What does a quantum computer have in common with a top draft pick in sports? Both have attracted lots of attention from talent scouts. Quantum computers, experimental machines that can perform some tasks faster than supercomputers, are constantly evaluated, much like young athletes, for their potential to someday become game-changing technology. Now, scientist-scouts have their…

Researchers have developed a method for incorporating security in the physical nature of the wireless transmission signal for 5G and future networks. Encryption methods now used to secure communications from eavesdroppers can be challenging to scale towards such high-speed and ultra-low latency systems for 5G and beyond. This is because the very nature of encryption…

Computer scientists have discovered an inexpensive way for tech companies to implement a rigorous form of personal data privacy when using or sharing large databases for machine learning. «There are many cases where machine learning could benefit society if data privacy could be ensured,» said Anshumali Shrivastava, an associate professor of computer science at Rice.…

Companies in the software industry, where novel ideas are prized, use linguistic tactics to develop new labels for their innovations to stay ahead of competitors. Category innovation during a study period from 1990 to 2002 included words and phrases such as «platform» and «supply chain management» — market categories that are now established. «There is…

Many satellites are in space to take photos. But a vibrating satellite, like a camera in shaky hands, can’t get a sharp image. Pointing it at a precise location to take a photo or perform another task, is another important function requiring accuracy. «We developed, with NASA»s Jet Propulsion Lab, a way to cancel out…

When we think of ions, we usually think of single atoms that have lost or gained some electrons, but entire molecules can also become ions. Physicists now show that cold molecular ions can be created using a new method, and that they are a very useful tool for detecting small amounts of other, regular molecules.…

The smuggling of contraband is a threat in airport security and risks have increased in modern times with the uptick in parcel delivery, but security inspection methods have not seen any significant improvements. Researchers propose a technique for efficient detection of contraband items. Typically, airport security uses X-ray imaging to quickly scan baggage, but this…

Researchers have recently discovered a breakthrough in magnetic reconnection that could ultimately help predict space weather. Peiyun Shi’s research is the first-of-its-kind in the laboratory setting and is part of the PHASMAproject, a complex experiment composed of advanced diagnostics, electromagnets and lab-created plasma to reveal new details about how the universe functions. For his experiment,…

The Dragonfly telescope is undergoing a metamorphosis. For the past decade, the Dragonfly Telephoto Array has conducted groundbreaking science by detecting faint starlight within dimly lit parts of the night sky. The telescope uses clusters of telephoto lenses to create images, much the way a dragonfly’s eyes gather visual data. For the past decade, the…

Creating smarter, more accurate artificial intelligence systems requires a hybrid human-machine approach, according to researchers. In a new study, they present a new mathematical model that can improve performance by combining human and algorithmic predictions and confidence scores. «Humans and machine algorithms have complementary strengths and weaknesses. Each uses different sources of information and strategies…