Science Saturday: Chip tech, exploration and online disinformation [Video]

Chip Technology

Chinese scientists have made a major breakthrough in chip technology. By developing artificial sapphire dielectric wafers, their research, published in Nature, tackles the challenge of miniaturizing transistors, which often causes devices to overheat and drain battery-life quickly.

This new crystalline sapphire achieves ultra-low leakage at the nanometer scale, unlike traditional materials, promising more power-efficient devices crucial for artificial intelligence and Internet of Things applications.

Ocean exploration

Chinese research vessel Shenhai Yihao, or Deep Sea No. 1, has started its 2024 Western Pacific International Voyage. It carries China’s manned submersible Jiaolong. The 45-day mission will see Jiaolong make 18 dives to collect deep-sea organisms, seawater and sediments, enhancing our understanding of seamount ecosystems.

The China-led Digital Deep-sea Typical Habitats Program now has support and participation from 39 countries. As the first international voyage under the program, the expedition involves scientists from Canada, Spain, Colombia and other countries and regions.

Space exploration

NASA is considering keeping …