Lifeboat Foundation

Neuromorphic computing provides alternative hardware architectures with high computational efficiencies and low energy consumption by simulating the working principles of the brain with artificial neurons and synapses as building blocks. This process helps overcome the insurmountable speed barrier and high power consumption from conventional von Neumann computer architectures. Among the emerging neuromorphic electronic devices, ferroelectric-based artificial synapses have attracted extensive interest for their good controllability, deterministic resistance switching, large output signal dynamic range, and excellent retention. This Perspective briefly reviews the recent progress of two-and three-terminal ferroelectric artificial synapses represented by ferroelectric tunnel junctions and ferroelectric field effect transistors, respectively. The structure and operational mechanism of the devices are described, and existing issues inhibiting high-performance synaptic devices and corresponding solutions are discussed, including the linearity and symmetry of synaptic weight updates, power consumption, and device miniaturization. Functions required for advanced neuromorphic systems, such as multimodal and multi-timescale synaptic plasticity, are also summarized. Finally, the remaining challenges in ferroelectric synapses and possible countermeasures are outlined.

Current technologies of bioinspired and neuromorphic electronics still lack a universal framework for integration into everyday life. This Perspective highlights how bioinspired electronics with soft electrochemical matter based on organic mixed conductors can potentially enable the integration of diverse forms of intelligence everywhere.

A Northwestern University-led team of researchers has developed a new fuel cell that harvests energy from microbes living in dirt.

New tech harvests energy from microbes in soil to power sensors, communications.

Working in the lab, Northwestern alumnus Bill Yen buries the fuel cell in soil.

At just a few millimeters in size, these tiny sensors can monitor alcohol consumption, sugar intake, and other dietary measurements with ease.

The test occurred at White Sands Missile Range, where the radar showed operational performance and readiness.

Using a soap bubble, researchers have created a laser that could act as a sensitive sensor for environmental parameters including atmospheric pressure.

Soap bubbles are known for their attention-grabbing effect on toddlers, and now researchers have shown that these objects have another dazzling use—generating color-tunable laser light [1]. They demonstrated that a dye dissolved in the soap solution of such a bubble can amplify light circulating in the spherical shell and produce laser light. This light is visible as a glowing ring around the bubble. Such “bubble lasers” could act as precision sensors for measuring atmospheric pressure or for detecting changes in an electric field.

Continue reading “A Soap Bubble Becomes a Laser” »

Chip likely designed for Samsung, Google mixed reality headset.

To delve into the technical specifications, Apple’s Vision Pro boasts an impressive resolution of 11.5 million pixels per eye, more than a 4K TV for each eye, with a total resolution of 23 million pixels.

Continue reading “Qualcomm unveils cutting-edge XR chipset to compete with Apple Vision Pro” »

A new thermal transistor can control heat as precisely as an electrical transistor can control electricity.

By Rachel Nuwer

Semiconducting graphene buffer layer grown on silicon carbide.