Science
The latest in science news, from the depths of space to the quantum realm.
Synthetic embryos grown from stem cells don't need sperm or eggs
August 02, 2022
Researchers have created some of the most advanced synthetic mouse embryos out of stem cells, removing the need for sperm, eggs and even a womb. The technology could help us understand development and eventually be used to grow organs for transplant.
Energy
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Floating artificial leaves produce fuels from water, air and sunlight
August 17, 2022Leaves are impressive machines, converting sunlight, carbon dioxide and water into energy. Cambridge scientists have now created artificial leaves that can float on water, tapping into sunlight above it and water below to efficiently produce fuels. -
TAE on track for billion-degree hydrogen-boron fusion by early 2030s
August 12, 2022Some fusion projects aim to create hundred-million degree working temperatures in magnetically confined plasma. The CEO of TAE Technologies tells us his team's aiming for 10 times that temperature, targeting cheaper, easier and safer boron fuel. -
Climate bill includes massive, game-changing green hydrogen incentives
August 10, 2022The US Inflation Reduction Act is poised to kickstart a global hydrogen revolution. Among the bill's many climate-focused provisions are tax credits that will make American green hydrogen the cheapest H2 in the world, as low as US$0.73 per kilogram.
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Medical
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T-cell-refreshing molecule could be key to preventing immune exhaustion
August 17, 2022During long-term battles with cancer or infection, immune cells can become exhausted. Now, researchers have identified a specific molecule that helps certain T cells refresh themselves, which could unlock more effective immunotherapy. -
Donor kidney blood type converted in step towards universal organs
August 16, 2022Organ transplants can be life-saving, but matching blood types means many people are left on waiting lists. Cambridge scientists have now demonstrated a technique that could one day make donated organs universal, by converting them to blood type O. -
New sweat sensor uses molecule-shaped holes to detect more metabolites
August 16, 2022Although there are now a number of skin-worn sensors which identify metabolites in sweat, the technology is limited in what it can detect, plus the sensors often aren't reusable. A new one, however, utilizes a "molecularly imprinted polymer" to be much more useful.
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Space
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NASA's most powerful rocket ever is finally on the launchpad
August 17, 2022NASA's Space Launch System and Orion spacecraft exited the vehicle assembly building today after clearing some final tests and checks, en route to the launchpad for a maiden, uncrewed journey around the Moon. -
Invasion of Ukraine forces Northrop Grumman to seek US rocket alternative
August 09, 2022Northrop Grumman announces that the war in Ukraine is forcing it to develop a US-designed and manufactured replacement for the first stage of its Antares rocket, which was previously made in Ukraine using Russian engines. -
James Webb keeps breaking records for most distant galaxies ever seen
August 03, 2022The James Webb Space Telescope keeps breaking its own records for peering deeper into space and time. It's now detected a galaxy candidate about 35 billion light-years from Earth, which if confirmed would make it the most distant galaxy ever found.
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Materials
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New supramolecular plastic heals itself in an instant
August 16, 2022Scientists experimenting with next-generation plastics at Finland's University of Turku have developed a self-healing form of the material with some impressive capabilities, most notably an ability to quickly break down after use. -
New polymer removes dye from wastewater, and can be reused afterwards
August 12, 2022In wastewater produced by the textile industry and others, dye is one of the primary pollutants. A newly developed synthetic polymer is capable of removing that dye from the water, plus it can be cleaned up and reused to treat more wastewater. -
Scientists create quality concrete with 100% tire-rubber aggregate
August 11, 2022In recent years, we've heard about efforts to replace some of the aggregate used in concrete with crumbled used tires. Now, however, scientists have succeeded in producing good quality concrete in which all of the aggregate has been replaced with tire particles.
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Biology
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"Brain thermometer" circuitry might explain those summer afternoon naps
August 17, 2022A new study on fruit flies may help explain why siestas came to be such an important habit in many cultures, revealing a type of brain thermometer that kicks sleep-promoting cells into action as the mercury starts to climb. -
3D model suggests ancient megalodon could eat an orca in just five bites
August 17, 2022By combining cutting-edge digital modeling with analysis of a rare, one-of-a-kind fossil, scientists have managed to piece together the first 3D reconstruction of the megalodon, the largest shark to ever live. -
Move over, mammoths: De-extinction scientists to target thylacine next
August 16, 2022Colossal has plans to resurrect the mammoth, and now it's revealed the second species on its de-extinction list – Australia’s lost thylacine. Partnering with a University of Melbourne lab, the project could revive the creature in about a decade.
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Environment
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Striking study finds Arctic Circle warming at 4 times the global rate
August 15, 2022Scientists know the area in and around the North Pole to be warming disproportionately to the rest of the planet, a phenomenon known as "Arctic amplification." A new study, however, argues that this effect has been vastly underestimated. -
World's oldest ice core could stretch back 5 million years
August 11, 2022One of the best ways to analyze Earth's past climate is with samples drilled from deep ice cores. Now, scientists have dated what may be the world’s oldest ice core, with some sections potentially preserving samples as old as 5 million years. -
UCB demonstrates "incredibly cheap and easy" carbon-capture material
August 08, 2022UC Berkeley chemists say they've created a simple, and very inexpensive way to capture carbon dioxide using a polymer called melamine, that's far cheaper than metal-organic frameworks. It could capture carbon emissions from smokestacks or tailpipes.
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Physics
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World's strongest steady magnetic field generated in China
August 15, 2022Scientists in China have set a new world record for the strongest steady magnetic field ever generated on Earth. The hybrid magnet managed to produce a field measuring 45.22 Tesla (T), which is over a million times stronger than the planet’s own. -
Nanopillared lenses let scientists trap individual atoms with light
August 02, 2022Researchers have developed a more precise design for "optical tweezers," using a metasurface lens studded with millions of tiny pillars which focus light to trap and manipulate individual atoms. It could pave the way for powerful quantum devices. -
The end of everything: 5 ways the universe could be destroyed
July 22, 2022Everything has to end eventually – including the universe itself. It might be hard to imagine a catastrophe big enough to affect the entirety of existence, but here are some of the leading hypotheses about how the universe could end, and when.
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Electronics
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Magmo offers a simple approach to recording iPhone conversations
August 17, 2022While it's definitely not a good idea to record a phone call without the other person's permission, there certainly are times when doing so with their permission could come in handy. The Magmo lets iPhone users do so in what looks like a quick and easy fashion. -
Water-activated paper battery may lead to greener disposable tech
July 28, 2022Although it's always best to reuse and recycle, many small, simple, low-power electronic devices tend to be single-use. A new paper battery could make them more eco-friendly, as it's activated by water, and it biodegrades once discarded. -
Fraunhofer's YourSound tech simplifies the setting of car stereos
July 08, 2022While high-end car audio systems do allow users to tweak the various sound frequencies to their liking, the average non-audiophile may get lost in the process. The YourSound system is designed to make things easier, by guiding users via sound samples.
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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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