First Humanoid Race in China

 A one-of-a-kind event is fast approaching in southeast Beijing’s Economic-Technological Development Area (often called “Beijing E-Town”). Slated for April 13, this half-marathon will see humans and humanoid robots compete on the same 21km route.


As registrations begin on March 5, global anticipation is quickly mounting. While the basic format has been public knowledge for some time, newly released rules give a clearer picture of the event and its stakes.


Additionally, recent announcements of more than 10,000 robot placements in key industries amidst the marathon preparations suggest something far larger is at stake for China’s robotics sector.

Extended competition rules
For the robot category, organizers have set a cutoff completion time of roughly 3 hours and 30 minutes. Unlike human runners, robot teams can switch batteries mid-race or swap out their robots in a relay setup. Each change, however, comes with a 10-minute penalty added to the team’s final time.     READ MORE...

Neuralink brain implant

Elon Musk’s Neuralink suggests a human patient may have successfully used its brain chip to control a robotic arm. A video posted by the neurotechnology firm shows a robotic arm writing ‘Convoy’ on a whiteboard, referencing the company’s study on brain-controlled assistive robotics.


The demonstration highlights progress in Neuralink’s N1 chip, designed to restore mobility and communication for individuals with disabilities. While details remain limited, the clip hints at potential breakthroughs in brain-machine interface technology.



In November, Neuralink announced approval for a new feasibility study (CONVOY), on its brain implant and robotic arm, advancing brain-computer interface research.

Brain-powered robotics
The new 30-second clip reveals little, including the operator’s identity. Neuralink’s X post shares the video along with a heart, robot arm, and pen emojis, hinting at brain-controlled robotic advancements. The demonstration is part of its CONVOY feasibility exercise announced in November, which includes participants in its ongoing PRIME (Precise Robotically Implanted Brain-Computer Interface) study.

Some observers noted the significance of Neuralink’s demonstration, suggesting the patient was controlling the robotic arm using only their mind, without a joystick or muscle sensor. Musk acknowledged the interpretation as accurate, according to a report by PCMag.     READ MORE...

Human VS Humanoids

China plans to host a groundbreaking race like no other — a “world’s first” half-marathon where humans will go head-to-head with their own creation: humanoid robots.

The South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported that t
he marathon is scheduled for April in Daxing district, Beijing.

The humanoid robots, developed by companies from around the globe, will take to the streets alongside 12,000 human runners. The robots will run the entire race for the very first time this year.

This unprecedented race reflects China’s ambitious push to become a global leader in artificial intelligence and robotics

Reportedly, this first-of-its-kind race will see humans and robots challenge themselves on a 13-mile (21km) route. The top three runners will receive prizes.     READ MORE...

Nuke on Truck

US-based NANO Nuclear Energy has announced an expansion of its microreactor technology portfolio.

It has acquired a significant portfolio of intellectual property related to its transportable, modular microreactor technologies.

“We are pleased to expand our intellectual property portfolio with these recently acquired patents, further strengthening the protections surrounding our proprietary, portable and modular microreactor technologies in development,” said Jay Yu, founder and chairman of NANO Nuclear Energy.

These reactors are designed to provide clean, reliable, and on-demand power for a variety of applications, including remote communities, industrial sites, and, more importantly, military bases.     READ MORE...

MIT Sets World Record

Researchers at MIT have developed two new control techniques that have enabled them to achieve a world-record single-qubit fidelity of 99.998 percent using a superconducting qubit called fluxonium.

This breakthrough marks a significant step towards the realization of practical quantum computing.  Qubits, the building blocks of quantum computers, are highly susceptible to noise and control imperfections.

“This introduces errors into the quantum operations and ultimately limits the complexity and duration of a quantum algorithm,” said the researchers.

To overcome this challenge, the MIT team focused on improving qubit performance by mitigating counter-rotating errors that arise during fast quantum operations.  

“Getting rid of these errors was a fun challenge for us,” said David Rower, PhD ’24, a recent physics postdoc at MIT.     READ MORE...

