Software

Austrian trailblazer receives top award for women in computing

Method for stress-testing cloud computing algorithms helps avoid network failures

Researchers from MIT have developed a more user-friendly and efficient method to identify potential system failures in cloud computing algorithms. The 'MetaEase' technique analyzes an algorithm's source code directly to uncover hidden blind spots that might cause unexpected failures, reducing the risk of costly network outages.

Duke University professor recognized for launching mentoring programs that drive student success

Nicki Washington, a Duke University professor, has been recognized by the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) for her exceptional commitment to diversifying the computing community. Her mentoring programs have led to increased student success and career opportunities.

Researchers propose a new inspection method to improve online collaboration platforms

A new human-computer interaction method, RemoteCollabEval (RCE), has been developed to identify barriers to collaboration and inclusivity in remote collaboration software. RCE uses personas to simulate interpersonal friction and uncover 'inclusivity bugs' that may go unnoticed during standard testing.

New report looks at how AI is impacting software development

The report examines how generative AI tools are transforming software development, offering benefits such as increased productivity but also raising security vulnerabilities and technical debt. Strong software engineering practices are still required to ensure systems are secure, reliable, and maintainable.

Metagenomic software advance boosts research into microbial diversity

Researchers have developed a new metagenomic software called nanoMDBG, which enables faster and more accurate analysis of microbial diversity. The software can assemble microbial genomes from nanopore sequencing data, allowing for the tracking of complex microbial communities over time.

How do generative AI tools reshape the software engineering workforce?

Researchers found that firms adopting GitHub Copilot increase hiring of software engineers, with new hires exhibiting more non-programming skills without sacrificing coding ability. The study suggests generative AI is expanding opportunities in the software workforce, not narrowing it.

AI can give as good as it gets ... or better: The moral dilemma of combative chatbots

A recent study from Lancaster University reveals that AI systems like ChatGPT can learn to mirror human impoliteness, potentially escalating into verbal violence. The research tested ChatGPT's ability to respond to real-life impolite interactions, finding it often produces more impolite behavior than humans.

Information retrieval pioneer Ricardo Baeza-Yates earns major accolade

Ricardo Baeza-Yates has made fundamental contributions to computer science through his pioneering work in algorithms and information retrieval. He has fostered a vibrant transnational research community across Latin America, inspiring young people with the South American Programming Contest.

Researchers enhance original forestry decision-making software

Mississippi State University researchers have developed an updated version of the Forest Valuation and Investment Analysis software program, known as FORVAL-XL, built specifically for Microsoft Excel. The new version includes features such as discounted cash-flow results, sensitivity analyses, and easy-to-read tables and graphs to supp...

Software from tech startup Leto helps caseworkers connect clients with community resources

A software system, developed by Purdue University researchers, enables users to create a customized digital binder that can be searched and shared resource referrals. The system improves care coordination among health centers and social service organizations.

NTU Singapore and AUMOVIO launch second phase of partnership to drive innovation for tomorrow’s AI-defined vehicles

The AUMOVIO-NTU Corporate Lab will focus on areas like AI, sustainability, novel materials, and connectivity to develop solutions for safer, smarter, and more sustainable transportation. The joint lab aims to accelerate innovations that can support Singapore's future mobility ecosystem.

AI technology for recognizing actions using only a few example videos

A research team developed an AI technology that can recognize new actions from only a small number of example videos. The algorithm efficiently summarizes key movement patterns from each video, enabling it to compare actions more effectively and identify similarities and differences accurately.

New model uses team interactions to predict next steps in collaborative work

Researchers developed a predictive model called Programmer Flow by Information Scent for teams (PFIS-T) that incorporates both teammates' activity and communication to predict a user's next action. The model achieved an accuracy of 81.5% in predicting team navigations, improving accuracy by up to 16.7% over previous models.

FAU lands $4.5M US Air Force T-1A Jayhawk flight simulator

Florida Atlantic University has received a $4.5 million grant from the US Air Force to establish a high-fidelity platform for autonomous decision-making and real-time sensor fusion research. The T-1A Jayhawk simulator will be used to study cognitive performance, situational awareness, stress and decision-making under pressure.

Deepfake songs are exploding. This tool shuts them down.

