Why “soft” lithium can break batteries
Solid-state batteries are often described as the future of energy storage.
They could allow phones to run for days without charging and give electric cars...
How malaria controlled human survival in Africa for 74,000 years
For tens of thousands of years, a tiny but deadly enemy may have quietly shaped where early humans could survive in Africa.
New research suggests...
This new method could turn nearly all waste into usable energy
Researchers have found a clearer path to turning everyday waste into clean, usable gas for homes and businesses.
A team led by Mohsen Talei at...
Scientists turn simple knots into jumping robots that can plant seeds
A simple idea has led to a surprising invention: tiny robots made from knotted fibers that can jump, spin, glide and even plant seeds.
Instead...
A simple touch that could make solar cells last much longer
A new study has revealed a surprisingly simple way to improve one of the biggest weaknesses of next-generation solar cells.
Researchers from Korea University and...
Cosmic dances reveal the true weight of young stars in Orion
A star’s mass decides almost everything about its life, from how bright it shines to how it eventually dies.
But for young stars hidden deep...
A living computer: Scientists build a 3D device powered by brain cells
Researchers at Princeton University have created a new kind of computing system that combines living brain cells with advanced electronics.
This unusual device works in...
Scientists turn depleted oil reservoirs into hydrogen storage
Hydrogen is often seen as a key fuel for a cleaner future because it burns without producing carbon dioxide.
However, storing and transporting hydrogen is...
Scientists create shape-shifting, super-strong materials
A simple bundle of office staples can teach us something surprising about the future of materials.
When tightly packed together, staples can lock into each...
Tough fungi could survive the journey to Mars, study finds
Fungi are already known for being tough, but new research suggests that some types might be strong enough to survive the long and harsh...
Exploding stars, black holes, and the forbidden gap
When the first gravitational wave (GW) was detected back in 2015, scientists said they had opened a new window into the Universe.
While most of...
Air-stable solid-state batteries could transform electric vehicles forever
Scientists have taken an important step toward building safer and faster batteries by solving a key problem that has slowed progress for years.
A research...
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What bonobos’ intimate rhythm can teach us about the origins of music and speech
Scientists studying bonobos, one of humanity’s closest living relatives, have uncovered surprising clues about how rhythm and communication may have evolved.
By analyzing the timing...
How to shelter from a nuclear explosion
There is no good place to be when a nuclear bomb goes off. Anything too close is instantly vaporized, and radiation can pose a serious health threat even at a distance.
Thousands of galaxies shine in ultraviolet light in new Hubble image
This may help reveal how the first stars ended the universe's dark ages.
A new image from NASA's Hubble Space Telescope is brimming with distant...
Scientists create room-temperature quantum-like computer
From scheduling flights to planning delivery routes or arranging phone networks, many everyday challenges come down to what scientists call combinatorial optimization problems.
These are...
Common plastic chemical could harm your heart health
Many people have heard of BPA, a chemical used in plastics and personal care items. It has been the subject of health warnings for...