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• Jul 21, 2025

OpenAI wins gold at prestigious math competition - why that matters more than you think

OpenAI's experimental AI model achieved gold medal performance at the International Math Olympiad, solving 5 out of 6 problems and scoring 35/42 points. This general-purpose reasoning model used natural language to methodically work through complex math problems without specialized training or external tools. The achievement demonstrates AI's rapidly advancing ability to handle abstract reasoning and high-level...

Read summary Original source

Latest stories

Hubble Observes Spiral Galaxy NGC 3285B, a Cosmic Whirlpool Swirling in the Constellation Hydra

NGC 3285B, a spiral galaxy in Hydra, has been captured by the Hubble Space Telescope. Located 137 million light-years away, it's part of the Hydra I cluster. The image shows bright star-forming regions, dark dust lanes, and a...

Read summary Original

YouTuber turns plastic toy into functional computer that adds, subtracts

A YouTuber named Shadowman39 has built a fully functioning 8-bit mechanical computer using K'NEX toys. The computer features an arithmetic logic unit capable of processing numbers between 0 and 255, using levers to represent...

Read summary Original

AI Comes Up with Bizarre Physics Experiments. But They Work.

AI-driven software,, initially created for quantum optics, is revolutionizing physics experiment design, suggesting improvements for complex instruments like LIGO that could significantly increase sensitivity and aid in data...

Read summary Original

The Hunt for a Fundamental Theory of Quantum Gravity

A quantum conundrum is challenging the edge of space and time. Physicists are grappling with the possibility that singularities - points where the fabric of the universe frays beyond recognition - may be more than just...

Read summary Original

Visualizing a new Moon based on scientific discoveries by China’s Chang’e 6 mission

Chinese lunar exploration has yielded significant scientific discoveries from farside samples collected by the Chang'e 6 mission. Researchers found evidence of water-bearing minerals, revealing insights into the Moon's volcanic...

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

Trippy liquid 'fireworks' appear when scientists try to mix unmixable fluids

Scientists interactions, creating "firework" patterns relevant to carbon sequestration, demonst

Read summary Original

Dinosaur-era flying reptile’s fossil reveals first direct evidence of plant diet

A fossil discovery of a sinopterus atavismus pterosaur in China reveals the first direct evidence of stomach contents in a pterodactyloid pterosaur. The fossil contained phytoliths and quartz crystals, suggesting the creature ate...

Read summary Original

Earth may have at least 6 'minimoons' at any given time. Where do they come from?

New research suggests that up to six small fragments of the moon may briefly orbit Earth as "minimoons" before returning to solar orbit. These lunar pieces, typically smaller than 6.5 feet in diameter, are challenging to detect...

Read summary Original

If aliens existed on Mars 3.7 billion years ago, they would have needed umbrellas

A network of ancient, inverted river channels spanning over 9,000 miles has been found in Mars' Noachis Terra region, indicating the planet was once wetter than believed. The channels, formed by sedimentary deposits, suggest...

Read summary Original

This tiny metal switches magnetism without magnets — and could power the future of electronics

Ni₄W, a new material developed by University of Minnesota researchers, generates strong spin-orbit torque, allowing better magnetization control in electronics without external magnetic fields, potentially improving speed and...

Read summary Original

Scientists reveal a widespread but unidentified psychological phenomenon

A new study reveals people often avoid backtracking, even when it's more efficient. Researchers found this "doubling-back aversion" in both physical and mental tasks. Participants consistently chose longer routes or less...

Read summary Original

A strange fossil at the edge of the solar system just shook up Planet Nine theories

Astronomers using the Subaru Telescope have discovered 2023 KQ14, a rare "sednoid" beyond Pluto. This fourth known object of its kind provides new insights into the outer Solar System's complexity and challenges Planet Nine...

Read summary Original

NASA’s IXPE tracked a rare pulsar—and found an unexpected power source

Astronomers using NASA's IXPE telescope and other instruments have discovered new insights into how pulsars interact with surrounding matter. The team studied a rare transitional millisecond pulsar system called J1023, finding...

Read summary Original

Scientists twist DNA into self-building nanostructures that could transform technology

DNA nanotechnology enables the creation of moiré superlattices at the nanometer scale. Researchers at the University of Stuttgart developed a bottom-up assembly process using DNA strands to form precisely twisted bilayers or...

Read summary Original

MIT's new AI can teach itself to control robots by watching the world through their eyes — it only needs a single camera

AI developed by MIT can control robots using only camera observations, learning to operate them without sensors or pretraining, potentially enabling autonomous control of diverse robot types with minimal training time.

Read summary Original

Engineers turn to quantum tech to replace GPS in flight navigation

MagNav, a quantum-sensing navigation system developed by Airbus and SandboxAQ, uses Earth's magnetic fields to locate aircraft, providing a jamming-resistant GPS alternative that met FAA standards during 150 hours of flight tests.

Read summary Original

James Webb telescope reveals 'Sleeping Beauty' galaxies in the early universe — snoozing where they weren't supposed to exist

Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope found 14 "dormant" galaxies that stopped forming stars within the first billion years after the Big Bang. These galaxies, ranging from 40 million to 30 billion solar masses, have...

Read summary Original

Viral humanoid robot ‘Uncle Bot’ wins China’s heart with dad fashion and chill vibes

A humanoid robot nicknamed "Uncle Bot" has become a viral sensation in China. The Unitree G1 model, dressed in casual "dadcore" attire, gained fame after videos showed it jogging, waving at onlookers, and even walking a robot...

Read summary Original

The brain tech revolution is here — and it isn’t all Black Mirror

Neurotechnology advances are addressing brain-related medical issues through deep-brain stimulation, spinal cord treatments, and brain-computer interfaces, offering improved mobility and communication for patients despite ethical...

Read summary Original

Earth's magnetic field is weakening — magnetic crystals from lost civilizations could hold the key to understanding why

The "Levantine Iron Age Anomaly," discovered in 3,000-year-old Jordanian copper slag, revealed an unprecedented spike in Earth's magnetic field between 1100-550 BC, offering insights into the planet's geodynamo and potential...

Read summary Original

3D-printed steel survives month-long nuclear test in extreme reactor conditions

Oak Ridge National Laboratory tested 3D-printed stainless steel capsules in a high-power nuclear reactor for a month. The laser powder-bed fusion capsules withstood extreme conditions in the High Flux Isotope Reactor, proving...

Read summary Original

Breakthrough study uncovers biological trigger that forces the brain to sleep

Brain cells enter sleep mode when overloaded with energy, as mitochondria leak electrons, triggering sleep to prevent damage, which explains the biological need for sleep and may provide insights into related conditions.

Read summary Original

World’s largest construction crane lifts a 245-ton dome onto a nuclear reactor building

A massive 245-ton dome was lifted onto a reactor building at Britain's first new nuclear plant in 30 years, Hinkley Point C. The project, costing £26 billion, will provide zero-carbon electricity for over six million homes when...

Read summary Original

Back to all archives Load more stories