Scientists around the world are working to expand the world of technology and bring new and innovative things to the fore. In this regard, many things have been developed for the convenience of people so far, some of which are described below.

Faster than light

Scientists working in Switzerland have conducted further experiments to solidify a scientific discovery made in September last year. According to their research, some nutrients can travel slightly faster than the speed of light. 

Interestingly, repeated experiments have yielded the same results as the previous ones. If this discovery is confirmed by others, it will shake the foundations of modern physics. 

Modern physics, which is based on Einstein's theory of relativity, will be proven wrong. Scientists in the United States and Japan are further investigating the discovery.

Smart Weapon

Security and defense agencies face a problem in killing enemy soldiers or insurgents hiding in shelters. If they are not in sight, it is impossible to kill them. The US military has found a solution to this problem by inventing a rifle that fires radio-controlled bullets. The rifle is equipped with a laser rangefinder that measures the distance to the target. 

It adjusts to the distance of an obstacle up to three meters. When fired, the bullet (in the form of an airburst) goes near the target or some distance from the target and kills the target. This special rifle acts like a grenade launcher, with the ability to control the actual center of the explosion with a high-explosive round. 

Its round has a chip embedded in it, through which a signal is sent from the rifle's gun socket, which detonates at the desired location. The production of this type of smart weapon has been made possible by modern microchip technology.

Renewable energy

As fuel prices rise and global warming changes weather patterns, the search for renewable energy sources is accelerating. A key challenge with solar or wind power is ensuring a consistent supply, as the sun sets and wind speeds often slow. During this time, the efficiency of battery storage systems needs to be improved.

In this regard, the problem of providing energy to large energy reserves and grid systems has emerged as a challenge. A professor of materials science and engineering at Stanford University has found an interesting solution to this problem from molecules. Experts have developed a new high-power electrode that is cheap, efficient, and suitable for use in batteries, which can store large amounts of electricity for grid systems.

Current batteries are failing due to damage caused by the movement of ions in their electrodes. These new electrodes (made from nanoparticles) have been developed by Stanford researchers. To do this, they have created an open structure of the electrode that allows ions to move in and out without any damage. 

The open structure allows ions to move freely and quickly in and out of the electrode, allowing the battery to charge and discharge quickly. High-voltage cathodes are a surprising material when it comes to electrode applications. Now scientists are trying to develop an anode that can be used with them so that a complete battery can be prepared for use.

Quantum Dots: The Solar Cells of the Future

Solar cells generate electricity by capturing energy from the sun. Sunlight comes in the form of photons. The photons excite the electrons in the solar cell and send them to their next energy level. This causes electrons to flow through the material and produce electricity. 

The electricity produced is in the form of direct current, which can be used to power light bulbs and other electrical appliances. Commercially available solar cells are usually made from silicon crystals, with an efficiency of 18 to 14 percent. Modern solar cells made from other materials are much more efficient.

So there are two main concerns in this regard: one is the cost at which solar cells are manufactured, and the other is the increase in their efficiency. The latest development in this technology is quantum dot solar cells, which are sprayed onto roofs or windows. Quantum dot solar cells are made of very fine particles (nanoparticles), which are semiconductors. 

They are easily sprayed on windows and roofs like paint and do not require the installation of expensive and complex solar cells. Initially, scientists at Stanford University produced nanoparticles from organic materials, but now scientists at the University of Toronto, in collaboration with King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, have discovered more efficient quantum dots that can be produced from inorganic components. These solar cells have achieved a world record of six percent efficiency. It is hoped that these cells will soon be manufactured on a commercial scale.

New suits with robots

American soldiers have received a state-of-the-art combat suit that will provide them with extraordinary strength and speed. This is the result of a decade-long effort by the American defense agency DARPA.

Under the project called Exoskeleton for Human Performance Augmentation, various types of external body structures are being developed, which will increase the strength and speed of soldiers.

Another successful invention of this research is Wearable Energetically Autonomous Robot Wear. Now this suit is being powered by fuel cells, which will further increase its importance.

An artificial intelligence initiative

Will artificial intelligence one day become a threat to our existence? The possibility of self-evolving machines that will have the ability to make other machines better than themselves is growing. You may have been surprised at how intelligent this machine is while playing electronic chess and how it manages to defeat you by planning its own strategy.

The robots that currently exist can do simple tasks, such as cleaning your house and following your simple instructions. But now more complex systems have been integrated into modern robots. These robots can detect a person while swimming and help them like a lifeguard. In addition, while driving on the road, they can inform the driver that there is a traffic jam ahead.

Researchers are concerned that the day is not far off when the "singularity" of artificial intelligence will be created and this chain reaction will get out of control. After that, one machine will start producing another, better machine.

Talking cars

Every year, a large number of vehicle collisions occur due to poor visibility in fog and haze. Now scientists from the University of Bologna, Italy, have found a solution. They have developed a device that will allow cars to send messages to vehicles behind them in the event of an accident. This warning system will be activated by special motion sensors installed in the car, which will identify it in the event of an accident. 

A Japanese company is testing the system on the streets of Los Angeles. The launch of the Intelligent Car program in Europe aims to make travel safer with the help of modern wireless technology. According to an estimate, 42 percent of the time in Europe is lost in traffic jams. With the help of this system, vehicles will be provided with advance notice of road closures and any problems on the road.