Robot Companion from a Suitcase

World-leading humanoid robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) company Realbotix has announced it will unveil its latest robot, “Melody,” at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES 2025).

Melody is, by all accounts, an open-source design that features functionality, adaptability, and user experience above beyond its previous offerings.

Realbotix, in case you are unaware, develops “customizable, full-bodied, human-like robots with AI integration that improve the human experience through connection, learning, and play.”

One of Melody’s main improvements includes its advanced motor technology, which, according to Realbotix, dramatically improves “her” movement fluidity, modularity, and interaction. This should, it is hoped, enable it to be dramatically more versatile when performing various tasks.

This firmly fits the company’s mission “to create robots and AI that are indistinguishable from humans in appearance and social interaction.”

P-Series servo motors developed by Dynamixel can provide smooth, more fluid, and humanlike movements. The inclusion of them into Melody’s body dramatically improves motion, making them more natural compared to other robots.  READ MORE...

Nuclear Reactor ONE MIILE Underground

Offering a unique approach to powering data centers through nuclear energy, Deep Fission and Endeavour Energy have announced a strategic partnership. Their agreement plans to bury small modular reactors (SMRs) a mile underground.

“As part of the agreement, Endeavour and Deep Fission have committed to co-developing 2 gigawatts (GW) of nuclear energy to power Endeavour’s expanding global portfolio of Edged data centers,” said Deep Fission in a press release. Notably, the first reactors are expected to be operational by 2029.

Deep Fission, a nuclear energy company, is pioneering this new approach. They have designed small nuclear reactors that are lowered into 30-inch boreholes drilled a mile deep.

Innovative approach with several benefits
This method takes advantage of the natural geological properties at that depth. The earth provides robust containment and constant pressure. This eliminates the need for the massive concrete structures typically used for containment in aboveground nuclear reactors.

This approach offers several advantages. It significantly reduces the cost of construction and minimizes the environmental impact by decreasing the surface footprint of the reactor.     READ MORE...

Optimus Robot

Aiming to stay ahead in the robotics game, Tesla is constantly fine-tuning the new generation of its general-purpose, bi-pedal, humanoid robot Optimus.

The Optimus can now navigate uneven terrain with advanced neural nets, enabling precise control of its electric limbs for seamless movement.

In the new video shared by Tesla’s CEO, Elon Musk, Optimus is now seen autonomously climbing hills and walking on uneven terrain

Last month, the firm shared a video of how a new hand upgrade has enabled Tesla Optimus to catch tennis balls thrown at it.     READ MORE...

China's Powerhouse Robot Factory

Chinese robotic startup MagicLab has introduced a fleet of collaborative humanoids at a factory for job training.

The humanoids also demonstrate small-scale collaborative operations, showcasing their ability to work efficiently together.

In January, MagicLab unveiled its third-generation humanoid robot, MagicBot, designed to rival Boston Dynamics’ Atlas. By February, a video update showcased the robot roasting marshmallows, performing magic tricks, and dancing.

The firm joins a growing wave of companies deploying robots in industrial settings as China aims to mass-produce humanoids by 2025 and dominate the market by 2027.   READ MORE...

Artificial Intelligence and Fusion Reactors

Scientists in China achieved a major breakthrough that could help unlock nearly unlimited clean energy via fusion.


They hope to do so by solving one of the biggest challenges for fusion reactors, as Interesting Engineering explained. That is the puzzle of measuring the ultrahot plasma, which creates fusion reactions quickly and accurately in real time. Having faster data will help optimize fusion performance and maintain reactor stability.


The research team from the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science used neural networks powered by artificial intelligence. Neural networks leverage pattern recognition and advanced calculation abilities that allow them to quickly generate measurements, per Interesting Engineering.


The scientists enlisted two neural network models to measure two critical parameters of the plasma: ion temperature and rotation velocity. The results were impressive and bode well for future applications to harness fusion power.          READ MORE...

