Science
The latest in science news, from the depths of space to the quantum realm.
"Time jump" anti-aging method gives specialized cells a 30-year refresh
April 07, 2022
Through experimentation with a highly promising anti-aging technique, scientists at the UK's Babraham Institute have demonstrated a new way of turning back the clock in human skin cells, so they function like cells 30 years younger.
Energy
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Bizarre night-time solar cell generates power in a backwards process
May 18, 2022In a world first, a team at the University of New South Wales has demonstrated measurable power generation from "the inverse of a conventional solar cell." It could eventually produce around one tenth as much power as a solar panel – but at night. -
Algae energy harvester powers electronics for a year on its own
May 12, 2022As the number of electronic devices grows, we have to get creative with our energy sources. Cambridge researchers have now demonstrated how an algae energy harvester can use sunlight to power a microprocessor for over a year without any intervention. -
Self-charging battery generates electricity from moisture in the air
May 11, 2022Australian company Strategic Elements says it's made a step-change breakthrough in self-charging battery technology that harvests electrical energy from humidity in the air to directly power devices without ever needing to plug them in.
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Medical
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New cataract-clearing drug shows promise in tests in mice
May 18, 2022Cataracts are one of the most common forms of vision impairment, and unfortunately surgery is the only real treatment. But the clouds may be parting on a new drug treatment, improving the vision of the majority of mice it was tested on. -
First signs of head trauma in ramming animals may unlock secrets of TBI
May 17, 2022Scientists may have unearthed a valuable new tool to study brain injuries, in the form of headbutting animals such as bighorn sheep and muskoxen, in which they've discovered hallmarks of head trauma for the very first time. -
Tiny dental nanobots generate heat to deep clean the teeth
May 16, 2022The buildup of bacteria deep in our teeth can cause infections in difficult to reach areas, and scientists at the Indian Institute of Science have developed tiny cleaning robots they believe are up to the task.
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Space
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Sandia developing micro-grids to power future Moon base
May 15, 2022To keep the lights on in NASA's Artemis human lunar outpost, Sandia National Laboratories is developing electrical micro-grids to handle the power distribution from the Moon base's mini nuclear reactors to the various living and support facilities. -
Scientists grow plants in lunar soil for the first time ever
May 12, 2022The field of lunar agriculture has taken a step forward, with scientists reporting the first-ever plants grown in soil from the Moon, marking a significant milestone in the effort to sustain a lunar base and carry out missions into deep space. -
EHT scientists reveal first image of black hole at the center of our galaxy
May 12, 2022Astronomers from the Event Horizon Telescope Collaboration have today revealed the first image of the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way galaxy, produced using a network of radio telescopes around the world.
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Materials
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Teflon-like desalination membrane purifies water fast and friction-free
May 16, 2022A new type of desalination membrane uses a series of nanoscale tubes lined with a Teflon-inspired material that repels salts while allowing water to flow through with little friction. The team says it's fast, and requires little pressure and energy. -
Eco-friendlier cement made from sludge and urine
May 13, 2022The production of traditional Portland cement is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions, as the ingredients have to be heated to very high temperatures. Such is not the case with a new biocement, however, which also incorporates waste materials. -
Sugar and citric acid used to create nontoxic plywood glue
May 11, 2022While we may think of wood as being earthy and natural, wooden materials such as plywood typically contain formaldehyde-based adhesives that give off toxic fumes. Such is not the case with a new adhesive, which is made from glucose and citric acid.
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Biology
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Spider uses film of air to hide underwater for over half an hour
May 10, 2022Last year, we heard how anole lizards are able to breathe underwater from an air bubble on their nose. One of the scientists involved in that study has now documented a spider doing something similar – although the bubble covers its whole body. -
Study suggests bats buzz like hornets to scare off owls
May 10, 2022Greater mouse-eared bats are preyed upon by owls, but the owls themselves likely avoid hornets, for fear of getting stung. New research suggests that the bats take advantage of this fact, by buzzing like hornets to keep owls at bay. -
Quantum tunneling could drive random DNA mutations, says new study
May 05, 2022DNA mutates regularly, for better or worse, driving both evolution and disease. Researchers at the University of Surrey have now found evidence that some of these spontaneous mutations could be caused by the spooky realm of quantum mechanics.
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Environment
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Climate change sets a string of records, from atmosphere to the ocean
May 18, 2022The latest climate change report from the World Meteorological Organization shines the spotlight on some of the important markers of climate change, detailing a string of alarming new records set across 2021. -
Great Barrier Reef endures fourth coral bleaching event in seven years
May 11, 2022Rare coral bleaching brought on by abnormal sea temperatures is rapidly becoming the norm on Australia's Great Barrier Reef, which has just experienced its fourth such event in six years, and the first to ever occur in a La Niña year. -
Stanford coral study pinpoints cause of sunscreen's toxic effects
May 10, 2022The damage sunscreen can do to corals is tied to a common ingredient called oxybenzone, and Stanford scientists have now shown how corals convert the compound into a potent toxin that brings about their demise.
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Physics
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Large Hadron Collider restarts after three-year refit
April 24, 2022The Large Hadron Collider (LHC), the largest and most powerful particle accelerator ever built, is ready to renter service after a three-year overhaul and refit. On April 22, two proton beams were sent around the the 27-kilometer-long ring. -
Startling discovery threatens to upend Standard Model of particle physics
April 07, 2022A collaboration of physicists has made the most precise measurement of the mass of the W boson. The new measurement of this key particle differs drastically from the Standard Model's predictions– and it may unravel physics as we know it. -
Firing lasers at the Moon to detect early-universe gravitational waves
March 17, 2022A team of European researchers has suggested that the Moon’s orbit could be used as a gigantic detector for gravitational waves. These waves, much smaller than those that existing detectors can pick up, could originate from the early universe.
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Electronics
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Isotope-pure silicon nanowires could make computer chips much cooler
May 17, 2022Heat is a major hurdle for electronic devices. Scientists have now found that nanowires made of a certain isotope of silicon can conduct heat 150 percent better than regular silicon, potentially leading to drastically cooler computer chips. -
Fastest-ever logic gates could make computers a million times faster
May 11, 2022Researchers have now developed the fastest logic gates ever created, by zapping graphene and gold with laser pulses. The new logic gates are a million times faster than those in existing computers, demonstrating the viability of “lightwave electronics.” -
One-way superconducting diode has massive implications for electronics
April 28, 2022A TU Delft team has demonstrated a one-way superconductor that gives zero resistance in one direction, but blocks current completely in the other. The discovery, long thought impossible, heralds a 400x leap in computing speed and huge energy savings.
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Quantum Computing
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Silicon quantum computing surpasses 99% accuracy in three studies
January 19, 2022Three teams of scientists have achieved a major milestone in quantum computing. All three groups demonstrated better than 99 percent accuracy in silicon-based quantum devices, paving the way for practical, scalable, error-free quantum computers. -
IBM unleashes the Eagle, the world's most powerful quantum processor
November 16, 2021IBM has unveiled the Eagle, the world’s most powerful quantum processor. Boasting 127 quantum bits (qubits), the Eagle is a major step towards commercial quantum computers outperforming traditional machines. -
Quantum computing hits the desktop, no cryo-cooling required
September 27, 2021An Australian/German company is developing powerful quantum accelerators the size of graphics cards. They work at room temperature, undercutting and outperforming today's huge, cryo-cooled quantum supercomputers, promising industry-wide disruption.
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