while others like Mendocino and Monterey are projected to become ideal due to warming and a reduced local climate inducing wildfires.

Journal: Frontiers in Climate

How sea stars build materials that can see

University of Pennsylvania School of Engineering and Applied Science
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Penn Engineering researchers discovered that sea star skeletons do more than provide strength—they also guide light. The finding reveals how nature combines structural support and sensing in a single material, offering new inspiration for lightweight, multifunctional materials and bioinspired engineering.

Journal: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Funder: Human Frontier Science Program

HkU Engineering signs MOU with China State Construction to establish ‘CSHK KKU Engineering flagship program scholarship’ and nurture future engineering talent

The University of Hong Kong
Business Announcement

The Faculty of Engineering at The University of Hong Kong (HKU) and China State Construction Engineering (Hong Kong) Limited (CSHK) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 6 July 2026 to jointly establish the ‘CSHK HKU Engineering Flagship Programme Scholarship’. This strategic collaboration aims to support outstanding undergraduate students across the Faculty's three flagship programmes, while promoting academic-industry collaboration and nurturing future engineering talent with a global perspective.