Hydrogen Powered Tank

South Korea’s Hyundai subsidiary Rotem has just unveiled its vision for the future of main battle tanks for the Republic of Korea (ROK), hydrogen-powered powertrains.

The next version of ROK’s K-series battle tanks, the K3, will be powered by hydrogen fuel cells and feature other advanced tech to become one of the world’s most sophisticated tanks.

The new hydrogen-powered K3 has been developed in collaboration with Korea’s Agency for Defense Development and other national technology research institutions. Once operational, the tank is hoped to enter production as soon as 2040, making it the world’s first.     READ MORE...

Fusion Plant Design

A fusion energy firm has revealed the first details of its pilot plant design. Tokamak Energy claims that its pilot plant will be capable of generating 800 megawatts (MW) of fusion power and 85MW of net electricity.

This will reportedly be enough to power and heat more than 70,000 American homes.

Initial designs specify an aspect ratio of 2.0, a plasma major radius of 4.25 meters, and a magnetic field of 4.25 Tesla, as well as a liquid lithium tritium breeding blanket, according to Tokamak Energy.   READ MORE...

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China's Humanoid Robot Race

Robot Era, a rising name in the humanoid robot space, has captured the attention of tech enthusiasts again with a new stunt.

After showcasing its XBot-L humanoid strolling along the Great Wall of China a few months ago, the company has now released footage of two Star1 models racing through the Gobi Desert.

Racing humanoids in the Gobi Desert
The video (below), shot late last month, shows two Star1 humanoid robots racing through diverse terrain in the Gobi Desert. The robots are seen navigating rocky paths, grassy areas, and winding roads.

One of the robots runs “bare-footed,” while the other sports a pair of sneakers, which, as it turns out, played a significant role in the outcome of the race.     READ MORE...

Stopping Energy Loss

Preventing tungsten atoms from entering the plasma is one of the biggest challenges of modern nuclear fusion reactors, and researchers at Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) may have found a solution to fix it.

The discovery, which uses boron powder to shield tokamak walls from the extreme heat of fusion, presents a solid strategy for achieving sustainable fusion energy, per a PPPL, U.S. Department of Energy, press release published on Monday.

“We’ve developed a new way to understand how injected boron material behaves in a fusion plasma and how it interacts with the walls of fusion reactors to keep them in good condition while they are operating,” Florian Effenberg, a staff research physicist at PPPL, said in the press release.      READ MORE...

Controlling Light

One of the most complex problems scientists face while working with quantum information is ensuring qubits remain protected. This is because every time they reset, measure, or delete even a single qubit, neighboring qubits can be damaged, leading to loss of information.

A new study from the University of Waterloo researchers proposes a solution to this problem. The study authors have devised a way to precisely control the laser light used to manipulate qubits.

They even performed an experiment to perform this almost impossible task. The experiment involved measuring and resetting a trapped ion qubit to a known state without causing any damage or disturbance to adjacent qubits located only a few micrometers away.

“This demonstration has the potential to significantly impact future research in the field, including advancing quantum processors, enhancing speed and capabilities for tasks like quantum simulations in machines that already exist today, and implementing error correction.” the study authors note.         READ MORE...

Nuclear Power Breakthrough

The United Kingdom is leading the world in nuclear fusion energy power plant design, according to a report by The Royal Society. The special edition report details the progress achieved by the spherical tokamak for energy production (STEP).

The STEP program aims to design and build the UK’s first prototype fusion energy plant. The report presents the technology needed for the prototype and also presents the steps needed for integrating it with the power plant for producing energy from fusion.

One of the unique aspects of the program is that it also considers decommissioning as a part of the design.

UK’s STEP for nuclear fusion
STEP is scheduled to be built at the former coal-fired power station site of West Burton, Nottinghamshire. Ground and environment surveys are underway for the project and first operation is expected to begin in early 2040s.

The program aims for the formation of an integrated delivery organization based on a public-private partnership model that will deliver the prototype plant. This includes designing for cost, and at pace.     READ MORE...

