New Atlas

Biology Audio available

Birth of world's first gene-edited babies triggers ethical outcry

Michael Irving November 26, 2018

The world’s first gene-edited human babies have been born in China. Professor Jiankui He claims that by removing a specific gene from the embryos using CRISPR-Cas9, the twin girls would have a natural immunity to HIV. But scientists question the safety, effectiveness and morality of the procedure.

The world's first gene-edited human babies have reportedly been born in China

Space Audio available

Star spotted on the brink of a gamma ray burst – and it's alarmingly close to Earth

Michael Irving November 19, 2018

Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are the most energetic events in the universe, second only to the Big Bang itself. We don’t usually get any warning, but now astronomers have spotted the telltale signs of a star system that could blow its lid any moment – and it’s far too close to Earth for comfort.

A composite near- and mid-infrared image of Apep, a star system that has been identified as ...

Science

Asexual, all-female termite colonies found to do just fine without males

Michael Irving September 25, 2018

Most species of termites reproduce the old fashioned way. But nature, always looking for more efficient ways to do things, may be in the process of removing unnecessary steps in the process – males. Researchers have now found colonies with no male termites at all, and they seem to be thriving.

Researchers have found colonies of asexual termites that contain no males at all

Environment

Great Barrier Reef has "died" five times already – but this might be the last straw

Michael Irving May 28, 2018

As the fate of the Great Barrier Reef remains uncertain, a new study has examined the health of the reef over the last 30,000 years, and found that it has suffered five “death events” in the past – but its current woes could be the last straw.

A new study has found that the Great Barrier Reef has persisted through five major "death ...

Physics

Simulations suggest multiverse is either teeming with life – or doesn't exist

Michael Irving May 14, 2018

Our universe seems to contain a suspiciously perfect amount of "dark energy" to sustain life. But new research suggests that life is still possible even with far more dark energy than we have, and the results have some big implications for the multiverse theory.

New simulations suggest life could be more common throughout the multiverse – or perhaps show that ...

Space

Massive stellar survey to help locate our Sun's solar siblings

Anthony Wood April 18, 2018

An international team of astronomers has released survey data detailing the chemical fingerprints of over 340,000 stars. The observations could be used to identify stellar bodies that formed alongside our Sun billions of years ago.

Image of the Sun taken by ESA's Proba-2 satellite

Science

Anti-biofouling tech inspired by bug-eating plant

Ben Coxworth January 17, 2018

If ships' hulls are covered in barnacles and other marine organisms, then those ships have to work harder, burn more fuel, and create more CO2 emissions in order to move through the water. That's why scientists have created a plant-inspired coating that keeps the critters from getting a foothold.

The pitcher plant – if you're an insect, watch out for its slippery rim

Science

NASA-inspired "speed breeding" boosts wheat production threefold

Nick Lavars January 1, 2018

Our planet is expected to host an extra two billion people by 2050, making food security a real issue. Researchers are now reporting an advance in a field known as speed breeding, which relies on intense lighting regimes to raise crops several times faster.

The speed breeding technique was developed by scientists at the University of Sydney, the University of ...

Medical

Squirtable surgical glue seals wounds in 60 seconds

Nick Lavars October 4, 2017

Advanced surgical glues that seal wounds faster could mean big things when it comes to medical care. A new material is showing particular promise in this regard, with the ability to be squirted directly into a wound, seal it in 60 seconds and dissolve thereafter.

Once squirted into the wound, the MeTro glue is said to behave much like the silicone ...

Electronics

Rechargeable zinc-air batteries zero in on lithium

Michael Irving August 14, 2017

Zinc-air batteries are enticing thanks to their high energy density and cheap materials. Unfortunately, that's countered by how difficult it is to recharge them. Now researchers have created new catalysts out of abundant elements that could see rechargeable zinc-air batteries vying with li-ions.

A researcher holds up a rechargeable zinc-air battery