Tech
Would lip-synching make androids seem less creepy?
Robots that seem almost — but not quite — human can strike us as eerie. Improved lip motions might help overcome this “Uncanny Valley” effect.
Computing
More Stories in Computing
- Physics
Discoveries behind quantum computers win the Nobel Prize in physics
John Clarke, Michel Devoret and John Martinis turned up quantum effects in an electric circuit. This 1980s find underlies today’s quantum computers.
- Physics
Could we ever build the tech to shrink ourselves?
The atoms that make us up couldn’t be shrunk or smashed closer together — at least, not without catastrophic consequences.
- Space
This astronomer searches for alien chemistry and tech
At the SETI Institute, Chenoa Tremblay uses radio telescopes to look for molecules and emissions given off by alien technology.
- Artificial Intelligence
AI, make me a video game
Developers can use AI to generate code, dialog, playable environments and more. But at its heart, making video games remains a creative human endeavor.
- Artificial Intelligence
DeepSeek pioneers a new way for AI to ‘reason’
Chatbots answer one question at a time. Reasoning agents work through a problem step by step. DeepSeek makes this new type of AI far less costly.
- Math
His love of math led to a career in quantum computing
James Whitfield began his career when quantum computing was still in its infancy. Today, he’s helping to make it more accessible to educators, researchers and others.
- Tech
High-speed lasers write data — to last millennia — inside glass
Project Silica is advancing a new way to store data — potentially forever. Some students plan to use this new media to send a message into space.
- Computing
This computer scientist uses math to help people be treated fairly
Ariel Procaccia has designed computer algorithms that help split up credit on group projects, distribute donations, pick citizens’ assemblies and more.
- Computing
Explainer: What is the internet?
The internet is a massive structure made up of cables, routers, exchange points, data centers, cell towers, antennas and more. All sorts of devices share data using this network.
