Science
The latest in science news, from the depths of space to the quantum realm.
Fastest-ever logic gates could make computers a million times faster
May 11, 2022
Researchers 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.”
Energy
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Triple-layer bacterial biobattery produces electricity for weeks
June 23, 2022Electricity-producing bacteria could be an intriguing renewable energy source. Engineers have now developed a biobattery that contains three layers of different bacteria species, which together take in sunlight and produce electricity. -
First plasma propels Zap Energy's plans for garage-sized fusion reactors
June 22, 2022Nuclear fusion is an incredibly complex scientific problem that researchers are coming at from all sorts of angles, and company Zap Energy is starting to make waves through one of the lesser-known approaches. -
Fast-deploying solar/hydrogen nanogrid wheels emergency power off-grid
June 17, 2022Sesame Solar announced this week what it calls the world's first 100-percent renewable mobile nanogrid. Powered by a wing-like solar panel spread and green hydrogen, the modular nanogrid brings weeks of autonomous electricity where it's most needed.
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Medical
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New gene editing tool reduces errors by nicking DNA not cutting
June 24, 2022As important as CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing is, it has a relatively high error rate, which can introduce potentially harmful mutations. German researchers have now developed a more refined tool that reduces errors by nicking DNA instead of cutting it. -
A 10-second balance test could predict your risk of early death
June 22, 2022Human balance is known to decline with age, and an international team of researchers has provided new evidence around whether this particular ability can serve as an indicator for risk of disease and death. -
Death of first pig-to-human heart transplant recipient remains a mystery
June 22, 2022A new article has offered insights into the world’s first pig-to-human heart transplant, which took place earlier this year. Researchers report the patient died unexpectedly two months after the procedure and the exact cause of death is still unclear.
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Space
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NASA pursues nuclear option for providing power on the Moon
June 22, 2022NASA is turning to nuclear power will keep the lights on in tomorrow's Moon bases. The space agency has awarded US$15 million in contracts to three preliminary designs for 40-kW nuclear fission reactors to be tested on the lunar surface by 2030. -
Chemical analysis may close the case on life on Venus
June 17, 2022Scientists debate whether or not there’s life on Venus. A new Cambridge study has analyzed the Venusian atmosphere and found no sign of the chemical fingerprints microbes would be expected to produce – but it doesn’t rule out life on similar planets. -
Bizarre blue blobs in space may be born from galactic "belly flops"
June 16, 2022Astronomers have discovered bizarre “blue blobs” in space. These blobs are clusters of young, blue stars that are isolated from any parent galaxy, suggesting they formed from a galactic “belly flop.”
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Materials
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Cement formed with biogenic limestone promises carbon-neutral concrete
June 23, 2022Scientists at the University of Colorado Boulder claim to have uncovered a greener form of cement production by tapping into a species of cloudy microalgae that naturally produce limestone particles through photosynthesis. -
Magnetic electrode traces ion flows to reveal battery life in real time
June 19, 2022Scientists at the University of Buffalo experimenting with next-generation battery designs have demonstrated how magnetism might be used to bring a new level of precision to the way we monitor a battery's state of charge. -
Mistletoe glue could one day be used to seal wounds
June 16, 2022In order to spread to other host trees, the parasitic mistletoe plant has very sticky seeds that cling to bird feathers, bark, and other materials. According to a recent study, the "glue" on those seeds could inspire new biomedical adhesives.
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Biology
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Drug cocktail makes stem cells that could grow organisms from scratch
June 22, 2022Researchers have developed a new drug cocktail that can convert cells into totipotent stem cells, the very seeds of life. These cells can differentiate into any cell in the body, potentially bypassing the need for sperm and eggs to grow an organism. -
Existing cancer drug boosts brain genes to improve memory and learning
June 15, 2022Researchers at EPFL have found that an existing drug used to treat cancer, among other things, also seems to improve memory. Intriguingly, tests in mice show that the drug works by switching on genes associated with brain plasticity. -
Whisker-cams unravel the mystery of how seals feed in the dark
June 14, 2022Using their sonar system, toothed whales are able to zero in on prey in the pitch black conditions of the deep sea. Seals lack such a system, but still catch prey in the same conditions. New research now shows how their whiskers allow them to do so.
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Environment
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Scientists discover polar bears adapting to live largely on glacier slush
June 17, 2022Scientists have discovered a genetically distinct subpopulation of polar bears that has adapted to survive on glacier slush instead of sea ice for large parts of the year, boding well for adaptability of the species. -
Rising beaches suggest Antarctic glaciers are melting faster than ever
June 13, 2022According to a new study, two of the glaciers that make up the Antarctic ice sheet are now melting faster than they have over the past 5,500 years. Ironically, the conclusion is based on how sea levels have seemingly dropped in the region over time. -
Study reports a big reduction in plastic waste on Australian beaches
June 13, 2022Although there's no doubt that marine plastic waste pollution is a major problem, there may be at least a small sliver of hope. According to a new study, plastic trash on Australian beaches has actually decreased by almost a third in recent years.
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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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Modular optical computer chip allows stackable swappable functions
June 20, 2022Engineers at MIT have developed a modular computer chip with components that can communicate using flashes of light. This could allow for electronics that can easily be upgraded with new sensors or processors, rather than replacing the whole chip. -
New heat spreading tech delivers 740% increase in circuit power density
May 22, 2022A team from the University of Illinois and UC Berkeley has demonstrated a new cooling method that sucks heat out of electronics so efficiently that it allows designers to run 7.4 times more power through a given volume than conventional heat sinks. -
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.
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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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