Science
The latest in science news, from the depths of space to the quantum realm.
Building to house world's largest tokamak fusion reactor now complete
November 14, 2019
The structure that will house one of the largest and most ambitious energy experiments in history is now complete, with engineers working on the ITER Tokamak Building swinging their last pylon into place in readiness for the reactor's assembly stage.
LATEST NEWS
-
Extraterrestrial sugars, key to life, found in meteorites
The latest ingredients of life to be discovered off-world are certain bio-essential sugars, which have now been found in meteorites. This could lend weight to the idea that meteorite impacts are responsible for the origin of life on Earth. -
Archaeologists find infants wearing other kids' skulls like helmets
Archaeologists in Ecuador have made a fascinating and grisly discovery. In a burial mound dating back 2,100 years, the scientists found signs of a ritual never seen before – two babies buried wearing “helmets” made of the skulls of other children. -
Brainwave study reveals psychedelic DMT produces "waking-dream" state
An intriguing new study from Imperial College London is shedding light on how one of the world’s most powerful psychedelic substances alters brain activity, rapidly shifting a person’s brainwaves into a state that resembles dreaming. -
Strange orbital dance keeps Neptune's moons stable
A team of scientists led by Marina Brozovic at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory has discovered that two of Neptune's innermost moons are locked in a never before seen orbital "dance of avoidance" that keeps them from colliding. -
World's biggest battery to grow 50 percent bigger next year
The biggest battery in the world is set to soon grow even bigger. The Hornsdale Power Reserve in South Australia, built by Tesla and managed by renewable energy company Neoen, will be expanded by an extra 50 percent early next year. -
Encouraging early results from first human CRISPR gene therapy trials
Promising data from one of the first human trials testing a CRISPR gene therapy has just been revealed. Although it is too early to evaluate long-term effects, the initial reports demonstrate success for two patients with genetic blood diseases. -
$10 million Rainforest XPrize to help preserve the world's biodiversity
The XPrize foundation has today launched a new US$10 million competition geared towards preserving the world's rainforests, a process that begins with building new technologies to help us better appreciate what they have to offer. -
Water vapor on Jupiter's moon Europa confirmed once and for all
Jupiter’s moon Europa is increasingly seen as one of the more likely bodies to harbor life in our solar system. Scientists at NASA have now directly confirmed water vapor in its atmosphere for the very first time. -
Dangerous N2O emissions have been underestimated, says new report
Greenhouse gases like methane and nitrous oxide can be worse than carbon dioxide. Now, a new study has found that we’re releasing more N2O into the atmosphere than we thought, which may weaken our already-strained efforts to combat climate change. -
Icy moon explorer heads for tests in Antarctica
A wheeled robot designed to roll along on the underside of the ice cap is to be tested in the Antarctic. Dubbed BRUIE, the rover is part of a project to develop technology for studying the icy moons of the outer solar system. -
First global map of Titan highlights oceans, plains, dunes and mountains
In some ways, the most Earth-like world in our solar system is Saturn’s largest moon, Titan. And now, astronomers from NASA JPL and Arizona State University have used years of Cassini data to construct the first global map of Titan. -
"Game-changing" new schizophrenia drug passes Phase 2 human trials
A new drug designed to treat acute psychosis in schizophrenic patients is reporting positive results from a Phase 2 clinical trial. After several decades of development the drug is hoped to reach the market in the next few years.
