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Physics World
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- 1World's most accurate atomic clock passes a crucial testβΌWorldβs most accurate atomic clock passes a crucial test
The world's most accurate atomic clock has passed a crucial test, confirming the precision and reliability of the timekeeping technology. Atomic clocks underpin GPS, telecommunications and fundamental physics research, so any advance in accuracy is closely watched by scientists. The result is being reported as a milestone in precision measurement, though details of the test and the team behind it are not specified.
- 2Heavy water isotopes improve weather forecast accuracyβΌHeavy water isotopes make weather predictions more accurate
Researchers report that tracking isotopes of heavy water can make weather predictions more accurate. By measuring variations in hydrogen and oxygen isotopes in atmospheric water, scientists can better trace moisture sources and movement, refining the models used in forecasting. The finding, reported by Physics World, suggests isotope data could become a valuable addition to meteorological observation and prediction systems.
- 3Nvidia settles trademark lawsuit over Modulus AI softwareβNvidia settles trademark lawsuit over 'Modulus' AI software
Nvidia has reached a settlement in a trademark lawsuit concerning its 'Modulus' AI software, according to a Reuters report. The dispute centred on Nvidia's use of the Modulus name for its framework for building physics-based machine learning models. Terms of the settlement were not disclosed in the report, and the company has not issued a detailed public statement on the outcome.
- 4Physics-informed machine learning improves wearable sweat biosensor calibrationβΌPhysics-informed machine learning for robust calibration and physiological validation of wearable electrochemical sweat biosensors for metabolite monitoring
Researchers publishing in Nature describe a physics-informed machine learning approach for calibrating wearable electrochemical sweat biosensors used to monitor metabolites. The method combines physical models of sensor behaviour with data-driven learning to achieve robust calibration and physiological validation, aiming to make wearable biochemical monitoring more reliable in real-world conditions.
- 5Driverless Trucks Offer Lessons for Safe AI RoboticsβDriverless Trucks Show How to Keep AI Robots From Killing Us
Bloomberg reports that driverless trucks may provide a model for how autonomous AI systems can be deployed safely without harming people. The argument is that self-driving freight has operated under strict testing, regulation and limited-use conditions, offering a template for governing more advanced robots. The piece adds to ongoing debate about how to manage AI risks as automation expands into physical industries.
- 6Black Forest Labs releases Flux 3 Action robotics modelβFlux 3 Action: A 7B open-weight world action model for robots
Black Forest Labs has released Flux 3 Action, a 7-billion-parameter open-weight world action model aimed at robotics, available via Hugging Face. The model is designed to let robots perceive and act in physical environments. Early discussion among developers is focused on the unusual choice of an image-model company entering robotics and on how a relatively compact 7B model performs on real robot tasks.
- 7Roboharm study tests whether robots refuse unsafe instructionsβRoboharm: Do frontier robot policies refuse unsafe instructions?
A project called Roboharm is asking whether frontier robot policies actually refuse unsafe instructions. The work examines how AI systems controlling robots respond to harmful commands, a safety question increasingly urgent as AI models are deployed in physical robotics. Discussion is focused on how well current safeguards carry over from language models to embodied systems.
- 8Gecko Robotics CEO urges human control over physical AIβGecko Robotics CEO: Humans must remain in control of physical AI
Gecko Robotics' chief executive is arguing that humans must remain in control as artificial intelligence moves into the physical world through robots and industrial automation. The company builds robots used to inspect critical infrastructure such as bridges, power plants and pipelines. The intervention adds a robotics industry voice to the ongoing debate over how much autonomy should be granted to AI-driven machines in safety-critical settings.
- 9Quantum Computer Operates in Space for the First TimeβFor The First Time, a Quantum Computer Has Operated in Space
A quantum computer has been operated in space for the first time, according to a report by ScienceAlert. The milestone suggests quantum computing technology can function in the harsh conditions of orbit, opening the door to space-based quantum research and potentially quantum communication networks between satellites. Details about the hardware involved and the mission responsible have not yet been widely reported.
- 10DIC backs fenceless robot startup Mantis RoboticsβΌDIC backs fenceless robot startup Mantis Robotics in physical AI push
Digital Internet Capital (DIC) has invested in Mantis Robotics, a startup building fenceless robots designed to work safely alongside people. The deal is framed as part of a broader push into physical AI, where artificial intelligence moves beyond software into machines operating in real-world workplaces such as factories and warehouses.
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A Grade 12 student has won a physics competition organized by CERN, the European nuclear research organization. The win, reported by Indian media, highlights the achievement of a school student in a competition run by one of the world's leading particle physics laboratories. Details about the student's identity, the competition's scope, and the prize remain limited.
- 12British startup trains AI on video game player inputsβπ° The Next Evolution of AI Is Learning From Your Dodgy Gaming Skills A British startup is shaping video game inputs into
A British startup is turning video game controller inputs into training data for AI models designed to navigate the physical world. The idea is that human gameplay, including mistakes and clumsy manoeuvring, offers rich examples of how people learn to control complex systems, which could help robots and other embodied AI improve. The approach is drawing attention as a cheaper alternative to real-world data collection.