Tech
- Space
Spacecraft need an extra boost to travel between stars
Star Wars makes space travel look easy by breaking the laws of physics. Off-screen, the technology for spacecraft to reach other worlds doesn’t exist yet.
- Physics
Weirdly, mayo can help study conditions ripe for nuclear fusion
Yes, mayo. The texture of the sandwich spread is perfect for mimicking what a fusion fuel capsule goes through when blasted with lasers.
- Animals
This biologist tracks seadragons, with help from the public
Nerida Wilson uses artificial intelligence to identify seadragons in photos taken by citizen scientists.
- Health & Medicine
Use of injectable GLP-1 weight-loss drugs skyrockets among teens
Their long-term safety is still an issue for kids. Meanwhile, a new vibrating robotic pill in early trials might offer an edible alternative to GLP-1s.
- Artificial Intelligence
The brain of a tiny worm inspired a new type of AI
A liquid neural network mimics how neurons interact in the brain of a worm. This type of AI can better adapt to new situations.
- Tech
New system uses evaporation to greatly cool artificial turf
It relies on rainwater that gets stored below a field of plastic "grass." The design also limits how much rain — and pollution — will run off artificial turf.
- Tech
Want to spot a deepfake? Focus on the eyes
A technique from astronomy could help detect deepfakes by spotting unrealistic reflections in the eyes of AI-generated images.
- Health & Medicine
Python fangs inspired a fix for shoulder injuries common in sports
Curved teeth could grip fragile shoulder tendons without tearing, making rotator-cuff repairs stronger and more likely to last.
- Tech
Did builders of Egypt’s first pyramid use a water-powered elevator?
A controversial study suggests that ancient people might have used one to hoist the stones used to assemble into King Djoser’s pyramid.
- Climate
Stashing more CO2 in the ocean could slow climate change
More research is needed on ways to safely remove some CO2 from the water to make room for more — such as by seaweed farming and iron fertilization.
- Tech
Robotics might someday give us an extra hand
We could control a bonus limb with the movements of our diaphragm.
- Tech
Lasers help put the cork on spilled oil
Treating cork with lasers made the material able to quickly sponge up oil while repelling water, scientists in China and Israel found.
