spectrum.ieee.org

This article originally appeared on Universe Today.Getting to Mars takes a really long time, about 9 months using today’s rocket technology. This is because regular rocket engines burn fuel and oxygen together (like a car engine), but they’re not very efficient. The fundamental problem is that spacecraft must carry both fuel and oxidizer since there’s no air in space to support combustion. This

Video Friday is your weekly selection of awesome robotics videos, collected by your friends at IEEE Spectrum robotics. We also post a weekly calendar of upcoming robotics events for the next few months. Please send us your events for inclusion.2025 Energy Drone & Robotics Summit: 16–18 June 2025, HOUSTONRSS 2025: 21–25 June 2025, LOS ANGELESETH Robotics Summer School: 21–27 June 2025, GENEVA

Growing up in Taipei, Taiwan, in the 1960s with limited access to television and other forms of entertainment, Kevin Lu amused himself by examining how machines worked. He became fascinated by heavy construction equipment and built miniature versions of the machinery out of scrap materials.“We didn’t have a lot at the time,” Lu recalls. “TV was just becoming available to the average household, and there weren’t many toys. So I made my own.”Kevin LuEmployer: Stevens Institute of Technology, in Hoboken, N.J.Title: Teaching Professor and Associate Chair for U

As mobile phone use continues to be a leading cause of vehicle accidents, a range of technologies has emerged designed to combat distracted driving. From mobile apps to hardware-integrated systems, these tools aim to limit phone use behind the wheel. But a closer look reveals significant differences in how effectively they prevent distractions—especially in fleet vehicles.While apps like AT&T’s DriveMode and

Impact was imminent. Occasional gasps arose as the asteroid took shape and a jagged, rocky surface filled the view. Then the images abruptly stopped.The mission control room at Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab in Laurel, Md., erupted in cheers. “We have impact!” said the lead engineer, who gave a two-handed high five to a nearby colleague. Others waved their hands in the air in victory and slapped each other on the back.This had been a test, and humanity had passed it, taking one crucial step closer to protecting Earth from an asteroid impact. The test

IBM has unveiled a new quantum computing architecture it says will slash the number of qubits required for error correction. The advance will underpin its goal of building a large-scale, fault-tolerant quantum computer, called Starling, that will be available to customers by 2029.Because of the inherent unreliability of the qubits (the quantum equivalent of bits) that quantum computers are built from, error correction will be crucial for building reliable, large-scale devices. Error-correction approaches spread each unit of inform

Open-source technology developed in the civilian sector has the capacity to also be used in military applications or be simply misused. Navigating this dual-use potential is becoming more important across engineering fields, as innovation goes both ways. While the “openness” of open-source technology is part of what drives innovation and allows everyone access, it also, unfortunately, means it’s just as easily accessible to others, including the military and criminals.What happens when a rogue state, a nonstate militia, or a school shooter displays the same creativity and innovation with open-source technology that enginee

As the home for IEEE’s preuniversity resources, activities, and hands-on experiences, TryEngineering serves as a hub for educators, parents, and IEEE volunteers to teach school-age children about engineering.With support from IEEE partners, TryEngineering has launched a series of e-books. Bolstered by input from IEEE members who are experts in their field, the e-books use open-source, free materials written to teach complex engineering topics in an age-appropriate way. Visually appealing, the books use col

Inflammation: It’s the body’s natural response to injury and infection, but medical science now recognizes it as a double-edged sword. When inflammation becomes chronic, it can contribute to a host of serious health problems, including arthritis, heart disease, and certain cancers. As this understanding has grown, so too has the search for effective ways to manage harmful inflammation.Doctors and researchers are exploring various approaches to tackle this pervasive health issue, from new medications to dietary interventions. But what if one of the most promising treatments relies on a familiar technology that’s been in hospitals for decades?Enter

This week at the IEEE Electronic Components and Packaging Technology Conference, Intel unveiled that it is developing new chip-packaging technology that will allow for bigger processors for AI.With Moore’s Law slowing down, makers of advanced GPUs and other data-center chips are having to add more silicon area to their products to keep up with the relentless rise of AI’s computing needs. But the maximum size of a single silicon chip is fixed at around 800 square millimeters (with one exception), so manufacturers have had to