Nuclear Reactor Breakthrough

The US has set a target to produce 100 percent of its electricity using renewable energy sources by 2035, and nuclear power will play a major role in its clean energy transition.

About 20 percent of all the electricity produced in the US already comes from nuclear power plants. However, this isn’t enough. If the country wants to become a leader in the clean energy space, it needs to boost its nuclear energy program and make its nuclear plants more efficient than ever.

A big issue with nuclear reactors is their dependency on nickel-based alloys, which are expensive and are abundantly found in countries (like Russia, Indonesia, Philippines) that are not always on good terms with the US. Moreover, the high moisture content of nickel ore poses transport challenges as well.

Addressing these issues, a team of researchers from Department of Energy‘s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory (AGL) have developed a framework to find material that could replace these nickel-based alloys. Using their framework, the AGL team identified and tested some promising materials.

In fact, the researchers have identified a new material that can successfully endure intense radiation testing and withstand extreme reactor conditions for extended periods.      READ MORE...

Extracting Uranium from SEAWATER

Scientists in China have developed an organic material to extract uranium from seawater. The material is said to be cost-effective and has “exceptional uranium adsorption capability.”

Uranium, a nonrenewable energy source and the primary heavy metal used to fuel nuclear reactors, has been essential for nuclear power. The metal has traditionally been mined from rock but now scientists aim to extract uranium ore from seawater.

Researchers from the Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology (QIBEBT) selected affordable sodium alginate (SA) and functional DNA strands to fabricate SA-DNA hydrogel microspheres for the selective adsorption of uranyl ions (UO22+) in an economically viable manner.

Higher selectivity for uranium
Compared to reported advanced adsorbents utilizing the amidoxime group for uranium extraction, the SA-DNA hydrogel microspheres demonstrated significantly higher selectivity for uranium, with uranium-to-vanadium ratios of 43.6 in simulated seawater and 8.62 in natural seawater.         READ MORE...

Moreover, this new absorbent is environmentally friendly, cost-effective, easily synthesized, and with impressive mechanical robustness and recyclability. Owing to the distinct ability of specific DNAzymes to recognize various metal ions, such DNA-based adsorbents may be utilized to retrieve other valuable metal ions from seawater, according to the study.

Industrial Use of Humanoid Robot

Torobo humanoid robot can be used for research on automation of tasks that involve active contact with people.   Tokyo Robotics




A humanoid robot developed by Tokyo Robotics is seen accurately hammering a nail in a piece of wood in a new video. The synchronized and accurate effort by Torobo shows its potential for industrial use, according to the manufacturer.

With a height of 1660 mm, a reach of 680 mm, the size of the robot is close to that of humans. According to the company, the payload of one arm is 8 kg at the worst-case holding posture and 20 kg at the instantaneous maximum holding force (when the elbow is bent at a right angle), which are sufficient to conduct robotics R&Ds to replace human work.

The company stated that the action performed by robot is easier than it looks.

“The instantaneous rebound force from the hammer is absorbed through a combination of the elasticity of the rubber material securing the hammer, the deflection in torque sensors and harmonic gears, backdrivability, and impedance control,” said Tokyo Robotics.     READ MORE...

Nuclear Reactor Breakthrough

Imagine if a tiny design tweak could prevent some of the worst nuclear accidents imaginable while simultaneously making clean nuclear energy more efficient and affordable.

It sounds too good to be true, right? But that's exactly what a team of researchers may have just accomplished, according to Interesting Engineering.

What they found is that carefully crafting the surface of materials used in nuclear reactors can actually change when and how liquids boil — a discovery with massive implications for reactor safety and performance. When water touches an extremely hot surface, it floats on a layer of its own vapor in what's known as the "Leidenfrost effect."

It was long thought this could only happen above 446 degrees. But by etching a special pattern of microscopic pillars onto the surface, a research team at Virginia Tech demonstrated this effect can start at just 266 degrees.     READ MORE...