What’s hot in science and engineering? Research news for the day of April 13, 2022

Researchers supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation taught a robotic mini-cheetah how to run — fast. The robot cheetah, trained to adapt to changes in terrain by simulated experience, broke the record for the fastest run recorded.

The team used a “learn by experience” model to train the robot cheetah. Humans have built robots that can walk, lift and jump, but fast and efficient running has …

Space storms can wreak havoc on satellites and power grid systems. U.S. National Science Foundation grantee researchers at West Virginia University have gleaned new information about magnetic reconnection and the mechanics of the universe by experimenting with lab-developed plasma. The results of their research were published in the journal Physical Review Letters.

Magnetic reconnection plays a major role in how eruptions of plasma occur on the sun. Those eruptions can result in solar flares that produce bright flashes of  …