In context: Diamonds are among the most promising materials for tech applications, such as fast telecommunications and power conversion in electric vehicles or power plants. However, diamonds aren’t easy to work with, as they tend to crack when trying to cut wafers out of them. A new laser-based technique developed by a team of Japanese scientists from Chiba University seemingly provides a way to “effortlessly slice” diamonds along the optimal crystallographic plane. The research was recently published in the journal Diamond and Related Materials, and it could assist the semiconductor industry in adopting one of the sturdiest materials known to…
Author: Bernie
A group of researchers has modified a Meta virtual reality (VR) headset to possess the remarkable capability of measuring brain activity and examining the user’s reactions to hints and stressors, among others. The scientific team from The University of Texas at Austin has harnessed the potential of a non-invasive electroencephalogram (EEG) sensor seamlessly integrated into a commercial VR headset designed to be worn comfortably for extended durations. This EEG technology facilitates monitoring the brain’s electrical patterns during immersive VR interactions. (Photo : TOBIAS SCHWARZ/AFP via Getty Images)A volunteer wears virtual reality (VR) glasses during a launch event at the corporate offices of Meta in…
Developer Gunfire Games’ procedurally generated fantasy shooter Remnant 2 has been a hit, garnering positive reviews and selling over 1m copies in the space of the week. And amid all that excitement (not to mention some cheeky sneakery) Gunfire has been preparing its first major patch for Remnant 2, targeting performance, stability, and various quality of life improvements. It’s out now on PC and the developer says a console release should follow “very soon”, once the update has cleared Sony and Microsoft’s approval process. Introducing Remnant 2’s new update on its website, Gunfire explains, “We’ve made our…
Introduction What do you improve on a phone that’s already the default option in its class and competition is either very region-limited or, if widely available, just not popular enough to be a serious threat? Well, not a lot, Samsung says with its Galaxy Z Flip5. The latest-gen foldables from the Korean company tread carefully, but the Flip does still feel like the more meaningful generational step up. That’s mostly due to the fact that the clamshell is treated to a much-needed cover screen upgrade, the new larger unit greatly improving usefulness (with some caveats). The other major development is…
This week was full of deals centered around the back to school season, and many of these discounts are still available as we head into the weekend. You’ll find record low prices on the entry-level M1 MacBook Air, AirPods Pro 2, Samsung monitors, and more. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running. Back To School It’s officially back to school season, and that means there are plenty of discounts to go around on the…
Announced recently at Samsung Unpacked, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 is one of the South Korean tech giant’s latest flagship mobile devices, alongside the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5.The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 has a 3.4-inch “Flex Window” panel, Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 chip, and up to 512GB storage. Four colors are available: mint green, lavender, cream, or graphite.The main display has been imbued with a shock dispersion layer and corning Gorilla glass. In the past, Samsung has had issues with the durability of flip phones, but now, the firm has included a new integrated hinge module with a dual…
As promised, Poco unveiled the Poco M6 Pro today, which is powered by the Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 SoC and comes in two memory configurations – 4GB/64GB and 6GB/128GB. It also has a microSD card slot for storage expansion up to 1TB and runs Android 13-based MIUI 14 out of the box. Poco has promised two major Android version upgrades and three years of security updates without mentioning the latter’s frequency. The Poco M6 Pro is built around a 6.79″ 90Hz FullHD+ LCD with 550 nits peak brightness and 240Hz touch sampling rate. Gorilla Glass protects the display, but Poco…
A diagram of a curvature-adjustable imager built with stretchable electronics that use n-type semiconductors sandwiched in between elastomers to limit the semiconductors’ typical brittleness. Credit: Cunjiang Yu/Penn State There’s a barrier preventing the advent of truly elastic electronic systems, the kind needed for advanced human-machine interfaces, artificial skins, smart health care and more, but a Penn State-led research team may have found a way to stretch around it. According to principal investigator Cunjiang Yu, who is the Dorothy Quiggle Career Development Associate Professor of Engineering Science and Mechanics and of Biomedical Engineering at Penn State, fully elastic electronic systems require…
Biogen and Sage Therapeutics’ collaboration to develop Zurzuvae has proved fruitful. The FDA approved the oral pill specifically for the treatment of postpartum depression (PPD), making it the first of its kind in a class of antidepressants intended specifically for new mothers. According to research by the CDC, one in eight women will experience symptoms of postpartum depression. Symptoms of PPD can occur quite intensely after birth and can be dangerous because it can interfere with a new mother’s ability to function. The long-awaited approval comes thanks to two randomized, double-blind studies that proved the efficacy of the drug. A…
No, Macs have never been a serious gamer’s first choice. But when even Linux-based systems are climbing past Apple’s computers on Steam’s hardware list, you start to wonder. Steam’s monthly hardware report shows that more gamers are using Linux devices than Apple Macs, to the tune of 1.96 versus 1.84 percent (the vast majority of course run Windows PCs). The explanation? Probably Valve’s own Steam Deck gaming handheld. The breakout device runs on Valve’s custom Linux-based Steam OS and intensely marketed (and praised) over the past year. Perhaps we shouldn’t make too much of these tiny overall numbers, but it’s…