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Latest story• Nov 17, 2025

Old ‘Ghost’ Theory of Quantum Gravity Makes a Comeback

Physicists are reviving an old "quantum field theory" approach to understanding gravity that was once abandoned due to mathematical flaws involving "ghost" particles with negative energy. This theory, called quadratic gravity, was developed in the 1970s but dismissed because it seemed to create impossible scenarios where negative-energy particles would spontaneously multiply. However, recent calculations suggest...

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High-fiber diet may 'rejuvenate' immune cells that fight cancer, study finds

Researchers discovered that a high-fiber diet may help immune cells fight cancer more effectively by boosting gut bacteria that produce beneficial chemicals. When mice with melanoma ate fiber-rich foods, their gut microbes...

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Disney’s smart robots train to fall, roll, and land safely without damage

Four thousand virtual robots tumbled simultaneously through digital space, each crash-landing teaching the next one how to fall more gracefully. Disney researchers and university engineers have cracked a fundamental robotics...

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CRISPR unlocks a new way to defeat resistant lung cancer

Researchers at ChristianaCare's Gene Editing Institute used CRISPR technology to turn off the NRF2 gene in lung cancer cells, successfully restoring their sensitivity to chemotherapy drugs like carboplatin and paclitaxel. The...

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DRAM Errors and Cosmic Rays: Space Invaders or Science Fiction?

Scientists analyzed massive error logs from two supercomputers totaling over 2000 billion MB-hours but found no evidence that cosmic rays cause computer memory failures, contradicting widespread belief.

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DeepMind releases a new weather forecasting model for more accurate predictions

Google's DeepMind launched WeatherNext 2, an AI weather model with more accurate two-week forecasts and three-day hurricane predictions. The system processes data eight times faster with hourly updates.

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Astronomers have just discovered a stellar stream as long as the Milky Way

Astronomers discovered a massive stellar stream in galaxy M61 that stretches 163,000 light-years, roughly equal to the Milky Way's length. The stream likely formed billions of years ago when M61's gravity tore apart a dwarf...

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A clay figurine unveils a storytelling shift from 12,000 years ago

A 12,000-year-old clay figurine from Israel shows a goose on a woman's back, making it the oldest known sculpture of human-animal interaction and revealing early mythological storytelling.

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Comet 3I/ATLAS's Acceleration Might Not Be Caused By Gravity

Comet 3I/ATLAS, the third recorded interstellar visitor, has puzzled scientists with its unusual acceleration and distinctive blue glow near the sun, sparking speculation about alien spacecraft. Scientists believe the...

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A tiny ancient virus reveals secrets that could help fight superbugs

University of Otago researchers mapped a bacteriophage's 3D structure, revealing how its mechanical "tail" selectively kills drug-resistant bacteria like E. coli while sparing beneficial cells, enabling new antibiotic...

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German team cracks faster path to structural EV batteries with new validation method

German researchers developed an AI-driven validation method for structural EV batteries that integrates modules directly into vehicle frames, increasing energy density by 10-15% while reducing testing costs.

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Perlmutter supercomputer uses 7,000 GPUs and 11B grid cells to model quantum chip

Researchers at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory used the Perlmutter supercomputer's 7,168 NVIDIA GPUs to run an unprecedented full-scale simulation of a quantum microchip, discretizing it into 11 billion grid cells. This...

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Can bees understand Morse code? New study shows they track dot and dash style flashes

Researchers trained bumblebees to distinguish between short and long light flashes to find food. The bees learned this timing skill despite their tiny brains, showing cognitive abilities previously seen only in humans and...

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Mars orbiter narrows down the exact path of interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS by 'ten-fold,' surprising scientists

ESA's Mars orbiter dramatically improved tracking of interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS by capturing detailed images during its October flyby, refining the comet's trajectory ten-fold through unprecedented triangulation methods. This...

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The Baumol Effect and Jevons paradox are related

Two economic principles are driving opposite but related effects as AI transforms industries. As AI dramatically increases productivity in some sectors, creating new high-paying jobs (Jevons paradox), workers in unrelated fields...

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New light-controlled material can switch between multiple structures on demand

Japanese scientists at Chiba University have developed a material that can switch between one-dimensional, two-dimensional, and three-dimensional structures by adjusting light intensity. The supramolecular polymer uses a molecule...

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After last week’s stunning landing, here’s what comes next for Blue Origin

Blue Origin is rapidly scaling production of its New Glenn rocket components, manufacturing second stages at one per month while aiming to double engine production rates next year. Following last week's successful first flight...

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What's the darkest place in the solar system? What about the universe?

Space's darkest regions vary depending on how darkness is defined. Comet Borrelly's nucleus reflects less than 3% of sunlight, making it one of our solar system's darkest spots, while exoplanet TrES-2 b reflects under 1% of light...

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AI creates the first 100-billion-star Milky Way simulation

Simulating every single star in the Milky Way used to require 36 years of computing time for just one billion years of galactic evolution. Now, researchers in Japan have cracked that cosmic puzzle in just 115 days. Keiya...

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Scientists reverse kidney damage in mice, hope for humans next

University of Utah researchers discovered that fatty molecules called ceramides cause acute kidney injury by damaging energy-producing mitochondria in kidney cells. Using a drug candidate that alters ceramide processing,...

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1,000-ton gold reserve that’s accessible for mining discovered in China’s Kunlun mountains

Chinese geologists discovered a potentially massive gold deposit in the Kunlun Mountains containing over 1,000 tons of gold, consisting of scattered veins rather than one concentrated deposit. This marks China's third...

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Arrows of time and space

Physicists have identified fundamental "arrows" that give direction to time and space in our universe, breaking the symmetry that would otherwise make all directions equivalent. These directional preferences emerge from...

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Neuroscientists find immune cells that may slow aging

Researchers found that T helper lymphocytes change with age, creating specialized cells that remove harmful senescent cells and slow aging. This suggests age-appropriate immune function may be better than resetting immunity to...

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47 MW floating solar project goes operational in South Korea to generate clean power

South Korea completed its largest floating solar project on a multipurpose dam, with 47 MW capacity at Imha Dam near Andong city. The $50 million facility combines with existing hydropower to generate 61 GWh annually, powering...

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