IEEE Spectrum

The US DoD has just announced that it will invest $400 million in MP Materials for neodymium magnets, which are critical to defense, transportation, and countless other industries. This development has the potential to tweak the scales as the US tries mightily to restart a domestic rare-earth magnet industry in the face of overwhelming dominance by Chinese companies. For background and perspective on this news, see our recent story on the start of magnet production at MP's new Texas factory: https://lnkd.in/gRFud5k8

#IoT connectivity gets a boost with Massachusetts Institute of Technology's new chip, which uses #5G RedCap technology for better performance. This chip 🌐 Allows frequency hopping and massive device connectivity. 📱 Supports up to one million devices per square kilometer. 🔋 Achieves robust interference filtering with low power consumption, paving the way for IoT's expansion in the 5G era. https://lnkd.in/eHtRusZP

Engineers in New Zealand have produced multiple valuable materials needed for lithium-ion #batteries from olivine, a rock previously thought to be worthless. ✅ No harmful waste or carbon dioxide was emitted 🪨 They produced critical materials that are normally difficult to access 🔋 The materials meet the specs needed for current batteries https://lnkd.in/gEUsakqc

The earlier students engage with Computer Science, the more likely they are to pursue it. But only 58% of US high schools offer a computer science course. It's time for a national policy that requires all high school students to take computer science classes as a graduation requirement. Here’s how: 🏛️ Policy reforms at every level of government 🏅 Boosting certification programs for teachers 🎒 Empowering underrepresented groups https://lnkd.in/eJCef6Qx

Hewlett Packard Enterprise is premiering a way to track maintenance data for secondhand #laptops securely, like a CarFax for used PCs. Their multisource approach includes HP’s factory records and diagnostic logs with third-party manufacturer information. This system will 🪫 Decrease #e-waste by enabling easier re-use of laptops 📋 Optimise #IT manager decisions with accurate and up-to-date histories 🔐 Improve device security with real-time monitoring and firmware-level protection

Deep brain stimulation uses #electrodes implanted in the brain to help with mood regulation, Parkinson’s disease, and depression. Clinicians are now finding that these electrodes can detect incoming waves of depression and adjust to treat them before they become a problem, using #AI.

Calling all international engineering students and future applicants! Did you just decide where to study for the coming fall—or are you planning your future studies in the next year or two? If you’ve faced tough choices between the U.S. and other countries due to recent policy changes, IEEE Spectrum wants to hear your story. Reach out to editor Eliza Strickland via email (e.strickland@ieee.org) or Signal (IEEESpectrumEditor.94) to share your experiences.

“Quantum computing is highly interdisciplinary. For it to succeed, we need computer scientists and all kinds of engineers, especially software engineers,” says Hausi Müller, founder of the IEEE International Conference on Quantum Computing and Engineering and IEEE Quantum Week. Here are some of Muller's key skills for a career in #quantum computing: 📈 Linear Algebra ➕ Qubits and quantum states 💻 Quantum software platforms 🔬 Instrumentation and measurement experience https://lnkd.in/ecdK9pMQ

How did Javier Orman go from being a professional violinist to a machine learning engineer at LinkedIn? 🎵 He knew about the interconnectedness of music and math 💻 He stayed open to new possibilities, taking online programming courses during the COVID pandemic 💼 Eventually, he got accepted to LinkedIn’s Reach apprenticeship program for people with nontraditional educational or career backgrounds.  https://lnkd.in/ePJM2Vti

The new Vera Rubin telescope has released the first photon images, and they are breathtaking. The #telescope will photograph the Southern Hemisphere for ten years, capturing never-before-seen astronomical objects. Sign up for our Tech Alert Newsletter: https://lnkd.in/eY-WE6-6 Read the full story: https://lnkd.in/eRb57g6H