Researchers developed a digital safeguard, My Music My Choice, to protect songs from generative AI cloning. The tool adds imperceptible changes to a song's waveform, making it difficult for AI models to replicate.

AI could prevent construction delays before they happen, study finds

A new study proposes a framework for connecting AI risk prediction systems with scheduling platforms to detect emerging risks and adjust project plans before delays occur. This approach aims to close the gap between early warning and actionable response, enabling more resilient project delivery.

SwRI and the NPSS Consortium release new version of NPSS® software with improved functionality

NPSS 3.3 offers new interfaces, features and data types to enhance model and component development times, supporting turbomachinery, air-breathing propulsion systems and hybrid electric systems. The software now includes FFI integration with external functions and built-in support for .CSV file format exports.

Cyber-attacks could disrupt smart factories by targeting time itself, study warns

Researchers at the University of East London identified a critical weakness in Industrial Internet of Things networks that can destabilize factories and safety-critical infrastructure. Attackers can exploit subtle 'delay attacks' to quietly disrupt coordination, making timing just as important as information in highly automated systems.

Four NYU faculty win Sloan Foundation research fellowships

Four NYU faculty members have been awarded Sloan Research Fellowships for their groundbreaking work in brain injury, organic chemistry, computing, and software. Since 1955, 102 NYU faculty members have been selected as recipients, including this year's 126 fellows.

Epicurrents – an open-source web browser application for clinical neurophysiology education and scientific research

Epicurrents is an open-source web browser application that enables users to view various clinical neurophysiology recordings directly in a web browser. It supports easy, secure, and cost-effective remote teaching and can be used for both educational purposes and scientific research.

ACM launches CAIS 2026, a new conference on AI and agentic systems

Researchers will gather to discuss how to engineer AI systems that work in the real world, focusing on composition, optimization, verification, and evaluation. The conference aims to establish shared foundations for a new class of software, including methods for evaluating models and ensuring durability, efficiency, and dependability.

Excellence and impact recognized by world’s preeminent computing society

The Association for Computing Machinery has named 72 new Fellows for their technical innovations and service to the field. The honorees represent the top 1% of professionals worldwide, with contributions in AI for healthcare, computer graphics, data management, and more.

AI is already writing almost one-third of new software code

A new study reveals that around one-third of all newly written software functions in the United States are already being created with AI support, with productivity gains mainly driven by experienced developers. The study found wide regional gaps, with the US leading at 29% AI-assisted code, while China and Russia lag behind.

AI is quick but risky for updating old software

The use of generative AI in software development can lead to increased productivity, but also creates technical debt and hasty coding if not managed properly. Companies must prioritize fixing technical debt, develop clear guidelines for AI-assisted coding, and train developers on the hazards of AI coding.

CISPA researcher Andreas Zeller named IEEE Fellow

Andreas Zeller recognized for his work on automated debugging and security testing, with a total of nine Test of Time Awards. He is one of the few researchers to receive two ERC Advanced Grants from the European Research Council.

New software sheds light on cancer’s hidden genetic networks

Researchers developed RNACOREX, a new open-source software tool that identifies gene regulation networks in cancer. The tool analyzes thousands of molecules simultaneously to detect key interactions, providing an interpretable molecular map that improves understanding of tumors.

University of Toronto launches Electric Vehicle Innovation Ontario to accelerate advanced EV technologies and build Canada’s innovation advantage

The University of Toronto has launched Electric Vehicle Innovation Ontario (EVIO), a partnership between industry and academia to develop next-generation electric vehicle technologies. The program will generate over $30 million in economic activity, expand firm-level R&D capacity, and create new Canadian intellectual property.

ACM honors 2025 Distinguished Members for driving the future of computing

The Association for Computing Machinery has named 61 new Distinguished Members, recognized for their contributions to AI for healthcare, data management, human-computer interaction, and other areas. The recipients include experts from top universities, corporations, and research institutions worldwide.

Intellicule receives NIH grant to develop biomolecular modeling software

Intellicule will utilize state-of-the-art deep-learning techniques to expand structural modeling and analysis for cryo-EM data. The company aims to overcome current limitations in biomolecular modeling, enabling the detection of atoms in low-resolution images.

