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Latest story• May 1, 2025

US-built quantum computer outshines world’s top supercomputers in key tests

A U.S.-built quantum computer has outperformed leading supercomputers in key optimization tests, demonstrating the first quantum scaling advantage for approximate problem-solving. Researchers at USC used a D-Wave quantum annealing processor with over 1,300 error-suppressed qubits to achieve this breakthrough. The quantum system showed a scaling advantage over classical algorithms when finding near-optimal solutions...

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Scientists use glowing crystal core in bold experiment to catch elusive dark matter

The SABRE South dark matter experiment is being installed in Victoria, Australia. Designed to confirm DAMA/LIBRA's controversial results, it uses ultra-pure sodium iodide crystals and advanced detection systems to search for dark...

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Superhero self-healing polymer can protect satellites from fast-flying space debris

The self-healing polymer developed by Texas A&M scientists liquefies on impact and reforms its shape, potentially protecting spacecraft from high-speed space debris in low Earth orbit and revolutionizing space vehicle design.

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Mathematical Beauty, Truth and Proof in the Age of AI

Mathematicians anticipate significant changes in their field due to AI advancements. AI systems are improving at generating mathematical proofs, potentially automating parts of the theorem-proving process. While AI can't yet...

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Science, Promise and Peril in the Age of AI

AI has evolved into a crucial tool for scientific research, revolutionizing experimentation, mathematical proofs, and data analysis, while reshaping discovery processes and problem-solving methods across various disciplines.

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Where Do Scientists Think This Is All Going?

Experts predict AI will significantly impact scientific research and mathematical approaches in the next 5-10 years. While the future remains uncertain, AI is already reshaping experiments, collaborations, and research questions...

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Fiber optic sensors could revolutionize early detection of volcanic eruptions

Researchers have developed a new fiber optic sensing system to detect volcanic eruptions in Iceland's Reykjanes Peninsula. The distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) technique can provide up to 30 minutes of advance warning before...

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Pew Pew… But How Fast? A Physics Investigation of Star Wars Blaster Bolts

Video analysis of Star Wars battle scenes reveals that blaster bolts, likely composed of plasma or ionized gas rather than lasers, travel at measurable speeds, providing insights into the fictional weapons' properties.

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Where Does Consciousness Come from? Two Neuroscience Theories Go Head-to-Head

Neuroscientists are still debating the origin of consciousness in the brain. A major study compared two leading theories: integrated information theory (IIT) and global neuronal workspace theory (GNWT). The study, involving 256...

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Unlocking the Greatest Mystery of the Universe

The mysterious disappearance of socks during laundry cycles frustrates many, prompting a range of reactions from acceptance to denial as people struggle to explain the vanishing of their footwear.

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Hemispherical mirror technique results in quantum noise reduction

Swansea University scientists found that using mirrors to create conditions where measurement is impossible can reduce quantum noise in nanoparticle measurements, potentially enabling larger quantum experiments and more sensitive...

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US engineers test ‘sweaty’ spacecraft tech to make rockets reusable as air travel

Engineers are testing a new spacecraft skin that releases coolant gas to protect against reentry heat, potentially eliminating the need for heat shields. This "sweaty" technology, backed by a $1.7 million Air Force grant, could...

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Mysterious Glowing Structure Discovered Near Solar System

A massive glowing gas cloud named Eos has been discovered just 300 light-years from Earth using far-ultraviolet data. The cloud contains 3,400 solar masses of gas and is expected to disperse in 5.7 million years, providing new...

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World’s largest nuclear reactor gets 3,000-ton magnet core for 10x energy output

ITER's fusion reactor project has completed its massive 3,000-ton magnet system, a crucial step towards demonstrating fusion power feasibility. The electromagnets will confine and heat plasma to 150 million degrees Celsius,...

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China launches world’s fastest submersible drone with rocket-drilling capabilities

China's "Blue Whale" is the world's fastest unmanned submersible, reaching 36 knots on the surface and diving to 60 meters for over 30 days, with AI autonomy for oceanography and other applications.

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Heartbeat-stealing deepfakes challenge experts by mimicking real pulse patterns

Advanced deepfake technology can now simulate realistic heartbeat signals in facial skin, overcoming a major detection method and prompting experts to explore new techniques for identifying synthetic videos.

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Are we living in a simulation? Scientist's theory suggests so

A physicist proposes that gravity may be evidence of a simulated universe, acting as a form of data compression in a cosmic computer. Dr. Melvin Vopson's theory suggests gravitational pull organizes information and influences...

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Tesla Vehicle Safety Report shows Autopilot is 10x better than humans

Tesla's latest Vehicle Safety Report shows Autopilot-equipped cars are 10 times less likely to crash than the national average. Vehicles using Autopilot experienced one crash per 7.44 million miles driven in Q1 2025, while the...

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Breakthrough Alzheimer’s study finds enzyme that ties brain inflammation to memory loss

Scientists have linked the enzyme SIRT2 to cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease. The study shows that astrocytes, previously considered support cells, actively contribute to brain dysfunction by overproducing GABA in response...

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The Amazing Mathematical Mind of Johann Sebastian Bach

Albert Einstein believed music and mathematics were deeply connected. Both fields rely heavily on pattern recognition, with composers, improvisers, mathematicians, and scientists exploring the world through patterns to uncover...

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Lenz’s Law Is Confusing for Many Physics Students — Here’s How It Really Works

Faraday's Law and Lenz's Law are key concepts in physics that explain the relationship between magnetic fields and electric currents. Faraday's Law states that a changing magnetic field creates an electric field, which can...

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Lockheed’s LM 400 satellite ends up in shallow orbit after Firefly rocket glitch

A Firefly Alpha rocket experienced an anomaly during stage separation, leaving a Lockheed Martin LM 400 satellite in a lower-than-planned orbit. The mission was part of a broader agreement between Firefly and Lockheed for up to...

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Berkeley breaks 10-year-old puzzle to turn CO2 into green fuels using sunlight

X-ray analysis revealed particle migration and Ostwald ripening as key factors in copper catalyst degradation during artificial photosynthesis, while carbon supports with ionomer coating were found to stabilize copper...

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How come we’ve never observed a black hole decaying?

Black holes, the most extreme objects in the universe, form when too much mass collects in a small volume. They can originate from collapsing massive stellar cores or direct collapse of matter. Stephen Hawking proposed that black...

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