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Latest story• May 6, 2025

Breakthrough sensor material brings human-like touch to robots at low cost

Northwestern and Tel Aviv University researchers improved robotic touch sensing by addressing an ultrathin insulating layer on silicone rubber composites that hindered electrical sensing in robotic skin. They sanded down this layer and developed a new calibration method, enhancing sensor accuracy and reliability. This breakthrough could enable affordable robotic skins with human-like touch sensitivity, improving...

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The world's smallest, lightest wireless robot is capable of shape-shifting

Chinese researchers have created the world's smallest wireless robot capable of navigating both air and land. The 9cm-long, 25g microrobot uses a "morphable actuator" to change shape, allowing it to fly over obstacles, crawl...

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A snapshot of relativistic motion: Special relativity made visible

Scientists have demonstrated the Terrell-Penrose effect, a consequence of special relativity that causes fast-moving objects to appear rotated. Using laser pulses and high-speed cameras, researchers simulated objects moving at...

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New theory of gravity brings long-sought Theory of Everything a crucial step closer

Aalto University researchers have developed a quantum theory of gravity compatible with the Standard Model. This breakthrough could lead to a unified theory combining gravity with other fundamental forces, potentially explaining...

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Dimension 126 Contains Strangely Twisted Shapes, Mathematicians Prove

In the realm of mathematics, dimensions have distinct personalities, and the number 126 has just revealed its quirky nature. After a 65-year quest, mathematicians have finally proven that this dimension can host strangely twisted...

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Meteor Shower from the Debris of Halley’s Comet

Halley's Comet debris will create the Eta Aquarids meteor shower, peaking Tuesday morning. The annual event, visible globally but best seen in the Southern Hemisphere, occurs as Earth passes through the comet's debris trail....

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The California researchers defending the planet against asteroids

Bay Area scientists lead efforts to protect Earth from asteroids, including cataloging near-Earth objects and preparing response plans, as demonstrated during the brief 2032 threat from asteroid YR4.

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Broken atomic bonds unlock next-gen semiconductors with 100x conductivity boost

Engineers at the University of Michigan have discovered why wurtzite ferroelectric nitride semiconductors remain stable despite opposing electric polarizations. They found that broken atomic bonds at polarization collision points...

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In a first, protons in biological system seen following quantum rules: Study

Researchers found that proton movement in biological systems follows quantum rules, with electron spin influencing proton transfer in chiral environments, potentially revolutionizing our understanding of energy transfer in...

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US scientists end 70-year fusion struggle, paving way for better reactors

Fusion scientists have made a breakthrough in solving a decades-old reactor flaw, potentially accelerating stellarator development tenfold. The new method uses symmetry theory to accurately locate and eliminate magnetic holes...

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China seeks to outpace US by fast-tracking nuclear reactor with 5x energy output

China's BEST nuclear fusion reactor, a tokamak design in Hefei, aims to produce five times more energy than consumed by 2027, potentially outpacing US projects in timeline and output.

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53,000‑pound vibrator truck creates mini quakes to scan Yellowstone’s supervolcano

Scientists conducted a groundbreaking seismic survey in Yellowstone National Park using a massive vibrator truck to map the supervolcano's magma chamber. The study revealed a sharp boundary at 2.4 miles deep, with a gas-rich...

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Modular hexagon wheel robots transform tight warehouse spaces into smart sorting zones

Cellumation's Celluveyor system revolutionizes warehouse logistics with modular hexagonal cells featuring omnidirectional wheels. This AI-powered design enables precise package movement in tight spaces, offering a flexible...

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China’s smart ‘band-aid’ for organs delivers medicines wirelessly on demand

Chinese researchers have developed a wireless, paper-thin "NanoFLUID" patch for targeted drug delivery. The patch combines flexible electronics and micro-nano processing technologies, safely perforating cell membranes at low...

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US orders NASA to build first lunar time zone to guide astronauts on the Moon

The U.S. House Science Committee approved a bill for NASA to develop a Coordinated Lunar Time (LTC) system, accounting for the Moon's faster time progression due to its gravitational conditions. This lunar time zone aims to...

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MIT captures first image of free-range atoms, can help visualize quantum phenomena

MIT scientists captured the first images of individual atoms freely interacting using atom-resolved microscopy. This technique freezes and illuminates atoms to reveal their positions, enabling direct observation of quantum...

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The Phony Physics of Star Wars Are a Blast

As the sun sets on a distant planet, the hum of a massive Star Destroyer fills the air, pursuing a rebel ship through the cosmos. But in reality, this iconic sound would be impossible in the vacuum of space. "A more realistic...

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US fusion research at 180,000°F super-hot plasma reveals unexpected heat flow barrier

Researchers discovered an unexpected heat flow barrier in super-hot plasma at 180,000°F using the Omega-60 laser. Heat struggled to move between different materials in high-energy-density plasma, challenging assumptions about...

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Fully automated: Robots can knit clothes just by looking at fabric images

A new AI model developed by Canadian researchers enables knitting robots to recreate fabric patterns from images without human intervention. The system uses deep learning to convert fabric photos into machine-readable...

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Why Pigeons at Rest Are at the Center of Complexity Theory

Computer scientists have discovered new applications for the "empty-pigeonhole principle," a twist on the classic pigeonhole principle. This mathematical concept states that when there are fewer items than categories, some...

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Calculus is Weird. Why Is the Area Related to the Slope? Fundamental Theorem Explained.

Calculus revolves around two key concepts: derivatives and integrals. Derivatives describe a function's slope, while integrals represent the area under a curve. The Fundamental Theorem of Calculus reveals a surprising connection...

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Chinese battery-maker becomes the first to meet ‘No Fire, No Explosion’ standard

CATL's Qilin battery is the first to meet China's new safety standard, which requires batteries to withstand thermal runaway without causing fire or explosion, enhancing safety for electric vehicles and energy storage systems.

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We finally know why there's a 'fracture' in Milky Way

A pulsar colliding at high speed with a large "bone" structure in the Milky Way has created a fracture, revealing new information about galactic structures and dense stellar remnant impacts.

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Wi-Fi? More like Wow-Fi - researchers transmit almost 2 million Netflix HD streams simultaneously using a single beam of infrared light

Researchers at Eindhoven University of Technology achieved a record-breaking wireless data transmission of 5.7 terabits per second over 4.6km using infrared light. This feat, equivalent to streaming 1.9 million Netflix shows...

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