New Atlas

Space Audio available

Gigantic "ghost" galaxy spotted circling the Milky Way

Michael Irving November 13, 2018

Astronomers have spotted a mysterious “ghost” galaxy orbiting the Milky Way. Huge but extremely faint, the oddball galaxy has been named Antlia 2, and it might just be weird enough to force us to rethink what we know about galactic physics and dark matter.

The new galaxy, named Antlia 2 (right) is extremely faint compared to the Milky Way (middle) ...

Energy Audio available

Scientists awaken dormant enzymes to give artificial photosynthesis a boost

Nick Lavars September 3, 2018

Researchers around the world have made some promising advances in artificial synthesis of late, but researchers from the University of Cambridge say they can produce better results by reactivating a natural mechanism that vanished through billions of years of plant evolution.

Scientists have created an artificial photosynthesis device said to absorb more sunlight than natural photosynthesis itself

Medical

Brain implant stops seizures in mice

Ben Coxworth August 30, 2018

Although seizures can be controlled via pharmaceuticals, there are often some unpleasant side effects – plus the medications don't work on all people. According to new research, however, a soft and flexible neurotransmitter-dispensing brain implant may someday do a better job.

Although effective on mice, the device probably won't see use in humans for several years

Energy

New class of materials points to safer, fast-charging lithium-ion batteries

Dario Borghino July 31, 2018

Researchers have found that materials known as niobium tungsten oxides form microscopic structures that let lithium ions flow through them at much greater rates than current technology allows. The finding could be the key to building safe lithium-ion cells that charge in minutes rather than hours.

The research could result in fast-charging lithium-ion batteries that don't overheat

Space

Milky Way still bears the 10-billion-year-old scars of a galactic collision

Michael Irving July 4, 2018

An international team of astronomers has now found evidence of a celestial smash-up between the Milky Way and an unknown dwarf galaxy that took place around eight to 10 billion years ago, and forever changed the face of our home galaxy.

An artist's impression of a collision between the Milky Way and a smaller dwarf galaxy, such ...

Physics

Stephen Hawking's final paper bursts the multiverse bubble with a Holographic Universe theory

Michael Irving May 2, 2018

Renowned physicist Stephen Hawking passed away earlier this year, but his legacy to science will live on. His final theory on the origin of the universe has now been published, and it offers an interesting departure from earlier ideas about the nature of the “multiverse.”

A new theory on the origin of the universe, put forward in the late Stephen Hawking's ...

Science

Beetle inspires ultra-white coating

Ben Coxworth March 13, 2018

You may think that a sheet of plain paper is already pretty white, but scientists from the University of Cambridge have created an eco-friendly material that's reportedly 20 times whiter. In order to do so, they copied the scales of a Southeast Asian beetle.

The Cyphochilus beetle, with its nice white scales

Biology

How colorful colonies of bacteria could one day grow organic "paints"

Michael Irving February 20, 2018

A team from the University of Cambridge and a Dutch company called Hoekmine BV has outlined how we might one day grow new organic paints and coatings out of vibrantly-colored bacteria colonies.

A colony of flavobacteria, which appear vibrant colors thanks to the geometric structure of the bugs

Biology

Giant nerves key to cuttlefish's incredible camouflage capability

David Szondy February 17, 2018

Scientists from the Marine Biological Laboratory and the University of Cambridge have found that the cuttlefish controls its stealth ability using a giant neural circuit that similar to the one that squids use to control their iridescence.

The cuttlefish can change its appearance with remarkable speed - now scientists have a better understanding ...

Materials

Graphene tested in microgravity for first time

Michael Irving January 31, 2018

The wonder material graphene has been wrung through just about every experiment on Earth – but how does it fare beyond our planet? A European team has tested graphene in microgravity for the first time, an important step towards realizing it's promising applications in space.

An international team of scientists has conducted the first microgravity experiments with graphene