Scientists discover faster, greener way to recycle lithium-ion batteries

As the world uses more smartphones, laptops, and electric vehicles, the demand for lithium-ion batteries is rising quickly. But recycling these batteries remains a major...

One device, two jobs: A solar cell that also shines like an LED

Imagine a screen that can power itself when you are not using it. Instead of just sitting idle, it could collect light from its surroundings...

Strange new shape boosts energy conversion by over 8 times

Every day, huge amounts of energy are wasted as heat. Cars release heat through their exhaust, factories lose heat during production, and even our...

Facial recognition data is a key to your identity. If stolen, you can’t just...

A woman strolls into a grocery store, thinking about grabbing some apples. Before she even reaches the produce aisle, a security camera has scanned...

Why one side of the Milky Way is hotter than the other

Scientists have discovered a surprising reason why one side of our galaxy is warmer than the other, and the explanation is something you might...

Turning plastic waste into clean fuel using sunlight

Scientists are advancing a promising solution to two of the world’s biggest challenges – plastic pollution and clean energy – by transforming waste plastics...

Binary stars form lots of exoplanets, but many of them are ejected as rogue...

Astronomers don't have to work hard to find binary stars in the Milky Way. They're common, even abundant. For a long time, they thought that...

Scientists turn electricity into sound in breakthrough quantum device

Scientists have created a new kind of quantum device that can turn electricity into something unusual: tiny packets of sound known as phonons. This breakthrough...

Can AI really measure beauty?

Can a computer really decide what is beautiful? A new study suggests the answer is not as simple as many people think. Researchers from the...

This new method could make jet engine parts more durable than ever

Parts used in aircraft engines, power plants, and other high-temperature machines must survive extreme stress for long periods of time. Many of these parts are...

Scientists create wearable sensor powered only by your body heat

Imagine a health-monitoring device that never needs charging or battery replacement. Scientists are now closer to that reality with a new system that can...

Scientists finally discover the true edge of the Milky Way

For many years, astronomers have wondered where the Milky Way truly “ends.” Unlike a solid object, our galaxy does not have a clear boundary. Its...

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The world’s ‘chemical diversity’ tripled in just 20 years

There are 350,000 chemicals available on the market and in circulation worldwide, according to a new estimate. The last time researchers compiled a list, it...

Your next wooden chair could arrive flat, then dry into a 3D shape

Wooden objects are usually made by sawing, carving, bending, or pressing. That’s so old school! Today, scientists will describe how flat wooden shapes extruded by a...

Seabirds avoid pooping on water—here’s the surprising reason why

On remote desert islands in Japan, researchers have discovered an unusual bathroom habit among seabirds. Streaked shearwaters, a species of seabird, prefer to poop while...

Nano-thermometer can now take a single cell’s temperature

How do you know a cell has a fever? Take its temperature. That’s now possible thanks to research by Rice University scientists who used the...

Scientists discover new way to boost sodium-ion battery power

Researchers have come up with an exciting new way to increase the capacity of sodium-ion batteries, which could make energy storage cheaper and safer. This...