RoboCrop: Teaching robots how to pick tomatoes

A new model developed by Osaka Metropolitan University Assistant Professor Takuya Fujinaga enables robots to accurately pick tomatoes, with an 81% success rate. The system evaluates the ease of harvesting for each tomato, taking into account factors such as fruit clustering and stem geometry.

Researchers create AI tool to help sight-impaired programmers

A11yShape, an AI-assisted tool, enables visually impaired computer programmers to create, edit and verify complex 3D models without assistance. The tool uses GPT-4o to provide detailed descriptions of the model for blind and low-vision programmers.

Software platform helps users find the best hearing protection

The Hearing Protection Optimization Tool translates acoustic and psychoacoustic factors into clear visuals, helping users compare different hearing protection devices. The tool matches users with regulatory-approved HPDs based on their noise environment and preferences.

The avatar in a wheelchair

Researchers investigate how people with disabilities feel when their avatars depict them the way they see themselves. Most participants reported positive feedback when their avatar reflected their disability, and many felt comfortable expressing their identity in virtual reality.

New augmented reality tech can turn any surface into keyboard

Researchers at the University of Texas at Dallas have developed PropType, a unique interface that transforms everyday objects into typing surfaces within an AR environment. This technology leverages tactile feedback to reduce reliance on visual cues and provides an alternative to traditional keyboards.

Enhancing bookkeeper decision support through graph representation learning for bank reconciliation

A new study uses graph representation learning to enhance bookkeeper decision support for bank reconciliation. The method significantly improves match accuracy, especially on one-to-many matches, by leveraging a network of historical records and transactions.

Stable and versatile optical wireless power transmission for sustainable IoT

Scientists at Institute of Science Tokyo developed an automatic and adaptive LED-based optical wireless power transmission system that can efficiently power multiple devices without interruption. The system overcomes limitations of traditional OWPT systems by adapting to varying lighting conditions and ensuring stable power delivery.

NSF-funded team will use AI and other tools to build next-generation secure computer chips

A University of Delaware team, funded by NSF, creates next-generation secure computer chips using AI and game theory. The project aims to predict attacks and set new benchmarks for global hardware security, enabling the design of safer and more trustworthy systems.

Software developers show less constructive scepticism when using AI assistants than when working with human colleagues

A new empirical study by computer scientists reveals that software developers tend to scrutinize AI-generated code less critically and learn less from it. In contrast, human pairs are more likely to engage in broader discussions and critically examine each other's contributions. The study highlights the limitations of AI assistants in ...

AI-powered microscope ushers in new era of autonomous research

Duke engineers built an AI optical microscope that can analyze 2D materials with up to 99.4% accuracy, identifying layer regions and subtle defects. The system, ATOMIC, leverages publicly available AI foundation models to speed up the process, requiring no specialized training data.

New software tool MARTi fast-tracks identification and response to microbial threats

MARTi enables rapid taxonomic classification and abundance analysis of microorganisms in various settings, including agriculture, environmental monitoring, and clinical environments. The tool provides immediate analysis results, allowing for quick identification and targeted treatments of pathogen infections.

Stowers Institute appoints first AI Fellow to help advance biological research with artificial intelligence

The Stowers Institute has appointed its first AI Fellow, Sumner Magruder, to harness the potential of artificial intelligence in biological research. He will collaborate with researchers to design new algorithms and unlock insights from large datasets.

Scientists develop end-to-end encryption for git services

Researchers at the University of Sydney have developed end-to-end encryption for git services, protecting sensitive code from cybersecurity threats. The encryption aligns seamlessly with existing platforms like Github and Bitbucket, reducing computational resources needed while encrypting only edits.

New polymer designs for beyond-5G telecommunications

Researchers at Waseda University have developed a new class of polymers with ultralow dielectric loss, enabling high-speed telecommunications. The polymers, specifically poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene sulfide) (PMPS), achieved a low dielectric constant and dissipation factor, making them suitable for future 5G and beyond networks.

Fears of Wikipedia’s end overblown, but challenges remain warn researchers

Despite no decrease in usage, Wikipedia faces challenges from AI data scrapers and Large Language Models. The platform is struggling to allocate resources due to the influx of AI training data, threatening its current structure.

