Science
The latest in science news, from the depths of space to the quantum realm.
Colossal new species may be largest animal that ever existed
August 02, 2023
The blue whale has long been considered the largest animal to have ever existed, even dwarfing the biggest known dinosaurs. But now a new species threatens to steal the crown, and upends what we thought we knew about whale evolution.
Energy
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Google switches on first-of-its-kind advanced geothermal project
November 28, 2023Google has announced that its innovative advanced geothermal plant in Nevada is now operational and connected to the grid, pioneering an approach that promises to unlock clean, always-on geothermal energy across a much larger range of locations. -
Container-based mobile battery hub recharged by kite power
November 27, 2023A Dutch startup spun out of the Delft University of Technology has launched the Kitepower Hawk, a wind energy storage solution that's designed to replace diesel generators for small island communities, on construction sites or in agriculture. -
Arizona solar canal project aims to save water while making power
November 23, 2023With most of Arizona in a state of moderate to extreme drought, the Gila River Indian Community and the US Army Corps of Engineers have signed a deal to begin a solar-over-canal project designed to cut down evaporation and boost solar efficiency.
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Medical
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Brain cell gene changes linked to neuroinflammation seen in Alzheimer’s
November 29, 2023Research has revealed how genetic changes in a specialized population of brain cells called microglia contribute to neuroinflammation and, in turn, to Alzheimer’s disease. The findings could lead to more effective, targeted therapeutics. -
Eye-safe laser device provides rapid, on-site diagnosis of concussion
November 29, 2023Researchers have developed a handheld device that shines a safe laser into the eye to detect biomarkers of brain damage following a concussion or other traumatic brain injury, providing rapid, on-site diagnosis at the time of injury. -
Fatty acid in beef & dairy found to boost immune cells’ cancer response
November 28, 2023A study has found that a fatty acid found in meat and dairy may boost the cancer-killing abilities of the immune system’s T cells. Also found to enhance the effectiveness of immunotherapy, the nutrient could be used to complement cancer treatments.
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Space
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France and Italy team up to build Moon habitat
November 29, 2023France and Italy are teaming up to build a habitat for future moon bases with Franco-Italian technology company Thales Alenia Space and the Italian Space Agency (ASI) signing a contract to develop the Multi-Purpose Habitat for NASA's Artemis project. -
Ariane 6 rocket fires engine in dress rehearsal for launch
November 27, 2023ESA's next-generation Ariane 6 heavy rocket came another step closer to flight on November 23, 2023 as it completed a long-duration hot-fire test of the stacked booster's Vulcain 2.1 engine at Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. -
Deep space travel may mean astronauts can’t get it up back on Earth
November 26, 2023Researchers have found that deep space travel can cause long-lasting erectile dysfunction. With crewed space missions planned for the near future, the findings highlight the importance of considering astronauts’ sexual health.
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Materials
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Deepmind AI tool catapults materials science 800 years into the future
November 29, 2023Prepare for a radical acceleration in technological development. A Google Deepmind AI has achieved "an order-of-magnitude expansion in stable materials known to humanity," finding about 800 years' worth of new materials with revolutionary potential. -
Antimicrobial textile coating makes superbug-squashing hospital curtains
November 29, 2023Hospitals are meant to heal people, but patients often pick up superbugs during their stay. Scientists have now developed long-lasting antimicrobial coatings for textiles that could allow hospital curtains to quickly kill viruses and bacteria. -
Self-healing concrete patches up cracks with dormant bacteria
November 20, 2023Concrete may seem strong, but it can be surprisingly vulnerable to the elements. Now researchers at Drexel University have demonstrated a type of self-healing concrete embedded with “BioFibers” that use bacteria to patch up cracks as they form.
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Biology
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Algorithm identifies 188 new CRISPR gene-editing systems
November 26, 2023CRISPR systems are powerful tools for genetic engineering, but they have their limitations. Now, scientists have discovered almost 200 new CRISPR systems in bacteria, and found that some can edit human cells even more precisely than existing ones. -
Sugar and fat "tug of war" can derail your diet before you know it
November 26, 2023If you overindulge in sugary treats, the good news is that your sweet tooth will be silenced. The bad news, though, is that this triggers a hormonal call out for fatty foods. And even worse news, too much fat will then switch sugar cravings back on. -
Food taste found to rein in eating within seconds, before gut stretch
November 23, 2023Research has found that signals linked to how food tastes are sent to our brains almost immediately to slow our eating pace, with the well-known stretch signals from the gut coming later, providing greater insights into how the body controls appetite.
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Environment
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Long-lost species of golden mole found and photographed for first time
November 28, 2023A team of conservationists have rediscovered a species of golden mole that hasn’t been seen in almost 90 years. The scientists tracked it to its home in the sand dunes of South Africa using environmental DNA (eDNA) and sniffer dogs. -
AI helps scientists track icebergs by analyzing radar data
November 28, 2023Researchers are using machine learning to analyze satellite radar data to detect icebergs in the Southern Ocean around Antarctica as a way to better understand their life cycle and environmental impact. -
Recycling cigarette butts may reduce biodiesel production costs
November 27, 2023To drive down the cost of biodiesel, researchers have developed an eco-friendly way of extracting triacetin, a combustion-enhancing additive, from an abundant waste source, cigarette butts, both reducing waste and providing a sustainable use for it.
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Physics
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Ultra-compact particle accelerator does a mile's work with four inches
November 28, 2023The USA has only two accelerators that can produce 10 billion electron-volt particle beams, and they're each about 1.9 miles long. "We can now reach those energies in 10 cm," said the CEO of TAU Systems, which has built an ultra-compact accelerator. -
Scientists discover strange new form of magnetism
November 19, 2023Scientists at ETH Zurich have discovered a new type of magnetism. Experiments show that an artificially produced material becomes magnetic through a mechanism that hasn’t been seen before. -
LIGO squeezes light to surpass quantum limit measuring spacetime ripples
October 24, 2023Gravitational wave facilities measure spacetime distortions down to 10 quadrillionths of a hair – small enough for interference from particles popping in and out of existence. Now LIGO has pushed beyond this quantum limit by “squeezing” laser light.
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Electronics
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"Superatomic" material beats silicon for fastest semiconductor ever
October 31, 2023Scientists have found that a “superatomic” material is the fastest and most efficient semiconductor ever. Taking advantage of a tortoise-and-hare mechanism, the new material can transport energy much faster than silicon. -
Colorpik Pen draws from its surroundings to draw in 16 million colors
August 29, 2023With regular felt pens, users are limited to the colors of the pens in a set. As you might have guessed, though, the Colorpik Pen is different – it can reproduce 16 million colors, which are scanned from the user's environment. -
Portal, PlayStation’s first dedicated remote player, to launch late 2023
August 24, 2023Sony gave us a sneak peek of PlayStation’s first dedicated Remote Play device, then called Project Q, back in May. It's now provided more details and announced that the device, renamed Portal, will launch later this year.
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Quantum Computing
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Perovskite LED unlocks next-level quantum random number generation
September 05, 2023Random numbers are critical to encryption algorithms, but they're nigh-on impossible for computers to generate. Now, Swedish researchers say they've created a new, super-secure quantum random number generator using cheap perovskite LEDs. -
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.
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