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Latest story• Sep 17, 2025

What are the 'magic numbers' in nuclear physics, and why are they so powerful?

Nuclear "magic numbers" (2, 8, 20, 28, 50, 82, 126) represent quantities of protons or neutrons that create unusually stable atomic nuclei. These numbers correspond to filled nuclear shells, similar to electron shells in atoms, where the strong force binding particles together is higher than expected, resulting in spherical nuclei resistant to radioactive decay. Lead-208, with 82 protons and 126 neutrons,...

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Learning languages with the help of algorithms

When learning a new language through reading, finding books with maximum vocabulary impact can be optimized using algorithms. While selecting the single best book is computationally simple, choosing the optimal set of k books...

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Smashing through ice: Germany’s icebreaker gets ‘largest’ 360-degree propulsion system

Germany's icebreaker Polarstern is being upgraded with the world's largest 360-degree propulsion system featuring two 16-foot diameter propellers generating 9MW of power each. The vessel will incorporate hybrid technology with...

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New 3D bioprinting technique may improve production of engineered tissue

MIT's new AI-powered 3D bioprinting monitor captures high-resolution images of each layer, comparing them to intended designs for real-time quality control, improving reproducibility and reducing waste across bioprinters.

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US firm tests powerful laser to enrich uranium for endless nuclear power

Global Laser Enrichment is demonstrating SILEX laser technology for uranium enrichment in North Carolina, aiming to produce low-enriched uranium efficiently and reduce U.S. reliance on foreign sources through a planned Kentucky...

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Titanic’s sister ship Britannic yields artifacts 108 years after sinking

Divers recovered artifacts from the Titanic's sister ship Britannic, including its bell, navigation light, and silverware, 400 feet underwater near Greece, marking the first retrieval since its 1916 sinking during World War I.

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A new drug shows promise for hard-to-treat high blood pressure

Baxdrostat, a new aldosterone synthase inhibitor, shows promise for resistant hypertension in a recent clinical trial. The 12-week study of nearly 800 patients found those taking 1-2mg of baxdrostat with existing medications saw...

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Frozen energy unlocked: bending salty ice yields 1,000x stronger electricity

Bending salty ice generates electricity through microscopic water flow, producing outputs up to 1,000 times stronger than pure ice, potentially offering a clean energy source for cold regions despite efficiency challenges.

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North Korea possibly received nuclear reactor for submarines from Russia: Report

North Korea possibly acquired nuclear submarine reactor technology from Russia, South Korean intelligence reports. Moscow allegedly provided two to three nuclear submarine modules to Pyongyang in early 2024, likely from...

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'The sun is slowly waking up': NASA warns that there may be more extreme space weather for decades to come

NASA warns that the sun is reversing a trend of low activity, with scientists observing increasing solar activity since 2008 that may continue for decades. The current solar maximum arrived earlier and stronger than predicted,...

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Dog crate-sized robot factory learns to assemble electronics by watching humans

MicroFactory's compact robotic system, housed in a dog crate-sized box, learns assembly tasks by observing humans. It features two robotic arms capable of precise electronics work, including circuit board assembly and soldering....

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Super-sized space freighter delayed on way to ISS, leaving snacks in jeopardy

Northrop Grumman's new Cygnus XL cargo spacecraft faced engine issues during an orbit-raising burn, postponing its arrival at the International Space Station. The craft, carrying 11,000 pounds of supplies, launched on a SpaceX...

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Scientists Detect Strange Signal in Gravitational Waves

Scientists detected gravitational waves from colliding black holes 2.4 billion light-years away, measuring the resulting black hole's "kick" of 31 miles per second and enabling 3D reconstruction of distant cosmic events.

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Scientists grow mini-brains in lab to unlock energy-efficient artificial intelligence

Lehigh University researchers have received a $2 million NSF grant to study lab-grown brain organoids for developing more efficient AI. The team is growing mini-brains and organizing neurons to mimic the human cortex, then...

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AI-designed viruses are here and already killing bacteria

AI researchers at Stanford and Arc Institute created functional viruses using AI, the first instance of "generative design of complete genomes." They trained AI models on bacteriophage genomes, chemically printed 302 AI-designed...

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Morse code beyond the solar system

The Voyager probes, now in interstellar space, carry Golden Records with Earth sounds, including a hidden Morse code message "ad astra per aspera" embedded twice in a 12-minute sound collage.

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Engineers design AI-triggered airbag bubble to protect passengers in plane crash

A last-ditch bubble of hope for airline passengers facing the unthinkable. That's what engineers from BITS Pilani's Dubai campus have designed with Project REBIRTH, an AI-powered survival system that deploys external airbags...

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Small nuclear reactors positioned to power ammonia’s carbon-free transformation

Small modular nuclear reactors are being explored to decarbonize ammonia production, which accounts for 1.2% of global emissions. Utah State University researchers are developing designs using SMRs to power carbon-free ammonia...

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World’s earliest known mummies found in Southeast Asia, dating back 14,000 years

Archaeologists have found evidence of intentional human mummification from 14,000 years ago in Southeast Asia, the world's oldest known mummies. Hunter-gatherer groups in southern China and Southeast Asia preserved bodies through...

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Scientists tune in as lithium battery sounds expose fractures and hidden failures

Researchers at MIT created a technique to analyze subtle sounds from lithium-ion batteries, uncovering internal deterioration by combining electrochemical tests with acoustic recordings and using wavelet transforms to isolate...

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New flash method removes 96% of metals from red mud, leaves aluminum-rich residue

Rice University researchers developed a flash Joule heating method that removes 96% of metals from red mud, a hazardous aluminum production waste. By sending electrical pulses with chlorine gas through the material for less than...

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Machine learning unravels quantum atomic vibrations in materials

The Caltech-developed AI method using tensor decomposition accelerates quantum calculations of atomic vibrations in materials by up to 10,000 times, completing complex phonon interactions in seconds while maintaining accuracy.

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Fourth Power’s sci-fi thermal batteries could be cheaper than pricey natural gas power plants

Fourth Power is developing thermal batteries to revolutionize renewable energy storage. The system heats carbon blocks, then pumps 2,400°C molten tin through graphite pipes, converting heat back to electricity. The...

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‘Unprecedented’ eye-tracking could reveal hidden memory in Alzheimer’s patients: Study

Eye-tracking technology is revolutionizing memory assessment by detecting memories patients cannot verbally express. Tel Aviv University researchers found that eye movements can reveal stored memories even when individuals can't...

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