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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• Jul 3, 2025

Can adults make new brain cells? New study may finally settle one of neuroscience's greatest debates

New research provides strong evidence that human brains can produce new neurons throughout adulthood, potentially settling a long-standing debate. Using advanced techniques like RNA sequencing and machine learning, researchers analyzed brain tissue samples from people aged 0 to 78, finding signs of neurogenesis in the hippocampus of most adult brains studied. This discovery could have implications for understanding...

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Fluorescent drug gives surgeons visual upgrade with real-time nerve mapping

A new fluorescent drug called Bevonescein is helping surgeons see and avoid nerves during delicate procedures. The drug binds to nerve tissue and glows green under special imaging equipment, potentially reducing the risk of...

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Scientists develop loofah-based polymer stronger than plastic, lighter than foam

Scientists at the University of Tokyo have developed a loofah-inspired synthetic polymer that's stronger than plastic and lighter than foam. The material filters viruses, responds to pH changes, and could revolutionize...

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New low-cost ‘water battery’ breakthrough offers high-stability over 220 cycles of use

The new "water battery" developed by Xi'an Jiaotong University researchers uses modified naphthalene diimide in the electrolyte, demonstrating stable performance over 220 cycles and potentially advancing large-scale energy...

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World’s largest segmented solid rocket motor produces 4 million pounds of thrust

Northrop Grumman tested NASA's BOLE solid rocket booster, generating over 4 million pounds of thrust. The 156-foot motor features improved propellant and components, increasing performance by 10% compared to current SLS boosters....

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World’s largest tidal stream array hits six-year run without maintenance halt

SKF's components in Proteus Marine Renewables' turbines have proven tidal power's reliability, with the world's largest tidal array operating for six years without unplanned maintenance and new 3MW turbines planned for deployment...

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US fuel cell runs 5,000 hours at 600°F, generates hydrogen and power from water

WVU engineers created a durable fuel cell that runs at 600°C for 5,000+ hours, generating electricity and hydrogen from water, potentially revolutionizing power storage and aiding the integration of renewable energy into the grid.

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US startup’s retractable solar panels help satellites navigate dangerous orbits

Atomic-6, a composite materials startup, secured $2 million from the US Space Force to develop retractable solar arrays for military satellites. The "Light Wing" technology allows spacecraft to rapidly stow and redeploy solar...

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80% accurate simulation breaks symmetry at absolute zero in quantum milestone

Quantum researchers simulated spontaneous symmetry breaking at absolute zero with 80% accuracy, using a quantum processor's entanglement and superposition to overcome classical limitations, potentially advancing physics...

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Scientists spot mystery object believed to come from beyond solar system

A new interstellar object, 3I/Atlas, has been discovered passing through our solar system. Spotted by a Chilean telescope, it's traveling at 37 miles per second on a hyperbolic orbit, suggesting an extrasolar origin. It shows...

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Scientists unveil enzyme tech that reduces plastic recycling’s footprint by up to 99%

Scientists developed an enzymatic recycling process for PET plastic that reduces environmental impact and costs. Using ammonium hydroxide creates a closed-loop system cutting chemical use by 99%, energy consumption by 65%, and...

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How Smell Guides Our Inner World

Recent research challenges the notion that humans are poor smellers, revealing smell's deep connection to emotion and memory. Scientists are creating databases to characterize molecular scents, studying how the brain processes...

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Nearly half of the universe’s ordinary matter was uncharted, until now

Astronomers have mapped the universe's "missing" ordinary matter using fast radio bursts and X-ray observations. They found 76% exists between galaxies, 15% in galaxy halos, and the rest within galaxies. A newly discovered 23...

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Stalking the Statistically Improbable Restaurant with Data

A data analysis of restaurant distribution in 340 U.S. cities reveals patterns in cuisine availability across the country. The study found correlations between population size, demographics, and restaurant types. Notable findings...

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Astronomers Found the Most Self-Destructive Planet in the Sky

A planet with a death wish? That's the intriguing tale of HIP 67522 b, a gas giant 408 light-years away that's triggering massive flares on its host star. Astronomers have discovered this celestial troublemaker orbits...

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A new project aims to synthesise a human chromosome

Scientists have made significant progress in reading and editing DNA, but writing entire genomic sequences remains challenging. While DNA sequencing and CRISPR editing are now well-established, the ability to create complex...

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Earth’s weather satellites just spent 10 years watching Venus — here’s what they found

Japanese meteorological satellites Himawari-8 and -9 have successfully monitored Venus' cloud-top temperature changes, revealing new patterns in temperature structure. Researchers from the University of Tokyo used infrared images...

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China’s Tianwen-3 Mission Could Beat the U.S. in the Race to Grab Mars Rocks

China's Tianwen-3 mission, set to launch in 2028, aims to collect and return Martian samples to Earth by 2031. This unprecedented project could potentially redefine our understanding of life and our place in the cosmos. The...

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James Webb telescope discovers tentacled 'jellyfish' galaxy swimming through deep space

The James Webb Space Telescope has detected a distant "jellyfish" galaxy with gas and star trails, possibly formed by ram pressure stripping, offering clues about early galaxy evolution and star formation.

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Astronomers spot potential 'interstellar visitor' shooting through the solar system toward Earth

A potential interstellar object, A11pl3Z, has been detected speeding through our solar system at 152,000 mph. First spotted by the ATLAS telescope system, this large asteroid or comet may be the third confirmed interstellar...

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Sun-powered sponge produces freshwater from seawater in just 6 hours of outdoor light

A new aerogel material developed by Hong Kong researchers can desalinate seawater using only sunlight and a plastic cover. The sponge-like material, made from carbon nanotubes and cellulose nanofibers, produced drinkable water in...

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US scientists shatter 165-year-old physics law, could unlock energy breakthrough

Penn State scientists violated Kirchhoff's law of thermal radiation using a five-layer thin film, measuring a significant difference between energy absorption and emission, potentially improving energy harvesting and infrared...

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World’s first semiconductor built using quantum tech unveiled in Australia

Australian researchers at CSIRO have developed a quantum machine learning approach for semiconductor design that outperforms classical AI methods. Their Quantum Kernel-Aligned Regressor (QKAR) architecture uses only 5 qubits to...

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Heart of the world’s largest nuclear fusion reactor to be assembled by US firm

Westinghouse Electric Company has secured a $180 million contract to assemble the core of ITER, the world's largest nuclear fusion reactor. The company will weld together nine sectors of the vacuum vessel housing the fusion...

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