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Category: electronics

Researchers discover spontaneous chirality in conjugated polymers

Chirality, a property where structures have a distinct left- or right-handedness, allows natural semiconductors to move charge and convert energy with high efficiency by controlling electron spin and the angular momentum of light. A new study has revealed that many conjugated polymers, long considered structurally neutral, can spontaneously twist into chiral shapes. This surprising behavior, overlooked for decades, could pave the way for development of a new class of energy-efficient electronics inspired by nature.

Twisting sound: Scientists discover a new way to control mechanical vibrations in metamaterial

Scientists at the Advanced Science Research Center at the CUNY Graduate Center (CUNY ASRC) have discovered a way to control sound and vibrations using a concept inspired by “twistronics,” a phenomenon originally developed for electronics.

Their research, published in the journal PNAS, introduces “twistelastics”—a technique that uses tiny rotations between layers of engineered surfaces to manipulate how mechanical waves travel.

Sound and control are essential for technologies like ultrasound imaging, microelectronics, and advanced sensors. Traditionally, these systems rely on fixed designs, limiting flexibility. The new approach allows engineers to reconfigure wave behavior by twisting two layers of engineered surfaces, enabling unprecedented adaptability.

New haptic system lets soft objects respond to taps, squeezes and twists

New technology that invites expressive, two-way communication between a person and the soft, flexible object they are holding or wearing has been developed at the University of Bath.

Using this system, a user can tap, twist or pinch a soft object—such as a cushion, an item of clothing or a pliable computer mouse—and the object will respond in a meaningful way, for instance, by changing the TV channel, turning off a light or creating a digital sculpture on a screen.

Crucially, the object also provides (such as a soft click or vibration) to confirm the action, while maintaining its natural softness and flexibility.

TSMC reduces peak power consumption of EUV tools by 44% — company to save 190 million kilowatt-hours of electricity by 2030

TSMC is also exploring the possibility of applying similar dynamic energy control mechanisms to other lithography equipment, including DUV scanners, as well as additional modules outside the lithography sector.

While TSMC did not reveal what, exactly, its EUV Dynamic Energy Saving Program involves, that it is applicable to DUV systems and other machinery means that it does not exploit EUV-specific peculiarities. For example, the program could implement adaptive power scaling based on real-time operational status. If wafers are not queued for immediate processing, the EUV tool could intelligently pause or shift to a low-power state rather than continuously consume full power. Such an approach would require real-time data exchange across the cleanroom as well as optimizations on process/production flow levels (though, we are speculating).

TSMC has been increasing the power efficiency of its EUV fab tools — which are notorious for their power consumption — for years, now. In mid-2024, the company announced that it had though without disclosing what exactly had been done…

Venus flytrap’s touch response traced to specialized ion channel in sensory hairs

Plants lack nerves, yet they can sensitively detect touch from other organisms. In the Venus flytrap, highly sensitive sensory hairs act as tactile sensing organs; when touched twice in quick succession, they initiate the closure cascade that captures prey. However, the molecular identity of the touch sensor has remained unclear.

Sensor platform uses nanopore ‘speed cameras’ to pinpoint gases in complex mixtures

From breath analysis to explosive detection, many applications require reliable electronic “noses.” Unfortunately, current technology often falls short. That is why researchers at KU Leuven have developed a flexible sensor platform that not only detects gases, but also records their speed—like a speed camera.

New Lensless Camera Sees in 3D Using Ancient Pinhole Tech

A lens-free system produces sharp mid-infrared images even in low light and over long distances, creating new opportunities for improved night vision, industrial inspections, and environmental monitoring. Drawing on the centuries-old principle of pinhole imaging, researchers have developed a high

World’s First “Perovskite Camera” Can See Inside the Human Body

A new detector aims to reduce costs while improving the quality of nuclear medicine. Physicians use nuclear medicine techniques such as SPECT scans to observe how the heart pumps, follow patterns of blood flow, and identify diseases that are otherwise hidden deep within the body. Current scanners

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