Fruit Flies Plug into the Matrix
A new budget-friendly virtual-reality system helps researchers study the brains of small animals
Computing2261 articles archived since 1845
Watch a Robot AI Beat World-Class Curling Competitors
Artificial intelligence still needs to bridge the “sim-to-real” gap. Deep-learning techniques that are all the rage in AI log superlative performances in mastering cerebral games, including chess and Go, both of which can be played on a computer...
The Most Vulnerable Ransomware Targets Are the Institutions We Rely On Most
Many vital public institutions such as hospitals and fire stations lack cybersecurity to ward off popular malware
The Quantum Butterfly Noneffect
A familiar concept from chaos theory turns out to work differently in the quantum world
Can an Algorithm Help Solve Political Paralysis?
As faith in government hits historic lows, organizers in the U.K. are trying a new math-based approach to democracy. Would it work in the bitterly divided U.S?
Mail-Sorting Machines Are Crucial for the U.S. Postal Service
An expert explains how automation enables quick deliveries—which will include ballots for November’s election
Google’s Quantum Computer Achieves Chemistry Milestone
A downsized version of the company’s Sycamore chip performed a record-breaking simulation of a chemical reaction
Quantum Computing May Be Closer Than You Think
Five new quantum information science centers will marry the R&D strengths of academia, industry and U.S. national laboratories
Unlimited Information Is Transforming Society
Technology is blurring the lines between consumers and producers, amateurs and professionals, and laypeople and experts. We’re just starting to understand the implications
Misdiagnosing Our Cyberhealth
Why do we ignore information that could improve our ability to predict the odds of a personal cyberattack?
Speaker System Blocks City Noise
The system works like noise-cancelling headphones but fits over an open window. Christopher Intagliata reports.
A Nixon Deepfake, a 'Moon Disaster' Speech and an Information Ecosystem at Risk
A new video re-creates a history that never happened, showing the power of AI-generated media...
To Beat a Computer at Chess, Prevent It from Learning
Originally published in February 1950
Wireless Technology Could Help Climate-Proof the Internet
Such a system could bypass the fiber-optic cables that can be severed when storms down utility poles
The Encryption Wars Are Back but in Disguise
A government push for access is ostensibly about fighting crime, terrorism and child porn. Yet it could put all of us at risk of unwarranted surveillance
The Quantum App Store Is Coming
Quantum computing is still the province of specialized programmers—but that is likely to change very quickly
When Will Speech-Recognition Software Finally Be Good Enough?
Think how much time we’d save if voice assistants always understood commands or questions the first time
Facial-Recognition Technology Needs More Regulation
Algorithms that can recognize people are too often biased or inaccurate—and they can easily invade our privacy
This App Shows Storm Surge Damage Before Flooding Begins
With floods maps often outdated, augmented reality may help homeowners better understand the risk of inundation
Antipoaching Tech Tracks COVID-19 Flare-Ups in South Africa
Coming out of lockdown, the country is relying on thousands of local case trackers and on software, once used to protect rhinoceroses, for disease surveillance
