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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China's #1 oil company says peak gasoline demand has already passed
September 04, 2023China's extremely rapid adoption of EVs has forced oil giant Sinopec to adjust its forecasts, saying peak domestic gasoline demand has already passed and it's all downhill from here. The repercussions will be global. -
Ultra-hot carbon batteries promise super-cheap heat and energy storage
August 29, 2023Bill Gates-backed startup Antora Energy is preparing to roll out a containerized, modular heat battery, designed to store renewable energy at the lowest possible cost – then release it efficiently as electricity or industrial process heat. -
Power plant condenser coating could cut 460 million tons of CO2 per year
August 22, 2023Weaning the world off fossil fuels will take time, so finding ways to make energy generation more efficient is still important. A new coating for steam condenser pipes could, if rolled out widely, add more than a Russia’s worth of extra power per year.
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Medical
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Scientists uncover new pathway of Alzheimer’s disease progression
September 06, 2023Scientists have discovered how a unique kind of cell death, due to iron toxicity, creates a snowball effect that advances cognitive decline. With this finding, a whole new approach to treatment could be developed. -
New cancer cases in under-50s have risen by 79% in 30 years
September 06, 2023A new study has found that globally, the rates of new cancer cases and associated deaths in people under 50 increased alarmingly between 1990 and 2019, highlighting the importance of education on the incidence of certain cancers in younger people. -
ADHD found to increase risk of developing widespread mental health issues
September 05, 2023Scientists have discovered that attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), which is largely inherited, directly increases the risk of sufferers also developing major depression, post-traumatic stress, anorexia nervosa and have suicide attempts.
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Space
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India launches its first solar mission as lunar rover goes to sleep
September 03, 2023India is furthering its bid to become a major spacefaring power. The launch of its first mission to the Sun comes just as it winds down its first successful robotic Moon landing, with the Pragyan lunar rover completing its work and going into sleep mode. -
NASA orbiter finds crash site of Russia's Luna 25 Moon lander
August 31, 2023The fate of Russia's failed Luna 25 Moon landing mission has been confirmed after NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) found a new impact crater at the estimated position of the lander's crash shortly before its attempted landing. -
Chandrayaan-3 sends back first pictures and data from the Moon
August 29, 2023India's Chandrayaan-3 Moon mission has hit the ground running with the Vikram lander and the Pragyan rover sending back their first images and instrument data while the rover makes a slow-motion swerve around a crater.
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Materials
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Solar-heated nanowires de-ice surfaces with almost 100% efficiency
August 28, 2023Ice build-up can pose a problem for roads, aircraft, wind turbines and power lines, among many other things. Now scientists have developed a new structure made of copper nanowires that can passively de-ice surfaces with an efficacy of close to 100%. -
Game-changing molecule makes polymers more metal-like to up durability
August 24, 2023Researchers have created a molecule that, when added to polymers, increases the material’s durability by making it more able to withstand temperature fluctuations. They say it could be used in everything from plastic phone cases to missiles. -
Waste coffee grounds make concrete 30% stronger
August 22, 2023Researchers have made concrete 30% stronger by replacing a percentage of sand with spent coffee grounds, an organic waste produced in huge amounts that usually ends up in landfill. The method offers a greener approach to construction.
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Biology
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Sexy mice help scientists uncover the drivers behind male libido
September 04, 2023Believe it or not, male sexual desire actually begins in the brain. Scientists have found the neural circuit that triggers mating behaviors and the ensuing pleasure and reward feedback in mice. They hope it can lead to new drugs to treat dysfunction. -
Small snake's egg-swallowing prowess puts pythons to shame
August 28, 2023Burmese pythons are famously known for being capable of swallowing pigs whole, but you have to keep in mind, the snakes themselves are pretty darn big. When it comes to snake-to-prey-size ratio, however, nothing beats the Gans' egg-eater. -
Naked mole-rat's 'longevity' gene extends lifespan and health of mice
August 23, 2023They weigh about an ounce, spend their lives underground and are unlikely to be shortlisted for any cute animal calendars, but the fascinating naked mole-rat continues to offer clues that it holds the key to anti-aging under its pale, wrinkly skin.
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Environment
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Tire wear and tear revealed as a major contributor to waterway pollution
September 05, 2023Researchers have found that tire wear and tear is a major contributor to urban waterway pollution, producing particulate matter that includes microplastics. But they also found effective ways of reducing this type of potentially harmful pollution. -
Ground-penetrating radar seeks out elusive rare wombats
August 30, 2023In an effort to foil these proficient hide-and-seekers, scientists have enlisted a tech secret weapon to find the northern hairy-nosed wombat, a shy and critically endangered Aussie icon. Despite their hiding skills, just an estimated 315 animals remain. -
Dead-tree pyramids show promise as quick and easy artificial reefs
August 25, 2023Although artificial reefs certainly do help restore damaged marine ecosystems, they're usually made of heavy manmade materials that must be formed into shape. Now, however, scientists are reporting success using readily-available dead pear trees.
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Physics
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"Demon particle" accidentally discovered, solving 67-year mystery
August 13, 2023While studying a material that could help unlock the secrets of superconductors, scientists have accidentally discovered a “demon” particle that was first theorized almost 70 years ago, but had never been experimentally confirmed. -
"Quantum superchemistry" observed in lab experiments for first time
August 07, 2023Scientists have detected the first evidence of a phenomenon called “quantum superchemistry.” Long predicted but never confirmed, this effect could speed up chemical reactions, give scientists more control over them, and inform quantum computing. -
"Quantum gravity" clues could be hiding in the songs of black holes
June 05, 2023Gravity is the only fundamental force that can’t currently be explained by quantum physics. Now scientists have outlined a plan to look for signs of quantum gravity out in the cosmos by listening in to the 'ringing' of colliding black holes.
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Electronics
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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. -
Plant-based PCB substrate breaks down in water for easier recycling
August 01, 2023Looking to tackle a significant part of our huge e-waste problem, Jiva has developed a PCB substrate that breaks down in water for easier recovery of materials. The startup is now partnering with manufacturers to demo and evaluate the Soluboards.
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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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