IEEE Spectrum

The National Science Foundation is issuing a total of US $1.5 billion to independent research organizations over the next ten years. This will support ambitious, high-risk science projects. https://lnkd.in/etMNfQZM

See the latest advancements in modeling and simulation at the COMSOL Conference 2026 Boston! Happening October 7–9 at the Boston Marriott Burlington, the conference will offer various opportunities for you to meet with industry experts, sharpen your modeling skills, and learn about new ways your team can push the boundaries of R&D. Program highlights include: 💡 Keynote talks hosted by industry leaders 🧑🏫 25+ minicourses covering best practices in modeling and simulation 🧑💻 Demo stations where you can get personalized guidance on your projects from COMSOL engineers Learn more and register today ➡️ (https://lnkd.in/ewRj4sGQ)

During the last #Ebola outbreak, physicians tried an experimental blood-filtering device, helping to keep viral load down in extremely ill patients. Experts say this “hemopurifier” could be used again to fight the current outbreak, keeping critically ill patients alive. https://lnkd.in/edAFCa88

U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer says the country will ban social media use on under-16s in 2027. If it does, it will follow Australia, which implemented its ban in January 2026, and align with several other countries which are exploring how to minimize the harms of social media (https://lnkd.in/e3rUWaVQ). Yet verifying someone’s age online creates a whole new set of problems, which IEEE Spectrum discussed in a guest post by Waydell D. Carvalho: https://lnkd.in/dgXH6Z4q

⏰️ This 4-digit silicone clock driven by just 11 solenoid valves using microfluidics illustrates how negative pressure can serve as both the power source and the logic layer for soft machines. See how it was made: https://lnkd.in/e8W3-y4Y

Robert Woo has been testing human exoskeletons for over 15 years, finding flaws that engineers miss. He works directly with manufacturers, providing direct feedback for iterative development. He’s gone through clinical studies, been a first tester, and paved the way for thousands of people with spinal cord injuries to benefit from exoskeletons. https://lnkd.in/gvbWNbyR

Justin Stine, Reza Ghodssi, and Luke Beardslee share their work on smart pills that can sense, transmit information, and target drugs to specific areas inside your body. "We’re building swallowable devices that integrate sensors, actuators, and wireless links in packages that are small and safe enough for patients." See the story in the April issue of IEEE Spectrum or read the online version: https://lnkd.in/efRgCiQB

Poetry connects humans to each other and allows us to explore our relationship with technology in new, thought-provoking ways. https://lnkd.in/dtYg3caK brings us new ways to explore those bonds in “Entanglement: A Brief History of Human Connection.” https://lnkd.in/dv2g2ASj

Inspired by the words "stochastic parrot" coined in a seminal paper by a group including computational linguist Emily Bender, MIT Media lab created a robotic parrot.

My latest piece has been published in IEEE Spectrum. In it, I argue that South Africa has more leverage in the global AI economy than its current policy process recognises. Our position in platinum-group metals, data-centre infrastructure, hyperscaler investment, renewable energy, and public-sector procurement gives us bargaining power. The question is whether we use it. AI governance is not only about principles, ethics, or risk management. It is also about infrastructure, compute, data sovereignty, technology transfer, and the terms on which global AI systems enter African markets. South Africa can either become a passive consumer of AI infrastructure, or it can set a precedent for negotiating investment on terms that build sovereign capability. Read the piece here: https://lnkd.in/d2KWbHFg