UIC Urban Forum to explore the growth, potential impact and future of autonomous vehicles

The University of Illinois at Chicago’s 2019 Urban Forum, titled “Are we there yet? The myths and realities of autonomous vehicles,” will examine the questions and uncertainties surrounding not only the societal and legislative impact of autonomous vehicles, but also the technological advances needed for these vehicles to proliferate.

Supercomputers Pave the Way for New Machine Learning Approach

Researchers have developed a machine learning approach called transfer learning that lets them model novel materials by learning from data collected about millions of other compounds. The new approach can be applied to new molecules in milliseconds, enabling research into a far greater number of compounds over much longer timescales.

With #HurricaneDorian’s approach comes the threat of power loss, which can disrupt transportation and put lives at risk. @JohnsHopkins engineer Umesh Korde suggests that harnessing energy from ocean waves can help restore power more quickly.

As Hurricane Dorian threatens to strike Florida, officials are beginning to prepare for its potential impact on electricity, building infrastructure, transportation and more.  Umesh Korde, a research professor in the Department of Environmental Health and Engineering at The Johns Hopkins…

The Chemistry of Art: Scientists Explore Aged Paint in Microscopic Detail to Inform Preservation Efforts

To learn more about the chemical processes in oil paints that can damage aging artwork, a team led by researchers at the National Gallery of Art and the National Institute of Standards and Technology conducted a range of studies that included 3D X-ray imaging of a paint sample at Berkeley Lab’s Advanced Light Source.

GIVING SMART VEHICLES THEIR SENSE OF DIRECTION

Before self-driving vehicles become a permanent fixture on our roads they need to overcome two challenges—figuring out where they are and their range of motion (localization) and modeling their surroundings to avoid running into stuff (mapping).
In the world of robotics, it’s called SLAM—simultaneous localization and mapping. Researchers at the University of Delaware have developed novel SLAM algorithms that offer the best solution to date for giving these vehicles a sense of direction.

Radiation oncology research and clinical trial results to be featured at ASTRO’s Annual Meeting in Chicago

The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) announced today the top-rated studies to be highlighted in the press program for the 2019 ASTRO Annual Meeting. Researchers will present their findings in three news briefings being held September 15 through 17 in room W474B of McCormick Place in Chicago and via live webcast.

‘Mental rigidity’ at root of intense political partisanship on both left and right — study

People who identify more intensely with a political tribe or ideology share an underlying psychological trait: low levels of cognitive flexibility, according to a new study. This “mental rigidity” makes it harder for people to change their ways of thinking…