What you should—and shouldn’t—do in virtual reality
Virtual reality (VR) can take you to places you could never go in real life.
Whether it’s walking through ancient ruins or performing open-heart surgery,...
Hidden cotton virus was in U.S. fields for nearly 20 years before discovery
A virus that damages cotton crops has been quietly spreading through U.S. fields for nearly two decades—without anyone noticing.
Scientists once believed the cotton leafroll...
New super material could spark a revolution in energy-efficient electronics
Scientists at Rice University have created a new material that could one day lead to faster, more powerful, and more energy-saving electronics.
This breakthrough material,...
Thinner, cheaper, greener: A new breakthrough in hydrogen fuel cells
Hydrogen fuel cells are known for being clean and efficient—they generate electricity while releasing only water vapor.
But despite their promise, they haven’t been widely...
Could hidden chemicals cause obesity?
Since 1975, obesity rates around the world have soared, with the number of overweight people nearly tripling. Most of the time, we blame the...
Scientists create soft robots that walk straight out of a 3D printer
Imagine printing a robot—and watching it walk away as soon as it’s finished. That’s exactly what scientists at the University of Edinburgh have done.
They’ve...
Scientists boost solar panel efficiency with a microscopic protective coating
A team of researchers led by NYU Tandon has found a simple yet powerful way to make cadmium telluride (CdTe) solar panels more efficient...
Mysterious space object blinks in both X-rays and radio waves every 44 minutes
Astronomers have discovered a strange object in our galaxy that flashes every 44 minutes—and it's unlike anything we've seen before.
Named ASKAP J1832-0911, this mysterious...
Scientists develop cooling material that makes solar panels last 200% longer
Scientists have created a new material that helps solar panels stay cool and work better—even under harsh sunlight.
This breakthrough could make solar energy cheaper...
One screen, dozens of images: Ultra-thin display unlocks a new world of holograms
Imagine a screen so thin it’s barely visible—yet capable of displaying dozens of different high-resolution images, all hidden in the same place.
That’s exactly what...
Forget drones—this robot transforms on the go
Imagine a robot that can fly through the air, then instantly transform midair into a rolling machine that zips across the ground.
That’s exactly what...
Flying on baking soda? New fuel cell could power electric planes without emissions
Electric planes, trains, and ships may soon become a reality thanks to a new type of energy system developed by researchers at MIT and...
FEATURED
New sensor could detect rare earth element in unexpected locations
Scientists have developed a luminescent sensor that can detect and measure the presence of a rare earth element called terbium.
The element is used in...
Did life begin in giant soda lakes? New clues from ancient waters
How did life begin on Earth?
It’s a big question, and scientists believe that the element phosphorus may have played a key role.
Phosphorus is an...
How dog breeds differ in pain sensitivity and how it can fool even vets
Do you ever wonder how sensitive your dog is to pain?
Turns out, a dog's breed can make a difference, but the perceived pain sensitivity...
Light’s magic trick: Making water evaporate without heat!
Usually, we think of water evaporating because of heat – like when sweat cools us down or morning dew disappears with the sunrise.
But scientists...
Scientists discover two stray supernova remnants in neighboring galaxy
Astronomers using the European Space Agency’s XMM-Newton telescope have made an unexpected discovery—two supernova remnants in the outskirts of the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC).
This...