IEEE Spectrum

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Solar panel efficiency can drop by as much as 25 percent in the hot sun. To get more out of photovoltaics, researchers in Baghdad are testing solar panels that cool themselves and simultaneously provide cool air for buildings. spectrum.ieee.org/solar-pane…

With permission, Benjamin Skuse submitted an AI-generated paper to an engineering journal to see how it would get caught. As AI tools become widespread, academic journals are struggling to deal with the overload. buff.ly/clrOfSd

TARS is working on a dataset of human motion that any humanoid robot can train on. IEEE Spectrum got to test out their data capture system at ICRA 2026. To learn more about upcoming RAS conferences, visit: buff.ly/gFkpO2t And visit the RAS site: buff.ly/ttwUclt

Here are the best robot videos of the week! spectrum.ieee.org/video-frid…

Japan's #MMX mission will attempt to land a rover and a spacecraft on the Martian moon Phobos, where the gravity is so weak that even a gentle touchdown could end in a bounce. @JAXA_en @mmx_jaxa_jp spectrum.ieee.org/mmx-missio…

A brain stimulation headband for women's health just cleared a regulatory step in Europe, opening new options for treating period-related anxiety. spectrum.ieee.org/samphire-n…

A $100 magnetic imaging tile, a Teensy 4.1, and some code (available for free on our Hands On GitHub page) can turn a simple craft box into a programmable magnetic lock that you can open with just a hand gesture. #DIY buff.ly/jryPjDz

OpenAI’s textGrain flags many long texts but struggles on short or edited ones; is that enough for the EU’s new AI law? spectrum.ieee.org/ai-waterma…

During the 2026 solar eclipse, Miloslav Druckmüller’s team used lenses, interference filters, and intensive numerical processing to turn a couple of thousand eclipse exposures into awesome images that could help reshape our understanding of solar physics. spectrum.ieee.org/2026-solar…

Producing glass fibers in microgravity using a heavy-metal fluoride glass called ZBLAN creates stronger fibers than when produced on Earth. But economically, is it worth it? buff.ly/qfxJ4Fe

Are Drone Ports the Next Annoying Tech Neighbor? spectrum.ieee.org/drone-deli…

The Regent Viceroy Seaglider has undergone a successful test flight with humans aboard. This wing-in-ground aircraft aims to be a sustainable solution for coastal passenger transport, defense, and cargo transport. buff.ly/1zreEjf

Congressional staffers welcome input and experience from engineers. But lobbying Congress can sometimes seem too complex or strange. Software engineer Nikhil Jathar shares real advice for engineers in lobbying. buff.ly/3PukiMR

Over 50 countries now use biometrics as part of their #voting process. But these technologies are not perfect and can sometimes lock people out of the systems they are trying to maintain. buff.ly/CUWDkNa

Kenyan startup Fastagger is building AI around mobile money, low-cost phones, and the everyday needs of small businesses. #AIinAfrica spectrum.ieee.org/ai-small-b…

#Wikipedia volunteers are developing tools to detect subtler forms of machine-generated content and trying to keep Wikipedia human. buff.ly/if19MYg

Read the November issue to hear about the real design challenges inherent in creating a humanoid robot, what happened when a journalist used AI to test scientific publishing systems, and how to build your own hidden lock you can open with a gesture. buff.ly/BVppmeA

Do #AI models have desires? Should we consider their welfare as we use them? Could they become conscious? In the meantime, experts agree that telling AI models they might be conscious introduces safety risks. buff.ly/5DmNLbS

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The 1990s are calling and they want their landline-era telecom rules back. Can we write new ones for our era? spectrum.ieee.org/telecommun…