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Latest story• Oct 21, 2025

Scientists stumble on a hidden quantum trick in 2D materials

Scientists discovered that 2D materials naturally form tiny cavities that confine light and electrons, creating previously unknown quantum effects. Using a new terahertz spectroscopy method, researchers found that material edges act as mirrors, forming hybrid light-matter particles called plasmon polaritons that behave like standing waves. This breakthrough could help explain mysterious quantum phenomena like...

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China to develop world’s largest 50 MW floating wind turbine that braves harsh typhoons

China's Mingyang Smart Energy announced plans for the world's largest 50-megawatt floating wind turbine, featuring twin 25-megawatt engines on a V-shaped tower designed to withstand typhoon conditions. The company aims to begin...

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NASA chief suggests SpaceX may be booted from moon mission

NASA's acting chief Sean Duffy warned that SpaceX may lose its $2.9 billion moon lander contract due to development delays with its Starship vehicle, which has experienced multiple test flight failures. Duffy announced plans to...

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Rocket-like underwater system converts wave energy into electricity, passes dry test

Dutch company Symphony Wave Power successfully completed dry tests of its rocket-like underwater wave energy converter that transforms ocean wave pressure into electricity through a resonating system anchored to the seabed. The...

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Magnetic ‘muscles’ turn origami into crawling robots that move and heal from within

Paper-thin "magnetic muscles" are giving origami robots the power to crawl, climb, and even deliver medicine inside the human body. Researchers at North Carolina State University have developed a breakthrough 3D printing...

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US and Australia sign $8.5 billion rare earths deal to reduce reliance on China

The US and Australia signed an $8.5 billion deal to develop rare earth minerals and reduce China dependence. The agreement includes $3 billion in immediate investments for defense, semiconductor, and electric vehicle supply...

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Breaking down rare earth element magnets for recycling

Researchers use rapid electric heating and chlorine gas to extract rare earth elements from electronic waste. The process heats magnets to thousands of degrees, separating unwanted materials while preserving valuable elements.

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Storytelling Methods Alter How Memories Are Stored in the Brain, Neuroscientists Find

Neuroscientists found that conceptual and perceptual storytelling activate different brain networks in listeners. Conceptual stories engage the default mode network, while perceptual stories activate sensory regions, though...

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UK engineers hit fusion milestone with plasma control using 3D magnetic coils

UK scientists used 3D magnetic coils to stabilize plasma in a spherical tokamak, suppressing damaging instabilities for the first time. This breakthrough advances fusion power development and supports the UK's goal of fusion...

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Sodium-ion battery breakthrough boosts energy storage and turns seawater drinkable

University of Surrey scientists discovered that keeping water in sodium-ion battery materials dramatically improves performance, with the "wet" version storing nearly twice the charge of typical materials. This breakthrough could...

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Scientists find immune drug that could halt skin cancer’s deadly spread

Scientists tested the immune drug pembrolizumab on 293 patients with Merkel cell carcinoma, a rare but deadly skin cancer, after tumor removal surgery. While the treatment didn't significantly reduce overall cancer recurrence, it...

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Like Apollo before them, ESA astronauts hone lunar landing skills in helicopters

European Space Agency astronauts completed helicopter training to prepare for future lunar missions, mirroring Apollo-era training methods. Four astronauts underwent one week of simulator instruction followed by two weeks flying...

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Scientists create LED light that kills cancer cells without harming healthy ones

Scientists developed a revolutionary cancer treatment using LED lights and ultra-thin tin flakes that destroys cancer cells while sparing healthy tissue. The breakthrough therapy eliminated 92% of skin cancer cells and 50% of...

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Space debris strike? Mystery deepens after Boeing 737 windshield cracked midair

A United Airlines Boeing 737 MAX flying from Denver to Los Angeles at 36,000 feet suffered a cracked cockpit windshield, forcing an emergency landing in Salt Lake City with 140 people aboard. The damage shows scorch marks and...

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Experts hail ‘remarkable’ success of electronic implant in restoring sight

A revolutionary electronic eye implant, thinner than human hair, has successfully restored sight to people with incurable blindness from age-related macular degeneration. In trials involving 38 patients, 84% regained the ability...

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The quantum door mystery: Electrons that can't find the exit

Researchers at TU Wien discovered that electrons need specific "doorway states" to escape materials, not just sufficient energy. This explains why similar materials show different electron emission behaviors.

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Nuclear Fusion in Color Reveals Visual Breakthrough in Plasma Research

A high-speed color camera capturing 16,000 frames per second has revealed stunning footage of nuclear fusion inside Tokamak Energy's ST40 reactor, showing pink deuterium plasma and greenish-yellow lithium streaks. These vivid...

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Fold your own tessellation

Paper artist Yoder has created a downloadable tessellation pattern called Dancing Ribbons that transforms into an intricate folded design through a series of precise creases and twists. The complex process involves folding a...

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400 years later, astronomers finally understand Saturn’s rings

Four centuries after Galileo mistook Saturn's rings for "ears," astronomers may have cracked one of the solar system's most enduring puzzles. While Jupiter, Uranus, and Neptune all sport ring systems, none compare to Saturn's...

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This tiny laser could transform how we see and sense the world

Researchers at NTNU developed a revolutionary laser that overcomes major limitations of traditional precision lasers, which are typically bulky, expensive, and difficult to operate. The new laser offers fast performance,...

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How the Brain Moves From Waking Life to Sleep (and Back Again)

Scientists are discovering that sleep and wakefulness exist on a spectrum rather than distinct states, with the brain transitioning gradually between them. During the hypnagogic state when falling asleep, parts of the brain shut...

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A clue to ancient life? What scientists found inside Mars’ frozen vortex

Scientists studying Mars' polar vortex discovered that extreme cold and darkness during winter cause water vapor to freeze completely, allowing ozone levels to build dramatically in the atmosphere. This ozone buildup suggests...

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Einstein’s overlooked idea could explain how the Universe really began

Scientists propose gravitational waves, not inflation, drove the universe's early formation. This simpler model uses only gravity and quantum mechanics to explain cosmic structure.

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3D-printed concrete could help buildings absorb carbon instead of releasing it

University of Pennsylvania researchers created Diamanti, a 3D-printed concrete using diatomaceous earth that absorbs CO₂ instead of releasing it. The system absorbs 140% more CO₂ than traditional concrete while using 60% less...

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