SMRTR Science & Engineering

Science & Engineering stories

Get hand-picked daily summaries of the best, most informative science and engineering articles from around the web. Browse recent summaries, then jump to the original source when you want the full article.

Latest story• Mar 27, 2025

Pluripotent stem cells aid partial motor recovery in spinal cord injury patients

Japanese researchers at Keio University have shown promising results using iPS cells to treat severe spinal cord injuries. In their first clinical trial, four patients received implants to grow new neural cells. Two patients showed improved motor function, with one regaining the ability to stand with support. The treatment appears safe, with no adverse effects observed. This breakthrough could significantly...

Read summary Original source

Latest stories

China unveils world-first emergency rescue robot with quadrupedal, wheeled, tracked modes

The world's first emergency rescue robot from China combines quadrupedal, wheeled, and tracked mobility, operating in extreme conditions to provide on-site medical care and patient transport, potentially transforming disaster...

Read summary Original

US scientists’ next-gen EV battery breakthrough eliminates forever chemicals’ use

University of Chicago researchers have developed new PFAS-free solvents for next-generation EV batteries, addressing environmental concerns about "forever chemicals" in battery production. The new solvents perform as well as or...

Read summary Original

Physicists are mostly unconvinced by Microsoft’s new topological quantum chip

InAs-Al hybrid devices have shown recent progress towards topological qubits, with researchers demonstrating interferometric single-shot parity measurements and devices passing the topological gap protocol, suggesting...

Read summary Original

Nuclear ‘cold fusion’ tech to be tested in space for powering AI satellites

Hylenr Technologies and TakeMe2Space have partnered to test cold fusion technology in space. The controversial Low Energy Nuclear Reactor (LENR) technology claims to generate clean energy through fusion, potentially providing...

Read summary Original

Massive 18M tons of lithium worth $540B unearthed in US, could reduce China’s grip

A massive 18 million tons of lithium worth $540 billion has been discovered beneath California's Salton Sea. This find could make the U.S. self-sufficient in lithium production, reducing dependence on imports from China and...

Read summary Original

SMRTR Science & Engineering

Get the next batch of curated stories in your inbox.

This archive is built from SMRTR newsletter stories. Subscribe for hand-picked stories without the extra noise.

More recent stories

First time ever: New 2-sec quantum process beats supercomputer for random numbers

Researchers have developed a new protocol for generating certified random numbers using a quantum computer and classical supercomputer verification. The process takes only 2 seconds on Quantinuum's 56-qubit quantum computer,...

Read summary Original

Fusion plant’s sensing tech that can withstand sun-like power set to be developed in UK

The UK Atomic Energy Authority contracted 13 organizations to create sensors for fusion power plants, designed to endure extreme conditions and collect vital data, advancing efforts to commercialize fusion energy.

Read summary Original

Unlocking nuclear fusion at ITER: World’s largest reactor uses AI to boost efficiency

ITER, the world's largest nuclear fusion plant, is leveraging AI to boost efficiency in its construction and operation. Microsoft tools are helping analyze ultrasound scans of welds, while AI chatbots powered by OpenAI assist in...

Read summary Original

Mathematicians Find Proof to 122-Year-Old Triangle-to-Square Puzzle

Mathematicians have finally proven that Dudeney's dissection puzzle, which transforms a triangle into a square, requires at least four pieces. The 122-year-old problem was solved using graph theory to categorize and compare...

Read summary Original

The Surprising History of Scientific Ballooning in 11 Missions

NASA's GUSTO telescope, carried by a giant balloon over Antarctica, studies star formation, continuing a 250-year tradition of balloon-based scientific missions that have contributed to atmospheric and cosmic research.

Read summary Original

Who Will Build the Next Giant Particle Collider?

CERN plans to build a massive Future Circular Collider (FCC) by 2070, dwarfing the current Large Hadron Collider. The $30+ billion project aims to reveal new particles and solve physics mysteries, but faces criticism over its...

Read summary Original

Researchers get spiking neural behavior out of a pair of transistors

Researchers have developed a new approach to neuromorphic computing using standard silicon transistors that mimic neuron behavior. By operating transistors in "punch-through" mode, they can create artificial neurons and synapses...

Read summary Original

The Mysterious Flow of Fluid in the Brain

Scientists are investigating how the brain clears waste, potentially explaining why sleep feels refreshing. A new study suggests blood vessel pumping may move cerebrospinal fluid through brain tissues during sleep, but the...

Read summary Original

Jetson’s first production model flying car flies with stability, lands without issue

Jetson ONE, a compact electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicle, completed its maiden flight with stability. The eVTOL offers a 20-minute flight time, 63 mph top speed, and features like auto-landing and redundant battery...

Read summary Original

US approves high-speed beam line to produce rare nuclear isotopes at near-light speed

The U.S. Department of Energy funded a $48.5 million upgrade at Michigan State University's rare isotope facility, enhancing research capabilities by increasing luminosity up to 100 times for experiments with neutron-rich...

Read summary Original

Artificial sun helps scientists create new material to double green hydrogen production

The new honeycomb-structured iron titanate material developed by North Carolina A&T researchers doubles solar-powered green hydrogen production, potentially offering a cleaner energy alternative to fossil fuels and helping combat...

Read summary Original

Mini-Satellite Sends Encrypted Quantum Message a Record-Breaking Distance

Chinese scientists have broken a distance record in quantum communication, transmitting encrypted images nearly 13,000 km from China to South Africa using a lightweight microsatellite. The satellite, Jinan-1, sent laser pulses to...

Read summary Original

Engineers create motor-free robot that mimics dog’s gait using springs, cables

Engineers have developed a motor-free quadruped robot that mimics a dog's running motion using springs, cables, and tandems. The robot, called PAWS, utilizes four locomotion synergies inspired by biological data of dogs running....

Read summary Original

US nuclear firm readies first ZEUS microreactor core block for testing

NANO Nuclear Energy has assembled the first half-scale core block for its ZEUS microreactor, readying it for non-nuclear testing. This milestone brings the company closer to developing a portable nuclear power solution for remote...

Read summary Original

Google’s Gemini 2.5 Pro is Better at Coding, Math & Science Than Your Favourite AI Model

Gemini 2.5 Pro, Google's latest AI model, surpasses rivals in coding, math, and science tasks, demonstrating superior reasoning abilities and the capacity to handle extensive text input while excelling at web app and game...

Read summary Original

Entangled in self-discovery: Quantum computers analyze their own entanglement

Researchers have developed a new algorithm allowing quantum computers to analyze and protect quantum entanglement, a key feature of quantum computing. The method, called variational entanglement witness, enhances detection...

Read summary Original

Germany plans 1 gigawatt nuclear fusion facility at famous Biblis reactor site

Focused Energy and RWE plan to construct a 1GW fusion power plant at Germany's former Biblis nuclear site by 2035, using direct-drive laser inertial fusion to advance the country's clean energy transition and tap into fusion's...

Read summary Original

Million-volt advantage: Here’s how certain trees evolved to love lightning

Some tropical tree species have evolved to survive and benefit from lightning strikes. The Dipteryx oleifera tree can withstand direct hits, while surrounding trees and vines are killed, reducing competition for resources. A...

Read summary Original

Back to all archives Load more stories