When Rodney Brooks talks about robotics and artificial intelligence, it’s worth paying attention. As the Panasonic Professor of Robotics Emeritus at MIT and a co-founder of influential companies such as Rethink Robotics, iRobot, and Robust.ai, Brooks has a wealth of experience and insight. He also led the MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) for a decade, starting in 1997.

Brooks frequently makes predictions about AI’s future and even keeps a scorecard on his blog to track his accuracy. Despite the current excitement surrounding generative AI, Brooks suggests it may be time to temper expectations. He acknowledges the technology’s impressive capabilities but warns that it isn’t as all-encompassing as some believe.

A Northwestern University-led team of engineers has discovered an innovative way to store carbon dioxide (CO2) in concrete by using a carbonated water-based solution during the manufacturing process. This new method not only helps sequester CO2 from the atmosphere but also produces concrete with uncompromised strength and durability.

In laboratory experiments, the process achieved a CO2 sequestration efficiency of up to 45%, meaning nearly half of the CO2 injected during concrete manufacturing was captured and stored. This breakthrough could significantly offset CO2 emissions from the cement and concrete industries, which are responsible for 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

The growing prevalence of high-speed wireless communication devices, from 5G mobile phones to sensors for autonomous vehicles, is leading to increasingly crowded airwaves. This makes the ability to block interfering signals that can hamper device performance an even more important and challenging problem.

To address these challenges, MIT researchers have demonstrated a new millimeter-wave multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) wireless receiver architecture. This innovative design can handle stronger spatial interference than previous models. MIMO systems, which have multiple antennas, can transmit and receive signals from different directions. The new wireless receiver senses and blocks spatial interference at the earliest opportunity, before unwanted signals are amplified, thus improving performance.

A collaboration of researchers from multiple universities in the US has successfully demonstrated the use of adsorbent fins to harvest water from the air. This innovative approach is more efficient than previous water harvesting technologies and could help secure water supplies in dry and arid regions, according to a press release.

As the planet warms and climatic conditions become more extreme, access to clean water is expected to trouble millions of people. Traditionally, our water supplies have been dependent on the availability of local water bodies. However, advances in technology now make it possible to extract water from the air.

A groundbreaking satellite named LignoSat, developed by a team at Kyoto University in collaboration with logging company Sumitomo Forestry, is set to revolutionize space technology with its unique construction from magnolia wood. This 10-centimeter cube aims to pave the way for environmentally friendly satellites that completely burn up upon re-entering Earth’s atmosphere.

The LignoSat project began in April 2020, with researchers evaluating various types of wood for their durability in harsh space conditions. Magnolia emerged as the top choice due to its strength and workability. Using traditional Japanese joinery techniques, the satellite’s wooden panels are seamlessly joined without screws or glue.

A groundbreaking power transmission technology has emerged in Woburn, Massachusetts, promising to redefine energy distribution efficiency while minimizing visual impact. VEIR, a startup co-founded by MIT alumnus Tim Heidel, has developed an innovative approach using superconducting cables and an advanced cooling system. This technology boosts transmission capacity, surpassing conventional lines by five to ten times, addressing the urgent global need for robust transmission infrastructure to support renewable energy integration and grid resilience.

VEIR’s technology relies on superconducting cables and an advanced cooling system, enabling their lines to initially carry up to 400 megawatts of power, with plans for even higher capacities in the future. “We can deploy much higher power levels at much lower voltage, and so we can deploy the same high power but with a footprint and visual impact that is far less intrusive,” said Heidel. This breakthrough not only increases capacity but also addresses regulatory and community opposition that have hindered many transmission projects.

For more than 15 years, a group of scientists in Texas has been diligently working on creating devices that can “see” through barriers using medium-frequency electromagnetic waves. Now, they seem closer than ever to achieving their goal.

In an interview with Futurism, Kenneth O, an electrical engineering professor at the University of Texas, explained that the new tiny imager chip developed by his research team can detect the outlines of items through barriers like cardboard. This breakthrough is the result of continuous advances and innovations in microprocessor technology over the past two decades.