Science
The latest in science news, from the depths of space to the quantum realm.
New charging approach could extend battery life by at least 20%
November 07, 2022
The many cells that make up a lithium battery pack are not all equal; some will degrade and die faster than others. New research out of Stanford has found that the whole battery can live much longer if each cell gets an individual charging treatment.
Energy
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Report: Japan's "hydrogen society" policy is a "complete failure"
January 25, 2023In 2017, Japan created a pioneering national hydrogen strategy, envisaging a carbon-neutral "hydrogen society." But a Renewable Energy Institute report slams the policy as catastrophically misguided, with 70% of its 10-year budget "spent on bad ideas." -
Fur-lined double-barrel generator harvests energy from slow waves
January 19, 2023Researchers at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory have developed an unusual way to harvest wave power, with a gently rolling cylinder designed around the triboelectric effect that causes static shocks after you walk on certain carpets. -
Dung-powered tractor drives down agricultural emissions
January 16, 2023New Holland Agriculture has announced a new tractor designed to run on fuel created on-site using cow manure. The T7 Methane Power LNG offers the same power and torque as a diesel tractor, but it's part of a system that can greatly reduce emissions.
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Medical
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Bottlebrush-shaped molecules carry drug combos to combat cancer
January 29, 2023Scientists at MIT have developed bottlebrush-shaped molecules that can carry groups of different cancer drugs in just the right ratios. Tests in mice showed significantly improved outcomes compared to just giving the drugs loose. -
Peptide spray kills bacteria in wounds without using antibiotics
January 26, 2023It's always good if the use of antibiotics can be avoided, to keep harmful bacteria from developing a resistance to them. A new wound-treatment spray could help, as it kills bacteria using peptides that occur naturally in our bodies. -
Microneedle patch shown to stop bleeding faster than regular dressings
January 24, 2023Skin-applied microneedle patches are already used to painlessly deliver medication and detect chemicals in a patient's bloodstream. A new one, however, reportedly stops wounds from bleeding much more effectively than traditional bandages.
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Space
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DARPA and NASA plan orbital nuclear rocket test
January 26, 2023NASA and DARPA have agreed to develop and test a nuclear rocket engine in space as soon as 2027. Using a nuclear reactor as its power source, it would outperform chemical rockets and greatly reduce the time for the first crewed Mars mission. -
Feel tiny in this gigantic, zoomable galaxy map charting 3 billion stars
January 23, 2023Astronomers have released one of the biggest data dumps of the Milky Way ever, cataloging an incredible 3.32 billion cosmic objects in detail. The end result is a gigantic image that can be zoomed in and out for a stunning sense of scale. -
Miniature nuclear generators could power deep-space CubeSats
January 17, 2023In a move that could see a new generation of deep-space CubeSats, NASA has greenlighted a project by the Rochester Institute of Technology to develop a nuclear power source that is a tenth the size of those in current use for planetary missions.
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Materials
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Ultra-thin coating makes for self-cleaning solar panels
January 29, 2023Solar panels can’t operate efficiently if they’re caked in dirt, but cleaning them regularly can be a time-consuming process. Engineers in Germany have now developed an ultra-thin coating that can make solar panels and other surfaces self-cleaning. -
Rust-removing sound waves could breathe new life into MXene batteries
January 25, 2023For some time now, a nanomaterial known as MXene has been touted as a faster-charging alternative to the lithium used in batteries. It could soon be an even more viable choice, as scientists have devised a method of making it last much longer. -
Largest rare earths deposit in European history found in Sweden
January 12, 2023Swedish government-owned mining company LKAB has reported the largest deposit of rare earth metals ever discovered in Europe – more than a million tonnes of rare earth oxides, which will be invaluable in the race toward decarbonization.
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Biology
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Semi-living "cyborg cells" can survive where normal bacteria can't
January 23, 2023Manipulating microbes has helped human civilization for millennia, since we started using yeast to make bread and booze. In a modern breakthrough, scientists have created semi-living “cyborg cells” that can survive in environments natural cells can’t. -
Newly discovered pterosaur used tiny teeth to feed like a wading whale
January 23, 2023Back in 2021, we heard about a pterosaur that had a mouth full of big, sharp teeth. Well, scientists have now discovered a pterosaur that went to the other extreme, as it used over 400 small, hooked teeth to catch its prey. -
Epigenetic "reboot" reverses aging in mice and could extend lifespan
January 15, 2023Harvard scientists have investigated why we age, and how we could stop it. In tests in mice, the team showed that epigenetic “software glitches” drive the symptoms of aging – and a system reboot can reverse them, potentially extending lifespan.
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Environment
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Profitable retrofit system could slash steelmaking emissions by 94%
January 29, 2023A rare decarbonization idea that looks as good for business as it does for the planet. This system promises to radically reduce carbon dioxide emissions for 70% of steelmakers, while generating profits and making use of existing blast furnaces. -
Cladding could regulate building temps by solidifying and liquefying
January 27, 2023Seeking a passive way to keep buildings cool in hot weather and warmer in the colder months, researchers have developed a new electrochromic shape-shifting material. It switches from solid to liquid and from clear to opaque at set temperatures. -
Magnetic solution removes toxic "forever chemicals" from water in seconds
January 22, 2023Scientists in Australia have developed an intriguing new technique for removing toxic “forever chemicals” from water. Adding a solution to contaminated water coats the pollutants and makes them magnetic, so they can easily be attracted and isolated.
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Physics
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Physicists discover completely new type of quantum entanglement
January 05, 2023Physicists at Brookhaven National Laboratory have discovered a completely new type of quantum entanglement, the spooky phenomenon that binds particles across any distance. This allowed scientists to peer inside nuclei in more detail than ever before. -
Atomic clocks orbiting near the Sun could detect dark matter
December 05, 2022Dark matter remains elusive despite decades of searching. Now physicists have proposed a new experiment that would try to find signals by sending atomic clocks to where dark matter should be at its most dense – right near the Sun. -
Traversable wormhole recreated in a quantum computer for first time
November 30, 2022Wormholes are a sci-fi staple, and and it's possible that they exist in the real universe. But how would they work? Physicists have now used a quantum processor to simulate a traversable wormhole, teleporting information between two quantum systems.
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Electronics
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Tongue-zapping spoon claimed to boost the flavor of foods
January 12, 2023Some people feel that their food isn't quite tasty enough unless it had added salt, sugar or MSG. The SpoonTEK spoon offers a healthier alternative, as it reportedly boosts the perceived flavor of foods by harmlessly zapping its user's tastebuds. -
Samsung's new Odyssey Neo G9 packs two 4K displays into one monitor
January 02, 2023With a new year comes a new CES, and a new crop of gadgets. Samsung has now revealed its latest lineup of monitors, headlined by the new Odyssey Neo G9, which packs two 4K displays side-by-side in one ultra-wide, curved monitor. -
Water-based circuit concept switches much faster than semiconductors
December 14, 2022Water is usually something you’d want to keep away from electronic circuits, but engineers in Germany have now developed a new concept for water-based switches that are much faster than current semiconductor materials.
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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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