AR and AI automatically diagnose agromyzid leafminer damage levels

Researchers developed an advanced survey system combining AR glasses with a camera and AI to objectively assess leafminer damage in the field. The DeepLab-Leafminer model achieved superior segmentation performance, resulting in high diagnosis accuracy rates.

£250 million defence deal enables University of Plymouth to drive innovations in advanced marine technology

The £250 million investment will create an Advanced Marine Technology Hub at the University of Plymouth, leveraging its expertise in autonomous marine systems, maritime cyber security, and renewable energy. This initiative aims to boost the city's economy and enhance UK's national resilience.

Fraudsters use fake stars to game github

Researchers from Carnegie Mellon University found six million fake stars on GitHub, used to boost repository reputation and steal user data. The use of fake stars muddies the waters, making it challenging to differentiate between legitimate and malicious repositories.

SeoulTech scientists develop ultra-lightweight memory manager that transforms embedded system performance

Researchers at Seoul National University of Science & Technology developed LWMalloc, a lightweight and high-performance dynamic memory allocator for resource-constrained environments. The new allocator outperforms ptmalloc by achieving up to 53% faster execution time and 23% lower memory usage.

Login system helps spot online hacks without sacrificing privacy

A new login system called Client-Side Encrypted Access Logging (CSAL) detects online account compromise without exposing personal devices to invasive tracking. The system verifies whether a login came from a user's own device, addressing a flaw in how major platforms log account access.

Worcester Polytechnic Institute selected as key partner in national cybersecurity and AI training initiative to advance U.S. automotive innovation

The $2.5 million DRIFT program aims to close critical talent gaps and safeguard connected vehicles by providing specialized online and in-person training. Worcester Polytechnic Institute will lead the university’s DRIFT program, offering tuition-free modules and real-world training to upskill engineers and professionals.

Building a broader cybersecurity ecosystem

Experts from across industries and disciplines gathered to assess the current state of cybersecurity through a multidisciplinary lens. The workshop explored emerging technologies and the intersection of technology and policy, highlighting the need for a unified ecosystem to address persistent challenges.

Milestone for medical research: New method enables comprehensive identification of omega fatty acids

Researchers at the University of Graz and the University of California, San Diego have developed a novel method to determine omega positions of lipids in complex biological samples. This breakthrough enables the study of biological mechanisms in unprecedented detail, particularly for inflammation-related diseases.

Exploring the evolution of decentralized networks in real-world systems

This book provides a beginner-friendly resource on the impact and evolution of decentralized networks, highlighting their applications in healthcare, supply chains, agriculture, climate monitoring, and education. The authors emphasize sustainability, data security, and ethical tech adoption.

Accelerating science with AI

Researchers use AI to solve differential equations, such as Schrodinger's equation, for large-scale systems, improving efficiency and accuracy in fields like drug discovery and material design.

A brain-inspired approach for resilient AI processing

The team aims to deliver AI power directly to devices, improving resilience and speed in constrained environments. By processing data step-by-step across a network of devices, they can create a safe and adaptable system that can withstand attacks and extreme conditions.

The Tap Trap: Android security vulnerability discovered

A research team at Vienna University of Technology has discovered a previously undiscovered Android security vulnerability that allows fraudulent apps to take control of mobile phones. Users may be tricked into performing unwanted actions, such as granting certain rights or deleting data.

First-of-its-kind journal facilitates rapid publication of AI research

The new journal aims to accelerate knowledge dissemination in AI by prioritizing theoretical breakthroughs, practical applications, and societal implications. It features short peer-reviewed contributions and opinion pieces to facilitate swift engagement with contemporary AI issues.

AI revives classic microscopy for on-farm soil health testing

Researchers developed an AI-powered microscope system to measure soil fungi presence and quantity, providing insights into soil health and fertility. The low-cost optical microscopy with machine learning technology can be used by farmers and land managers worldwide.

Survival of the fuzziest: Open-source fuzzer uses evolutionary algorithm to produce customized test inputs

FANDANGO, a new open-source fuzzing tool, employs an iterative procedure modeled on biological evolution to produce high-quality test inputs that cover both semantics and syntax. The tool enables complete control over test inputs, allowing testers to specify input characteristics and explore specific parts of the program.